Finnish / Dutch / British symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH will release their new album, "Endless Forms Most Beautiful", on March 27 in Europe and March 31 in the U.S. via Nuclear Blast. The cover artwork for the CD was created by the band's longtime collaborator Toxic Angel.

"Endless Forms Most Beautiful" features eleven new songs and will be released in different formats:

* Standard CD

* Digibook (including instrumental CD)

* 2LP (vinyl in gatefold) in different colors

* Earbook (including instrumental and orchestral CD)

* Earbook (deluxe version including bonus vinyl)

* Download

Pre-order your copy here.

The "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" title came from Charles Darwin's "The Origin Of Species" book, where he wrote: "There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, while this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved."

Commented NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen: "This classic quote is where it all began. We set sail for the ultimate journey in March 2015. Join us!"

A single called "Élan" will precede the full-length CD on February 13. The four-track single features the album version of the title cut, a radio edit and an alternate version of "Élan", as well as the non-album bonus track "Sagan".

Regarding "Élan", Holopainen said: "'Oh, while I live to be the ruler of life, Not a slave. To meet life as a powerful conqueror, and nothing exterior to me will ever take command of me.' This beautiful quote from my hero Uncle Walt [Walt Whitman] was the starting point for writing 'Élan'.

"The underlying theme of the song is nothing less than the meaning of life, which can be something different for all of us.

"It's important to surrender yourself to the occasional 'free fall' and not to fear the path less travelled by.

"Élan" track listing:

CD:

01. Élan (album version)

02. Élan (radio edit)

03. Élan (alternate version)

04. Sagan (non-album bonus track)

Vinyl:

Side A:

01. Élan (album version)

02. Élan (radio edit)

Side B

01. Élan (alternate version)

02. Sagan (non-album bonus track)

Pre-order your copy of "Élan" here.

As previously reported, longtime NIGHTWISH drummer Jukka Nevalainen sat out the recording sessions for the group's new CD due to health issues; Kai Hahto (WINTERSUN, SWALLOW THE SUN, TREES OF ETERNITY) has replaced him.

NIGHTWISH recently revealed the famed evolutionary biologist and atheist writer/leader Richard Dawkins will appear as a guest on the band's eighth studio album.

Singer Floor Jansen, who officially joined the band last year, made her live debut as the frontwoman of NIGHTWISH on October 1, 2012 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington.