Barren Earth

Barren Earth is a Finnish progressive death metal band from Helsinki, and was formed in 2007. Their music is said to be a combination of death metal, progressive rock, and folk music, pulling influence from the different groups each member is associated with. Since their formation, the band has released one EP and four full-length albums.[1][2]

Barren Earth
OriginHelsinki, Finland
GenresProgressive death metal, melodic death metal, doom metal
Years active2007–present
LabelsPeaceville Records
Associated actsSwallow the Sun, Moonsorrow, Amorphis, Kreator, Hamferð, Rytmihäiriö
Websitebarrenearth.com
MembersSami Yli-Sirniö
Janne Perttilä
Olli-Pekka Laine
Marko Tarvonen
Jón Aldará
Antti Myllynen
Past membersKasper Mårtenson
Mikko Kotamäki

History

Our Twilight and Curse of the Red River (2009 onwards)

In November 2009, the EP Our Twilight was issued, and included four songs. Shortly after the EP had been issued, Barren Earth performed its first gig, in the club Dante's Highlight in Helsinki. However, the LP coming up in March 2010, most of the festivals had already been booked bands for the summer 2010. Barren Earth had a gig on Tuska Open Air Metal Festival, though.

In February 2011, the band played a five-week tour in North America under the name "Finnish Metal Tour 2011", alongside other Finnish bands including Finntroll, Ensiferum and Rotten Sound, gathering support for their album that would officially be released around two months later.[3] On 31 March 2010, the band issued their debut album, Curse of the Red River. One of its nine songs was the title song of the previous EP, "Our Twilight". The album received very positive reviews. The band went on to receive the title of "Newcomer of the year" in 2011 at the Finnish Metal Awards, and "Best debut album" at the Metal Storm Awards 2010.[4]

The Devil's Resolve (2012)

On various websites dedicated to metal bands, it was told that the band's second album, The Devil's Resolve, containing nine songs, was due to be released in November 2011, once again by Peaceville Records.[5] The Devil's Resolve is said to contain even more 1970s progressive influences while keeping the brutality associated with the band. On their website, the band stated that, originally, twelve songs were written.[6] However, on the band's Facebook page the band told that because of delays in the production process the second album would not take place until February/March 2012.[7] On 29 February 2012, the band released the video "The Rains Begin" from their upcoming album.[8]

On Lonely Towers (2015)

Barren Earth revealed on January 28, 2015 that their new album On Lonely Towers will be released on March 24, 2015 by Century Media Records.[9] In 2014 the Faroese singer Jón Aldará joined the band as the new lead vocalist.[10] He is also known from the Faroese metal band Hamferð.[11]

A Complex of Cages (2018)

Barren Earth's fourth album A Complex of Cages saw the dawn just before the Easter 2018.[12] The band and their audience celebrated the new-born record on Good Friday evening in a record releasing gig at Kuudes Linja club in Helsinki, supported by a local metal group Oceanhoarse.[13] This album is the second with Jón Aldará as a frontman, but what's new, it's the first one with him taking more part in the action than just his singing duties. Almost all the lyrics on the record are contributed by Jón Aldará ("Solitude Pith" being the exception with lyrics by Laine). The man is responsible mostly of the melodies, as well.[14][15] According to Olli-Pekka Laine Aldará was given free hands on the lyrics, and they will not be discussed at all amongst the bandmembers. "As long as our songs are not telling about slaughtering the whale, anything will be fine by me", Laine says. "Solitude Pith", written by Laine, was already done before Aldará begun his lyrical working. Seems that song gave him some ideas, and then that theme emerged into penetrating theme for the whole album.[16] Aldará writes about people isolating, and suffering from different mental issues such as manic depression, psychopathy and agoraphobia.[17]

A Complex of Cages is also the first Barren Earth record made with absence of keyboardist Kasper Mårtenson,[18] who is more or less engaged with Turisas as their live keyboardist. His successor Antti Myllynen has big boots to fill in after Mårtenson, but seems like he has managed to wriggle into the band's sound.[19] The line-up change of Mårtenson leaving could have been a heavy blow to the band in a composing sector, since he has been writing about a half of the material whereas Olli-Pekka Laine has been the mastermind behind the other half.[20] Barren Earth, however, is a band of talented people working together. While Laine is still the man behind most of the composing, there's also Sami Yli-Sirniö, Janne Perttilä and Marko Tarvonen giving their own effort.[21]

The forth record has gained positive accolade by the reviewers, hailing it the best Barren Earth album so far. What's pleasing is the whole record being balanced mixture of brutal yet melodic, experimental, metal yet prog, more proggy less folky, versatile and inspiring with catchy choruses. Jón Aldará, now singing the lyrics mostly according to his own mind and will, rises up from the depths of heavy growls into the heights of clear, even operatic vocals.[22][23][24] A Complex of Cages includes one over ten minute song, "Solitude Pith". On On Lonely Towers there's one of those giants as well, namely the title song. But here, on the contrary to "On Lonely Towers", that mighty giant of "Solitude Pith" does not crumble the flow.[25][26] The band itself thanks V. Santura (Triptykon) of his involvement on producing the record.[27]

Band members

Discography

Albums

EPs
  • 2009 – Our Twilight

Videography
  • 2010 – ”The Leer” (directed by Owe Lingvall)
  • 2012 – ”The Rains Begin”
  • 2015 – ”Set Alight” (directed by Owe Lingvall)
  • 2018 – ”Withdrawal” (lyric video)
  • 2018 – ”The Ruby” (directed by Vesa Ranta)[31]
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See also

References
  1. "Barren Earth". Discogs. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  2. "Barren Earth - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". www.metal-archives.com. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  3. "Finnish Metal Tour 2011 – Parts 1-8". Barren Earth. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  4. "News Archive". Barren Earth. 31 May 2011. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  5. "Barren Earth – The Devil's Resolve". Encyclopaedia Metallum – The Metal Archives. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  6. "What's Up?". Barren Earth. 31 May 2011. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  7. "Facebook – Barren Earth". Barren Earth. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  8. "Barren Earth – The Rains Begin". MetalCallOut.com. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  9. "Barren Earth New Album Details". MetalCallOut.com. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  10. "BARREN EARTH Announces New Singer". Blabbermouth.net. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  11. Samuelsen, Ingi (29 January 2015). "Nýggjur tungur finskur rokkur við føroyskum sangara" (in Faroese). Aktuelt.fo. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  12. Maniax, Slayanys (1 April 2018). "Barren Earth Release New Album 'A Complex of Cages'". Nordic Metal. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  13. steelrain (4 April 2018). "BARREN EARTH & OCEANHOARSE – Kuudes Linja, Helsinki, March 30, 2018". Nordic Metal. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  14. Rob (28 March 2018). "Barren Earth – "A Complex of Cages"". Progressive Music Planet. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  15. Aldará, Jón; Aldará, Jón; Yli-Sirniö, Sami; Yli-Sirniö, Sami; Perttilä, Janne; Perttilä, Janne; Myllynen, Antti; Laine, Olli-Pekka; Laine, Olli-Pekka (2018), A complex of cages, Barren Earth, Century Media Records, retrieved 3 January 2019
  16. ""Kun ei itse ole enää niin melankolinen mieleltään kuin teininä, tällainen synkistely saattaa tuntua vähän naurettavalta" – haastattelussa Barren Earth". Inferno.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  17. Blabbermouth (9 February 2018). "BARREN EARTH Feat. KREATOR Guitarist SAMI YLI-SIRNIÖ: 'A Complex Of Cages' Album Due In March". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  18. "Century Media Records - Barren Earth". www.centurymedia.com. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  19. MetalDaveCampbell. "Metal-Temple.com :: Barren Earth - A Complex of Cages (CD Review)". www.metal-temple.com. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  20. Rob (28 March 2018). "Barren Earth – "A Complex of Cages"". Progressive Music Planet. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  21. Aldará, Jón; Aldará, Jón; Yli-Sirniö, Sami; Yli-Sirniö, Sami; Perttilä, Janne; Perttilä, Janne; Myllynen, Antti; Laine, Olli-Pekka; Laine, Olli-Pekka (2018), A complex of cages, Barren Earth, Century Media Records, retrieved 3 January 2019
  22. Rob (28 March 2018). "Barren Earth – "A Complex of Cages"". Progressive Music Planet. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  23. manofmuchmetal (27 March 2018). "Barren Earth – A Complex of Cages – Album Review". Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  24. MetalDaveCampbell. "Metal-Temple.com :: Barren Earth - A Complex of Cages (CD Review)". www.metal-temple.com. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  25. MetalDaveCampbell. "Metal-Temple.com :: Barren Earth - A Complex of Cages (CD Review)". www.metal-temple.com. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  26. Guy, Angry Metal (23 March 2015). "Barren Earth - On Lonely Towers Review". Angry Metal Guy. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  27. Blabbermouth (9 February 2018). "BARREN EARTH Feat. KREATOR Guitarist SAMI YLI-SIRNIÖ: 'A Complex Of Cages' Album Due In March". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  28. "BARREN EARTH: Announce Jón Aldará as new vocalist". Metalrecusants.com. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  29. "Barren Earth – Unveil New Album First Single And Details". metalstorm.net. 10 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  30. "BARREN EARTH To Release A Complex Of Cages Album In March; "Further Down" Single Streaming". bravewords.com. 10 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  31. "Century Media Records - Barren Earth: : release video for new single "The Ruby"!". www.centurymedia.com. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
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