TARJA TURUNEN Lands On Bulgarian Wall

Metal Hangar 18 reports that a building in the city of Kavarna, Bulgaria features a specially commissioned portrait of former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen painted onto it. The artist responsible for the Turunen piece is Jasen Nenkov, who has previously painted portraits of Klaus Meine (SCORPIONS), Ian Gillan (DEEP PURPLE), Ronnie James Dio (HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) and Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH) on various buildings in Kavarna.

Turunen is among the confirmed artists for Bulgaria's now-traditional Kavarna Rock Fest, which will take place June 23-25, 2010 at the Black Sea coast's town stadium.

According to Standart News, the mayor of Kavarna, Tzonko Tzonev, has managed to turn his life-long hobby — rock music — into a successful and profitable project and thus pour funds into the treasury of Kavarna Municipality. Thanks to Mr. Tsonev's efforts, some of the greatest rock musicians of all times have come and performed in the small coastal town of Kavarna.

The End Records has set an August 31 U.S. release date for Tarja Turunen's sophomore solo album, "What Lies Beneath". The CD's first single, "Falling Awake" (featuring Jason Hook from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH), will be released August 17 as a limited-edition seven-inch single through The Omega Order and available August 24 at all digital outlets . The track is backed with "The Good Die Young" — a song from the SCORPIONS' most recent album that features Tarja's vocals.

Featuring U.S.-exclusive artwork and a bonus track, "What Lies Beneath" was recorded and produced by Tarja and mixed by Tim Palmer (PEARL JAM, THE CURE, ROBERT PLANT), Colin Richardson (SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) and Slamm Andrews (scores of "Angels & Demon", "Pirates of The Caribbean", "Gladiator"). Special guests on ther CD include Phil Labonte (ALL THAT REMAINS), Joe Satriani, Jason Hook (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH), Will Calhoun (LIVING COLOUR), Slovak National Symphony Orchestra and Choir and more. A limited-edition deluxe version of "What Lies Beneath" is in the works, with details to be announced soon.

Photos and video below courtesy of Metal Hangar 18