Marko Hietala Roses from the Deep on February 7th . This is his second solo work, following Pyre of the Black Heart (2020).
To announce the news, the musician invited some journalists to participate in a press conference. During the conversation, the musician spoke about the current project and what to expect in the future.
Check out the interview below, and listen to the full album at the end of the article.
Marko talks about his new solo album.
Press: Hi Marco, how are you?
MH: I'm fine, thank you! It's a little late for me, as I'm a family man, but I'm here and ready to begin.
Imp: What inspired you to create a solo album instead of working with Tarot, for example?
MH: The process began with the EP Pyre of the Black Heart , where I brought together a group of musicians I really enjoy working with. Over time, this naturally evolved into a band. When I started to recover from a long period of depression and anxiety, I returned to writing.
My bandmates got in touch after the pandemic, eager to make music, and I had already started working on new material. Everything fell into place naturally. Tarot, on the other hand, recently played some great comeback shows at festivals, and we plan to revisit our old material next summer to see if we feel inspired to create something new. But for now, my solo group allows me to explore more varied musical styles beyond heavy metal.
Imp: Your new project leans towards metal again. What was the experience of producing a heavy metal album like again?
MH: Although this album has clear metal elements, it still reflects the versatility of both the group and my songwriting process. I want my bandmates to enjoy playing these songs, and since we all love heavy rock and metal, it just happened naturally. However, there's also a mix of classic rock, progressive elements, and folk on the album.
What message do you hope listeners will take away from this album?
MH: Music has the purpose of transporting people, whether as a form of escapism or simply bringing joy. If my music can give listeners relief from the difficulties of daily life, then I will have fulfilled my role.
Literary and cinematic influences
Imp: Your album has a cinematic and narrative quality, especially in songs like “Frankenstein's Wife.” What inspires this approach?
MH: It's not something I consciously plan, but when we add layers, orchestration, and band dynamics, it naturally takes on a cinematic tone. I have a very ambitious group, and we strive for as much variety as possible while keeping everything cohesive.
Imp: Are there other songs on the album inspired by books or movies?
MH: Yes, “Left on Mars” was influenced by my love of science fiction. Including the wonderful participation of Tarja Turunen . I use many technical and futuristic terms, knowing exactly what they mean. Although it wasn't directly inspired by a specific book, science fiction themes definitely play a role in my writing.
Hietala and the band dynamics
Imp: Can you tell us about your collaboration with Thomas Wäinölä?
MH: I've worked with Thomas for years on the Finnish Christmas project, where we toured together. When I started working on Pyre of the Black Heart , it was natural to involve him. He's an incredibly versatile musician, going from jazz to rock and pop, and he brought a lot of depth to this album.
The evolution of Roses from the Deep
Imp: The songs on Roses from the Deep have a mix of different sounds. At times, they even resemble life itself, with joy and sadness. Was this intentional or did it happen naturally?
MH: My songwriting process is chaotic. I remain open to inspiration from everything around me. Over the years, I've learned to capture ideas as they arise, whether by writing or recording snippets. The variety on the album reflects this spontaneous approach.
Imp: The track “Tammikuu,” which means January in Finnish, stands out as a unique song on the album. Can you tell us more about it?
MH: It means January, because it's my birthday month (laughs). It's a song about my childhood, feelings of alienation, and later, a transformation. Halfway through the song, it takes a fantastic turn. Musically, it has a bit of that New Wave of British Heavy Metal vibe—except it's in Finnish!
Imp: “Impatient Zero” is one of the most powerful songs on the album. What inspired it?
MH: It reflects the darkness I experienced during my struggles with depression and the pain of feeling misunderstood. Some friends drifted away, assuming I had gone crazy or was involved with drugs. Writing this song was a way to encapsulate and process that phase of my life.
Tours and plans for the future
Imp: How is it to be back on the road with a solo project? Is there something special about playing this new material live?
MH: It's exciting, but also a greater responsibility, since my name is on the project. I even felt nervous before the first solo shows, which was unusual for me after so many years. But now we're adding new elements, including collaborations with Nora Louhimo from Battle Beast. It will be a unique experience for our shows in Finland.
Imp: Next year marks 40 years since the release of Spell of Iron . Any plans to celebrate this milestone?
MH: I hadn't thought about that yet, but now that you've mentioned it, maybe I should! Let's see if we can incorporate something special into the upcoming shows.
Imp: Do you see yourself returning to power metal or symphonic metal in the future?
MH: At this stage of my life, I find it limiting to commit to a single genre. If a song naturally leads me in that direction, I'll embrace it. But, at the moment, my focus is on maintaining my creative freedom. If Tarot reunites, it will certainly be heavy metal, but in my solo work, I want to explore a wider range of influences.
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