New NIGHTWISH singer Anette Blyckert's (a.k.a. Anette Olzon) former bandmates in the Swedish AOR act ALYSON AVENUE have posted the following message on their MySpace page:
"It's with pride, enthusiasm and love that we wish you all the best in your position as the new lead vocalist in. We know what you are capable of, and we know that you will kick ass!!
"This will be a new tough experience for you, but most of all a fun journey, and you will do more than well, for sure.
"We have had a lot of fun together through the years and we are here as friends forever.
"It's very hard to find enough words to express the emotions but... HUGS AND KISSES from your old bandmates!!!
"And to the rest of: You have for sure picked the best girl to frontor any other band in the world."
Threesongs featuringare currently available for download on the band's MySpace page. Check out the songsandat this location . Also available for streaming is a 2005 demo version of the song
last week released three more samples from its forthcoming album, due in September. In addition to first single,, you can now check out short clips of the songsand
's new single,, was released in Finland on Friday (May 25) via
The sixthalbum will be released on September 26, preceded by a second, regular single release in August.
Anette Olzon will replace the bands previous vocalist Tarja Turunen (above).

Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish have announced the signing of Anette Olzon, also known as Anette Blyckert, a 35-year-old Swede, as their new lead vocalist.

The announcement comes 19 months after original vocalist Tarja Turunen was sacked.

Olzen had previously been in the band Alyson Avenue, and was selected from over 2,000 separate applicants for the place in Nightwish. Part of an official statement by the band said “She’s already so much more than we were ever expecting to get. ... The new album will be a monster


” The band first met with Olzen earlier this year during Olzen's first visit to Finland.

Olzon said she had not previously heard much of Nightwish until shortly before Turunen was sacked. One week after sending Nightwish a demo, she received a personal reply from Nightwish keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen. She was informed at one point, however, that she could not take the part as she was a mother and Nightwish were worried that could impact on their touring schedule, but Olzon forwarded a DVD of a live concert with her previous band that apparently changed Nightwish's mind. She was not told of the band's decision, however, until January 30th this year.

Olzon's Former bandmates posted a message to the official MySpace account of their own band, wishing her "all the best" and stated that they "Know That You Will Kick Ass

" in her new position.

Olzen is on the recently released single, "Eva", and has recorded her vocals for Nightwish's sixth studio album, due out in September. The rest of the band is currently in studio finishing the album.