Tarja

 Today in 2007 Tarja released the album My Winter Storm

Kitee,Finland/Buenos Aires (Argentina)Symphonic Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 2004-present

Tarja Turunen is a Finnish lyric soprano singer, songwriter and composer. She is best known as the original member and the former lead vocalist of Finnish operatic/symphonic power metal band Nightwish, founded by herself, Tuomas Holopainen and Emppu Vuorinen in 1996. She was dismissed from the band after nine years, on October 22, 2005, through an open letter written by Holopainen, that was signed by the other members of Nightwish too. Turunen responded through another open letter, which was posted on her website in both Finnish and English.

Vertigo

Tarja Turunen Vocals, Piano

Doug Wimbish Bass

Alex Scholpp Guitars

Earl Harvin Drums

Torsten Stenzel Keyboards

Guest/Session

Martin Tillman Cello

Kiko Loureiro Guitars (acoustic) (track 19)

Izumi Kawakatsu Piano

Lili Haydin Violin

Tony Turunen Vocals (backing) (track 11)

Kid Crazy Keyboards (track 9)

Tea Tähtinen Vocals (backing) (track 11)

Daniel Presley Vocals (backing) (track 11)

1. Ite, missa est 00:27

2. I Walk Alone 03:53

3. Lost Northern Star 04:22

4. Seeking for the Reign 00:58

5. The Reign 04:07

6. The Escape of the Doll 00:32

7. My Little Phoenix 04:02

8. Die Alive 04:04

9. Boy and the Ghost 04:36

10. Sing for Me 04:16

11. Oasis 05:10

12. Poison (Alice Cooper cover) 04:01

13. Our Great Divide 05:05

14. Sunset 00:36

15. Damned and Divine 04:29

16. Minor Heaven 04:00

17. Ciarán's Well 03:37

18. Calling Grace 03:06

01:01:21

Recorded between 2006 and 2007 at verious studios: Grouse Lodge Studios, Westmeath, Ireland; Can del Sol, Ibiza, Spain; The Village, West Los Angeles, USA; Petrax Studio, Hollola, Finland; Rudolfinum, Prague, Czech Republic, Finnvox Studios, Helsinki, Finland; Remote Control Productions, Santa Monica, USA; Fusão Estúdios, San Paulo, Brazil; Sound Development AG, Zurich, Swiss; Jojo Music Studios, Stuttgart, Germany.

Mixed at Remote Control Productions, Santa Monica, USA.

Mastered at Marcussen Mastering, Hollywood, USA.

Nifelheim

 Today in 2007 Nifelheim released the album Envoy of Lucifer

Dals Långed, Sweden Black/Thrash Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1990-Present

Nifelheim was formed in 1990 by Tyrant (bass/guitar), Demon (drums) and Hellbutcher (vocals). Soon they were also joined by guitarist Morbid Slaughter. Around New Years 92/93 the band made their first recording and released the legendary landmark of metal - "Unholy Death Demo". Reviewers were shocked! Nifelheim delivered music unheard of since the glory days of Venom, Hellhammer, Bathory and early Mayhem. Great reviews in mags and a massive underground word of mouth got the record labels interested.

The band signed with Necropolis Records and in 1994, after kicking out Morbid Slaughter they entered Studio Fredman to record their self titled debut album. The band is still banned from that studio... John Zweetsloot and Jon Nodtveidt from Dissection joined in to play guitar on the album that thoroughly crushed all competition. 1996 saw the band record a Vulcano-cover (featuring Goat ex. Satanized) on vocals for the Headbanger's Against Disco 7" series as well as participate on the Gummo movie soundtrack released by Polygram/London records.

In 1997 they recorded their second album - The Devil's Force. Once again a devastating blow to everything wimpy in the metal scene and once again with help by John & Jon. Of course it was greeted with great reviews worldwide, as Nifelheim once again showed how black metal was (and still is for that matter) supposed to be played! When the time had come to record a new album, Nifelheim discovered they had outgrown current label Necropolis Records, and therefore chose to go their own way, to get get a record company that could handle their demands in their evergoing mission to conquer the world.

After spending time out to write new songs, record tracks for Bathory and Motorhead tributes, look for a drummer, the band returned to the studio in March 2000 to work on their third release - Servants Of Darkness on new record label Black Sun Records. Their most brilliant piece of work to date! In May 2001 the band finally got a full line up and played their first gig ever as headliners at the 2heavy4you festival in Sweden. Since then Nifelheim have done a couple of deadly concerts in Europe to spread total death!

Regain Records

Hellbutcher Vocals, Songwriting

Tyrant Bass, Songwriting

Vengance from Beyond Guitars

Apocalyptic Desolator Guitars

Insulter of Jesus Christ! Drums

Guest/Session

Set Teitan Vocals (backing)

1. Infernal Flame of Destruction 04:14

2. Evocation of the End 02:18

3. Gates of Damnation 04:31

4. Claws of Death 05:02

5. Storm of the Reaper 04:15

6. Envoy of Lucifer 03:27

7. Evil Is Eternal 03:59

8. Raging Flames 04:18

9. Belial's Prey 04:24

10. No More Life 07:33

44:01

LP released in early 2008, first press limited to 500 copies. Comes in gatefold cover.

Recording information:

Recorded strictly analogue between the period of May 4 until June 28, 2007 at Ace Tone Studios, Stockholm.

Mastered at Tailormaid Mastering Studio, Stockholm August 4, 2007.

Necromantia

 Today in 2007 Necromantia released the album The Sound of Lucifer Storming Heaven

Athens, Attica,Greece Black Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1989-present

Necromantia is probably Greece's most well-known black metal bands, as well as the main home for Magus Daoloth, arguably the most popular Greek metal figure of all time and who seemingly has had his hands in practically every other Greek band of note, as well as being of the guys in charge of the Black Lotus record label. The band essentially exists as a duo with various session players filling out the album lineups.

Dockyard 1 Records

Baron Blood (R.I.P. 2019) 8-String bass, Keyboards

The Magus Bass, Vocals, Keyboards

Fotis Benardo Drums

1. The Sound of Lucifer Storming Heaven 02:36 instrumental

2. Order of the Black Sphinx 05:55

3. For the Elder Magi: I - Eibon the Necromancer 07:07

4. Architecture of Exquisite Madness 04:54

5. Knights of the Black and White Eagle 05:25

6. The Invisible Empire 05:15

7. Hellseher 05:45

8. Les Litanies de Satan - Act II: From Hell 04:51

41:48

All music, orchestrations by Necromantia.

All lyrics by Necromantia except "Les Litanies de Satan - Act II: From Hell" (taken from "La-Bas" by J.K. Huysmans, translation by Brendan King, alterations by The Magus).

Recording information:

Recorded and mixed at Hell's Kitchen studio during July - October 2007.

Produced by Necromantia.

Gamma Ray

 Today in 2007 Gamma Ray released the album Land of the Free II

Hamburg,Germany Power/Speed Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1989-present

Gamma Ray ranks alongside Helloween and Blind Guardian as the most popular, and most influential, of the German speed/power metal bands playing today. The similarities between Gamma Ray and Helloween are, of course, not coincidental, as GR founder Kai Hansen played in Helloween in their formative years, leaving after that band's Keeper Of The Seven Keys pair of albums to pursue his own path. Originally he recruited Rob Halford soundalike Ralf Scheepers to sing, but Kai later decided he wanted to sing himself, as he did on the earlier Helloween albums.

Steamhammer

Kai Hansen - vocals, guitar

Henjo Richter - guitars, keyboards

Dirk Schlächter - bass

Dan Zimmermann - drums

Guest/Session

Lara Möller Vocals (choirs)

Wendy Teyssier Vocals (choirs)

Milan Schlächter Vocals (choirs)

Nadine Nottbohm Vocals (choirs)

Henning Basse Vocals (choirs)

1. Into the Storm (3:47)

2. From the Ashes (5:26)

3. Rising Again (0:27)

4. To Mother Earth (5:11)

5. Rain (5:16)

6. Leaving Hell (4:20)

7. Empress (6:22)

8. When the World (5:44)

9. Opportunity (7:14)

10. Real World (5:42)

11. Hear Me Calling (4:14)

12. Insurrection (11:33)

Total Time: 65:16

All songs arranged by Gamma Ray.

Recorded between May & September 2007 at High Gain Recording Studios, Hamburg.

Drums recorded by Tommy Newton

Mixed and mastered by Tommy Newton at Area 51 Studio, Celle.

Cover painting by Hervé Monjeaud.

Japanese bonus track:

13. Blood Religion (live version) (08:11) - recorded in Montreal, later released on "Hell Yeah!!! The Awesome Foursome" live album.

A video was made for "Into the Storm".

Land of the Free II is the ninth full length studio album by Gamma Ray. It was released on November 16, 2007 in Germany, November 19 in Europe, November 21 in Japan and January 15, 2008 for North America. To promote Land of the Free II, Gamma Ray joined Helloween on the 2007/08 Hellish Rock Tour. The song "Into the Storm" is available on the band's MySpace page and its music video on YouTube.

The first-edition CD, released as a Digipak, was limited to 30,000 copies.

Darkspace

 Today in 2005 Darkspace released the album Darkspace II

Bern, Berne,Switzerland Atmospheric Black Metal/Ambient

Status:Active

Years active: 1999-present

Darkspace is an ambient black metal band from Bern, Switzerland, formed in 1999. The group is comprised of three members who call themselves Wroth, Zhaaral and Zorgh. Space-age names for an equally space-age project. True to its name, what Darkspace's music describes is the nothingness of space.

Their style is characterized by an ambient surrounding, hazy production and monotonic sounds, which is somewhat uniquely melodic and variable. Mute guitar passages with blast-beats take turns with milder passages and sometimes even completely electronic passages, providing a fitting tribute to the cold, dark and void-like atmosphere which fills their work. Unlike most pure black metal bands, Darkspace at times employs rhythmic sections. This is evident in their first full-length-album, "Dark Space I".

Darkspace borrows a great deal of influence from electronic music, eerie, ambient synthlines which flow from the guitars. Passage with clear electronic clubkicks or total void-like ambience are incorporated into vocal samples alongside the unnaturally lyricless and very alien sounding screams.

Haunter of the Dark

Wroth Guitars, Vocals

Zhaaral Guitars, Vocals

Zorgh Bass, Vocals

1. Dark 2.8 23:39

2. Dark 2.9 10:21

3. Dark 2.10 20:09

54:09

Pressed on black polycarbonate CD.

Red Wine

 Today in 2004 Red Wine released the album Cenizas

Santo Domingo de la Calzada/Logroño, La Rioja, Spain Heavy/Power Metal

Status:Split-up

Years active:1997-2005, 2010

The interestingly-named Red Wine was a Spanish melodic power metal band, founded in 1997 and becoming one of the more well-known traditional metal bands from Spain, alongside Tierra Santa and Dark Moor (both of which are good musical comparisons as well). Even for power metal, the originality factor is low here -- if it weren't for the singing in Spanish, there'd be nothing to differentiate this band from the hordes of current Euro power metal bands, as they employ all of the trademarks of the genre, from the double-bass drum work to the upbeat choruses (often with backing male choirs) to the keyboard flourishes to the soaring vocals (granted, Mario Suarez is a more than capable singer). The musicianship and production are faultless, again par for the genre. As with many in this field, the object here is not to reinvent metal but simply play catchy, enjoyable classic heavy metal, and in that regard Red Wine delivered. They disbanded, appropriately enough, after releasing a covers album entitled The End.

Arise Records

Iván Ramirez Drums

Daniel Martínez Bass, Vocals (backing)

Jesús Zuazo Guitars

Dan Díez Guitars

Iván Crespo Keyboards

Mario Suárez Vocals

1. 806 00:52

2. Miedo-dolor 04:16

3. Salva tu hogar 03:54

4. Lágrima de soledad 03:56

5. Una vida más 04:01

6. Despierta 04:23

7. Fantasma del pasado 04:55

8. Vientos de libertad 04:43

9. Ojos de ley 04:52

10. Negando lo evidente 04:29

11. Mi universo 03:09

43:30

Recorded at Track 6 (Logroño, La Rioja) during summer, 2003.

Mudvayne

 Today in 2002 Mudvayne released the album The End of All Things to Come

Peoria, Illinois Alternative metal, heavy metal, nu metal, progressive metal, groove metal
Status:On Hold
Years Active: 1996-2011
Mudvayne appeared on the worldwide scene in 2000 with one of the most visually striking images in metal and a solid major label debut album in L.D. 50. They were clearly in the heavier end of the nu-metal spectrum, with vocals alternating between hardcore and melodic and forceful downtuned guitars, as well as some subtle but impressive basswork. Two years later they switched pseudonyms and image (going for a sci-fi alien visual, again quite striking) for their next release The End Of All Things To Come. They later dropped the visuals and ended up releasing five albums over the course of their career, ending with the self-titled Mudvayne in 2009.
Epic
Chüd – vocals
Güüg – guitars, vocals
Rü-d – bass guitar
Spüg – drums
1. Silenced (3:01)
2. Trapped in the Wake of a Dream (4:43)
3. Not Falling (4:03)
4. (Per)Version of a Truth (4:41)
5. Mercy, Severity (4:54)
6. World So Cold (5:39)
7. The Patient Mental (4:38)
8. Skrying (5:39)
9. Solve Et Coagula (2:49)
10. Shadow of a Man (3:55)
11. 12:97:24:99 (0:11)
12. The End of All Things to Come (3:00)
13. A Key to Nothing (5:06)
Total Time: 52:23
The End of All Things to Come is the second studio album by the American group Mudvayne. Released on November 19, 2002, the album expanded upon the sound of the band's debut, L.D. 50, with a wider range of riffs, tempos, moods and vocalization.
The band wrote the album's songs in less than a month, drawing inspiration from their self-imposed isolation during the songwriting process, and crafted a more mature sound which drew from jazz and progressive rock influences, as well as elements of death and thrash metal. The album's strong sales led to it being certified Gold by the RIAA in 2003
The album was recorded at Minnesota's Pachyderm Studios during 2002 with producer David Bottrill, who had previously produced albums for groups such as Tool and Silverchair. The band had very little time to make the album, in contrast to the recording of the band's previous album L.D. 50.[4] Drummer Matt McDonough stated "We had all the time in the world to write our first album, but for the second one, we had about a month. I'm amazed how quickly we came up with the material." With the creation of the album's artwork, Mudvayne hoped to create the band's "black album"