Finnish Melodic Death Metal

After five long years from their latest release, Finnish metallers Suotana have emerged straight from the everfrost with a new album ‘’Ounas I’’, set for release on March 17, 2023! This full-length release is an epic continuation of the journey its predecessor ‘’Land of the Ending Time’’ began in 2018, and propels the band to a new height. ‘’Ounas I’’ contains 41 freezing minutes of music, including five brand-new Suotana tracks and one ‘Suotanized’ version of Summoning’s “Land of the Dead”.

 The album artwork captures the atmosphere of northern nature and landscapes from which the band was born. Guitarist and songwriter Ville Rautio states,”’Ounas I’ is a concept album which carries the listener through the ages, binding ancient history and the present day. The journey’s epic finale is a 13-minute mammoth of a song, ‘River Ounas’. This black metal-infused odyssey leads us to the current time, where preserving nature’s diversity is becoming more relevant than ever before.”

 Musically, the album introduces nuances while remaining firmly planted in familiar Suotana sounds, including melodic death metal, melodic black metal, and a dash of power metal. The most remarkable differences are the guests on the album. Keyboard player Veli-Matti Kananen (Kalmah) and female vocalist Mora contribute their own unique talents.

 Originally founded in 2005 as guitarist Ville Rautio’s solo project, Suotana’s upward trajectory was not diminished by several line-up changes in the wake of their 2014 debut album, “Forgotten Soil Of This Land”. The sextet joined the Reaper Entertainment family and released two more energetic full-length albums to critical acclaim, “Frostrealm” (2015) and “Land Of The Ending Time” (2018). The current lineup includes vocalist Tuomo Marttinen, guitarist Pasi Portaankorva, keyboardist Tommi Neitola, bassist Rauli Alaruikka, and drummer Rauli Juopperi.

 Suotana’s catalog contains a common thread: music and cover artwork are carefully interwoven to draw an impressive portrait of vast, deserted winter landscapes, whose gloomy atmosphere of oppressive loneliness runs like a heavy, dark band through the entire work.

Melodic-Death/Power-Metal from Finland

Gladenfold is a group of five, out of Turku, Finland, which first saw the light of day over a decade ago, in 2003. The group currently consists of Esko Itälä (Vocals and acoustic guitars), Matias Knuuttila (Guitars), Toke Fønskov Gerdts (Guitars), Lauri Itälä (Drums) and Paavali Pouttu (Keyboards). The band has been actively playing shows in Finland, opening for such household names as Bal-Sagoth, Battle Beast, Shade Empire and Crimfall.

Rooted in Melodic Death Metals aggression and energy, borrowing the grandeur of Power Metal and Symphonic Metal, Gladenfold creates an inherently Nordic-sounding blend of metal music, basing itself especially within the Finnish metal tradition (inspired by for example Norther, Children of Bodom and Ensiferum), with German Power Metal (such as Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray and Freedom Call) still heavily influencing the overall sound.

Gladenfold serves roaring drums, tight and agile rhythm guitars, soaring guitar and keyboard solos, ferocious growling mixed with multi-layered singing as the foundation, but incorporates skillfully crafted keyboards, elegant classical guitars, the majestic symphonic orchestra and choir for even grander sonic landscapes.

While the overall vision has remained the same, Gladenfold has been constantly evolving.

Early milestones include the Frozen Halls demo (2005), which was the entry to the Gladenfold universe, as well as the In Somno EP (2006), which showcased a more folk metal inspired sound and lastly the Time of Departure EP (2008), which really cemented the Gladenfold sound. The Tales from Worlds Afar EP (2011) took all of this to a new level, especially production-wise, but also in the incorporation of symphonic elements.

In 2014, Gladenfold released the well-received debut album, From Dusk to Eternity, which stands as a testament to all words previously attributed to the band. The album was of a grander scale than anything the band had created before, and was the first release to really include classical guitar and choir elements. The upcoming album, When Gods Descend, is a refinement of all these attributes, and exhibits an even more ambitious musical scale and production. The album encompasses everything from the softest ballad, through concise and crushing pieces, to longer epics that draw you in for the long haul.

German Death Metal

The inside-tip DEAD ALONE is back with their new work called “Serum“. On the fith album the musicians remained true to atmospheric Death Metal and managed to develop their unique trademarks at the same time. “Serum“ the the band’s most innovative, complex and catching album yet.

DEAD ALONE mirror an oppressive reality in which humanitiy causes its own apocalypse by merciless exploiting faith and hope. „With “Serum“ the band kicks their autience into that world that is based on roaring guitars, driving drums and an intense bass. Above the music singer Florian Hefft’s vocals sit enthroned an reign with desperate screams, agressive nagging and deep growls. Ornately interwoven orchester parts carry through this massive piece of art.

“Serum“ was produced at Perlsound Studio (Munich), the drums were recorded at Forester Studios (e. g. THRÄNENKIND, HERETOIR). Frieder Loch (Ex-TODTGELICHTER) did parts of the orchestration and synthies. “Serum“ got its powerful yet transparent sound by Dinos „Psychon“ Prassas (Live-Guitar in SEPTICFLESH) who did the mix and mastering.

It took DEAD ALONE three years until they achieved the perfect interplay of artwork, lyrics and music. “Serum“ is a demanding and intense journey that the listener won’t get out of his head easily. Highly recommended for fans of PARADISE LOST, SEPTICFLESH und ENSLAVED!

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