Eye Of Melian – team up with Nightwish’s Troy Donockley + Patty Gurdy for new Single and Video

Mere days before the release of Forest Of Forgetting, EYE OF MELIAN shares another glimpse into the new album. “Dawn of Avatars” features Troy Donockley of symphonic metal frontrunners Nightwish on flute and uilleann pipes, as well as hurdy-gurdy enchantress Patty Gurdy, both of them enriching the project that is the brainchild of Martijn Westerholt of DELAIN, fronted by Finnish vocalist Johanna Kurkela (Auri, Tuomas Holopainen).

Inspired by the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, EYE OF MELIAN weaves an ethereal tapestry of melody and emotion through lush, movie score-like sound, conjuring vivid, otherworldly storyscapes in the listener’s mind—symphonic masterpiece “Dawn of Avatars” is no exception. The accompanying album, Forest Of Forgetting, will be out this coming Friday, February 20, 2026 via Napalm Records.

Johanna Kurkela about “Dawn of Avatars”:
“‘Dawn of Avatars’ is one of my favorite songs, on an album full of my favorite songs! Enhanced by the enchanting magic of Patty Gurdy and Troy Donockley.”

EYE OF MELIAN open the gates to a different world with their new album Forest Of Forgetting, out February 20, 2026 via Napalm Records. Named after a powerful primordial singing spirit from the world of J. R. R. Tolkien, EYE OF MELIAN draws inspiration from the master of fantasy and expands on his ethereal concept. Created by Delain’s Martijn Westerholt and featuring Auri’s Johanna Kurkela as a lead vocalist, EYE OF MELIAN’s Forest Of Forgetting is a masterclass in symphonic songwriting so whimsical the real world fades away.
 
With this opulent album, EYE OF MELIAN extends an invitation to faraway lands full of wonder. Forest Of Forgetting unfolds as quite the opposite of its title: utterly unforgettable.
 
Martijn Westerholt about Forest Of Forgetting:
“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.”

Order Your Copy of Forest Of Forgetting NOW!