What Lies Beneath
Tarja Turunen · 2010
73 min · 14 tracks · classical music
A haunting fusion of symphonic metal and operatic vocals that explores themes of loss and introspection.
Top tracks — play these first
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Anteroom of Death Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Until My Last Breath — This track encapsulates the album's emotional depth with its powerful orchestration and soaring vocal melodies, reflecting themes of perseverance and hope.
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Dark Star — With its driving rhythm and dynamic shifts, this song showcases Tarja’s vocal agility while exploring darker lyrical themes, making it a standout moment on the album.
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Crimson Deep — This epic closer combines rich storytelling with lush instrumentation, allowing Tarja's operatic style to shine through, representing the album's overall artistic ambition.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively merges symphonic metal with operatic vocals, showcasing strong arrangements and performances.
What we noticed
- The album features orchestral arrangements that blend with heavy guitar riffs, creating a dynamic contrast between classical and metal elements.
- Vocal performances are layered, often incorporating operatic techniques alongside more traditional singing, which adds depth to the emotional delivery.
- Several tracks utilize extended instrumental sections that allow the orchestration to develop themes before returning to vocal lines.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with emotional peaks
- haunting melodies for introspection
- wave-like pacing that captivates
- moments of cathartic release
- for reflective solitude
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer upbeat, short tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified Tarja's solo career post-Nightwish, gaining critical acclaim.
- Themes
- operatic storytelling· dark emotional landscapes· personal transformation
- Career context
- What Lies Beneath is Tarja Turunen's first studio album after her departure from Nightwish, showcasing her transition into a solo career. Released in 2010, it came four years after her debut solo project, My Winter Storm, marking a significant evolution in her sound and artistic identity.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Nightwish· Within Temptation· Epica
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Anteroom of Death Start here 4:44
- 2 Until My Last Breath 4:26
- 3 Dark Star 4:35
- 4 Underneath 4:41
- 5 Little Lies 5:28
- 6 Rivers of Lust 4:40
- 7 In for a Kill 4:26
- 8 Montañas de silencio 4:32
- 9 Falling Awake 5:16
- 10 The Archive of Lost Dreams 4:52
- 11 Crimson Deep 7:35
Disc 2
- 1 We Are 4:16
- 2 Naiad 7:18
- 3 Still of the Night 6:33
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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