In the Raw (Tarja album)

In the Raw is the eighth solo studio album by Finnish soprano vocalist and composer Tarja Turunen. The record was released on 30 August 2019.

In the Raw
Studio album by
Released30 August 2019 (2019-08-30)[1]
Recorded2019
GenreSymphonic metal[2]
Length57:18
LabelearMUSIC
ProducerTarja Turunen
Tarja chronology
Act II
(2018)
In the Raw
(2019)
Best of: Living the Dream
(2022)
Singles from In the Raw
  1. "Dead Promises"
    Released: 3 May 2019[3]
  2. "Railroads"
    Released: 21 June 2019[4]
  3. "Tears in Rain"
    Released: 9 August 2019[5]
  4. "You and I"
    Released: 13 December 2019[6]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Metal Hammer (PT)[7]
Cryptic Rock[8]
Sonic Perspectives[9]
Metal Imperium[10]

Background edit

On In the Raw, released on August 30, 2019, composer and vocalist Tarja Turunen joined forces with other Heavy Metal vocalists such as Soilwork vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid, Tommy Karevik of Kamelot, and Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia, thus including in the album vocal collaborations with them.[11] Strid is featured in "Dead Promises", Scabbia's vocals can be heard in "Goodbye Stranger", and Karevik is featured in "Silent Masquerade".

On 12 September 2019, Turunen started the "Raw Tour" to promote the "In the Raw" album.[12] However, many of its shows were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]

Critical reception edit

In the Raw has been widely acclaimed by both heavy metal fans and music critics in general, as Gary Hernandez from "Metal Temple" wrote: "In the Raw reminds us how good Symphonic Metal can be: Vocal performances executed to perfection, versatile songwriting, thoughtful arrangements, deeply talented musicians, excellent production values".[14]

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dead Promises" (featuring Björn Strid)5:50
2."Goodbye Stranger" (featuring Cristina Scabbia)
  • Turunen
  • Scholpp
5:12
3."Tears in Rain"
  • Turunen
  • Johnny Lee Andrews
4:28
4."Railroads"
  • Turunen
  • Erik Nyholm
4:00
5."You and I"
4:07
6."The Golden Chamber (Awaken - Loputon Yo - Alchemy)"
  • Turunen
  • Jim Michael Dooley
7:05
7."Spirits of the Sea"
  • Turunen
  • Bart K Hendrickson
6:56
8."Silent Masquerade" (featuring Tommy Karevik)
  • Turunen
  • Julian Barrett
7:32
9."Serene"
4:42
10."Shadow Play"Turunen7:22
Total length:57:18
Extra Raw (Box Set Edition Bonus CD)
No.TitleLength
1."Dead Promises" (Single Version)5:52
2."Spirits of the Sea" (Carlinhos Percussion Mix)7:00
3."Railroads" (Demo)3:55
4."Goodbye Stranger" (Solo Version)5:11
5."You and I" (Band Version)4:09
6."Spirits of the Sea" (Bartly's Water Remix)7:01
7."Silent Masquerade" (Solo Version)7:32
Total length:40:40

Personnel edit

All information from the album booklet.[15]

Tarja

  • Tarja Turunen – lead vocals, piano, art director
  • Alex Scholpp – guitars, bass, keyboards, vocals, drum programming
  • Christian Kretschmar – keyboards
  • Kevin Chown – bass

Additional musicians

  • Björn Strid – additional vocals
  • Cristina Scabbia – additional vocals
  • Tommy Karevik – additional vocals
  • Tim Palmer – guitars, keyboards, percussion, narration, mixing
  • Timm Schreiner – drums
  • Julián Barrett – guitars, drum programming, co-producer (tracks 8 and 10), recording
  • Bart Hendrickson – keyboards, programming, drum programming, ambient design
  • Doug Wimbish – bass
  • Peter Barrett – bass
  • Anders Wollbeck – keyboards, programming
  • Johnny Andrews – keyboards, co-producer (track 3)
  • Erik Nyholm – keyboards
  • James Dooley – keyboards, programming
  • Carlinhos Brown – percussion
  • Thiago Pugas – percussion

Production

  • Marcelo Cabuli – art direction, recording
  • Travis Kennedy – mixing assistant
  • Justin Shturtz – mastering
  • Max Vaccaro – executive producer
  • Anja Obersteller – executive producer
  • Isabelle Albrecht – executive producer
  • Bernhard Hahn – recording
  • Jim Dooley – ambient design

Charts edit

Chart (2019) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[16] 30
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[17] 66
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[18] 60
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[19] 57
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 28
French Albums (SNEP)[21] 88
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[22] 15
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[23] 28
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[24] 37
Scottish Albums (OCC)[25] 29
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 12
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[27] 38
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[28] 3
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[29] 7
UK Official Album Sales[30]
22
US Top Heatseeker (Billboard)[31]
7
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[31]
12
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[31]
27
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[31]
35

References edit

  1. ^ "ALBUMS / IN THE RAW". tarjaturunen.com. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  2. ^ "Tarja "In the Raw"". metalhamer.pt. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  3. ^ "SINGLES / DEAD PROMISES". tarjaturunen.com. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  4. ^ "SINGLES / RAIL ROADS". tarjaturunen.com. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  5. ^ "SINGLES / TEARS IN RAIN". tarjaturunen.com. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  6. ^ https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Tarja_Turunen_You_and_I_Single_Version?id=Bbjuzqz6w5l43qcg3leouj3nysi&gl=DE&PCamRefID=LFV_ [dead link]
  7. ^ "Tarja In The Raw review". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  8. ^ "Tarja - In The Raw Album Review". crypticrock.com. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  9. ^ "Tarja - In The Raw Album Review". www.sonicperspectives.com. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  10. ^ "Tarja Turunen - "In The Raw" Album Review". metalimperium.com. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  11. ^ "In The Raw". Retrieved 2020-04-11.
  12. ^ "Past Event". Retrieved 2020-04-11.
  13. ^ "Tarja's concert in Barcelona Postponed". Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  14. ^ "Tarja - In The Raw: '"In the Raw" review". Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  15. ^ (2019). "In the Raw liner notes". In In the Raw [CD booklet]. earMUSIC.
  16. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Tarja – In the Raw" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  18. ^ "Ultratop.be – Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  19. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 36.Týden 2019 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  20. ^ "Tarja: In the Raw" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  21. ^ "Lescharts.com – Tarja – In the Raw". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  22. ^ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  23. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2019. 36. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  25. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  26. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Tarja – In the Raw". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  27. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Tarja – In the Raw". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  28. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  29. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  30. ^ "Tarja: Official Charts". OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  31. ^ a b c d "Tarja: Charts and Sales History". Ukmix.org. Retrieved 5 October 2023.

External links edit