Home
Bands
http://site.delain.nl/
http://www.myspace.com/delainmusic
Although originally envisioned by Martijn Westerholt as a musical project featuring a host of guest musicians, due to the high demand for live performances a real band was formed. This lead to the Roadrunner release of Delain's debut album 'Lucidity' in 2006. The group of musicians quickly transformed into a solid rocking force. Now Delain is nothing less than a real band. A versatile band with an impressive new album called April Rain.
The listener is immediately drawn in by sweet, waterdrop-like pianosounds. Then the rest of the band kicks in and the drops form a ferociously swirling river of sound, during which a heavy guitar riff mercilessly crushes. In little under a minute April Rain the title track - has shown us a few of the many different faces of Delain. And at that point we haven't even heard singer Charlotte Wessels yet. "The album opening title track is one of the songs on the new album I'm most proud of", says Martijn Westerholt, keyboardist and Delain's main composer. "To me it's the ultimate example to show where Delain currently stands and how versatile we have become as a band."
Westerholt is right. The sound on April Rain is versatile indeed, with various musical influences. But the album is very coherent at the same time. The debut Lucidity was characterised by the many guest musicians. This time Delain is primarily Charlotte Wessels on vocals, Martijn Westerholt ..boards, Ronald Landa on guitar, Rob van der Loo on bass and Sander Zoer on drums. "Between the five of us, there's everything we need as a band, so there was no use for a lot of musical guests. The grunts in Virtue And Vice, for instance, are provided by our guitarist Ronald Landa and he did a wonderful job", says Westerholt. "There is one exception though. Working with Marko Hielata of Nightwish on Lucidity felt so good, that we also invited him for April Rain. His vocals can be heard on two tracks." A little less audible are the contributions that came from cellist Maria Ahn of the Ahn Trio. "Our producer Oliver Phillips pointed us in her direction", says Charlotte Wessels. "Maria has done a fantastic job. Adding a real cello instead of strings from a computer adds a lot of value to our songs."
Aside from the aforementioned collaborations, April Rain is one-hundred-percent Delain. From the breathtaking opener, to the epic closing track 'Nothing Left'. And they'll leave you breathless. Westerholt: "The extensive touring and playing the past two years has really brought us together personally and musically. Delain is a band now, instead of a project. A tight force that works together. We complement each other and that strengthens our sound." Wessels feels that the whirlwind beginnings of Delain contributed to the strong relationship. "We had an intense and very short time to rehearse before our first gig. We were all in it together and we almost immediately forged a bond. Those early rehearsals where the platform for Delain as we now know it." Looking at the credits on the April Rain album, it's evident that Delain is no longer 'the band of Martijn Westerholt'. The other members and especially Charlotte Wessels have played a major part in the creation of April Rain. Wessels: "Work on Lucidity was fantastic, but it was a bit of a fill exercise as the majority of the songs were already there. On April Rain my involvement was much bigger. Therefore it really feels as 'my' album. Even more so than our debut."
While remaining responsible for the overall Delain sound, Westerholt has given the band members the freedom to contribute. "Now that the band can draw from multiple musical sources, Delain has become a more diverse sounding unit", says Westerholt. This also means that there is even room on April Rain for songs in which he almost had no hand in. Such as On The Other Side. "A very personal song that means a lot to me", according to author Charlotte Wessels. "This song qualifies as 'my little baby' on the album and reflects on a difficult period that I went through." Westerholt: "And therefore, it is featured on April Rain. I have an enormous amount of respect for Charlotte and I feel that when a song is so important for one of the band members it should be on a Delain album. Originally Delain was 'my' project, but now Charlotte and the other band members are just as much Delain as myself."
To promote April Rain, Delain will be embarking on a massive tour. It is quite difficult to imagine that only a few years ago Martijn Westerholt was forced to leave Within Temptation because Pfeiffer's disease made it impossible for him to tour. "It may sound like a cliché, but it's the music that really gives me a massive amount of energy. Mind you, touring still is quite challenging for me, but at the same time I really get a health kick out of it. So over the coming months I'd love to play as many places as possible, especially those where Delain has not played before." All the while the band is already working on album number three. Westerholt: "The moment we were done with this one, we all started talking about the next. We have only just started as a band and at this point in our career there is a constant flow of ideas that we want to explore. We don't want that source to dry up, so the writing continues. If it were up to me, Delain will be broadening all musical boundaries and we're curious to see how far this band can take us. An exciting challenge, which will be great fun!"
hAND are a 3 piece Progressive Gothic Metal band from Sussex, England. Fronted by vocalist Kat Ward the band are "breaking the mould of the genre" with their clever and catchy songs. Signed to UK based label Femme Metal Records they released their debut album "Deadroom Journal" to critical acclaim in 2008, and have gone onto support Octavia Sperati (Norway), Season's End, 3rd Room (Italy), Ayin Aleph (France) as well as headlining the 2009 Damsels of Destruction Festival in London.
www.myspace.com/handgothicband
www.handtheband.com
http://www.lahannya.com
http://www.myspace.com/lahannya
Lahannya has always lived life on her own terms, eschewing convention and bending the rigid rules imposed by society to her advantage. It is therefore no surprise that her first release was a totally self-produced track on the Amduscias compilation of anarchist US diy label Zenflesh. Amidst the aural assault of Noise/Girl and the nightmare soundscapes of Petit Mal, Lahannyas Drowning at first appears to be a highly unusual contribution, but in terms of attitude and philosophy Lahannya is a perfect fit. Inspired by the positive feedback and the Zenflesh way of just doing it, Lahannya went on to produce her debut EP and release it on her own label. The 4-track Drowning EP was extremely positively received by fanzines and underground music Web sites worldwide, which compared its sound to Throwing Muses, Cranes and a more ambient Garbage.
After moving from Brighton on Englands South coast into the heart of London Lahannya took up a DJ residency at the infamous Slimelight, Londons longest running alternative club night and a regular hang-out for national and international underground artists. Her DJ activities led to interesting friendships and collaborations, the first of which was her contribution to the 2003 Greenhaus release Another Life. In 2004 Lahannya began her long-term collaboration with Soman, resulting in club hits like Tears, Eye to Eye, Mask and the remix of Combichrist's Sex, Drugs and Industrial as well as festival performances at MEra Luna, WGT and Summer Darkness among others.
At M'Era Luna 2004 a chance encounter with Lutz Demmler of controversial German goth-rock band Umbra et Imago provided the trigger for Lahannya's return to her own material. Their brief acquaintance turned into fast friendship and eventually the decision to work together on Lahannyas full-length debut album. Shotgun Reality was a departure from both her early solo work and her recent collaborations, yet its genre-breaching fusion of alternative rock, powerpop and gothic metal was instantly recognisable by the idiosyncratic vocal style and imaginative lyrics that have become Lahannyas trademark. In late 2006 Lahannya and Lutz were joined first by Belle (Killing Miranda, Nosferatu) and shortly after by Chris Milden (NFD) and together the glamorous quartet presented Shotgun Reality live at sold-out tours in the UK and France with Courtney Loves anarchic ex-collaborator Emilie Autumn and j-rock lolita Moon Kana.
For Lahannya standing still is a bit like dying and therefore the band are starting 2008 at full steam: Just six months after catapulting right into the heart of the European alternative scene with their impressive debut there will be a new release, in time for Lahannyas extended tour supporting German goth-rock sensation ASP in the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The "Welcome To The Underground" EP features four brand new tracks and a variety of remixes by renowned artists from the alternative scene. The stunning artwork was created by David Bircham, whose graphic novel Brodie's Law has become a worldwide underground success.
The EP presents the prequel to a story that will unfold in the next album and is a subject that is very close to the heart of Lahannya and her band. Welcome To The Underground paints a bleak picture of our future a future in which due to fear and lethargy our nation has sleepwalked into a surveillance society and our personal lives are under state control. Individualists, free thinkers and anyone seeking an alternative lifestyle either lives a life of pretence, constantly on guard, or is forced to exist completely outside society as we know it, in the underground. Not everyone is prepared to accept that we no longer live in a free country and the underground is rising to fight back
http://www.apparition-theband.com
http://www.myspace.com/apparitionworld
APPARITION are a band of mercenarys, all with strong personalitys, all cursed with talent and all knowing they need each other to bring out the creativity from within them.
In early 2009 the band was left in disarray as 3 key members left including popular singer Fiona Creaby. A new singer was found in the shape of Samantha Smallwood, an ambitious young lady who combines musical theatre and metal in her live performances.
The band rebuilt and started playing shows again as well as recording a live demo featuring 2 new songs. Even with so many line changes they never lost any popularity, in fact gaining many more fans.
Apparition has teamed up with Femme metal Promotions for a mini tour to promote the compilation cd Demonic and Divine as well as playing both dates of Femme Metal fest.
http://www.markize.com
http://www.myspace.com/markize
Between dark enchantment and disillusion MARKIZE evaluate in rock/metal music with pop, sympho, electro, progressive and dark influences since the day the project of Alina Dunaevskaya and David Verbecq, was born. Their music has for purpose to be opened to everybody, modern and based on French, English and Russian personal lyrics.
After the demo-disc Poussières de Vie, well accepted by critics and public, participation in compilation Contre Vents et Marées of French Metal in 2006, their first album was recorded together with Franck Chentrier (guitar), Nicolas Thomas (lead guitar) and Gautier Blondeel, and issued on March 2007. Critics (France, Russia, USA, UK) are still fine and public is present.
After their tour inFrance, Belgium and Holland, particularly with Old Dead Tree, Cult of Luna, Autumn, Eths, Watcha, Markize was invited to play at the Metal Female Voices Fest in October 2008 in Wieze, that assembles every year greatest female fronted metal bands, and to take part in compilation A world of Sirens (USA) with the track Another breath.
Today, further to stock shortage and to raising demands, Transparence- album will be reedited with new tracks in France, and also officialy in Russia, for March 2009.
http://www.myspace.com/winterstormukWinter Storm are a five piece Gothic Metal band from the West Midlands with one aim - to bring you Gothic Metal like you have never heard it before. Winter Storm have been together for over a year now and in the next few months will be releasing their debut album 'Serenity In Darkness'. Catch them live in action at the Femme Metal Festival on November 7th.
http://www.myspace.com/winterstormuk
Winter Storm are a five piece Gothic Metal band from the West Midlands with one aim - to bring you Gothic Metal like you have never heard it before. Winter Storm have been together for over a year now and in the next few months will be releasing their debut album 'Serenity In Darkness'. Catch them live in action at the Femme Metal Festival on November 7th.
http://www.myspace.com/sirenia
http://www.mortenveland.com/sirenia
SIRENIA was formed by Morten Veland in january 2001. Morten's musical work was already well known through his work with his former band Tristania, a band he co-founded back in the mid nineties. Being the main songwriter for this band he was a part of defining the gothic metal sound from a very early time on. With SIRENIA his intention was to bring everything to the next level, a task he succeeded to fulfil. Up to date SIRENIA has released 3 albums and an EP, their latest work 'Nine Destinies and a Downfall' made it to the charts in 6 countries, receiving great reviews worldwide. Meanwhile their single 'My Mind's Eye' taken from the same album topped radio charts in several countries. Their new album 'The 13th Floor' is due to release on the 23rd of January via Nuclear Blast Records.
SIRENIA sounds like a mixture of gothic metal and rock with classical influences, in addition to some elements from more extreme metal genres. Their sound have a solid base in the powerful drums and bass supported by massive rhythm guitars, dressed with atmospheric keyboards and spiced with melancholic violins and 12-string guitars. The vocal styles are diverse and consist of female vocals, choirs, growls, screams, clean male vocals, whispers and samples. The songs are very intense and the atmosphere changes frequently. The lyrics are based on reflections on life, death, love, hate, paranoia, anxiety and mental decline in general.
The band has been through some line-up changes over the years, but has now settled with a very strong line-up. In addition to Morten performing guitars and vocals the band consists of Ailyn: female vocals, Jonathan A. Perez: drums and Michael S. Krumins: guitars.
http://www.soulgrind.org
http://www.myspace.com/soulgrind
Dark Pagan Metal With A Difference
• Soulgrind has been formed in 1992. Soulgrind is a melodic dark metal band from Finland playing very unique and intelligent metalwith strong melodies
• Soulgrind has released 8 albums
• Soulgrind has toured in Germany, Holland, Finland, Belgium & France. Soulgrind has done over 200 gigs and is hungry for more.
• Soulgrind is entering studio on 14.9.2009 to do the ninth album titled the Tuoni Pathway ( Tuoni = Tuonela = Underworld in Finnish mythology ). Album release is scheduled to be in ajnuary 2010
• Soulgrind seeks inspiration from the Finnish myths & beliefs. Soulgrind is strongly influenced by Finnish poet Eino Leino. Musically Soulgrind goes on its own path. But there can be heard influences from The Gathering, Slayer, Black Sabbath, Arcturus, Sentenced... so have a listen to yourself.
Soulgrind is now stronger than ever and is ready for the new challenges. The music is here, the word is here and it must be spread.
Line up:
Vocals: Miss Tanya Lilith ( ex - Lullacry )
Vocals & programming & keyboards: Azhemin ( thy Serpent, Wanderer )
Bass. Tapio Wilska ( ex - Nightwish, ex - Fintroll )
Drums: The Beast ( Gloomy grim )
Guitars: TBite (ex - Twilight Ophera )
Guitars , founder: Lord Heikkinen
http://www.myspace.com/scarecrown
This project was born out of the will of Andrea "The Ogre" (guitar) and Antonella (vocals) to form a group in which the distorted sonority of metal would be united with pure melody.
Andrea has played the guitar for 10 years and came to the band having had experience with "folk" metal, thrash metal groups, etc. like Swarovsky trio, Flyfromcage and Palcoda.
Antonella has sung solo from 10 years during which she studied singing (classic, jazz, blues) in an institute as well as having experience with various cover groups, this experience made her want to form a group able to give 100% not only to performance but also to the creation of new songs.
The launch of the group was difficult as it was difficult to find a bass guitarist and drummer right for this kind of project... why? Because their ideas were so different from the way the project was planned or because they didn´t have musical influences in common.
JANUARY 2004:
Simone (bass) joined the band and all the proposals were received by him with enthusiasm.
He´d played for many years and had the ability to find his identity within the group, as well as Andrea and Antonella he is in to the likes of Machine Head, Lacuna Coil, Korn, Soulfly, Nightwish, etc. result? Perfect!!
From the moment he began to insert his bass line into some of the songs, they added also the keyboard which succeeded in filling out the musical lines of the songs, and the percussion...
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004:
ScareCrown started to support the live performances of friend´s bands and in March had the luck and honor to play at the ex Cerit in Pordenone the same evening of the concert as Lacuna Coil and Node.
However there was always something that wasn´t convincing about the road that had been taken to this point, the idea of the keyboard was dropped and they started to look for the missing piece of the jigsaw: the drummer who could make them complete.
"THE SHOW MUST GO ON" (SEPTEMBER 2004):
The search for a drummer continued relentlessly but despite this Andrea, Antonella and Simone go on writing, rewriting and creating so when Federico "Biso" arrived there were so many songs in the pipe work that with his experience (10 years also) and his enthusiasm they were complete... result?
They´d found the final component of the group and fully achieved the objectives of ScareCrown.
MARCH 2006:
After nearly two years of live performances and with compositions more researched and mature, the band has decided that it's the right time to grow by introducing a second guitar....and it is so that Blackie has entered officially to be part of the ScareCrown.
JANUARY 2008:
After 3 years together Federico "Biso" left the band cause, sometimes, ways of life lead us to make different choices, ScareCrowns wish to Mr. Biso all the best from life and thank him for all the time together. This is the beginning of a new year, where Mr. Fabio Grave becomes part of ScareCrowns Family as new drummer.
http://www.myspace.com/triaxisuk
Triaxis is a Heavy Metal band from South Wales consisting of five musicians who are experienced performers. Dedicated to being the very best that they can be, they give 100% to every gig and recording which is evidenced by their growing popularity on the live scene.
Continuing from the success of their 2008 EP Lord of the Northern Sky, Triaxis have recently launched their full length debut album Key to the Kingdom available on CD or through digital distribution.
Triaxis have recently performed at Bloodstock Open Air Festival and are set to perform at the Femme Metal and the Rock of Ages Festivals while constantly booking more dates around the UK and further afield.
http://www.myspace.com/solsikk
With the undeniable weight and groove of Webb's signature sound and Turner's soaring, rich vocals, it is easy to understand why Solsikk are rapidly gaining a well deserved following.
From the embers of Webb's previous group, Biomechanical, came a determination and will to create and refine a sound that was both heavy, melodic, layered and accessible. In Turner this begn to take shape.
With exceptional delivery ranging from gutteral roar and smooth vibrato through to high screams Turner is every bit as stunning as her voice suggests, providing the perfect compliment and contrast to Webb's dense and furious fret-work.
This sound would be further enriched by the addition of Mark Mulcaster on bass whose awareness and powerful approach added both soul and depth in equal measure to the often demanding parts.
Well known for his speed, technique and power, as a former band mate of Webb, Matt.C seemed the logical choice for occupying the drum stool bringing with him added groove and intensity.
Having recently finalised their debut E.P. 'Volatile Territory' through Klotho Records, it is clear after listening that Solsikk represent a unique voice and experience, eshewing the operatic approach all too frequent amongst current female fronted groups. If this in itself is not enough to provoke enthusiasm, their live shows are sure to confirm them as a serious contender in the scene.
http://www.myspace.com/sanityfalls
Sanity Falls began in April of 2007. Sick of the stale, tired formula that many bands particularly female-fronted ones were following, Sanity Falls were determined to shape an identity that was their own. Combining a wealth of different influences, their music sees intense guitars and brutal drums joining forces with the passion, fire and lyrical vitriol of female vocals that refuse to conform. Having played countless shows around the country, recorded a demo and gained a loyal and varied following the Fallen Sanity Falls continue to push themselves to evolve. Fierce and raw, often haunting and always honest, they embrace their influences without relying too heavily on them, and the vital individuality of each band member is present in every song.
http://www.crimson-tears.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/ukcrimsontears
Back in October 2003, guitarist Dave Miller had the driving idea of forming a metal band with a difference. His desire was to develop an Operatic Symphonic Power Metal band that really rocked but that had that commercial element. Heavy hooks and singable riffs. He wanted to base it on one of his favourite bands Nightwish but add in elements of all the other bands he loved.
The idea of bringing together opera, symphonic sound and metal was not going to be an easy project to undertake. Finding musicians who all wanted to play this kind of music was going to be even harder.
Formation
Dave knew immediately of one person who would be up for this type of project. A quick phone call to long time friend and Scarab bass player, Steve Taylor fused the beginnings. And Steve begat Steve! This new Steve was a drummer from a prior band and he had the necessary experience and was up for it. Now all he needed was a keyboard player and some bird to warble! Even though Dave was able to play some keyboards, he could not be in two places at once and so a keyboard player would be the next essential. But where would you find one who was unique, extremely talented and versatile? When he saw an advert for a Grade 8 pianist and keyboard player called Marcus, into Ozzy, HIM and Iron Maiden, he phoned him immediately. Now to find that singer! Well trying to find a female classical/opera singer to play in a Metal band was not going be easy, in fact almost damn right impossible. .well were still searching so if you know any one whod be up for giving this thing a go, let us know. Sorry Gina! In actual fact Gina is the singing coach Steve first went to in order to find a singer! He had asked for a Charlotte Church meets Megadeth! And that is what he got! However that wasnt quite what he needed! So two auditions later, he got the actual bloody coach!
Over the course of the following year Dave, Marcus and Gina started writing and were so happy with the results that they booked into Thin Ice studios (famous for Threshold, Arena and DragonForce) to begin recording in December 2004.
By now it had become apparent that Drummer Steve could not commit to recording and subsequently left the band, due to family pressures and already being the Drummer for 3SD!
So it was eight weeks before the recording date and no drummer!
Luckily Marcus found Mike, who was ready, willing and able as well as being really interested in both the band and recording.
http://www.oxzide.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/oxzide
OxZide are a classic/heavy rock band from the West Midlands with only 1 aim, To rock the biggest venue's harder than any band before them! Since OxZide have been together they have not only gained a large base of loyal fans but have gained prestigious gigs and become well known for their amazing sound and shows, many of which include pyrotechnics and lazers. Since the lineup finalised in 2007 the band has played large and well known venue's such as the Birmingham Carling Academy, JB's Dudley, Glastonbudget and MFN Nottingham to some fantastic crowds. Gaining themselves a great reputation.
In 2008 they recorded and released the album 'Really Not Insane' 11 powerful original tracks including fan favourites 'I am Rock and Roll', 'Makes me feel alive' and 'I know what you'll be doing tonight'. Throughout 2008 the band went on to perform across the country and gather its fan base. In 2009 the band continued a steady stream of gigs and swiftly recieved an invite to europes largest unsigned festival 'Glastonbudget' with the bands popularity growing across the country they are now looking to the studio once more for a 2nd album entitled 'Not Crazy No more' on the horizon.
Few Quotes from Reviews
"This four piece rock/metal band consists of Betty (lead vocals) Stevo (lead guitar) Jarv (bass) and last but not least Rob on drums (or is it Animal from the muppet show?). With an impressive laser light show and some nifty pyrotechnics the MFN faithful are being royally entertained by this young band that are eager to please" MFN Nottingham
"Don't be afraid, They are really not insane. In Fact they are closer to musical genious" Mel - Ryans gig guide
"in my humble opinion, Stevo is one of the best guitarist ive heard in years and wouldnt be out of place in any international band." - Glitzine
"There music portrays all that is good about rock and roll" Mel - Ryans gig guide
"Oxzides own material shows their talent for song writing and front woman Betty possesses a very powerful voice and an enthusiasm which is infectious, this young lady is easy on both the eyes and ears. Led Zeppelins whole lotta love provides Stevo with the chance to dazzle us with his lead guitar skills cramming in all sorts of stuff from Queen to Hendrix as well has having a Jack Black school of rock look about him." Moonshine Magazine
"Betty, a natural front woman who seems to love being up there on stage" Glitzine
