In the Raw (Tarja album)

In the Raw
Studio album by Tarja
Released	30 August 2019 (2019-08-30) [1]
Recorded	2019
Genre	Symphonic metal [2]
Length	57:18
Label	earMUSIC
Producer	Tarja Turunen
Tarja chronology
Act II (2018) In the Raw (2019) Best of: Living the Dream (2022)
Singles from In the Raw
"Dead Promises" Released: 3 May 2019 [3] "Railroads" Released: 21 June 2019 [4] "Tears in Rain" Released: 9 August 2019 [5] "You and I" Released: 13 December 2019 [6]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Metal Hammer (PT)	[7]
Cryptic Rock	[8]
Sonic Perspectives	[9]
Metal Imperium	[10]

In the Raw is the eighth solo studio album by the Finnish singer Tarja Turunen. The record was released on 30 August 2019.

Background

On In the Raw, released on August 30, 2019, composer and vocalist Tarja Turunen joined forces with other Heavy Metal vocalists such as Soilwork vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid, Tommy Karevik of Kamelot, and Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia, thus including in the album vocal collaborations with them. ^[11] Strid is featured in "Dead Promises", Scabbia's vocals can be heard in "Goodbye Stranger", and Karevik is featured in "Silent Masquerade".

On 12 September 2019, Turunen started the "Raw Tour" to promote the In the Raw album. ^[12] However, many of its shows were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[13]

Critical reception

In the Raw has been widely acclaimed by both heavy metal fans and music critics in general, as Gary Hernandez from "Metal Temple" wrote: "In the Raw reminds us how good Symphonic Metal can be: Vocal performances executed to perfection, versatile songwriting, thoughtful arrangements, deeply talented musicians, excellent production values". ^[14]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Dead Promises" (featuring Björn Strid)	Tarja Turunen Alex Scholpp	5:50
2.	"Goodbye Stranger" (featuring Cristina Scabbia)	Turunen Scholpp	5:12
3.	"Tears in Rain"	Turunen Johnny Lee Andrews	4:28
4.	"Railroads"	Turunen Erik Nyholm	4:00
5.	"You and I"	Turunen Michael Zlanabitnig Mattias Lindblom	4:07
6.	"The Golden Chamber (Awaken - Loputon yö - Alchemy)"	Turunen Jim Michael Dooley	7:05
7.	"Spirits of the Sea"	Turunen Bart K Hendrickson	6:56
8.	"Silent Masquerade" (featuring Tommy Karevik)	Turunen Julian Barrett	7:32
9.	"Serene"	Turunen Scholpp Anders Wollbeck Lindblom	4:42
10.	"Shadow Play"	Turunen	7:22
Total length:			57:18

Extra Raw (Box Set Edition Bonus CD)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Dead Promises" (Single Version)	5:52
2.	"Spirits of the Sea" (Carlinhos Percussion Mix)	7:00
3.	"Railroads" (Demo)	3:55
4.	"Goodbye Stranger" (Solo Version)	5:11
5.	"You and I" (Band Version)	4:09
6.	"Spirits of the Sea" (Bartly's Water Remix)	7:01
7.	"Silent Masquerade" (Solo Version)	7:32
Total length:		40:40

Personnel

All information from the album booklet. ^[15]

Tarja

• Tarja Turunen – lead vocals, piano, art director
• Alex Scholpp – guitars, bass, keyboards, vocals, drum programming
• Christian Kretschmar – keyboards
• Kevin Chown – bass

Additional musicians

• Björn Strid – additional vocals
• Cristina Scabbia – additional vocals
• Tommy Karevik – additional vocals
• Tim Palmer – guitars, keyboards, percussion, narration, mixing
• Timm Schreiner – drums
• Julián Barrett – guitars, drum programming, co-producer (tracks 8 and 10), recording
• Bart Hendrickson – keyboards, programming, drum programming, ambient design
• Doug Wimbish – bass
• Peter Barrett – bass
• Anders Wollbeck – keyboards, programming
• Johnny Andrews – keyboards, co-producer (track 3)
• Erik Nyholm – keyboards
• James Dooley – keyboards, programming
• Carlinhos Brown – percussion
• Thiago Pugas – percussion

Production

• Marcelo Cabuli – art direction, recording
• Travis Kennedy – mixing assistant
• Justin Shturtz – mastering
• Max Vaccaro – executive producer
• Anja Obersteller – executive producer
• Isabelle Albrecht – executive producer
• Bernhard Hahn – recording
• Jim Dooley – ambient design

Charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [16]	30
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [17]	66
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [18]	60
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI) [19]	57
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [20]	28
French Albums (SNEP) [21]	88
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [22]	15
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [23]	28
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [24]	37
Scottish Albums (OCC) [25]	29
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [26]	12
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [27]	38
UK Rock and Metal Albums (BPI) [28]	3
UK Independent Albums [28]	7
UK Official Album Sales [28]	22
US Top Heatseeker ( Billboard ) [29]	7
US Top Hard Rock Albums ( Billboard ) [29]	12
US Independent Albums ( Billboard ) [29]	27
US Top Rock Albums ( Billboard ) [29]	35

References

1. "ALBUMS / IN THE RAW". tarjaturunen.com. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
2. "Tarja "In the Raw"". metalhamer.pt. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
3. "SINGLES / DEAD PROMISES". tarjaturunen.com. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
4. "SINGLES / RAIL ROADS". tarjaturunen.com. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
5. "SINGLES / TEARS IN RAIN". tarjaturunen.com. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
6. https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Tarja_Turunen_You_and_I_Single_Version?id=Bbjuzqz6w5l43qcg3leouj3nysi&gl=DE&PCamRefID=LFV_ ^{[ dead link ]}
7. "Tarja In The Raw review". Metal Hammer . Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
8. "Tarja - In The Raw Album Review". crypticrock.com. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
9. "Tarja - In The Raw Album Review". www.sonicperspectives.com. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
10. "Tarja Turunen - "In The Raw" Album Review". metalimperium.com. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
11. "In The Raw" . Retrieved 2020-04-11.
12. "Past Event" . Retrieved 2020-04-11.
13. "Tarja's concert in Barcelona Postponed" . Retrieved 2020-05-28.
14. "Tarja - In The Raw: '"In the Raw" review". Archived from the original on 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
15. (2019). "In the Raw liner notes". In In the Raw [CD booklet]. earMUSIC.
16. "Austriancharts.at – Tarja – In the Raw" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
17. "Ultratop.be – Tarja – In the Raw" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
18. "Ultratop.be – Tarja – In the Raw" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
19. "Czech Chart History: Tarja" (in Czech). Retrieved 2013-09-09.
20. "Tarja: In the Raw" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
21. "Lescharts.com – Tarja – In the Raw". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
22. "Offiziellecharts.de – Tarja – In the Raw" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
23. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2019. 36. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
24. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
25. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
26. "Swisscharts.com – Tarja – In the Raw". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
27. "Spanishcharts.com – Tarja – In the Raw". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
28. "Tarja: Official Charts". OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
29. "Tarja: Charts and Sales History". Ukmix.org. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2023.

External links

• Tarjaturunen.com Archived 2013-05-20 at the Wayback Machine
• Album: In the Raw
• Tarja: In the Raw