The band was founded in 1999 by Tuomas Saukkonen as his solo project: "I played and recorded all instruments in the first demo To Desire Part 1 by on my own then for the second demo I had a friend of mine on the drums. The first line-up was gathered so that BTD could perform live. With many changes in the line up BTD entered the studio to record the MCD called Gehenna. I received couple of deal offers but nothing serious enough. BTD continued playing gigs and I kept on writing lots of new material, and the next MCD called My Darkness got very good feedback and a serious enough record deal was offered by Locomotive Music."[4]
Joined by Panu Willman, Mike Ojala, and Kimmo Nurmi, the newly formed lineup released their first full-length album, My Darkness, in 2003. It was followed up by a second album in 2004, 4:17am. The band supported Katatonia on a Scandinavian and European tour in 2003.[5]
In 2005, Saukkonen announced a new lineup for the band, removing all the members currently in and replacing them with his so-called "Live Assault Team": Norwegian Lars Eikind (Winds, Age of Silence, Khold) on clean vocals and bass, Gloria Morti guitarist Juho Räihä, keyboarder Joel Mäkinen and drummer Aatu Mukka. The reason was that Saukkonen felt that the previous band members were badly motivated and not professional enough.[4][6][non-primary source needed]
The Ghost CD released in 2006,[7] however, rather turned out to be another solo project for Tuomas. Because of the huge amount of song material written for that album, Saukkonen created another album, The Darkness, for a side-project, Dawn of Solace.[8]
With Lars and Juho as new permanent band members, the band released the next full-length album Deadlight in 2007.[9] The single "Deadsong", released in February 2007, immediately reached #2 on Finnish Top 20 charts;[10] for four months it remained among the Top 20 of Finnish Radio Rock. The single "Faithless" featuring Jone Nikula on the Pantera cover "Mouth for War", reached #2 on the Finland Top 20 charts for the week of 15 July 2007.[10][4]
During the recording sessions for the fifth studio album Soundscape of Silence, drummer Dani Miettinen dropped out; the band decided to leave the position vacant and work with session drummers for live shows (e.g. Matti Auerkallio). Right after its release at the end of October 2008, Soundscape of Silence went to the top 20 of Finnish album charts (#14).[10] The core band members were later joined by drummer Atte Palokangas (from the band Agonizer). Atte became an official new band member in mid-2009, and Before the Dawn supported Amorphis on their Forging Europe Tour in late 2009 with a completed line-up.[4]
The anniversary EP Decade of Darkness went straight to #1 on Finnish single charts after its release in spring 2010.[10] The music video for "End of Days" from this EP was released throughout Europe and in Japan; it shows footage from the band's 2010 shows in Asia. The European edition of this EP, released in February 2011, contains a bonus DVD with footage of the band's concert at German Summerbreeze Festival 2009.
Before the Dawn in 2009
In February 2011, Tuomas Saukkonen won the Finnish Metal Award in the category "Best Instrumentalist"; Before the Dawn reached #3 in the category "Best Band".[11] Tuomas defended this title successfully in the year 2012 as well.[12]
The new album Deathstar Rising cracked the Finnish Album Top 10 and reached #8 in first week of March 2011.[10]
In June 2011 bassist and vocalist Lars and drummer Atte left the band; Lars for personal reasons and Atte for musical reasons.[13] On 25 January 2012 the band announced on their Facebook page that Rise of the Phoenix would be the title of their new album. It was released through Nuclear Blast Records on 27 April 2012. Frontman Tuomas Saukkonen commented: "Massive changes in the line-up during 2011 ended an era of great frustration and brought back 110% dedication and professionalism into the band. The newfound energy and motivation steered us into a victorious European tour and made it possible to produce the strongest, fastest, heaviest and definitely the most epic Before the Dawn album so far!"[14][non-primary source needed]
On 10 January 2013 through a press statement, Tuomas Saukkonen announced that he was putting Before the Dawn to rest along with his other active bands (Black Sun Aeon and RoutaSielu), ending them in order to create new project called "Wolfheart", which he will entirely focus from now on. When interviewed by website KaaosZine, Saukkonen replied about his decision:[15]
"...I have been thinking about this already for a few years from the Before the Dawn side and first time this was brought into the table was when we were releasing the Decade of Darkness EP to celebrate the 10th year for Before the Dawn. At that time I had an idea to end the band because it just felt right to end the band at that point. The band played their biggest shows in Europe by supporting Amorphis and in Asia by supporting Stratovarius. The CDs were selling great and we ended up signing a deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The album that came after the EP titled Deathstar Rising did an amazing job in the Finnish charts ending into the top 10. Still even though we achieved a lot I started to feel like it's becoming more and more of a job for me and felt that I was drifting away from the most important thing in my life which is for the love of making music."
"At that time we also started to have a little bad chemistry within the band and it also started to reflect into the band's live performances as well as into my own motivation towards the band because I became a bit frustrated. The line-up changes in 2011 gave me more motivation and it once again started to feel like it was right thing to continue after the Rise of the Phoenix album but after the successful tours in Finland and Europe and the great response to the CD both among the fans and press really gave me the opportunity to let go of my 'old friend' from the past 14 years. I felt like a winner and decided to put it aside because I could with a large smile remember all that great things we experienced with this band."
"At some point I recognized I was just keeping the band alive and it didn't feel so right anymore. I lost the passion to make music my own way and the main reason why I had a lot of side projects like Black Sun Aeon, Routasielu, Dawn of Solace and The Final Harvest at the first place. Those were the bands where I had the ability to be artistically free and create what I wanted. Now when Before the Dawn is done it was logical for me to clean the table at once and start building something from scratch again."
In 2021, the band was reformed. On 30 April, the band released the single "The Final Storm". The single was made for the Deadlight reissue which was released in 9 July 2021.[16] On 7 September 2022 BTD announced that a new member Paavo Laapotti joins the band as a vocalist, while Tuomas takes up live drumming. Laapotti brought attention of the band during The Voice of Finland where he sang a Before the Dawn song called Deadsong.[17] An album titled Stormbringers was released on 30 June 2023.[18]
On 7 February 2024, they announced a new EP Archaic Flame, its title song is available online. The premiere of the new album is scheduled to be released on 8 of March.[19]
Members
Current
Tuomas Saukkonen – drums, studio guitars and keyboards (1999–2013, 2021-present), harsh vocals and rhythm guitar (1999–2013, 2021-2022)
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former lead singer Tarja Turunen. The band soon picked up drummer Jukka Nevalainen, and then bassist Sami Vänskä after the release of their debut album, Angels Fall First (1997). In 2001, Vänskä was replaced by Marko Hietala, who also took over the male vocalist role previously filled by Holopainen or guest singers.
Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band, founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen after his departure from After Forever.
Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen is a Finnish musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the primary songwriter, keyboardist, and a co-founding member of symphonic metal band Nightwish. He has stated that his songwriting is influenced by harmonic film music.
Thunderstone is a power metal band from Helsinki, Finland. The band was formed in 2000 by guitarist, Nino Laurenne, and the line-up became complete in the following year. After the release of the band's self-titled debut album, Thunderstone, the band toured Europe supporting Stratovarius and Symphony X. Thunderstone released its first four albums through Nuclear Blast; however, their album Dirt Metal was released in October 2009 under Sony Music label.
Deathstars is a Swedish industrial metal band from Strömstad. Formed in 2000, the group are noted for their dark horror-themed lyrics, pessimistic and misanthropic social commentary, distinctive trademark face paint, dark stage uniforms and physical appearances that correspond to gothic fashion. They have released five full-length studio albums; Synthetic Generation, Termination Bliss (2006), Night Electric Night (2009), The Perfect Cult (2014), and Everything Destroys You (2023). Deathstars have supported live acts by bands such as Korn and Cradle of Filth, the latter of which were part of the inspiration for Deathstars. Deathstars also supported Rammstein on their Made In Germany 1995–2011 tour.
Amberian Dawn is a Finnish symphonic power metal band, formed in 2006 by Tuomas Seppälä and Tommi Kuri. As of 2023, Amberian Dawn has released nine studio albums, four singles and twelve music videos.
Lars Eikind Sätheren, also known as Lars Eric Si, has been a part of the Scandinavian rock/metal scene for many years both as musician and producer. He has been involved in numerous bands, either as a full-time or session member.
Soundscape of Silence is the fifth album released by the Finnish band Before the Dawn. It was released on 31 October 2008, through Stay Heavy Records. During the recording sessions of this album in early 2008, the band had to cope with yet another line-up change – once again, the drum-seat became vacant. The core crew of Before the Dawn only took some time off from studio to play at summer festivals like the Wacken Open Air in Germany, mainly with the aid of session drummer Matti Auerkallio, later replaced by Agonizer's Atte Palokangas. In summer 2009 Atte became an official band member.
Deadlight is the fourth album released by the Finnish band Before the Dawn. It was released on April 4, 2007. Before the Dawn joined Stay Heavy Records for the release of this album. This was a turning point in the history of the band, although also this time Tuomas was forced to play most of the instruments himself: "We had to fire the drummer after one week ... And then also our second guitarist was too busy with his other band recording, so I played all the guitars. So on the album it is only me and Lars."
The Ghost is the third full-length album by Finnish band Before the Dawn, released on March 26, 2006, through Locomotive Music and Mazzar Records. The album style falls under the genres of Gothic metal, death metal, and melodic death metal, Because of the huge amount of new song material, Saukkonen created another album, The Darkness, for Dawn of Solace.
4:17 am is the second full-length album released by Finnish band Before the Dawn. It was released on May 24, 2004 through Locomotive Music.
kong vin This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 2017.
Dark Sarah is a Finnish symphonic metal band formed by Heidi Parviainen after her departure from Amberian Dawn in 2012. Their style has been described as "cinematic metal".
Deathstar Rising is the sixth album by Finnish metal band Before the Dawn, released on 25 February 2011, by Nuclear Blast in Europe. The album reached the Finnish top ten, peaking at number eight.
Rise of the Phoenix, is the seventh album by Finnish metal band Before the Dawn, released on 27 April 2012, and their last album before their split from 2013 to 2021. It is their second album released via Nuclear Blast Records, and unlike previous albums, does not include clean vocals. After the departure of Lars Eikind and Atte Palokangas (drums) in mid-2011, Tuomas started rehearsals with a new line-up consisting of lead guitarist Juho Räihä and new companions Pyry Hanski (bass) and Joonas Kauppinen (drums) to support Insomnium for the "One For Sorrow European Tour 2011", or as they called it "Rebirth Tour 2011" in November.
Dawn of Solace is a heavy metal side-project from Finland, started in 2005 by Tuomas Saukkonen.
The following is a list of notable events and releases that happened in Scandinavian music in 2021. (Go to last year in Scandinavian music or next year in Scandinavian music.)
Mors Subita is a melodic death metal band from Finland. It has released four studio albums, including the first Human Waste Compression in 2011. The band's music has been said to be influenced by Carcass, At the Gates, Arch Enemy and others.
Shatter and Fall is the second full-length studio album by American melodic death-doom band Hinayana, released on November 10, 2023, under Napalm Records. The album was produced and recorded by founder Casey Hurd and Kevin Butler, with mastering by Dan Swanö. The album art was done by Travis Smith. The album features guest appearances by Vincent Jackson Jones on "Mind Is a Shadow" and Tuomas Saukkonen on "A Tide Unturning". Saukkonen had previously directed a music video for the re-recording of "Pitch Black Noise" from their 2020 EP Death of the Cosmic. The video was released on July 26, 2023, less than four months before the release of Shatter and Fall. Hinayana embarked on a European tour with Saukkonen's bands in the month of the album's release.
Stormbringers is the eighth full-length album released by Finnish band Before the Dawn. It was released on June 30, 2023 through Napalm Records.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
