If you've followed the global shenanigans of heavier music over the past decades, you know the name Marko Hietala. And if you don't, I strongly suggest you go back down the dark rabbit hole and do your homework again.

There is no doubt about it: Marko Hietala has been synonymous with quality for
more than four decades. Hietala has not only shaped, but also defined the sound
of harder rock, as a founding member of the heavy metal band Tarot, as an
essential member of the supergroup Sinergy (next to extreme talents such as Alexi Laiho) or as one of the key figures of world's biggest symphonic metal band
Nightwish. Needless to say, his thunderous bass lines and rich vocals have been
echoed in the world's most famous venues, such as Wembley Arena and
legendary festivals like Rock in Rio. However, despite all the achievements, new
conquests are coming at a steady pace... Just recently, Marko Hietala has
appeared in a starring role in the TV series Vain elämää, which has gathered
millions of viewers in Finland.

When it comes to an endlessly talented artist with a strong musical flame in his
heart, an eponymous album is always just a matter of time. In the case of Marko
Hietala, it took a while, but better late than never: his long-awaited first solo debut, Mustan sydämen rovio, finally arrived to grace the spring of 2019 (later reissued in English as Pyre of the Black Heart).

"Sometime in 2017-18, Nightwish took a break – first for about 20 years – and I
decided to spend my time working on my first solo album", Hietala recalls.
"I've come up with all kinds of ideas over the years, and it was time to get them out of my system. When I set my sight on the album, I didn't limit myself in any way. If the idea felt good, it was good..."

Guess what? Marko Hietala's musical and lyrical tide has not dried up and the
well-received debut is getting the company it deserves. Released in February
2025, Roses from the Deep follows the adventurous path of its predecessor, but
perhaps with even greater ambition.

"There were no limits this time either", says Hietala. "Me and my bandmates could do simply anything!"

When the upcoming album was composed and immortalized, Hietala's expressive band still included guitarist Tuomas Wäinölä, keyboardist Vili Ollila and drummer Anssi Nykänen. However, after the completion of the album, Ollila left the group and was replaced by Bob Engstrand (Turisas, Von Hertzen Brothers). "Let's put it like this: Roses from the Deep might exist without my bandmates, but it would be completely different – and much less adventurous", states Hietala.