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Crimson Sun is a modern melodic metal band from Kotka, Finland. The band was originally founded in 2001, but it has been operating in its current lineup since 2011. Crimson Sun's music is known particularly for its catchy melodies, as well as for energetic songs that combine several metal subgenres.
Crimson Sun has so far released two EPs and three full-length albums.
History
editThe band was founded by Joni Junnila and Teemu Hankanen, who attended the same middle school, in 2001. However, it has been operating in its current lineup since 2011 when vocalist Sini Seppälä joined the band. The band, which was looking for a singer, met Seppälä in a karaoke bar. The previous year, Seppälä had competed in the Finnish qualifying tour final for the World Karaoke Championships.
The band members come from different parts of Kymenlaakso, including Hamina, Kotka, and Valkeala, but for simplicity's sake, the band considers itself to be from Kotka. This is based on the fact that in its early days, the band rehearsed in a practice space provided by the city of Kotka. Currently, they have their rehearsal space in Karhula, Kotka.
Crimson Sun released their first studio album, Towards the Light, through the Canadian label Maple Metal Records in 2015. Upon its release, the album received numerous positive reviews. For example, the Finnish metal music website Imperiumi gave the album a rating of 10-[[1], while Kaaoszine rated it 9/10[2]. Inferno magazine, on the other hand, gave the album a rating of 4/5 and called it one of the year's most interesting debut releases[3].
During 2016, Crimson Sun recorded a three-track EP titled The Spirit of Unchainable, especially with an eye toward their European tour planned for January 2017. The band filmed a music video for the EP's song "Forever and Away" in the Paavola oak grove in Lohja.[4]
In February 2017, Crimson Sun embarked on a tour covering several European countries together with Amberian Dawn and Diabulus in Musica.[5]. After the tour, Crimson Sun performed a few more shows, primarily in Finland, before retreating to prepare their next album. The recording process turned out to be lengthy, and the band has mentioned in interviews that balancing the album production with changes in the band members' personal lives proved more challenging than expected.[6]
In 2019, the band terminated their contract with Maple Metal Records and began self-releasing their music. In January 2020, they released their second studio album Fates, which, like its predecessor, received several positive reviews upon release[7]. For example, Soundi magazine described the band as having taken clear steps forward with the album and stated that musically, the album is "pure excellence from start to finish".[8] Regarding the album, the band has expressed their intention to perform in Finland and abroad.
The band has performed extensively in Finland, including at festivals such as Tuska Open Air, Nummirock, and Dark River. They have also played gigs with bands like Battle Beast, Omnium Gatherum, S-TOOL, Cain's Offering, Amoral, and Lullacry.
In the fall of 2024, the band released their third studio album, which was titled Sorrowbreaker.[9]
Crimson Sun has recorded all of their releases to date at Deep Noise Studios located in Kouvola, which is owned by the band's former keyboardist and long-time friend Saku Moilanen.
Members
edit- Sini Seppälä – vocals (2011–)
- Joni Junnila – guitars (2001–)
- Jukka Jauhiainen – bass (2001–)
- Miikka Hujanen – keyboards (2009–)
- Antti Rantavuo – drums (2003–)
Former members
edit- Jonne Taavitsainen – drums (2005–2007)
- Teemu Hankanen – vocals, guitar (2001–2004)
- Tomi Paronen – drums (2001–2002)
- Ilari Hannula – keyboards (2005–2006)
- Sini Hanttu – vocals (2005–2006)
- Jaakko Lahtinen – keyboards (2006–2007)
- Tina Jukarainen – vocals (2006–2010)
- Saku Moilanen – keyboards (2007–2009)
Guest performers
editMarco Sneck – keyboard solo on album Towards the Light
Musical style
editCrimson Sun describes their music as modern melodic metal. The band combines and utilizes elements from traditional heavy metal, power metal, and symphonic metal, and even djent. Additionally, they use a lot of synthesizer patterns familiar from electronic music. The band's two most recent releases (Fates and The Spirit of Unchainable EP) have been recorded using eight-string guitars.
The band arranges and writes lyrics for their songs together. The lyrics usually deal with the experiences and observations of life by the band member who wrote the particular lyrics, but there are also completely fictional stories among them.[10][11].
Discography
editAlbums
edit- <i id="mwag">Towards the Light</i> (2015, Maple Metal Records)
- <i id="mwbQ">Fates</i> (2020, Crimson Sun)
- Sorrowbreaker (2024, Crimson Sun)
EP's
edit- The Border (2013, EP, Kotkan Kanki)
- The Spirit of Unchainable (2017, EP, Crimson Sun)
Sources
edit- ^ "Imperiumi.net". www.impe.fi. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
- ^ Toimittaja: Niko Kuusela (2015-08-24). "Crimson Sun – Towards The Light". KaaosZine (in Finnish). Retrieved 2020-02-01.
- ^ Jaakko Silvast. "Vuoden mielenkiintoisimpia kotimaisia ensijulkaisuja – arviossa Crimson Sun". Inferno.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2020-02-01.
- ^ Crimson Sun (6 February 2018). "Forever And Away -musiikkivideo". 2017. Crimson Sun. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ Toimittaja: Arto Mäenpää (2017-02-02). "Crimson Sun Euroopan kiertueelle helmikuussa". KaaosZine (in Finnish). Retrieved 2020-02-01.
- ^ "Imperiumi.net". www.impe.fi. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ "Imperiumi.net". www.impe.fi. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
- ^ "Levyarvio: Pätevämpänä takaisin melohevikarsinaan – Crimson Sunin kakkonen on musiikillisesti pelkkää priimaa". Soundi.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ Kasper Piippo (2024-09-21). "Crimson Sunin kolmas albumi "Sorrowbreaker" julkaistu". KaaosZine (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-09-21.
- ^ Ville Krannila (2015-08-24). "Crimson Sun haastattelu". Metalliluola (in Finnish). Retrieved 2020-02-01.
- ^ Laureline Tilkin (2020-01-20). "REVIEW: Crimson Sun – Fates". Tuonela Magazine. Retrieved 2020-02-01.