NORTHER

NORTHER Announce Pre-Christmas Party For Helsinki

NORTHER will be holding their legendary Fuck X-Mas Party 2006 at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland on December 8th. Doors open at 8:00pm, tickets are €3. Admission includes cloakroom use and "some free beverages." According to the band no tickets will be sold in advance.

NORTHER Reveal No Way Back EP Artwork; New Drum Clinic Confirmed

Finland's NORTHER have revealed the artwork for their upcoming No Way Back EP (pictured), due out through Spinefarm in February.

In related news, the band's drummer, Heikki Saari, will hold a short 45min - 60min clinic on February 17th at the Finnish Metal Expo 2007 at SMI Pearl stand, time 4:15 PM.

The drum clinic is arranged and officially sponsored by SMI Scandinavian Musical Instrument & Pearl Drums

NORTHER - New EP, Forthcoming Album To Be Issued In Finland Via Suomenmusiikki

BW&BK has learned that NORTHER's forthcoming EP, No Way Back, will be issued in Finland via Suomenmusiikki. The band's forthcoming full length studio album will also be issued through the label. A release for early 2008 is planned. Norther were formerly with Spinefarm Records.

For more information on Suomenmusiikki go to this location.

As previously reported, Norther's tour schedule is as

NORTHER - Signing Session, Drum Clinic Confirmed For Finnish Metal Expo

NORTHER have issued the following update on the upcoming Finnish Metal Expo, which takes place on February 16th and 17th in Helsinki, Finland:

"We have a signing session on Saturday the 17th at the Suomen Musiikki stand at 6:00pm. Pete and Kride will be hanging out at the DLX music stand on Saturday at 4:00pm and 7:00pm. Come by to say hello and ask about guitars and stuff.

Heikki will have a drum clinic on Saturday at the SMI Pearl stand, time 4:15pm."

As previously reported, Norther's new EP No Way Back will be officially released in Finland by Suomen Musiikki at the Finnish Metal Expo. The EP tracklist is as follows:
'Frozen Angel',
'C.U.S.',
'No Way Back'
, 'Reach Out',
'Close Your Eyes'.
A medley featuring the tracks is now available at Norther's MySpace page and here.

A video for the song 'Frozen Angel', which is featured in the Finnish movie Vares 2, is now available here and on YouTube

NORTHER Ink Worldwide Deal With Century Media Records

Century Media Records reports:

"Century Media Records is proud to announce the signing of Finnish metal band NORTHER.

Since the early days of SENTENCED, Century Media was always fond of Finnish acts and we are glad to celebrate the companies’ 20th anniversary in 2008 with another highlight from the cold North.

The history of Norther dates back to the year 1996, when Petri Lindroos (who also joined ENSIFERUM as lead vocalist/guitarist in 2004) and some friends started playing together under the moniker REQUIEM. In 2000 Kristian Ranta (guitar) stepped in and the band released its first demo. It subsequently led to a deal with Spinefarm Records and it did not take long for the guys to find Jukka Koskinen (bass, also in WINTERSUN) and Tuomas Planman (keyboards) to finally create a stable line-up for Norther. Within a few years Norther became one of the most promising Finnish bands combining the best of death, black and thrash metal with haunting melodies.

The albums Dreams of Endless War (2002), Mirror of Madness (2003, licensed by Century Media Records for US release), Death Unlimited (2004) and Till Death Unites Us (2006) helped to gather a world-wide fan base.

In 2007, Norther left Spinefarm Records to release the No Way Back EP which entered the Finnish charts at #1 and marked the debut for drum talent Heikki Saari. Summer 2007 was highlighted by a successful Wacken Festival show followed by an European headliner club tour in October and further progress on completing their new album.

The band’s Century Media debut was recorded and produced by long time partner Anssi Kippo (CHILDREN OF BODEM, etc.) at Astia Studios and mixed by Fredrik Nordström (DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, IN FLAMES) at Studio Fredman in Sweden. The yet untitled album will be released in February 2008 and will be presented live at the renowned Finnish Metal Expo on February 16th, 2008 in Helsinki.

The band comments as follows: “ Norther is very excited to announce that we are now a part of the Century Media family. We have been working hard on our new album for months now, and currently we are finishing the mastering and artwork. All members of Norther are very excited about this new contract as well as the forthcoming album which presents a new found power that we all are very proud of. The album will be released in early 2008, stay posted for exact dates. We are anxious to get this album released through a big label and tour the world like never before. Looking forward to meeting you all at the shows!”

Line-up:
Kristian Ranta: Guitars,
Clean Vocals,
Petri Lindroos: Guitars, Vocals,
Jukka Koskinen: Bass,
Tuomas Planman: Keyboards,
Heikki Saari: Drums.

More info on Norther can be obtained at the following websites: www.norther.net , www.myspace.com/norther , www.centurymedia.com .

NORTHER Featured On Finnish Radio Tomorrow

NORTHER will be featured on Finland's Radio Noise tomorrow (December 6th). The broadcast begins at 8:00pm local Finnish time (GMT + 2). Go to this location to tune in.

As previously reported, Norther recently signed with Century Media Records. The label has issued the following press release:

"Century Media Records is proud to announce the signing of Finnish metal band NORTHER.

Since the early days of SENTENCED, Century Media was always fond of Finnish acts and we are glad to celebrate the companies’ 20th anniversary in 2008 with another highlight from the cold North.

The history of Norther dates back to the year 1996, when Petri Lindroos (who also joined ENSIFERUM as lead vocalist/guitarist in 2004) and some friends started playing together under the moniker REQUIEM. In 2000 Kristian Ranta (guitar) stepped in and the band released its first demo. It subsequently led to a deal with Spinefarm Records and it did not take long for the guys to find Jukka Koskinen (bass, also in WINTERSUN) and Tuomas Planman (keyboards) to finally create a stable line-up for Norther. Within a few years Norther became one of the most promising Finnish bands combining the best of death, black and thrash metal with haunting melodies.

The albums Dreams of Endless War (2002), Mirror of Madness (2003, licensed by Century Media Records for US release), Death Unlimited (2004) and Till Death Unites Us (2006) helped to gather a world-wide fan base.

In 2007, Norther left Spinefarm Records to release the No Way Back EP which entered the Finnish charts at #1 and marked the debut for drum talent Heikki Saari. Summer 2007 was highlighted by a successful Wacken Festival show followed by an European headliner club tour in October and further progress on completing their new album.

The band’s Century Media debut was recorded and produced by long time partner Anssi Kippo (CHILDREN OF BODEM, etc.) at Astia Studios and mixed by Fredrik Nordström (DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, IN FLAMES) at Studio Fredman in Sweden. The yet untitled album will be released in February 2008 and will be presented live at the renowned Finnish Metal Expo on February 16th, 2008 in Helsinki.

The band comments as follows: “ Norther is very excited to announce that we are now a part of the Century Media family. We have been working hard on our new album for months now, and currently we are finishing the mastering and artwork. All members of Norther are very excited about this new contract as well as the forthcoming album which presents a new found power that we all are very proud of. The album will be released in early 2008, stay posted for exact dates. We are anxious to get this album released through a big label and tour the world like never before. Looking forward to meeting you all at the shows!”

Line-up: Kristian Ranta: Guitars, Clean Vocals, Petri Lindroos: Guitars, Vocals, Jukka Koskinen: Bass, Tuomas Planman: Keyboards, Heikki Saari: Drums.

More info on Norther can be obtained at the following websites: www.norther.net , www.myspace.com/norther , www.centurymedia.com .