Tarja Turunen: The Frisson Noir Interview — Surviving Nightwish, Defying Aging, and the 2026 Metal Homecoming

On this edition of the Loaded Radio Podcast, Scott Penfold sits down with the undisputed "Queen of Symphonic Metal," Tarja Turunen. In an incredibly raw and revealing conversation, Tarja discusses her tenth solo studio album, Frisson Noir (Free-sohn Nwahr), which she confirms is the heaviest and most aggressive work of her entire career. Tarja opens up about the "Sisu" (See-soo) spirit of Finnish perseverance, her recent high-profile European tour reunion with former Nightwish bassist Marko Hietala, and why she has officially retired from performing in high heels. From her early days being bullied in the village of Puhos to her current life in Spain, we explore the woman behind the mask. We also get the "Nuggs" on her brand-new singles featuring Dani Filth and Chad Smith, and find out if a return to the stage with Nightwish is truly off the table in 2026. STAY LOUD: Catch the full breakdown of today's stories on the Metal Breakdown Daily podcast (Mon-Fri), or crank the hard rock and metal 24/7 on our live digital stream at LoadedRadio.com. Follow the Madness: Download the Free Loaded Radio App: Available on App Store & Google Play YouTube: Subscribe for daily video updates Socials: Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok