Today, Finnish singer/bassist Marko Hietala announces his signing with Nuclear Blast for his upcoming solo album "Pyre Of The Black Heart", which is set to released on January 24th. Hietala himself describes the style of the upcoming release as "Hard Prog".

About the goal behind his solo album, Marko Hietala comments, "Well, let's put it this way: NIGHTWISH is without any doubt my main band, and thanks to income from that direction, I don't have to be that commercially aware... What I mean is that when I was coming up with the musical thoughts for this solo record, I was able to do simply anything without limits. So if I had a goal, it was to not have any kind of limits but to prepare an unpredictable, spontaneous, adventurous, ferocious and intimate solo record.

And now when I am listening to the final album by myself, I can say with my hand on my heart that I – or rather us – pulled it off... The record is a really diverse musical roller coaster ride that takes eager listeners into a world of strong emotions and deep feelings!"

Shortly after the album release, there will also be a Marko Hietala solo tour. "Come February... We simply can't wait to get out on the road! It will be amazing to perform these solo songs for all those multinational friends of my music", Hietala says and continues: "I strongly recommend coming out to see my band during this run, entitled "Tour of the Black Heart", as this will be my first and last European solo tour in a long time – or ever!"