It was 200 years ago today…

FI News February 2008 - It was 200 years ago today


*Business news
-Do the Do
-Churning cellos
-It came from the North!
-All you need is glove.
-Trance Deliverance
-Northest Norther release video made in the North
-Black noise in Australia
-It was just a matter of time

-Damn Seagulls plague Europe!
-The mellifluous sounds of Middle Earth for your home Hi-Fi
-Die So Fluid Makes Parole
-Load up on some Roshi. Its good for you.
-Kind of like 165 Eaton Place!
-And the creatures of the forest all gathered round to hear

-Burn, baby, burn
-Highpersonic Whomen’s 
-We know it’s only rock’n’roll


*Live news:
-Guitars and Aeroplanes – A Summary of Globetrotting Finns

********

It was 200 years ago today

 
Actually, this month. Close enough. Soldiers from Sweden and Russia march back and forth across Finland, kicking each other’s asses. The object of the exercise is too see who gets to garrison said troops in this boggy little land for the foreseeable future.
 
The Swedish King mucked it all up in the end and had to abdicate. And Napoleon, the Anti-Christ in the king’s view, did very well out of all this. Important person, this Napoleon guy
Even if our local yellow press would probably rate him a few notches below Ville Valo in historical importance.
 
This month, instead of marching troops we bring you traveling bands, musical mavericks and noisemakers of every stripe.
 
Let’s start in France. After all, they had a lot to with the whole shebang back in 1808! That Napoleon sure got around


********

*Business news 

Do The Dø
The Dø or Do, whatever’s your flavor, is a Franco-Finnish folkrock duo signed to 5 à 7, a sublabel of

Wagram. Their debut album, A Mouthful, went to number one in France. Congratulations to Dan Levy and Olivia B. Merilahti.
 
Churning cellos
Apocalyptica’s (SonyBMG) breakthrough new album Worlds Collide will be released in North America through Jive/SonyBMG on 15 April 2008. The album, which debuted in the top 5 in Mexico and top 10 in Finland, Germany, Hungary and Switzerland, features the signature sound of Apocalyptica: the sawing, headbanging madness of cello-driven hard rock.
Guest vocalists include Corey Taylor, Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace, Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil, and Till Lindemann. Slayer’s legendary Dave Lombardo also does a guest spot. This record will expose Apocalyptica to a whole new audience.
The band will be touring in Spring 2008 to support the North American release.
www.apocalyptica.com
www.myspace.com/apocalyptica
 
It came from the North!
Eurovision winners Lordi (SonyBMG)take their schtick to the big screen. In a continuing campaign of dream fulfillment for the band’s leader, Tomi Putaansuu wrote a horror movie. It was produced by Solar Films and directed by Pete Riski. The producers have high hopes of international success for this genre juggernaut. Slasher fans, pay attention! For more information click here.

All you need is glove.
Lapko’s album Young Desire was released in Norway via TubaRecords on February 18th and will be released a little bit later in Sweden, Germany, Canada, Belgium, Holland. The band has been chosen to perform at by:larm festival in Oslo in February: Rockefeller B on Thursday, 21st of February at 22.30h and Fabrikken 2 on Friday, 22nd of February at 23.30h.
www.lapko.com, www.myspace.com/lapko
 
Trance Deliverance
On the 27th February, the hillbilly trance masters Texas Faggott (EXOGENIC)release, as well, their first digital single Psychedelic Virgins, from their long-awaited fourth upcoming album Ki Ni Ni Gin. Psychedelic Virgins is a combination of straight full-on beats with a beautiful melody line and scrambled sounds by Texas Faggott themselves, machines and some previously unknown source.
Check out the Download stores on the newly launched website here

Northest Norther release video made in the North
Before unleashing their new album N, Finnish metal act Norther

(CENTURY MEDIA)release a clip for their massive metal anthem We Rock. It was filmed with Helsinki-based production team Tunne Productions. You can watch the clip now by clicking HERE!
Their stunning new effort sees Norther perfecting their mix of ripping riffs, aggressive vocals and epic melodies. It was premiered live at the well-known Finnish Metal Expo on February 16th, 2008 in Helsinki. Furthermore, the band will support their country mates Turisas (CENTURY MEDIA) on their UK & European headliner tour in March/April 2008!
N was recorded and produced by long time partner Anssi Kippo (Children Of Bodom, etc.) at Astia Studios, mixed by Fredrik Nordström (Dark Tranquillity, Arch Enemy, In Flames etc.) at Studio Fredman in Sweden, mastered at Cutting Room Studios, and will be available as CD & limited edition Media Book including 3 bonus tracks at the following release dates:
 
FINLAND: Wednesday, February 13, 2008.
GERMANY / AUSTRIA / SWITZERLAND / BENELUX / ITALY: Friday, February 22, 2008.
UK / FRANCE / GREECE / DENMARK / NORWAY / REST OF EUROPE: Monday, February 25, 2008.
SPAIN / PORTUGAL: Tuesday, February 26, 2008.
SWEDEN / HUNGARY: Wednesday, February 29, 2008.
 
For info on the tour with Turisas, click here. 
 
Black noise in Australia
The black noise of the accordion, that is! Kimmo Pohjonen (HOEDOWN) takes Australia by storm:
Click here for a taste of the primal bellows.
 
It was just a matter of time

The effortlessly epic Callisto (FULLSTEAM RECORDS) was always going to end up on a soundtrack. And surely this won’t be the last. London-based 3D animator Teemu Erämaa has released his latest animation film, The Light At The End Of The World. It features Callisto’s song The Fugitive. Watch the film on the band’s website.

Damn Seagulls plague Europe!
Damn Seagulls’ (FULLSTEAM RECORDS) album Soul Politics has been released in BeNeLux (via Roughtrade), Canada (PHS), Germany (Pias Recordings and Sweden (Sound Pollution) on January 25th. First feedback from press and radio sound promising, so it’s time for the band to hit the ground down in Central Europe. www.damnseagulls.com, www.myspace.com/damnseagulls
 
The mellifluous sounds of Middle Earth for your home Hi-Fi
After a long period of anxious anticipation, The Lord of the Rings Original London Production cast album was released to the general public on Monday, February 4th (after being available in the Theatre Royal Drury Lane since January 24th). The album was produced by A.R.Rahman, Chris Nightingale, Janne Lappalainen and Lassi Logren and recorded at Air and Angel Studios in London and mixed at A.M Studios in Chennai, India. The sound is simply breathtaking and the music features eighteen songs from the London production, composed by Värttinä (REAL WORLD), A.R. Rahman and Chris Nightingale, performed by the London LOTR cast and orchestra. The package features an immense and stunning, deluxe, four color booklet with lyrics, photos from the musical, synopsis, biographies and background notes. The music is presented as a 2 cd set: CD1 is the Stereo Mix and CD2 is the 5.1 Surround Mix. The official launch of the CD release will take place in London on February 11th. International distribution is by Cadiz Music, UK.
 
Die So Fluid Makes Parole
Pun fully intended. Helsinki-based Parole Records has signed London based power trio Die So Fluid. The band’s second album, titled Not Everybody Gets a Happy Ending, was recorded at legendary Battery Studios in London with Mark Williams (Fightstar, Nine Black Alps, Placebo, The Killers etc) back in the producer’s chair. The band´s UK tour with My Ruin from LA and both the simultaneous release of the album in the UK & Finland was endangered when bassist-vocalist Grog’s fearsome reputation as a side woman resulted in having to turn down an offer to play with Pop Goddess Kylie.........yes that Kylie.
Pre-release reviews in the UK have been excellent from Kerrang to Bass Player from Metal Hammer to Total Guitar. Even the highly regarded but normally suspicions of any new rock bands, Classic Rock says “Hooked to high heaven, the album is easily as deserving of your attention as anything they have done before, which is high praise indeed. Throw You Away and the title track border on genius. You need to hear DSF.”
Latex-spiced video for Existential Baby is directed by one of Europe’s most acclaimed photographers Kerrang´s Paul Harries. 
 
Load up on some Roshi. Its good for you.
The fresh Exogenic Breaks Records sign up http://www.myspace.com/roshisongs ">Roshi will release his first digital single Loading Zone, from the upcoming debut album, on 27th February. Loading Zone is an organic blend of breakbeat arrangements and rocking guitars. The track features Jere Garcia of Accu on vocals.
 
Kind of like 165 Eaton Place!
Except there’s no upstairs. The band Downstairs inked a record deal with local Fullsteam Records in October 2007. Their first single Peephole City off debut album Oh Father has received international interest well before its release date, being the song of the week on both BBC’s Radio1 Rock Show (UK) and Filter Magazine (US).

Oh Father will be released outside of Finland on March 15.
 
“Downstairs sounds so rude and energic…there’s no doubt you wouldn’t get excited.” 9/10 Sue Magazine
”...a mixture of rough hardcore elements, melodic indie sounds and sweaty rock’n'roll.” 4/5 Desibeli
“Downstairs plays experimental art school punk in the mood of Refused and Fugazi ... and plays it well!” 3,5/5 Metro
“One of the most awaited indie releases of 2008” Chambers Magazine
“Melodies remind from British indie bands like Bloc Party or Franz Ferdinand” Helsingin Sanomat
 
And the creatures of the forest all gathered round to hear


the saga of Haltya (EXOGENIC)continues with their excellent, new album Book Of Nature, which was released worldwide 13th February (Exogenic Records/Arabesque). Haltya’s Tommi Sirkiä has arranged the tracks with ingredients such as funk, disco, jazz, trance, Latin rhythms and even contemporary classical music and mixed a delicious main course to be enjoyed not only among forest dance maniacs.

Burn, baby, burn
The time has come for Finnish rascals of rock White Flame (NORTH & SOUTH) to pack their gear and head on to England. They are supporting Rattlesnake Remedy on a three-gig promotion tour and meeting some U.K. media as well. The Brits still remember when Music-TV lawyers in London banned the video for White Flame’s number one hit Kill The Radio. They found the lyrics of this anti-playlist anthem objectionable. Tour dates: 19.2. Sussex University, Brighton, 22.2. Limelight Club, Crewe, 23.2. Barfly, Birmingham.
 
Highpersonic Whomen’s 
Highpersonic Whomen’s (EXOGENIC) super duper track Push The Limit and Kiwa’s (EXOGENIC) track Hertz So Good will appear on the Psy-Trance Euphoria compilation, which will be released on notorious Ministry of Sound. The compilation is a triple CD pack compiled by John 00 Fleming and it is due to be released in March 2008.
 
And finally

 
We know it’s only rock’n’roll


but some people seem to take a bit too seriously. Iltalehti, a Finnish tabloid newspaper, listed the 100 most influential people in Finland and put Ville Valo, singer of HIM (HMC), at 32. That places him ahead of the mayor of Finland’s largest city, the CEO of one of its largest media conglomerates, oodles of editors-in-chief of major newspapers, many members of Parliament, a government minister or two and a member of the EU Commission who’s been trying to pave the way for Turkey to join the EU. Right.
 
Next time you need to illustrate what “style over substance” means (in Finnish), click on this link. I know you run into this particular need a lot in your daily life.
 
********

*Live news:

Guitars and Aeroplanes – A Summary of Globetrotting Finns

Europe
- Hanoi Rocks (BACKSTAGE ALLIANCE):
Sweden, February 14 - 16 / Germany, February 18 - 23 / UK, February 25 - March 7 (rock)
 
- Kimmo Pohjonen (HOEDOWN):
Germany, Köln Philharmonie, February 15 / Estonian National Opera, Tallinn, February 24 (world)
 
- Frigg:
Switzerland, Nordklang Festival, February 15 and 16 (folk)

- Nightwish (KING FOO):
World tour / European leg, February 17 - April 19 (metal)
 
- White Flame (NORTH & SOUTH):
UK tour, February 19 - 23 (rock)
 
- The Micragirls (BONE VOYAGE):
UK tour, February 22 - 25 (garage)
 
- Turisas (CENTURY MEDIA):
European tour, March 1 - April 4 (metal)
 
- 22-Pistepirkko (BONE VOYAGE):
European tour, March 6 - May 3 (rock)
 
- Wimme (ROCKADILLO):
Sweden, Funasdalen, March 7 (world)

- UMO Jazz Orchestra:
Portugal, Porto, Casa da Música, March 9 (jazz)

- Francine (POKO):
Germany tour, March 13 - 23 (rockabilly)
 
- Rotten Sound (SPINEFARM):
European tour, March 19 - April 5 (metal)
 
Americas
- Sonata Arctica (NUCLEAR BLAST):
USA, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Mexico, February 1 - March 6 (metal)
 
- Eero Koivistoinen Combo (BACKSTAGE ALLIANCE):
USA, New York, Jazz at Lincoln Center, February 18 (jazz)
 
Australia
- HIM (SIRE):
Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland, March 25 - 31 (rock/metal)

Russia
- Sunrise Avenue (BONNIER AMIGO):
St. Petersburg and Moscow, February 22 and 24 (pop/rock)
 
- Apocalyptica (SonyBMG):
St. Petersburg and Moscow, February 25 and 26 (metal)