Dyecrest
- MEMBERS:
- Mikael Salo - lead vocals
- Matti Pasanen - guitar, backing vocals
- Henri Arola - guitar, backing vocals
- Pirkka Ohlis - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Jukka Matilainen - bass
- Niko Takala - drums
BIOGRAPHY
The Finnish band DYECREST’s history goes back as far as 1993, when Niko, Jukka and Pirkka played together for the first time. Years later, in 2001, DYECREST was born.
In 2003 the band participated in the competition called Young Metal Gods, which was held by the Noise Records / Sanctuary Group together with several European metal magazines. DYECREST ended up second, and got a record deal with Noise/Sanctuary.
Debut album “The Way of Pain“ was released in January 2004, got received very well by the media and the audience, and was followed by a full length European tour supporting W.A.S.P (US) together with DragonForce (UK). Everything seemed to be ok until the Sanctuary Group was faced with some financial problems and they got rid of all small bands. Couple of guys from Noise Records founded a new company (Dockyard1) and DYECREST got signed to them. The second album, “This Is My World“ (2005), was however a bit of a disappointment both to the band and to the company, as well it was to the audience. Until 2008 the band kept doing gigs and writing new songs, but then they decided to go on a hiatus.
It was in 2011 when guys from the band started to play together again, and in 2013, DYECREST was “reformed”. At that time the idea was born to record the songs that weren’t properly done, plus maybe even to write some new songs, too.
In the spring on 2016 DYECREST started the recordings of the new album. – At first the only goal we had was to be able to finally release an album that would – for the first time – please ourselves. But, when the project went on and the songs were starting to take shape, the ambition grew up and we found out we really had something in our hands, the band members state now, more or less two years later. Originally the band started recording the album with the band’s original singer Janne Oksanen. But, despite the fact that he is a great singer in his own style, the band’s songwriting had taken steps towards the style, where also more aggressive style of singing is needed. After recording the album once with Janne, the band decided to search for help with the heavier songs. The call for help was heard by one of the most convincing singers on the metal-scene, Björn “Speed” Strid from Soilwork!
So, when the album was mixed and mastered, and ready to be released, the band started the chase not only for the company to release the album, but also for a new singer. DYECREST found this young and talented Helsinki –based guy Mikael Salo through his YouTube channel, and guys we’re immediately convinced. Luckily, Salo said yes to the band’s inquiry, and so, DYECREST entered the studio once more, to record again all the songs, except the ones that were sung by Björn and the ballad “Nuku vaan”, which is sung in Finnish by Elisa de Boer. Also “Red Alert” was re-recorded to be a duet between Björn and Mikael.
Mikael’s skills were found out to be that good, that the band wanted him to be the new frontman of DYECREST. And furthermore, they decided to keep Mikael’s tracks on the album, which meant that those songs had to be re-mixed and the whole album to be re-mastered…!
But now, all the hard work is paying back! The whole album is ready, and it will be released May 25th, 2018 (Inverse Records).
VIDEOS
Subscribe to Nordic Metal in Youtube
DISCOGRAPHY
Are You Not Entertained? / 2018
1. Fading/Reaching
2. Red Alert
3. The Stage Is Set
4. No Fear
5. First Born Angel
6. Breaking News
7. Are You Entertained?
8. Where The Light Was Born
9. For The Better (They Will Die)
10. Devil Dance
11. Nuku Vaan
12. Winterblood
13. The Time Has Come
After 13 years it’s here – third DYECREST album “Are You Entertained?” is released via Inverse Records.
13 track album includes also previously released singles “First Born Angel”, opening track “Fading/Reaching” and “Red Alert” that features the Soilwork singer Björn ”Speed” Strid on guest vocals. Soilwork’s front man’s voice can be heard on total five tracks on the album as the band was in a desperate need of a singer while recording the new album.
“We started to record the album with our original singer. On the recording phase however we noticed that the bit more aggressive parts didn’t work out the way we would have wanted.” the band comments.
Then the band got a chance to get Björn from Soilwork and Elisa de Boer to sing the vocals to “Nuku vaan” -ballad. Then it took a while that band hooked up with singer Mikael Salo from Helsinki who was interested to try it out with DYECREST as a lead singer.
“Mikael’s talent became clear to us really soon. In future the band doesn’t need a guest vocalist just to get more aggressive approach on the vocals.” DYECREST members describe the new singer.
Partially over 10 year ago composed album as been produced by Jussi Jauhiainen and recorded by Teemu Velin who both are also familiar working on the background team for Finnish metal act Stam1na. The album is mixed by Miitri Aaltonen and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox studios. DYECREST is really proud of the whole production with this great team on their third album.
“Definitely the best DYECREST album!”
Line up:
Mikael Salo – vocals
Matti Pasanen – guitar, backing vocals
Henri Arola – guitar, backing vocals
Pirkka Ohlis – guitar, keyboards backing vocals
Jukka Matilainen – bass
Niko Takala – drums
Guest lead vocals by Björn “Speed” Strid, Elisa de Boer and Piet Sielck. Choirs sung by Piet Sielck and Jan Eckert at Powerhouse studios, Hamburg, Germany.
This Is My World / 2005
1. Fight Fear With Fire
2. Rush Of Life
3. Hollow
4. Man Who Was Me
5. Dream Of Crown
6. Failed One
7. Banished
8. My Only Sin
9. Credulous Soul
10. Took My Will To Feel
“This Is My World”
by Antti Mattila, Soundi Magazine (Finland)
On their stunning second album “This Is My World” DYECREST rocks you, shocks you and makes your fingers bleed on the fretboard of an imaginary guitar you end up soloing with before the nearest mirror. But it was too damn close this brilliant album remained banished for all eternity. After the well received debut album “The Way Of Pain“ and successful European tour with W.A.S.P. and DragonForce the future seemed rosy for rising Finnish heavy metal stars DYECREST. The European audiences had just experienced this hungry young band letting loose their furious and skilful presence on stages across the continent. Then things started to roll rapidly downhill. The ludicrous record company hassle culminated with big boys’ money saving operation and DYECREST got shot down from a certain rise to fame. That one they could handle because offers from other record labels came flying in but, more alarmingly, it started to seem that changes in the line up would be necessary. Problems with vocalist Janne Oksanen occurred and things got to a point where DYECREST, always eager to get to the next level, had to give him marching orders after the most difficult decision of their careers.
Never the ones to give in DYECREST became even more determined. It took thousands of curse words, hundreds of beers and many hours in the hottest possible sauna with a couple of dead serious conversations at their practise room before they were ready to go on. And the solution was lurking behind the corner. Kimmo Blom, an old friend of the band, best known from his backing vocal acrobatics on Stratovarius and Thunderstone albums, was asked to audition and from the very first moment Kimmo started to sing, the band were hitting the nail again. They had negotiated a deal with Dockyard1 and the first thing Kimmo had to do was to get ready for the recordings of the second DYECREST assault.
“It was a step towards the unknown which hopefully creates some freshness to the songs on the album. There are remarkably good spirits in the band right now, I have been able to throw in ideas from day one. On the other hand I have been learning a lot because the musical concept is precisely thought over”, explains Kimmo.
It’s a worn out cliché to say that on the new album the heavy parts are heavier and the soft parts even more peaceful and serene but with “This Is My World” it needs to be stated. DYECREST operates on a larger scale now than on the debut album.
“The songs are more mature this time around and although they are not necessarily simpler from a playing point of view, all the unnecessary bits and pieces have been cut away. It’s more to the point, basically. On European tour we had more fun playing the songs that have more rough edge to them and our attitude mirrored to the audience as well. Of course it gave a huge boost to the new album”, Niko points out.
“This Is My World” is a combination of modern heavy metal (Lars Ulrich would use the word ‘pounding’ in here!) and chameleon-like vocals which bring in mind the best parts of the eighties hard and heavy rock. Stand out tracks like the album opener ‘Fight Fear With Fire’ with it’s pulsating heaviness and ‘Rush Of Life’ with its shamelessly poppy elements and catchy chorus which starts to hammer in the head instantly are the proofs of DYECREST‘s ability to update their sound. ‘Dream Of Crown’ makes you believe it’s one of those muddy half-ballads, until Pirkka Ohlis screams in agony and the song gets a whole new approach. ‘Took My Will To Feel’ shows DYECREST at their most vulnerable state of mind. This naked ballad was born in the studio with Blom‘s capability of creating memorable melodies on the spot. But when Henri Arola, or ‘Arola- The Artist’ as the rest of the band calls him, bursts into a soloing mode you better take a seat and enjoy. Colourful solos fly like fireworks up in the dim sky and eerie harmonies leave you gasping for air. And before you even notice, Arola has taken off on another trip on his personal Milky Way.
All guns blazing, as always!
Line Up: Kimmo Blom: vocals – Pirkka Ohlis: guitar – Henri Arola: guitar – Matti Pasanen: guitar – Jukka Matilainen: bass – Niko Takala: drums
The Way Of Pain / 2004
1. For All The Weak
2. Into The Void
3. Made Me Believe
4. Last Man Standing
5. Lost Faith
6. The Game
7. Kneeling Down
8. All In Vain
9. Until Death Do Us Part
10. With Pain
“The Way Of Pain” is the debut album of Finnish heavy/power metal band DYECREST, released on January 19th, 2004 through Noise Records / Sanctuary Group. It was produced by Piet Sielck from Iron Savior.
REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS
Is your pencil sharp? Do you like writing? Contact us and maybe you could become a part of Nordic Metal Team.
TOURDATES
| Date | Venue | City | Country | Info | Tickets |
|---|