"Dark Passion Play" is the sixth studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on September 26, 2007, in Finland, September 28 in Europe, and October 2 in the US. This album marks a significant transition for the band, being the first without original vocalist Tarja Turunen, who was dismissed in 2005. It also features Troy Donockley on uilleann pipes and tin whistle and is the first of two albums with vocalist Anette Olzon.
Tuomas Holopainen described this album as the "album that saved his life." The song "Eva" leaked online six days before the official release, prompting an earlier promotional release to boost downloads. The entire album was leaked shortly before its official launch due to early sales in some Mexican stores.
Despite these challenges, "Dark Passion Play" achieved remarkable commercial success, being certified gold in Finland before its release and debuting at number one in six European countries. It sold over 100,000 copies in Finland alone, earning triple platinum status, and by February 2008, it reached quadruple platinum with over 120,000 copies sold, making it one of Finland's top 40 best-selling albums. Worldwide, the album has sold nearly 2 million copies.
On October 21, 2005, Nightwish's lead singer Tarja Turunen was dismissed via an open letter after the "Once Upon a Tour." The band held auditions from March 17, 2006, to January 15, 2007, receiving over 2,000 demo tapes. Anette Olzon, formerly of Swedish AOR band Alyson Avenue, was announced as Turunen's replacement on May 24, 2007. Tuomas Holopainen expressed confidence in her abilities, acknowledging the challenge of being compared to Tarja.
Recording for the album began in spring 2006 across various studios in Europe. The drums were tracked in Finland, while guitars, keyboards, and bass were recorded by different band members. Marko Hietala, the band's male vocalist, recorded demo versions of new songs, with Olzon laying down her final vocals in March 2007.
The overall production cost was significant, roughly half a million euros, with a substantial portion spent during an eight-day session at Abbey Road Studios, where orchestral and choral elements were added. Holopainen described the writing and recording process as liberating, despite concerns about fan reception to the new lineup and the album’s financial stakes. The final orchestral arrangement included 66 members from the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and mixing took over 75 days at Finnvox Studios in Kitee, Finland, where Nightwish had recorded all previous albums.
