Eye of Melian, the Tolkien-inspired symphonic project founded by Martijn Westerholt (Delain) and Finnish vocalist Johanna Kurkela (Auri) have signed with Napalm Records. The band’s new album, Forest of Forgetting, is scheduled to arrive on February 20, 2026. To celebrate the news, the group has shared a video for the forthcoming album’s debut single, “Blackthorn Winter.” Joining Westerholt and Kurkela are orchestrator Mikko P. Mustonen and lyricist/vocalist Robin La Joy, with guest appearances by Troy Donockley (Nightwish) and Patty Gurdy.
Johanna Kurkela comments on the new single:
“‘Blackthorn Winter’ ended up becoming a very personal song to me after writing the lyrics about living here in Finland, where winter feels like it never ends and summer is the best day of the year.”
Martijn Westerholt states on the upcoming album:
“This album has been a really inspiring process – both for me as a songwriter and in what each of us brought to it. It has a lot of what EYE OF MELIAN is known for: cinematic, score-like arrangements, minor chords, and those epic, mysterious atmospheres. The lyrics tie everything together; they bring out the worlds and stories that the music hints at and make the whole thing feel complete. The collaboration between us on this record felt very natural. We’ve really found our way of working as a team, and I’m proud of what we created together.”
Watch the clip below and pre-order the album here:
Track List:
01) Of Willows and Shadows
02) Symphonia Arcana
03) Child of Twilight
04) Elixir of Night (feat. Patty Gurdy and Troy Donockley)
05) Blackthorn Winter
06) Lady of Light
07) Dawn of Avatars (feat. Patty Gurdy and Troy Donockley)
08) Forest of Forgetting
09) The Buried Well
10) The Mirror
11) Nepenthe
12) Tears of the Dragon (Bruce Dickinson Cover)
Feature Image Photo Credit: Tim Tronckoe
