Amoral
- MEMBERS:
- Ben Varon - guitar, song writing, lyrics (1997–2017)
- Ari Koivunen - lead vocals (2008–2017)
- Niko Kalliojärvi - guitar, growls/backing vocals, lyrics (2002–2008, 2015–2017)
- Masi Hukari - guitar, keyboards, song writing (2010–2017)
- Juhana Karlsson - drums (1997–2017)
- Pekka Johansson - bass (2008–2017)
BIOGRAPHY
In 2011, Amoral, bored by the limiting genre definitions offered to them to describe the band’s sound, started calling their music “Classic Rock Of The 21st Century”. Sure, the tongues were firmly on their cheeks, but there definitely were some valid points to the new, self-appointed title. If the likes of Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, Queen and Sabbath could all venture into many different paths musically under the moniker of Classic Rock, then Amoral could simply not settle for any less.
The title has never been more appropriate than on the band’s 6th album, Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows. After 2011’s Beneath, with it’s rave reviews, great fan response and a tour that took the band everywhere from Europe to Japan, with debut shows in the USA and China, Amoral had a clear vision of what it wanted to do on the next album.
“- Very early on in the writing process, we noticed we were leaning towards lenghtier, ‘proggy-er’ songs, in the vein of Beneath‘s title track. Those type of songs were the ones we enjoyed playing the most on the Beneath tour, and the ones where we felt the band was at it’s best. So it felt natural to try and focus on these aspects for the next album”, says Ben Varon, guitarist and founding member of Amoral, who also acted as producer on Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows.
“- Another defining guideline came to me a bit later, but made perfect sense with the material we were coming up with: this was to be a concept album. Not only were my lyrical ideas already intervining together, but the songs themselves were starting to paint a bigger picture.”
In it’s simplest form, Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows is about that one big mistake that cannot be undone.
“- People like the idea of second chances, but sometimes that’s simply not an option. There are points of no return, desicions you can never undo. You can read into the lyrics as a tale of a drug addict, a relationship gone horribly wrong, longing for days past, fear of getting old… the latter two are probably the ones hitting closest to home for me”, Varon chuckles.
While Varon was responsible for the lyrics, writing the music was a fruitful collaboration between him and guitarist Masi Hukari, who joined the group just before the recording of Beneath in 2010.
“- It was great to have Masi there from the very beginning of the writing this time around”, Ben says. “- Some of the best moments on the album were written together, feeding off each others ideas. Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows also has our bassist Pexi (Pekka Johansson) chipping in with the writing for the first time, which is really cool.”
Another first this time around is a collaboration many years in the works. Ever since singer Ari Koivunen joined Amoral in 2008, there has been talks of Marco Hietala (Nightwish, Tarot) producing the vocals on an Amoral album. With the idea sabotaged by schedule clashes on the last two albums, Marco was finally available to oversee the vocal sessions for Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows. Ben and Ari spent a week at Marco‘s home studio in Kuopio, and the stress-free enviroment and Mr. Hietala‘s input resulted in some of the best vocal performances heard from Koivunen to date.
But enough chitchat, let the music do the talking. Take an hour-long break from the laptops and smartphones, put Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows on your stereo and cross that bridge to The Other Side…
“- Amoral is an exciting modern metal band. Great musicianship and they know how to write a song too! Watch out!” – Gus G. / Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind
VIDEOS
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DISCOGRAPHY
In Sequence / 2016
“In Sequence” is the seventh album of Finnish metal band AMORAL. It became the last album of the band, since they disbanded in 2017.
The band started the pre-production in April 2014 and the studio work started 13 February 2015. March 26, 2015 the band announced Niko Kalliojärvi‘s return to the band, both as the third guitarist and for singing growling vocals. AMORAL performed at the end of June 2015 at Tuska after party in Helsinki, where they played the song “Rude Awakening“.
The album was released in Japan January 29, 2016 through Ward Records, and globally on February 5, 2016 through Imperial Cassette (Gordeon Music, GSA / Nightmare Records, North America).
“In Sequence” continued the progressive metal style of “Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows“ but heavier. Beside the 6 members there are also some quest musicians featuring in the album, as percussionist Teho Majamäki, Indica singer Jonsu and Amine Benotmane from Acyl.
The first single “Rude Awakening” was published in December 2015 on Youtube and the second one “The Next One To Go” in January 2016. The album ranked 29 in the official Finnish charts.
Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows / 2014
“Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows” is the sixth album by Finnish heavy metal band AMORAL. It was released by Imperial Cassette in Finland 14.02.2104. In Europe it was published by G-Regords 28.03.2014 and the UK – edition was published by Graphite Records 31.3.2014 .
“Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows” is produced by Ben Varon. Drums were recorded at Sound Supreme studios by Janne Saksa. Guitars, bass & keyboards were recorded at home studios of AMORAL. Guitars were re-amped at Sonic Pump Studios. Ari Koivunen‘s vocals were recorded at Marco’s Cockpit by Marco Hietala. The album is mixed by Janne Saksa and mastered by Svante Forsbäck. Arrangements are by AMORAL.
The music is changed more progressive than ever and it has more metallic touch as the 2 previous albums. “Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows” has received predominantly very positive, even praising reviews from metal magazines and webzines around Finland, Europe and USA. The band has been praised for their instrumental and vocal skills and liberated versatile music. The first video “Blueprints” was made by Valtteri Hirvonen.
Beneath / 2011
“Beneath” is the fifth album by Finnish heavy metal band AMORAL.
The Japanese edition was out on 19 October 2011 via Marquee/Avalon, before the European edition which was released 26 October 2011 via Imperial Cassette.
The album is produced by Janne Saksa & Ben Varon. It was recorded by Janne Saksa and AMORAL at Sound Supreme Studios, Hämeenlinna (Finland) in February 2011. Mixed by Janne Saksa and mastered by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers Studios, Helsinki (Finland). Arrangements are by AMORAL. Programming on “Beneath” was made by Mikko P. Mustonen and programming on “Wastelands” by Janne Saksa.
“Beneath” continued on the path Amoral started with “Show Your Colors“. The emphasis is still on solid songwriting, big hooks, new arrangements and guitar riffs, but the scale is wider than before: From 9-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 beginning of summer 2011. The second single “Silhouette” was played first time on Radio Rock (FI) in October 2011 and was followed by a video. “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“, which pays obeisance to Guns N’ Roses video “Garden of Eden”.
14 February 2012 “Beneath” was released in the US via The End Records and in Mexico it was published 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 and the cover art reached the fifth place.
Show Your Colors / 2009
“Show Your Colors” is the fourth studio album by Finnish metal band AMORAL. It was released by Spinefarm Records on May 6, 2009.
AMORAL‘s fourth studio album was announced in November 2008 when the band announced Ari Koivunen as their new frontman. The album was also the debut of bassist Pekka Johansson.
On January 21, their first single “Year of the Suckerpunch” was put up the band’s MySpace account. At the first single and also at the total album, AMORAL replaced the previous growling vocals with clean vocals and big choruses. “Year of the Suckerpunch” was on the Finnish national radio Ylex‘s playlist with the highest hopes of receiving song of the year for 2009. “Show Your Colors” has also been released in Great Britain (on May 11, 2009), Germany (May 22), USA (June 9), Canada (June 9) and Japan (July 22). The album was ranked by public voting as the fifth best domestic metal album at the Finnish Metal Awards 2009.
Reptile Ride / 2007
“Reptile Ride” is the title of AMORAL‘s third album which was released in Japan on August 10, 2007 and on August 15, 2007 in the rest of the world.
The album was recorded in Studio Sound Supreme in Hämeenlinna in early 2007 and produced by Janne Saksa. A video was shot for the opening track and first single of the album, “Leave Your Dead Behind“.
Decrowning / 2005
“Decrowning” is the second studio album by Helsinki-based band AMORAL.
The album was released in Finland and several other countries in October 2005 and in Japan and the United States in March 2006. A music video has been shot for the song “Lacrimal Gland“.
Wound Creations / 2004
“Wound Creations” is the first album of the Helsinki-based band AMORAL from 2004. The album was originally released via Rage of Achilles and later via Spikefarm Records, completed with a bonus track (“Metamorphosis” from an early demo).
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