Band:

Norther

BiografieThe band was founded in the year 1996, when Toni Hallio and Petri Lindroos started playing together in a formation called"Requiem". After a time of different line-ups and experimentation, the current line-up found its shape in 2000 when Kristian Ranta joined the band and came up with the name NORTHER. Soon after, Tuomas Planman and Jukka Koskinen joined the band. The NORTHER machine kicked into gear withits debut release "Dreams of Endless War" through Spinefarm Records in 2002.



NORTHER's first album entered the Finnish charts at position 17, and the response was excellent. The band began playing shows in and around the Helsinki area, and the buzz grew like wildfire. Being prolific songwriters, they almost had an album's worth of material ready before the debut record was released in every corner of the world. Soon the guys barricaded themselves inside the famous Astia Studio with producer extraordinaire, Anssi Kippo.



The album 'Mirror of Madness' came out in early 2003 entering the Finnish charts at position 11. It was a step forward for the band, a logical continuation of the onslaught begun with "Dreams of Endless War". A step towards a more old-school sound combined with their intense approach to modern death/black metal.

After touring with Dimmu Borgir and Hypocrisy in late 2003 the band went back to the studio to record the successor of "Mirror of Madness". In early 2004, NORTHER released its third full length album "Death Unlimited". It received very good feedback from the media all around the world. It also hit the Finnish charts for weeks like the previous albums at position 17. "Death Unlimited" was probably the heaviest NORTHER sound so far. The style had also changed into more death metal and atmospheric feelings.



NORTHER played several shows in 2005 and then recorded an EP, "Solution7" to release some unheard material. This piece was recorded at Astia Studio with close friend and Producer Anssi Kippo and was also featured in the official Finnish charts at position 5. This time NORTHER wanted to bring in something new, adding Kristian's clean vocals for extra spice.



In the summer of 2005, NORTHER headed to Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden (In Flames, Soilwork, Hammerfall, Arch Enemy, Opeth etc.) to record their fourth full length album named "Till Death Unites Us" with producers Fredrik Nordström & Patrick J. Sten. Soon after the recordings of the album Toni Hallio left the band to pursue other interests. It didn’t take long until Heikki Saari was found to take over on drums. After the release in January 2006, "Till Death Unites Us" got an excellent response in Finland hitting the official Finnish charts position 6 and was also praised abroad. It showed rage but also delivered the softest songs in the band's history.



Later the same year the band composed the theme song (Frozen Angel) for a major Finnish feature film, "V2 – Dead Angel" produced by Solarfilms Inc. The band is also featured in the film. In February 2007 NORTHER released a new EP, 'No Way Back', which only came out in Finland and later in Japan. The record immediately hit position number 1 in the Finnish charts.



Later that year the band had great club gigs and festival appearances across Europe (Wacken, Masters of Rock, etc.) while writing new material for their forthcoming album. Early August the guys entered the Astia Studios to record the new album with Anssi Kippo. After a two month session the band played sold out shows in Finland, re-visited Studio Fredman to mix the album and then hit the road again with Amoral & Drone for a European tour.



Finally to crown their achievements, NORTHER signed a new deal with Marquee Avalon and with Century Media Records!So now everything is ready to rock the boat worldwide with their newest release entitled "N" hitting the stores early 2008! NORTHER's most mature and diverse effort to date. NORTHER is reborn!Quelle: http://www.norther.net/bio.phpDiscografie2002 - Dreams Of Endless War

2003 - Mirror Of Madness

2004 - Death Unlimited

2006 - Till Death Unites Us

2008 - N
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Reviews

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Die Finnen NORTHER lassen beim Kollegen Knacki regelmäßig den Hormonspiegel überschwappen, während andere Mitarbeiter (wie etwa ich) die Band immer als CHILDREN OF BODOM-Klon abgetan haben, was rein o