Within Temptation

 Today in 2004 Within Temptation released the album The Silent Force

Waddinxveen, South Holland,Netherlands Symphonic Metal (early), Symphonic/Alternative Rock (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1996 (as The Portal), 1996-present

Add Within Temptation's Sharon Den Adel to the growing list of standout female soprano metal singers, alongside Sandra Schleret (ex-Dreams Of Sanity), Floor Jansen (After Forever), and of course Tarja of Nightwish. Den Adel's vocals, particularly on the band's recent Mother Earth album, are simply beautiful. Music-wise, Within Temptation show two different styles, with Enter being more in the atmospheric gothic metal, approaching doomdeath at times due to guitarist Robert Westerholt's death vocals sung alongside Den Adel. Here, the band might remind one of Orphanage or perhaps early Theatre Of Tragedy due to the dual singing styles. By contrast, Mother Earth loses the death vocals, brings keyboards to the fore, and in general is far less heavy and more orchestral, inviting comparisons at times to the aformentioned Dreams Of Sanity. Though decidedly less metallic than Enter, this is quite a professional album. Within Temptation is a quality band that should only get better as time goes on.

Supersonic Records

Sharon den Adel Vocals

Robert Westerholt Guitars

Ruud Jolie Guitars (lead)

Jeroen van Veen Bass

Martijn Spierenburg Keyboards

Stephen van Haestregt Drums

Guest/Session

Isaac Muller Celtic instruments

Siard de Jong Celtic instruments

1. Intro 01:58

2. See Who I Am 04:51

3. Jillian (I'd Give My Heart) 04:47

4. Stand My Ground 04:28

5. Pale 04:28

6. Forsaken 04:54

7. Angels 04:00

8. Memories 03:51

9. Aquarius 04:47

10. It's the Fear 04:07

11. Somewhere 04:13

46:24

Enhanced multimedia section includes a video for the song "Stand My Ground".

Recording information:

Tracks 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 mixed by Stefan Glaumann at Toy Town Studios in Sweden.

Tracks 1, 5, 8, 11 mixed by Håkan Fredriksson & Ola Sonmark at Headroom Studios in Sweden.

All songs mastered by Bjorn Engelmann at The Cutting Room in Sweden.

Vocals recorded at The Wisseloord Studios in Netherlands.

Guitars recorded at Soundpark Studio in Netherlands.

Drums recorded at ICP Studios in Belgium.

Orchestra recorded by Ego Works at Studio # 5 & Documentary Studio in Moscow, Russia.

The Soundbyte

 Today in 2004 The Soundbyte released there debut album Rivers of Broken Glass

Trondheim, Norway Avant-garde Metal/Ambient

Status:Active

Years active: 1998-present

The Soundbyte is the solo project of former The 3rd And The Mortal guitarist Trond Engum, and that in itself gives a good baseline as to what's going on here, the project debuting in 2004 with Rivers Of Broken Glass. For the uninitiated, The 3rd And The Mortal was an ambient/doom metal band that gradually shed much of its metal leanings for a more experimental, trip-hop style, and The Soundbyte clearly borrows from that on some songs, and also branches out a bit like a good solo project should, as on the excellent big-band swagger of "Waiting". There's plenty for the late TATM fan to latch onto, even if the metal moments are fleeting at best. Two more albums (not reviewed here) were released in 2007 and 2012.

Amaranth Recordings

Trond Engum Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Programming

Guest/Session

Tommy Dahlen Bass (track 1)

Frank Stavem Bass (track 2)

Arild Følstad Electric piano (track 2), Synthesizer (track 5)

Bjarne Lestra Saxophone (track 5)

Peder Drege Trombone (track 5)

Jørgen Orheim Trumpet (track 5)

Leif Henning Storvik Sampler (track 8)

Berit Stensland Vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4, 8, 9)

1. Fall 04:08

2. Monyon 04:47

3. Addiction Complete 04:25

4. Lie 04:06

5. Waiting 04:03

6. Water 03:06

7. The Line 04:01

8. Til ungdommen 04:01

9. Reflections of Broken Glass 07:20

10. The Dark 05:16

45:13

Distributed by SPV GmbH.

Stormwitch

 Today in 2004 Stormwitch released the album Witchcraft

Gerstetten, Baden-Württemberg,Germany Heavy/Power Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1979-1981 (as Lemon Sylvan), 1981-1994, 2002-present

Stormwitch was one of the better-known German power metal bands of the eighties, employing a classic Priest/Maiden/Accept metal style. After a successful run, they broke up in 1994, then reformed with an all-new lineup surrounding frontman Andy Mück in 2002. That version put out two albums and then went silent, and Mück created yet another version of the band for 2015's Season Of The Witch.

Nuclear Blast

Andy Aldrian Vocals

Martin Winkler Guitars

Fabian Schwarz Guitars

Dominik Schwarz Bass

Marc Oppold Drums

Alexander Schmidt Keyboards

Guest/Session

Tammy Vocals (additional) (tracks 3, 10)

Anja Vocals (additional) (tracks 3, 10)

1. The Sinister Child 04:17

2. At the Break of This Day 04:02

3. Fallen from God 06:02

4. Frankenstein's Brothers 04:17

5. Until the War Will End 03:26

6. Witchcraft 05:30

7. Sleeping Beauty 03:41

8. Puppet in a Play 06:05

9. The Kiss of Death 03:40

10. Moonfleet 04:24

11. Salome 04:04

12. The Drinking Song 03:15

13. Blood Lies in My Hand 05:02

57:45

Produced at Heavymartl Project Studio, Aalen, Germany.

Mixed and mastered at Tone Temple Studios, Unterensingen, Germany.

God Dethroned

 Today in 2004 God Dethroned released the album The Lair of the White Worm

Beilen, Drenthe,Netherlands Blackened Death Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1991-1993, 1996-2012, 2014-present

Dutch death metallers God Dethroned were formed by guitarist Henri Sattler in 1991, and the young band released The Christhunt (featuring, in its re-released form, a gruesome cover pic) on a small record label. Dissatisfied with both the band and the label, Sattler scrapped the band, went on to form a thrash band called Ministry Of Terror, recorded an album with that band, and then resurrected God Dethroned with a new lineup. There's nothing fancy about God Dethroned's sound -- it's energetic, mostly old-school death metal, though some faint black metal traces pop up, particularly on The Grand Grimoire. Along with Asphyx, God Dethroned is amongst the most well-known death metal bands to come out of the Netherlands. Sattler announced that 2011 would be the last year of the band's existence, as he no longer wishes to tour.

Metal Blade Records

Henri Sattler Guitars, Vocals, Lyrics

Isaac Delahaye Guitars

Henk Zinger Bass

Ariën van Weesenbeek Drums, Lyrics (track 8)

1. Nihilism 05:10

2. Arch Enemy Spain 04:20

3. Sigma Enigma 04:06

4. The Lair of the White Worm 03:31

5. Rusty Nails 06:04

6. Loyal to the Crown of God Dethroned 03:25

7. Last Zip of Spit 04:20

8. The Grey Race 04:11

9. Salt in Your Wounds 05:01

40:08

The Limited edition digipack includes a bonus DVD.

A video was made for the song "The Lair of the White Worm".

The title track refers to Bram Stoker`s novel of the same name (1911).

Recording information:

Recorded at Berno Studio in Malmo, Sweden.

Mastered at Franky's Recording Kitchen late Summer 2004.

Swallow the Sun

 Today in 2003 Swallow The Sun released there debut album The Morning Never Came

Jyväskylä,Finland Melodic Doom/Death Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 2000-present

Standard yet accomplished doomdeath from this Finnish band who formed in 2000. The songs are sprawling, epic, and ponderous, almost reach funeral doom in tempo and atmosphere, though with just enough melody to keep things from becoming too dreary. Doomdeath isn't quite the most popular metal genre these days, so it's good to hear a band do the style right.

Firebox Records

Mikko Kotamäki Vocals

Markus Jämsen Guitars

Juha Raivio Guitars

Aleksi Munter Keyboards

Matti Honkonen Bass

Pasi Pasanen Drums

1. Through Her Silvery Body 08:40

2. Deadly Nightshade 05:48

3. Out of This Gloomy Light 05:37

4. Swallow (Horror, Part I) 05:23

5. Silence of the Womb 06:50

6. Hold This Woe 08:04

7. Under the Waves 06:46

8. The Morning Never Came 09:19

56:27

Recorded at Sam's Workshop 29.7.2003-17.8.2003.

Mastered at Finnvox Studios until 11.9.2003.

Composed by J. Raivio. Produced and arranged by Swallow the Sun.

Nadja

 Today in 2003 Nadja released the album Corrasion

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (early), Berlin, Germany (later) Ambient Drone/Doom Metal

Status:Active

Years active:2002-present 

Based in Toronto, this ambient doom/metal/electronic duo was the brainchild (and originally the solo project) of Aidan Baker. Already a prolific musician who had released a number of works with labels worldwide -- including a vast catalog of CD-R only releases -- Baker used Nadja to explore the darker aspects of his musical soul. Taking on vocalist and bass player Leah Buckareff allowed the expansion of Nadja's sound, as well as the ability to play live. Established in 2003, Nadja's early releases followed the pattern already established by Baker, that is to say a lot of CD-R limited releases, but by 2005, the duo was ready for official release, and Alien8 released that year's Truth Becomes Death. More releases followed, including EPs and collaborative efforts, and in 2007 Alien8 and Nadja released the well-received Touched. The band also built a following by opening shows for such post-metal luminaries as Ocean and Isis.

Foreshadow Music

Aidan Baker Guitars, Vocals, Drum programming, Flute

Leah Buckareff Bass, Vocals

1. Base Fluid 11:45 

2. You Are as Dust 10:35 

3. Corrasion 08:35 

4. Amniotic 21:00 

51:55

Re-arranged and re-recorded version of "Corrasion" was released on Foreshadow Productions in 2007 along with three bonus tracks: "I Am as Earth" from the Moss/Nadja 3" CD-R split, "Ash," and "White Lies," which were both previously featured on Foreshadow Production compilations.

Misteria

 Today in 2002 Misteria released the album Universe Funeral

Rzeszów,Poland Melodic Black/Death Metal

Status:Split-up

Years active: 1996-?

Misteria was formed in 1996 by Paweł “Lord Viader” Leniart (drums) and Mariusz “Maniek” Zawadzki (vocals, guitars). Not long after Tomasz “Grabaż” Grzesik joined them.

Two years later they recorded their first and only promo Promo '98 that featured two songs – Death-Dreams Journey and Yearning. It was a part of “Epicentrum,” a CD featuring promising underground metal bands from Rzeszów.

During February and March 1999 Misteria recorded their debut album – Masquerade of Shadows. The material got very positive reviews in the media, which resulted in signing a contract with Empire Records/Massive Management. The contract was broken off year later. During that time Misteria played concerts with bands like Lux Occulta, Gardenian, Decapitated, Neolith, Sanatorium, Demise, Devilyn, Sacrum, Sceptic, Epitome etc.

In Summer the same year, Misteria signed a new contract with Pagan Records and their album was released. Also Marcin “Novy” Nowak joined the band as a bassist (formerly bass was recorded by Maniek).

2002 was the year that Misteria’s most succesful album was released. Universe Funeral (which is now sold out and very hard to get) hit Polish underground scene. Again Pagan Records released it.

The music changed a bit. Keys disappeared, guitars were faster, more thrash and heavy. The album was considered as one of the best albums made recently in Poland. It resulted in Misteria playing on Metalmania in 2003.

Unfortunately this was also the year when the band split up. There were some arguments after which Maniek, Novy and Grabaż formed a new band called Mysteria. Misteria stopped its existence.

One of the most characteristic parts of Misteria’s music were Maniek’s vocal (which varied from very clean ones to extreme growls), folk interests (which were fully shown in songs Folkien and Funeral (Folkien Part II)) and a mixture of different metal genres.

After a short period of time the band was reactivated by Lord Viader, the inventor of the original name. Misteria got a new line-up. From the old one only Viader remained. Apart from him Misteria is: Mirosław “Heniu” Mamczur (vocals, guitars), Seweryn “Winetou” Gielarowski (guitars) and Kuba “Skrzatan” Pelczar (bass).

In 2005 the band recorded a new material “The New Beginning,” but due to "home-made quality" it was not released.

The year 2006 was spent on constant rehearsals, composing and concerts. In July Chomik joined the line-up as a keyboard player. Soon after another unreleased material apperad: the "Grill'em All Szatan Party"

The beginning of 2007 was marked by an official "Dare you follow me?" promo, which contains some of the tracks created for two former, unrealeased recordings.

Pagan Records

Lord Viader Drums

Nowy Bass

G.R.A.B.A.Z. Guitars, Didgeridoo, Bongos

Maniek Guitars, Vocals

Guest/Session

Yashin Flażolet

Kondrad Oklejewicz Tar

Wódz Tar

1. Visions and Memories 05:30

2. Bashfully Deformed (Phobia) 04:54

3. Scorn 03:08

4. Katharsis 06:41

5. Forever... Beautiful... Dead Smile 07:50

6. Funeral (Folkien Part II) 04:49

7. Sage 05:23

8. Modern Immortal Past 06:15

9. Children of the Snake 05:41

10. Paradise of Madmen 06:52

11. Cremation (666 version) 15:04

01:12:07

Кecorded at "House of Fear Studio", Lesko (drums only - March 2002) and "Manek Studio", Sanok (April-May 2002), engineered by Arkadiusz "Malta" Malczewski

mixed by Malta & Jasiu "Miazga" at "Screw Factory Studio", Dębica (June 2002)

mastered by Wojciech Wisławski at "Hertz Studio", Białystok (September 2002).