Timo Tolkki and Symfonia have issued the following studio update:

Still here in Sweden recording Andre’s vocals. Some of the vocal lines are…how should I put it…rather “extensively difficult”, but Andre has been singing really well. The picture you see is my “working station” where I sweat my butt daily for 10 hours. It’s called “Mother 128”, don’t ask me why.
There is something very special in spending a long time in a place where there is NOTHING but snow. You really start hearing your own voice. I am 100% convinced that if we would bring someone let’s say from New York here for 2 weeks, the person would go nuts.
The silence is just incredible. Not a single sound. Yesterday I saw 2 baby deer’s walking 4 meters from the cabin we are recording and lot of rabbits. Maybe I should call to Lou Marullo.

Source: Symfonia Official Facebook