The Dark Element is a collaborative project formed by former Nightwish vocalist Anette Olzon and former Sonata Arctica guitarist Jani Liimatainen. In 2016 Frontiers Records offered Jani to record and publish a new album. Jani had then thought that he was going to work with a female vocalist, because the singers of his previous projects had been men. Frontiers soon informed him that Anette Olzon would be the one. Also included in this album are some new songs from 2004, never used before. The project was announced on August 29, 2017. The debut self-titled album was released on 10 November 2017, recorded with bassist Jonas Kuhlberg and drummer Jani Hurula (members of Cain Offering). Their second album, Songs the Night Sings will be released on 8 November 2019, recorded with new drummer Rolf Pilve (Stratovarius).The Dark Element gave its first show at the Sweden Rock Festival on June 7, 2018.