Reactivated passion

WELKINS BOREAL was founded in 2018 by Finnish songwriter Teemu Kautonen as a follow-up to his former band Nattvindens Gråt, which released three albums 1995-2000 and played a European tour in 1997. Teemu has also played with acts like Darkwoods My Betrothed, Furthest Shore and Wizzard.

WELKINS BOREAL’s debut album ‚Phantoms Of Yesteryear‘ was released in 2019 as Teemu’s solo effort. On the new EP „Ashes“, the line-up was augmented with Aki Koponen on guitar and Toni Paananen as session drummer.

[ Artwork: Pavel Kurbanov • All4Band Design ]

TRACKS:
01. Are You A Witch? 03:58
02. Triumph Of Steel 04:59
03. Ashes 03:51

total: 12:48 min.

„Ashes“ contains three ATMOSPHERIC GOTHIC METAL songs that vary in style from the raw heaviness of ‚Are You a Witch?‘ to the epic and progressive ‚Triumph Of Steel‘ to the catchy melodic title track.

In fact, the EP features the first brand new songs Teemu has written since 2001, given that the debut album ‚Phantoms Of Yesteryear‘ comprised of completely revised and re-recorded versions of old Nattvindens Gråt songs.

WELKINS BOREAL opted to record the EP in the old-fashioned style on magnetic tape with the apostle of analogue sound, producer/engineer Anssi Kippo at Finland’s legendary Astia Studio.

[ Pic: Mirkka Pihlajamaa ]

LINE-UP:
Teemu Kautonen • Lead & backing Vocals, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards
Aki Koponen • Guitar, backing Vocals

Toni Paananen • Session Drums

Everything on the new EP is organic: no drum samples, no autotune, no amp simulators, no MIDI. Therefore, the playing and singing might not be perfect, but the producer and the band followed the philosophy of the feeling of the music outweighing robotic precision and a sense of danger being more interesting than predictable perfection.

The fundamental elements of the music are catchy rocking melodies, heavy guitar riffing, melancholic keyboards and baritone vocals. Fans of bands such as Sentenced, To/Die/For, Ghost and Charon should feel right at home with WELKINS BOREAL.

 WELKINS BOREAL is available for interviews via phone, Skype & e-mail

E-MAIL:
info@welkinsboreal.com

WELKINS BOREAL • Online:
          

DISCOGRAPHY:
2019 • Phantoms Of Yesteryear (Full-length)
2020 • Ashes (EP)

Sublime quintessence

VARUS was formed in 2012 as a further development of the party-hearted minstrels of Banjaxed. Elements of folklore and the joy of celebration were retained, but the participants decided to concentrate on their own compositions and to leave the replay of already written works behind.

[ Pic: Wiebke Brandt ]

LINE-UP:
Konstantin Raab • Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Flutes
Stefan Schwarz • Guitars/Backing Vocals
Norbert Caspar • Bass
Max Betz • Drums


The band name VARUS refers to the historical Battle of the Teutoburg Forest or the leader of the Roman legions, who took his own life on the battlefield and thus functions as a symbol of the empire pushed back by the Germanic natural tribes.

Formed in the forges of Upper Franconia, VARUS is committed to a lengthy and all-round profound concept:
The equally independent as well as epic and aesthetic fusion of classical music, traditional Folk and pithy Metal.

The initial raw idea developed into a characteristic, dynamic SYMPHONIC FOLK METAL style that strikes an original balance between emotional, atmospheric, epic orchestrations and thunderous, dark guitar thunderstorms.

[ Artwork: Belén Morante Velasco ]

TRACKS:
01. The Awakening 09:09
02. Tränk dein Herz 02:47
03. A New Dawn 05:27
04. Ascheregen 05:01
05. Ein Lebewohl 09:01
06. Wandel der Zeit 05:40
07. The Minstrels Chant 05:25
08. Die letzte Schenke 04:01

total: 46:31 min.


So the four minstrels came together to unite a bundle of orchestral epic, uncompromising hardness, sophisticated structures and melodic Folk influences. Next to trembling bass foundations, brute guitar walls and archaic drums, flute, tin whistle and mandolin also find their place.

In 2014 the band released its debut album „Till The Sun Rises“, now they are back in the scene with the brilliant successor „A New Dawn“.

Official Lyric Video for the title song „A New Dawn“:

VARUS‚ characteristic and unique creations on „A New Dawn“ are held together by sophisticated drum compositions, which also cover more progressive fields, and a hammering bass, which includes funk as well as baroque thoroughbass. The harmonious ensemble is rounded off by wide-ranging guttural vocals and occasional clear vocals, completed by voluminous choral arrangements.

The lyrics of the songs deal with legends, sagas and timeless themes such as freedom, nature romanticism or the art of drinking. The lyrics are deliberately bilingual – in German and English.

DISCOGRAPHY:
2014 • Till The Sun Rises (Full-length)
2020 • A New Dawn (Full-length)

 VARUS are available for interviews via phone, Skype & e-mail

🔗 Landing Page • Streaming

E-MAIL:
varusband@gmx.net

VARUS • Online:
           

⚡ 🔔 📢
➤ 🎼 𝐕𝐀𝐑𝐔𝐒 • 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤 & 𝙋𝙍 Action:
https://www.metalmessage.de/Promotion_VARUS_en.php
📢 🔔 ⚡

The power of imagination

VELVET OCEAN is an ALTERNATIVE MELODIC METAL band from Oulu, Northern Finland. The story of the band began a couple of years ago as a co-writing project of the main singer Riitu and her husband, guitarist Jarkko ‚Jake‘ Ronkainen.

As songs kept popping up the project soon evolved into a studio project with both session musicians and later band members joining in. Early in the pre-production stage Oulu symphonic orchestra cello players Arto Alikoski and Harri Österman joined as well as the established Finnish keyboard player Marco Sneck.

[ Artwork: Abstract Chaos · Design ]

TRACKS:
01. It’s So Hard 03:20
02. Tonight 03:47
03. Requiem 05:05
04. Butterfly 05:27
05. Truth Or Illusion 03:01
06. Elysian Fields 03:58
07. Broken 03:58
08. Innocent Eyes 03:28
09. Lullaby 04:14
10. Salvation 03:58

total: 40:16 min.

The debut album recorded in this way, which later got the title „Purposes And Promises“, was handed over to Johan Örnborg and Jens Bogren for mixing and mastering at the well-known Fascination Street Studios. „Purposes And Promises“ was released on February 7, 2020 via Helsinki Records and is distributed by Warner Music Finland.

The title of the album describes the motivation of the Ronkainens behind the album project. It has been the sole purpose of their lives for the last few years, says Jake, and the promise they made to complete it has held the project together throughout the hard work period.

VELVET OCEAN believe that music is a connection between their own feelings and the outside world, and that is why their compositions tell stories about things that have happened in their personal lives. The music style of VELVET OCEAN is basically derived from all the music the couple has ever listened to, and also incorporates influences from genres other than Metal music.

[ Pic: Jarkko Ronkainen ]

LINE-UP:
Riitu Ronkainen • Vocals
Jarkko ‚Jake‘ Ronkainen • Guitar, Vocals
Jani Lehtinen • Guitar
Tuomas Vesa • Bass
Jami Alaverronen • Synths
Arto Alikoski • Cello
Bastian Schallschmidt • Drums

The independent style reminds a little bit of other contemporary Melodic Metal bands with female vocals, but adds a touch of Pop and Grunge as well as distinctive drum beats and acoustic instruments.

„Our music is about honesty and dealing with certain emotions that have caused some difficulties or challenges in life. It’s about expressing yourself and dealing with negative feelings in a way that other people can identify with them,“ adds Riitu, who describes her attitude towards music itself as follows:
„Music is very important to me. It’s almost as important as the air that I breathe. Music gives a meaning to my life. It’s also a sort of therapy to me. With music I can express the thoughts and emotions that I go through. I’m the kind of person that I have a very vivid imagination and I feel that this is a quality that is very useful in making music. Music connects me very strongly to my emotions in a way that sometimes feels even a little bit excessive. It is very important to me to communicate with the people listening to our music. I mean an emotional level connection that would make the people try to understand the feelings we have put into the blend that has eventually made the music exist. I am also very visual in my composing. I would like the mere music and the sound to fill the whole inner space of the person listening with images and landscapes. Today the world is packed with visual information and leaves less to the imagination which is kind of a negative thing sometimes. In the end, I would love to think that our music will prevail after everything we’ve gone through.“

On May 21st VELVET OCEAN released the latest music video, this time for the album song „Elysian Fields“:

DISCOGRAPHY:
2020 • Purposes And Promises (Full-length)

VELVET OCEAN • Online:
         

E-MAIL:
velvetoceanband@gmail.com

MEDIA FEEDBACK:

4 / 5
„… for the young band’s debut album, it’s a shockingly strong accomplishment.“
(Desibeli)

4 / 5
„You’ll love the mix of depth and the accessibility here – it’s a winning combination … a great debut.“
(The Rockpit)

8 / 10
„… clean and defined sound quality, with the right amount of modern aggressiveness and weight. So everything can be heard and understood, and the listener will be able to catch what the band is trying to express … excellent work …“
(Metal Temple)

„Emerging with a debut that is certainly promising for a strong career, VELVET OCEAN have shown themselves to be adept at both captivating songwriting and artists in balancing the contributions of a great number of artists.“
(Sonic Perspectives)

„… this debut album has a very pleasant sound, very kind, very much if you like style, sentimentality and the charm of the peaceful … worth listening to … spirit and emotional experience, that does deliver and fulfill.“
(Dark Metal Divas)

„Riitu Ronkainen‘s melancholic vocals can’t help but remind me of Evanescence‘s Amy Lee. The amount of emotion in her voice is incredible, which adds so much more depth to the otherwise straightforward yet charming melodies. She effortlessly transitions from poppy to classical vocals, hitting every note. From then on, the tracks remain easy to listen to and flow into one another smoothly … every single one of the seven band members has something special to add to this record, from powerful, varied bass lines to drums ranging from explosive to sensitive … they have managed to develop and grow into their very own musical identity during the making of this album, due to an intuitive creative flow that can only be celebrated. It’s undeniable VELVET OCEAN has put their heart and soul into ‚Purposes And Promises‘ …“
(Tuonela Magazine)

„VELVET OCEAN together with front woman Riitu Ronkainen themselves create a kind of crisp, fresh, romantically charged Alternative Metal sound, with confidently played (Rock)guitars and opulent arrangements. The extremely tasteful performance is pampered by catchy, velvety soft tone sequences and Riitu’s anytime devoted vocals.“
(Sonic Seducer)

„Ten atmospheric tracks inspire with hard sounds and velvety soft melodies. Impressive use of cello and soulful vocals give the compositions an inevitably engaging character. The enchanting voice of singer Riitu is powerful and fragile at the same time and always conveys captivating emotionality … ‚Purposes And Promises‘ surpasses its promises!“
(Orkus)

Cutting clarity

On his second album with the mystical title „The Raven’s Shadow“ BLOODRED mainman Ron Merz celebrates his optimally proven BLACKENED DEATH METAL mix, which he has been refining successful as a one-man-project since 2009.

[ Pic: Stefan Heilemann • Heilemania ]

Connoisseurs know: the absolutely determined guitarist and singer does his thing here again like only few protagonists in the heavy music guild. In addition, the man with a penchant for pithy breakwater riffs keeps his team loyal:
Alexander Krull, known from Atrocity and Leaves‘ Eyes, who has repeatedly done excellent work for BLOODRED in his Mastersound Studio, is again responsible for the hammer-strong and also enormously dashing overall sound of „The Raven’s Shadow“.

[ Artwork: Stefan Heilemann • Heilemania ]

TRACKS:
1. The Raven’s Shadow 06:37
2. Immense Hall Of Agony 04:08
3. Hör Den Tod 04:54
4. Blood On Thy Hands 03:31
5. Raise The Mound 04:37
6. We Who Ruled The North 05:41
7. Shadow Warrior 05:51
8. Under This Sun 05:30
9. The Northstar Whispers (To The Blacksmiths Son) 09:06

total: 49:55 min.

The overpowering drum attacks were again recorded by the highly clocked Joris Nijenhuis, who is also beating the skins for Atrocity and Leaves‘ Eyes.

The current successor to the 2016 debut album „Nemesis“ shines with sovereign material, for which a deliberate attempt was made to break up the usual structures of the songs – the classic ‚verse-refrain-strophe-refrain‘ pattern is therefore rarely found on this album. The Scandinavian-grimpy appearing structures could therefore be made as varied as permanently interesting.

„Blood On Thy Hands“ pays homage to the unforgotten cult sound of old Hypocrisy. The nine compositions on „The Raven’s Shadow“ show the assiduous work of the unswerving idealist from Baden-Württemberg at the highest level so far.

Thus, besides hauntingly gripping thunderstorms of rhythm, especially the melodies have been polished to be much more catchy and lasting. Captivatingly majestic songs like the invigoratingly triumphant „We Who Ruled The North“ bear witness to this in uplifting perfection.

[ Pic: Stefan Heilemann • Heilemania ]

LINE-UP:
Ron Merz • Vocals, Guitars, Bass Joris Nijenhuis • Drums

Even with inevitably catchy power numbers like „Shadow Warrior“ and „Immense Hall Of Agony“ BLOODRED 2020 presents itself both internationally fully competitive and in a trendless, timeless appearance. And in the wonderfully culminating final track „The Northstar Whispers (To The Blacksmith’s Son)“ the talent for impressive, dramatic epic reveals itself.

Apropos, timeless: the raven has been regarded as a messenger of death, especially in the Nordic myths and legends, from time immemorial until today – an exciting topic, which can be found in many a song on the new album.
BLOODRED pays homage to this truly wonderful and all too often misunderstood animal in a musically captivating way – may the berserk tracks on „The Raven’s Shadow“ lift their dark wings to the heights of the scene just as mystically and fascinatingly! (Markus Eck)

⚡📢
𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐃 • 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤 & 𝙋𝙍 Action:
https://www.metalmessage.de/Promotion_BLOODRED_en.php
⚡📢

DISCOGRAPHY:
2014 • The Lost Ones (EP)
2016 • Nemesis (Full-length)
2020 • The Raven’s Shadow (Full-length)

 BLOODRED is available for interviews via phone, Skype & e-mail

BLOODRED • Online:
          

E-MAIL:
contact@bloodredband.com

Liner Notes by Ron Merz to the new songs:

1. The Raven´s Shadow
The raven is the symbol of death and thus defines the subject underlying most of the songs. Poetically described in the poem by William Watson, the raven swings up to bring death on silent wings.

2. Immense Hall Of Agony
This song was written under the impression of the terrorist attacks in Paris, the focus is on the massacre in the Bataclan. Every musician and music fan can imagine how one would feel in such a situation. That evening the Bataclan became an „Immense Hall Of Agony“

3. Hör den Tod
Depression is, unfortunately, still a largely not accepted illness, which is more than „just being a sad“. Again and again people end up killing themselves and freeing themselves from this condition (at least this is what they´re thinking). This song is about the way to suicide.

4. Blood On Thy Hands
Human sacrifices have been common in many cultures throughout human history. Regardless of whether in the Bible, in the Aztecs or Germanic tribes, one hoped such a deity to be weighed. No death was brutal enough, new ways of sacrifice were always invented. And so stained his hands with blood.

5. Raise The Mound
This song is a tribute to my late grandfather, a true workingclass gentleman. With the pictures of the burial of a Viking king I do him the honor.

6. We Who Ruled The North
In addition to the unconditional spread of the new faith, the Christianization of Scandinavia was above all a question of expanding power. The kings of that time bowed to Christianity and denied their old beliefs.

7. Shadow Warrior
Another song on „terrorism“. Here, however, written from the perspective of an assassin who, driven by hatred, spreads fear and terror in the middle of society.

8. Under This Sun
In contrast to all the dark lyrics, this song is supposed to show that there are many beautiful things in this world. Those who walk through nature with their eyes and ears open will discover many wonders. In addition, of course, this is also a request to fight against the destruction of our environment.

9. The Northstar Whispers (To The Blacksmith´s Son)
Vachel Lindsay is considered a founder of modern singing poetry, as he referred to it, in which verses are meant to be sung or chanted. This song is an attempt to implement his ideas.

MEDIA FEEDBACK:

►► The Raven’s Shadow • Album ◄◄

8,5 / 10
„… an impressive album … what BLOODRED have put on the chain some bands don’t succeed during their whole existence.“
(Zephyr’s Odem)

8 / 10
„… great sounding recording … if you are a fan of melodic and Blackened Death Metal, you should check out this album.“
(A Different Shade Of Black Metal)

7 / 10
„… an absolutely worth hearing album with some great moments …“
(KOBZR Magazine)

„Richly textured, wonderfully melodic, yet aggressive as hell … masterfully artistic and powerful … stands on its own as a wonderful musical journey into darkness and violence.“
(Brews And Tunes)

►► Nemesis • Album ◄◄

88 / 100
„… the atmosphere here is very cold … definitely a fitting sound … excellent …“
(Metal Archives)

8 / 10
„… sounds very professional for being a self released recording … if you are a fan of melodic, Blackened Death Metal, you should check out this album.“
(A Different Shade Of Black Metal)

8 / 10
„A really good album …“
(Time For Metal)

3,5 / 5
„… rough edges to really make things stick … never indulgent, but always adventurous, Merz makes a real statement with BLOODRED’s debut.“
(Metal-Rules)

„… tremendous … the riffs are powerful and embodied the roots of Black/Death metal in every passage … producing savage brutality with high paced double kicks and aggressive blast beats … a punishing work … fascinates me in its delivery and structure of each riff … strong and relentless attack … make you want to jump into the mosh pit.“
(Artemortifica)

„… frenzied and fierce … like a wildly whipping whirlwind.“
(Valley Of Steel)

„… the record is just awesome! You gotta have it! Well done Ron … very, very well done.“
(Aristocrazia)

„… BLOODRED has proven to be a massive surprise — filled with galloping riffs and hefty melodic sections that could easily hold appeal for people who love groups like Amon Amarth.“
(No Clean Singing)

„… one-man project of the special and outstanding class …“
(Sonic Seducer)

„A well-crafted smelting of black metal’s archaic … death metal’s careful exactitude that sounds unprocessed and up to date … exhibits the greatest sentiments of extreme metal as a whole.“
(Auto Erotic Asphyxium)

„… dynamic and energetic … effortlessly changing BLOODRED between mosh-able and expansive heroic moments … a remarkable album …“
(Franconia Metallum)

etc.