ALBUM REVIEW: Before the Dawn – Stormbringers


 

Finland is home to some of the most acclaimed Melodic Death Metal bands in the scene. This chilly, cool country is heated up by the vast amount of fiery talent offered by their locals. Before the Dawn was one of these great acts that proudly waved the banner of MeloDeath high. Shortly after the release of their very successful record, Rise of the Phoenix in 2012, the band went on hiatus. Now the Finnish fellas are preparing to release their first album after their ten-year absence. With a new lineup, a revived energy, and an eagerness to share their sound again, the band is back with Stormbringers (Napalm Records).

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ALBUM REVIEW: Wolfheart – King Of The North


 

Finland is a country known for their long, cold winters. Wolfheart is a band that captures their nation’s wild and wonderous weather in their dramatic and dynamically dark sound. The group’s appropriately named debut record, Winterborn came out in 2013 and they have consistently been conveying the majestic magic of Suomi ever since. Now this four piece is getting ready to release their sixth full-length, King of the North (Napalm Records) where they dive even deeper into sharing stories about their country’s lore and land. Continue reading


PODCAST: Episode #84 – Wolfheart’s Tuomas Saukkonen on “Wolves of Karelia”


We caught up with Wolfheart leader Tuomas Saukkonen recently for a new interview. The band has unleashed its amazing new album (review here) Wolves of Karelia, out now via Napalm Records. The follow up to the acclaimed 2018 release Constellation Of The Black Light, Wolves… is a sprawling conceptual masterpiece about the “Winter War” between Finland and Russia. Tuomas spoke at length about the research that went into the album, his view of concept albums in general, how the band continues to be so prolific over time, the travails of making their excellent ‘Hail of Steel’ music video, and how the band plans to stay active and connected to fans during the coronavirus quarantine. Interview by Keefy. Purchase Wolves of Karelia here: Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Wolfheart – Wolves of Karelia


Finland is a country that holds a considerable amount of mystery, melancholy, and magic. The band Wolfheart hails from this special nation and assists their listeners in grasping the greatness of their wintery world. The leader of the pack, Tuomas Saukkonen has been delivering foolproof Melodic Death Metal in several different projects for a substantial amount of years. When Wolfheart released their first album, Winterborn in 2013, it was clear that this act was establishing themselves as a powerful force in the scene. Now the group is releasing their fifth full-length record, Wolves of Karelia (Napalm Records). This new album is expanding the stately, sullen sound of their coined term, “Winter Metal” to new creative crests. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Dawn of Solace – Waves


The ingenuity, inventiveness, and inclination of Finnish artist Tuomas Saukkonen appears to have no limits. He is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer who has been making music magic for a considerable amount of years. One of his many successful ventures is a solo project called Dawn of Solace. Tuomas released his first record, Darkness (Dead Air Records) in 2006 and the betwiching gloom he captured on that release was different from all his other works. Now it’s time to get another taste of this project’s gothic goodness on the new album, Waves (Noble Demon). Continue reading


Wolfheart – Constellation Of The Black Light


Formed in Lahti, Finland in 2012, melodic Death Metal act Wolfheart was originally created as a solo project by producer and multi-instrumentalist Tuomas Saukkonen after the dissolution of his other musical ventures, Before The Dawn, Black Sun Aeon, Dawn of Solace, and RoutaSielu.Continue reading


Wolfheart – Tyhjyys


Self-proclaimed purveyors of “Winter Metal”, Finland’s Wolfheart were formed in 2012 by multi-instrumentalist and producer Tuomas Saukkonen. Taking the decision to disband his many other ongoing musical interests, acts like Before The Dawn, Black Sun Aeon, Dawn of Solace, and RoutaSielu were all laid to rest so that Wolfheart could live.Continue reading


Wolfheart – Winterborn


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When songwriter and producer Tuomas Saukkonen wound down his previous melodic death metal vehicles Black Sun Aeon and the more well-known Before The Dawn it was with the intent to put together an act to be even more successful, more focused and for the component parts of all his musical projects to date to be brought together in one central outpouring. Initially a solo project that has developed into a fully-fledged band, Wolfheart initially self-released Winterborn within their native Finland only in 2013.

With acclaim aplenty surrounding the self-release, it is no surprise that Saukkonen is celebrating signing to Finnish powerhouse label Spinefarm by agreeing to re-release the début to begin the build up to their hotly anticipated sophomore album, due later this year. But just what is it flicking the bean of the lupus-hearted?

Quintessentially Scandinavian (and pretty obviously Finnish) Winterborn sees Wolfheart pulling together all the elements of melodic death metal that we all know and love, from galloping rhythms, gravel-throated vocals, memorable leads, at times aching, and melancholic chord sequences to darker, more epic songs, stretching and slowing the pace. While Insomnium may be the leaders of this particular pack, Wolfheart are ready to pounce and tear out their throat and assume pack-master status at the first sign of weakness, with songs like ‘Strength & Valour’ and ‘Ghosts of Karelia’ summoning powerful and rousing uptempo riffs, followed shortly after by the more expansive ‘Chasm’.

With two bonus tracks (‘Isolation’ is a keys and acoustic reflective instrumental interlude and ‘Into The Wild’ more traditional Wolfheartian Katatonia meets early Amorphis fare) being the carrot dangled in front of your donkey faces, along with the album (legally) being available outside Finland for the first time, there isn’t much to tempt you to pick this up if you already have a copy, whether obtained by hook(y) or by crook. But if the fangs of this particular canine haven’t sunk into your brain yet, and Scandinavian melodic death metal is the fur coat that keeps your ears warm of a winter evening you could do far worse than pick this up.

7.5/10

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STEVE TOVEY


Wolfheart Signs With Spinefarm Records, Streaming “Routa Pt 2” Music Video


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Wolfheart has signed with Spinefarm Records and re-release their 2013 debut Winterborn with two additional bonus tracks (“Isolation” and “Into the Wild”) on February 3, 2015. Watch the video for “Routa Pt.2” here.

The album was initially self-released, with physical versions only available in WOLFHEART’s native Finland.

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The band is currently finishing their new album titled Shadow World, due out in mid-2015. The band is currently finalizing European touring plans, with plans to eventually hit North America at some point.

WOLFHEART were born in 2013 from the ashes of Before the Dawn and Black Sun Aeon. Sole member, songwriter and producer Tuomas Saukkonen wanted to combine the musical elements from his previous bands and to embark on a fresh start after 14 years in music business and several albums.


Nonexistence – Antartica


Nonexistence - AnarticaAustrian musician Philip Santoll bore his solo project Nonexistence into this world with the excellently received Nihil back in 2007 but since then he has been a little on the quiet side. Thankfully, that silence wrought the impressive Antarctica; a work in which Santoll brought on board Finnish artist Tuomas Saukkonen (Before the Dawn, Black Sun Aeon) in order to produce and offer creative input for the first time in Nonexistence’s life. Saukkonen also lends his talents to the bass and drums on the record and the effect of the collaboration is felt across the entirety of Antarcticafrom the steady thrum that the bass injects to proceedings to the monolithic weight of the work as a whole.Continue reading