Amoral (band)
Amoral | |
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Niko Kalliojärvi | |
Past members |
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Website | amoralweb.com (archived) |
Amoral was a Finnish
Biography
Early times
Amoral was formed in 1997 by two teenagers,
Wound Creations
Amoral signed with Rage of Achilles Records and released their first album,
Decrowning
Soon after the 2005 European tour, Amoral returned to the studio to record their second album,
Reptile Ride
Amoral's third album was recorded in Studio Sound Supreme in Hämeenlinna in early 2007 and was released in August 2007. A video was shot for the opening track and first and only single of the album, "Leave Your Dead Behind".[4]
Show Your Colors
Amoral's fourth studio album was announced in November 2008 when the band announced Ari Koivunen as their new vocalist. The album was also the debut of bassist Pekka Johansson. On 21 January 2009, their first single "Year of the Suckerpunch", was put up the band's
On 12 January 2010, the band announced that Amoral and Silver Ots had parted ways.[8] Valtteri Hirvonen, who had already played at the European tour 2009 replacing Silver, was announced to be the "permanent stand-in guitarist" for the time being.
Beneath
In 2010, Amoral worked with its fifth album, Beneath. At the end of 2010, they announced their new guitarist Masi Hukari, who shared the lead guitar with Ben Varon and also co-wrote two of the songs.
In 2011, the band recorded Beneath at Sound Supreme studios in Hämeenlinna; the CD was released later the same year, in October. The album was produced by Janne Saksa and guitarist Ben Varon. Beneath continued on the path Amoral started with Show Your Colors. The emphasis is still on songwriting, big hooks, new arrangements, and guitar riffs, but the scale is wider than before: From nine-minute epics "Beneath", to straightforward rock songs "Silhouette" and "Same Difference", to nods to the band's death metal past ("(Won't Go) Home" and "Staying Human"), and talks between acoustic guitars and industrial landscapes in "Wastelands". The first single, "Same Difference", was released in the summer of 2011.[9] The second single, "Silhouette", was played first time on Radio Rock (FI) in October 2011 and was followed by a video.[10] "Silhouette" has both electric and acoustic versions, from which the acoustic one is the original. The second video was made from the punk rock-oriented track "Wrapped in Barbwire",[11] which pays obeisance to Guns N' Roses video "Garden of Eden". On 14 February 2012, Beneath was released in the US via The End Records and in Mexico on 15 February. In Russia it was out 27 March 2012 via Fono Records. The album was ranked by public voting as the fourth-best domestic metal album at the Finnish Metal Awards 2011.[12]
On 15 March 2012, Amoral made its US live debut at the South by Southwest (SXSW) event in Austin, Texas. The band debuted in China, at Shanghai, in May, and during the same tour they performed with other Finnish bands Insomnium, Profane Omen and Swallow the Sun at The Finland Fest 2012 Metal Attack in Liquid Room, Tokyo. Amoral toured in Europe in autumn 2012 supporting Finnish Viking metal band Ensiferum.[13]
Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows
In 2013, the band toured Asia in April and May and played at
2013 also saw Amoral record their sixth album, Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows. It was released in Finland on 14 February 2014 and digitally all over the world by Imperial Cassette. In Europe, the album was released on 28 March 2014 and in the UK via Graphite Records on 1 March 2014. The album was produced by Ben Varon. Marko Hietala produced the vocals of Ari Koivunen. The music is changed more progressive than ever and it has more metallic touch as the two previous albums.[17] The album received predominantly positive reviews from metal magazines and webzines around Finland, Europe and the US. The band has been praised for their instrumental and vocal skills and liberated versatile music.[18] The first video, "Blueprints",[19] was made by Valtteri Hirvonen.
On 28 March 2014, Amoral celebrated their ten-year-old first album in
In Sequence
In April 2014, Amoral started the pre-production of their seventh album,[22] and the studio work started on 13 February 2015. On 26 March 2015, they announced that Niko Kalliojärvi had returned to the band, both as the third guitarist and for singing growled vocals.[23] At the end of June 2015, Amoral performed at Tuska After Party in Helsinki, where they played the song "Rude Awakening" from the upcoming album.
At the end of November 2015, it was announced that the album, titled In Sequence, would be released in Japan on 29 January 2016 through Ward Records, and globally on 5 February 2016 through Imperial Cassette (Gordeon Music, GSA / Nightmare Records, North America).
"...in general we wanted to keep the focus on clean vocals, even though Niko is back in the band. I think the melodic side of Amoral is such a big part of us nowadays. I didn't wanna go all the way back to growling. Niko's vocals are more a special effect that we use when it's necessary and brings that "extra something" to the song. Then again Niko also came back as a guitar player... The album is obviously heavier because of Niko. Ari sings super clean. There is no rock'n'roll in his sound on the new album. Niko does all the aggressive parts and when Ari comes in its really smooth and deep."
The In Sequence tour took place in Finland in early 2016.[26]
Disbandment
On 27 July 2016, the band announced that they would be disbanding at the beginning of 2017:
"It is with heavy hearts that we announce that we've decided to disband Amoral. This was not an easy decision, as this band has been such a huge part of our lives (in the case of Ben and Juhana, for about 19 years!), but yet it felt like it was time. Constantly conflicting schedules and a fading interest in touring in some members have made the band run at half-speed. Amoral is not a "half-speed" band. It's all or nothing. And, to be honest, the idea of starting something brand new after all this time has become very appealing...."
Amoral had an "Old School Tour" in Finland in autumn 2016, where they played only the first three albums. The tour was closing the band's career as it started. The final show took place at Tavastia Club in Helsinki, Finland on 5 January 2017, together with all the members of the band's history.[27]
Members
Final lineup
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Former members
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Timeline
Discography
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References
- ^ "Amoralweb.com/band". Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
- ^ "Amoral Biography". Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
- ^ "Interview /w Silver Ots and Niko Kalliojärvi 2003". Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
- ^ ""Leave Your Dead Behind" Video 2008". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ ""Year Of The Suckerpunch" Video 2009". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Juhana Karlsson and Ari Koivunen on video Interview Part 1./3". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
- ^ "Juhana Karlsson and Ari Koivunen on video Interview Part 2./3". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
- ^ "Amoral and Silver Ots part ways". Archived from the original on 7 February 2009.
- ^ AMORAL Completes Work On 'Beneath'
- ^ "Silhouette Video 2011". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Wrapped in Barbwire Video 2012". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "FINNISH METAL AWARDS: Winners Announced - Feb. 18, 2012". 18 February 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ^ "European tour 2012". Facebook. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ^ "Masi Hukari and Ben Varon Interview". Guitarhoo!. Guitarhoo.com. 1 May 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ "Amoral Press Conference in Manila, Philippines". Guitarhoo!. Guitarhoo.com. 1 May 2013. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ "CNN Travel | Global Destinations, Tips & Video".
- ^ "Interview with Ben Varon 22.1.2014". Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Album reviews 2014". Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "Blueprints Video 2014". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "10th Year Anniversary Concert Video 3-2014". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "EUROPEAN TOUR 2014 ANNOUNCED". Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
- ^ "Pre-production of the 7th album". Facebook. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Amoral is now a six-piece". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Release date announced of In Sequence". Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- ^ "Amoral is now a six-piece". Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ "Finnish tour dates announced". Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- ^ "Finnish tour dates announced". Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
External links
- Official website (archived)
- YouTube
- Amoral's official forum 2007
- Amoral's official forum 2005–2007
- Interview with Ben by Metal Rules 2007
- Interview with Ari Koivunen and Ben Varon of Amoral by FREE! Magazine 2009
- Interview with Amoral (audio) 2012
- Ari Koivunen Interview on Stagereport.ro (May 27, 2013)
- Interview with Masi Hukari and Ben Varon guitarists for Amoral (video) May 1, 2013
- Amoral Press Conference in Manila, Philippines (video) May 1, 2013
- Interview with Ben Varon by Rock Brigade 1-2014
- Amoral discography at Discogs