NIGHTWISH Launch “Elán” Cover Contest

Finland-based symphonic metal storytellers, Nightwish, have announced a worldwide video contest to showcase the talents of their own fans.

Sign language speakers/interpreters, jazz flutists, cellists, ukulele and theremin players, expert whistlers, vocalists, guitarists, bassists, drummers, and keyboard players alike: You are all invited to create a video for your very own cover version of the Nightwish single “Elán.”

Prizes for three Grand Prize Winners and two Runners Up include Nighwish t-shirts, posters, and autographed photo cards. For complete contest instructions and rules, visit this location. This contest ends on Thursday, April 10th. Winners will be announced on April 16th, 2015.

The “Élan” video, directed by Ville Lipiäinen, can be seen below along with a “making of” clip.

In anticipation of their forthcoming new record, Endless Forms Most Beautiful, Nightwish recently release the 13th episode from the “making of” series in which Floor Jansen and Kai Hahto discuss their experiences during the recording of the new album. Check it out below:

Endless Forms Most Beautiful will be out on March 27th (Europe), 30th (UK) and 31st (North America) and will be released in several different formats. Go to this location for details. The detailed cover-artwork was created by longtime collaborator Toxic Angel.

Endless Forms Most Beautiful is the first Nightwish studio album to feature Dutch vocalist Floor Jansen. Longtime drummer Jukka Nevalainen sat out on the recording sessions due to health issues; Kai Hahto (Wintersun) replaces him. Nightwish also revealed the famed evolutionary biologist and writer, Professor Richard Dawkins as a guest on this eighth studio album.

Germany’s long running goth culture magazine Sonic Seducer will release a strictly limited edition hardcover Nightwish book at the end of April. The volume, entitled Nightwish Chronik and printed in German, features over 200 pages containing exclusive interviews from throughout the band’s history, compiled CD and live reviews, information on the band’s new album Endless Forms Most Beautiful, and rare photos. It is available to order directly from Sonic Seducer at this location.

Nightwish have announced their Endless Forms Most Beautiful – Europe 2015 tour, kicking off mid-November in the Danish capital Copenhagen. Joining Nightwish on the road will be Finnish labelmates Amorphis, as well as Swedish death metal outfit Arch Enemy.

Tour dates:

November
16 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Falconer
18 – Hamburg, Germany – O2 World
19 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Heineken Music Hall
21 – Oberhausen, Germany – König-Pilsener-Arena
23 – Lyon, France – Hall Tony Garnier
25 – Paris, France – POPB-Bercy
26 – Toulouse, France – Le Zénith
28 – Basel, Switzerland – St. Jakobshalle
29 – Bologna, Italy – Unipol Arena

December
1 – Munich, Germany – Zenith
3 – Stuttgart, Germany – Schleyerhalle
4 – Frankfurt, Germany – Jahrhunderthalle
5 – Nürnberg, Germany – Arena
7 – Prague, Czech Republic – Tip Sport Arena Prague
10 – Bucharest, Romania – Romexpo
14 – Leipzig, Germany – Arena
15. – Berlin Max, Germany – Schmeling-Halle
16 – Luxembourg, Luxembourg – Rockhal
17 – Antwerp, Belgium – Lotto Arena

Additionally, Nightwish will play a one-off show at the world famous Wembley SSE Arena in London on December 19th, making them the ever Finnish band to headline this famous venue.