Review TARJA “Rocking Heels – Live at Hellfest”

Finnish singer Tarja played a show at Hellfest 2016, a concert that was recorded and now is released as a live album. Tarja played 10 songs and with the exception of “Shameless” all songs are on the new record.

As expected, the chosen songs reflect the harder and heavier aspect of a singer who can also convince with mellower and softer sounds. Tarja shows once again why she is one of the best singers in rock and metal. Her soprano voice allows her to touch many aspects of music, enabling her to create a blend of rough metal and classical music. If you listen to “Never Enough” you will realize that this combination is something special, especially when it comes to the furious ending of this song.

Another song that brings this fusion to the surface is “Supremacy”. The song, originally by Muse, blends heavy guitars and classic arrangements to create a bombastic sonic experience that shows all its dynamics on this live recording.

“Ciaran’s Well”, the second single from the album, is a powerful interpretation of the song from “My Winter Storm”. The dark and mystical song is great for a live performance as it comes without a lot of frills and is a real headbanger.

Tarja also refers to her time with Nightwish, resulting in a medley of “Tutankhamun / Ever Dream / The Riddler / Slaying the Dreamer”. No doubt the fans welcomed these timeless symphonic metal classics.
With the cinematic version of “Die Alive” we go back to the “My Winter Storm” days before “Until My Last Breath” heralds the end of the album as it was the last song of the Hellfest show.

Tarja has already released several live albums and the “Luna Park Ride” is certainly one of the gems in this musical treasure chest. With “Live at Hellfest” Tarja presents another milestone in her career and fans will appreciate what this release has to offer.