THE DARK ELEMENT, the project featuring former NIGHTWISH vocalist Anette Olzon and Finnish guitarist and songwriter Jani Liimatainen, has entered the studio to begin recording its second album. The follow-up to last year's "The Dark Element" will tentatively arrive in the fall of 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Olzon says: "I'm so excited that me and Jani will make new music again! Our first album is still proving to be such an amazing ride for me and it turned out to be maybe the best thing I've ever done, so far. Great songs are in the works and, of course, me and Jani will have so much fun hearing how the album grows from simple demos to the final master. I've recorded some first vocal demos and can already say that this will be as fun recording as the first one! Great times ahead and I can't wait for you to hear our album number 2!"

Liimatainen adds that his "journey with wonderful Anette and the excellent Frontiers label will continue. The first album turned out even better than I had hoped and the reception we we got from the fans was unbelievable," he says.

"During this past spring, I started putting together some new material for us and now all the songs are written. We are already in the studio laying down the drum tracks for what I am sure will be another excellent album."

As for the musical direction of the new THE DARK ELEMENT material, Jani says: "I think the album picks up where the last album left off. It's very heavy, but still hyper melodic, and this time we are even exploring new musical territories we didn't on the previous album. Now that me and Anette have one album together under our belts, we have found the style we want to pursue and also the ideal way of working together. Given all this, I think it's safe to say that with the next album you'll get even more of what made the first album so good, only it's gonna be bigger, better and bolder!"

Anette is widely known for being the immaculate voice on the hit albums from NIGHTWISH, "Dark Passion Play" and "Imaginareum". Jani has been busy in CAIN'S OFFERING alongside STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto, but left a deep mark on the minds of all power metal fans thanks to his time in SONATA ARCTICA.

THE DARK ELEMENT made its live debut in June at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden. The band also completed a short Japanese tour and performed at the Frontiers Rock Sweden festival in October at Fryshuset Klubben in Stockholm.