Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers Nightwish are in "the deepest countryside of Finland" working on material for their new studio album, which they will begin to record on October 15 for a late 2011 release.

Commented keyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen:

"Another week passed by, another week of rehearsing, song-shaping, sweating, boating and fishing. The happiest event, naturally, was Anette [Olzon, Nightwish singer] having a baby and feeling fantastic with the newborn!

"Our congrats and blessings for the whole family!

"Songs #9 and #10 took shape last weekend. The #9 one explores Zimmer territories shamelessly with the chorus taking us back to our roots. Emppu's [Vuorinen, guitar] favorite part of the whole album, I reckon.

"I've always had problems with short-, simple-structured songs but this sounds very promising even to my cynical ears and heart.

"Last song put together will be the last one on the album, an insanely ambitious piece. I assume it will be close to 20 minutes long. Uncle Walt's [Disney] spirit is already haunting in every note of this song. Still needs some arranging, though.

"We have only one song left to practice after the monster song, an acoustic piece in the vein of 'The Islander'. Ennio Morricone meets Christy Moore.

"Emppu and me need loads of Guinness, some fine single malt and a windy day to bring this one alive. And [u.K. multi-instrumentalist] Troy's [Donockley] pipes and bodhran, of course.

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"Marco [Hietala, bass/vocals] also sang demo vocals for almost all the songs so they start making more sense and so that Anette would be able to hear the vocal melodies and the pacing of the lyrics.

"It's about three weeks before we start recording the demo so now we have time to put final touches into the songs and perfect them the best we can.

"It's fantastic not to be in any hurry for a change!"

On Friday, July 30 at 4:28 p.m. Swedish time, Nightwish singer Anette Olzon gave birth to her second child (and first with her current boyfriend, bassist Johan Husgafvel of the Swedish metal band Pain).

Nightwish is not expected to play any more shows until the release of the band's next studio album.