Ben Varon

Ben Varon (born 18 November 1983) is a Finnish guitarist. He is known as a member and one of the founders of the Finnish metal band Amoral 1997–2017. In the beginning of 2018, he founded a new heavy metal band, Oceanhoarse.

Ben Varon
Varon at Tuska Open Air 2012
Background information
Birth nameBen Varon
Born (1983-11-18) 18 November 1983
OriginHelsinki, Finland
GenresHeavy metal, hard rock
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1997–present
Associated actsAmoral 1997-2017, Oceanhoarse 2018-

Musical career

Ben Varon started playing guitar when he was 11–12 years old. He had been begging for an electric guitar for about a year, and finally got a Strat copy as a birthday present from his parents. The first few years went by without much progress: He did take a few lessons to get started, but did not really practice much at all. Varon tells in his bio, that it was only later when he understood, that if he wanted to go anywhere with his playing he should start to work on it.[1]

Varon is mostly self-taught, but he has taken some lessons over the years. First, when he got started to learn to tune the guitar and to form a power chord. Then, a few years later when he started actually to practice, he took lessons for a while at Pop & Jazz conservatory in Helsinki. Ben was taught also by the Finnish legend Roope Latvala around 2001 about scales and modes including some of Stone licks, in which he was very interested at that time.

The biggest influence on Varon's music had been Slash, the guitarist of Guns N' Roses and Pantera's murdered guitarist Dimebag Darrell. Slash, with the pompous Use Your Illusion songs, blew Varon's mind up and was the reason for him to start to play guitar. A bit later on Varon got into Pantera, but Dime's playing affected him until now. Both the lead and rhythm work of Dime greatly inspired him. Some other sources of inspiration include Nuno Bettencourt, Roope Latvala, Randy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde.[1]

In 2012, Japanese Young Guitar Magazine published 10 pages of Amoral's notes with Varon demonstrating them.[2]

Varon was chosen at "Finnish Metal Awards" in 2009 6th, 2010 4th and 2011 5th best metal musician in Finland.

Amoral 1997-2017

1997 at the age of 14 Varon started to play with Juhana Karlsson (drums), with whom he went to the same school. They started by jamming on a couple of Metallica songs. That was the first time Ben played together with another musician. They went jamming as often as possible. Silver Ots joined soon after. Amoral was founded 1997.[1] Amoral played technical, progressive, melodic, hardrock oriented metal. The band's 4th album was an about-turn, replacing the dominance of quirky death metal with an exemplary display of riff-driven, heavy, yet melodic power groove and the occasional sing-along chorus. Amoral performed extensively in bars, clubs, festivals and other venues in Finland, Europe, Japan, China, Philippines and USA. The band split up in 2017 after 20 years together.

Ben Varon has always been involved in the songwriting for Amoral's music.[3] Whilst he contributed alongside Silver Ots on the first four albums, he took after the main responsibility of songwriting and was accompanied by the guitarist Masi Hukari on the fifth and sixth albums. The music and lyrics for Amoral's last album In Sequence Varon made mainly alone. In Amoral's first years Varon has contributed lyrics to a few songs for Amoral's music. After singer and main lyricists Niko Kalliojärvi's departure in 2008 Varon took over the main responsibility to write lyrics.

Oceanhoarse 2018 -

2016, once Amoral's closing decision was made, Ben started with a new band from zero. After 2 years work with its music, in the beginning of 2018, the new heavy metal band Oceanhoarse was announced. Oceanhoarse has told they will not use any backgrounds or synthesizers in their upcoming music. The emphasis would be on live-oriented heavy metal. The other members beside Ben Varon are Tommy Tuovinen (MyGrain) in vocals, Jyri Helko (For The Imperium, Warmen) in bass and Oskari Niemi in drums. The debut single The Oceanhoarse was played first time on Radio Rock Jan 17 and the video was published Jan 18 2018.[4]

Alcyona Sky 2014-

2013, after ending Amoral's fifth album Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows, Varon went on composing the summer long material that didn't fit to Amoral's style, 90's rock and acoustic-driven sound of the 70's. 2014 he founded a new group Alcyona Sky to play this music. The other members beside guitarist Varon are Micko Hell (Denigrate, Million Dollar Beggars) in vocals, Rale Tiiainen (The Black League, The OHO, Ancara) in drums and Jyri Helko in bass. AS has released one album Alcyona Sky in April 2017. The band told after the album was released to leave it as a one-off project. The album can be listened on Spotify.[5]

Dimebag Beyond Forever, Grease Helmet, Tornado, Panorama

From 2007, Varon played at Dimebag Beyond Forever tribute act.[6] 2011 Varon performed at Tornado's album Amsterdamn, Hellsinki.[7] Varon also plays in Andy McCoy's band Grease Helmet, which was created 2012. Grease Helmet released one album in 2012.[8] 2017 Varon joined to a new musical project, to play guitar in Panorama. The first single of Panorama is Varon's handwrite.[9]

Discography
Studio albums
  • Wound Creations (Amoral 2004), Spinefarm
  • Decrowning (Amoral 2005), Spinefarm
  • Reptile Ride (Amoral 2007), Spinefarm
  • Show Your Colors (Amoral 2009), Spinefarm
  • Beneath (Amoral 2011), Imperial Cassette
  • Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows (Amoral 2014), Imperial Cassette
  • In Sequence (Amoral 2016), Imperial Cassette
  • Alcyona Sky (Alcyona Sky 2017), Imperial Cassette
Singles
  • Leave Your Dead Behind (Amoral 2007)
  • Year of the Suckerpunch (Amoral 2009)
  • Gave Up Easy (Amoral 2009)
  • Same Difference (Amoral 2011)
  • Silhouette (Amoral 2011)
  • If Not Here, Where? (Amoral 2013)
  • No Familiar Faces (Amoral 2014)
  • Rude Awakening (Amoral 2015)
  • The Next One to Go (Amoral 2016)
  • Around the World (Panorama 2017)
  • The Oceanhoarse (Oceanhoarse 2018)

References
  1. "Amoralweb.com/mainpages/ben". Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  2. "Young Guitar Magazine video". Retrieved 2014-04-20.
  3. "Discography | Amoral - the official website". mainpages.amoralweb.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  4. "Oceanhoarse". Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  5. "Alcyona Sky". Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  6. "Dimebag Beyond Forever - tribute act". Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  7. "Tornado´s album Amsterdamn,Hellsinki". Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  8. "Grease Helmet". Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  9. "Panorama". Retrieved 2018-01-17.
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