The most direct comparison is her collaborative side-project, The Dark Element (featuring ex-Sonata Arctica guitarist Jani Liimatainen). This declaration on its own should deliver plenty of comfort to fans, given the high quality of that band’s output. And indeed, there is the impression that Strong is a natural continuation of Songs the Night Sings, albeit with a few twists and surprises added in for good measure.
Perhaps the biggest of these changes is the addition of growling vocals, delivered by her husband Johan Husgafvel, who is also credited with bass duties on the album. The use of distorted vocals is nothing ground-breaking or novel, but it was still unexpected to hear their inclusion. And the effect works nicely – matching the renewed focus on providing a heavier sound.
The album opens with “Bye Bye Bye“, which is an unmistakable reference to the similarly titled Nightwish single “Bye Bye Beautiful“. The latter was widely interpreted as being directed at the original singer of Nightwish, Tarja Turunen, who was unceremoniously fired from the band at the pinnacle of their popularity in 2005. “Bye Bye Bye” is the flip side of the coin, and feels very much like a rebuttal from Olzon when the same fate befell her during the middle of the North American tour in 2012.
Could I ever know what would come? // The day I got the call from you // Could anyone have told me before? // The end will be so cruel, I got screwed.
Bye Bye Bye – Anette Olzon
The track is sure to stir up age-old tensions amongst Olzon and Nightwish fans once again, but also serves as a potent reminder of her musical lineage. Supporters can take heart that there is a message of triumph within the lyrics as well: “The King is Dead!“, as Olzon exclaims. Next up is the hit single, “Sick of You“, with its catchy hooks and ABBA-esque melodies establishing it as an instant album highlight. The third track, “I Need to Stay“, harks back to Olzon’s symphonic metal roots, bringing back many of the familiar orchestral elements that we know and love from her previous work. This trend continues as we enter into the title track “Strong“, which perhaps non-surprisingly has one of the most powerful and confident intros of all the songs heard so far, and is backed up by an inspiring, anthemic chorus.
The album switches gears again with the fast-paced, and synth-heavy “Parasite“, the first single released for the album and another bona fide hit for Olzon. Before hitting a rather sombre note with “Sad Lullaby“, a touching tribute to Olzon’s father, who passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Fantastic Fanatic” and “Who Can Save Them” subsequently lift the mood with familiar sounding riffs, and the usual catchy lyrics that by now have become par for the course. “Fantastic Fanatic“, in particular, feels like it could have been lifted from “Dark Passion Play“, with its Amaranth-sounding guitar riff. “Catcher of Dreams” on the other hand, kicks off with Olzon belting out a long high-pitched signature howl, which rightly or wrongly reminded me of Dani Filth’s modus operandi. “Hear Them Roar” maintains the high-octane tempo, while “Roll The Dice” closes out the album in epic fashion, with Olzon posturing: “Will I get to see the snake eyes, Do or die, the time is now”. One thing is clear, if the gamble is a reference to the making of her sophomore solo album, it is safe to conclude that the dice rolled in her favour.
Olzon has clearly learnt a lot since her last album, and while the signature sound of Nightwish still looms large over her music, she has definitely carved out her own version of it, and turned it into something that is uniquely her own. While the album is not perfect, especially when held up against some of her other projects, it is no exaggeration that Strong includes some of Olzon’s best work to date, and represents a major step forward in her own personal solo career.
Verdict: A personal highlight, if not a career highlight. Strong is a far more polished and confident solo album, and by returning to what she does best, Anette Olzon has laid down a solid foundation for the future.
