Catamenia
Encyclopedia
Catamenia is a melodic black metal band from Finland
, founded in 1995 by original members Riku Hopeakoski and Mika Tönning in Oulu
. They have been signed to Massacre Records
ever since their first full-length, Halls of Frozen North
in 1998. As of 2010, they have released nine albums, 1 EP, and one DVD. They are known to frequently use wolves in their album art. Catamenia means "Menstruation". The band didn't know about this until a fan pointed it out to them after the release of their debut album. Catamenia is also a kind of bird.
in their first active year, simply titled Demo '95. Their second demo, Winds released in 1996, led to a four-album contract with Massacre Records
in 1997. Their debut full-length album
Halls of Frozen North
was recorded in Commusication Studios, Beindersheim
, Germany
, in 1997 with Gerhard Magin (Crematory
, Mystic Circle
) and was released in 1998. A year later they recorded their second album, Morning Crimson
(1999) in Sweden, at Sunlight Studios with Thomas Skogsberg (Katatonia
, Dismember
). The band's third album Eternal Winter's Prophecy
was recorded in their home country in 2000 at Tico-Tico Studios with Ahti Kortelainen (Kalmah
, Eternal Tears of Sorrow
, Dawn of Relic
). Their last album for Massacre Records was entitled Eskhata
, released in 2002, recorded in Oulu
, Finland at SoundMix Studios with producer Mika Pohjola
(The Black League
). After the release and promotion of Eskhata, Catamenia renewed their contract with Massacre Records for three more albums, citing good working relations.
Catamenia faced many line-up changes during the rehearsal of their fifth album, but their line-up steadied and again were a six-piece for its release.
Catamenia recorded their fifth album Chaos Born
at Neo Studio in Oulu, Finland with Kari Vähäkuopus and Immu Ilmarinen (Burning Point
, Embraze
, Afterworld, Sentenced). ChaosBorn combines melodics and aggressive metal with excellent balance. After praise from media and their fans for ChaosBorn, Winternight Tragedies
was stated as their sixth studio release, again with Mastervox Studios and producers Kakke Vähäkuopus and Immu Ilmarinen.
While working on Winternight Tragedies, the band encountered problems with collaboration, distance and lack of practice. As a result line-up changes were made. Vocalist Mika and bassist Timo were replaced by new vocalist O.J. Mustonen and bassist Mikko Hepo-oja.
The album features raw, aggressive and angry songs while still keeping the melodious background intact.
In 2006, their seventh album, Location:COLD was released. Later that year, a DVD entitled, Bringing the Cold to Poland
, was released featuring live
recordings at the Stodola Club in Warsaw
, Poland
.
Drummer Veikko Jumisko departed from Catamenia in Spring 2007 because he was not able to join the tour anymore.
The US
tour was postponed until 2008, because of promotion problems. A short Canadian tour called Brothers of Cold took place in May 2008.
In May 2008, Olli Mustonen left the band for undisclosed reasons. It is believed since he missed the Canadian tour, he was deemed unreliable. Ari Nissilä will take over lead vocals from now on.
In December 2009 Catamenia started the recording of the their upcoming album called Cavalcade. It was released via Massacre Records on February 26, 2010.
In September 2010, Ari Nissilä, Toni Kansanoja, Mikko Nevanlahti and Kari Vähäkuopus decided to leave the band, but already in early October, there were new members attached to the band - bassist Mikko Hepo-oja, drummer Tony Qvick and guitarist Sauli Jauhiainen. Later on the band attached new singer Juha-Matti Perttunen and keyboardist Jussi Sauvola to the band.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, founded in 1995 by original members Riku Hopeakoski and Mika Tönning in Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
. They have been signed to Massacre Records
Massacre Records
Massacre Records is an independent record label based in Abstatt, Germany.The label was founded in 1991 by Torsten Hartmann. The label is specialized on bands of the harder varieties of metal...
ever since their first full-length, Halls of Frozen North
Halls of Frozen North
Halls of Frozen North is the first album by the Finnish melodic black metal band Catamenia. It was released on January 20, 1998, by Massacre Records.-Track listing:* All music and lyrics by Catamenia.# "Dreams of Winterland" − 3:30...
in 1998. As of 2010, they have released nine albums, 1 EP, and one DVD. They are known to frequently use wolves in their album art. Catamenia means "Menstruation". The band didn't know about this until a fan pointed it out to them after the release of their debut album. Catamenia is also a kind of bird.
History
They released their first demo albumDemo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
in their first active year, simply titled Demo '95. Their second demo, Winds released in 1996, led to a four-album contract with Massacre Records
Massacre Records
Massacre Records is an independent record label based in Abstatt, Germany.The label was founded in 1991 by Torsten Hartmann. The label is specialized on bands of the harder varieties of metal...
in 1997. Their debut full-length album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Halls of Frozen North
Halls of Frozen North
Halls of Frozen North is the first album by the Finnish melodic black metal band Catamenia. It was released on January 20, 1998, by Massacre Records.-Track listing:* All music and lyrics by Catamenia.# "Dreams of Winterland" − 3:30...
was recorded in Commusication Studios, Beindersheim
Beindersheim
Beindersheim is a municipality in the Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, in 1997 with Gerhard Magin (Crematory
Crematory (band)
Crematory is a gothic/melodic death metal band formed in Mannheim, Germany in 1991.- History :The band received its earliest recognition in the mid-1990s by touring with My Dying Bride, Tiamat and Atrocity. Much like the latter two groups, the band had begun as traditional death metal, then evolved...
, Mystic Circle
Mystic Circle
- History:Mystic Circle was formed in 1992 in Ludwigshafen. They released several EPs before their debut LP was issued in 1997. Following their 1998 release they toured with Marduk and Old Man's Child and played several large rock festivals...
) and was released in 1998. A year later they recorded their second album, Morning Crimson
Morning Crimson
Morning Crimson is the second full-length album by the melodic black metal band Catamenia.-Track listing:# "Aurora Borealis" − 3:15# "Talviyön Varjot" − 2:40# "...And Winter Descends" − 3:16# "In Blood They Lay" − 3:17...
(1999) in Sweden, at Sunlight Studios with Thomas Skogsberg (Katatonia
Katatonia
Katatonia is a Swedish metal band formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström .-1991-1993:The early Katatonia releases, such as the EP Jhva Elohim Meth.....
, Dismember
Dismember (band)
Dismember was a Swedish death metal band that formed in 1988. They are well known in the death metal underground. They split up in October 2011.-History:...
). The band's third album Eternal Winter's Prophecy
Eternal Winter's Prophecy
Eternal Winter's Prophecy is the third full-length album by the Finnish melodic black metal band Catamenia. The album was released on August 21, 2000, by Massacre Records.-Track listing:# "Gates of Anubis" − 3:06# "Soror Mystica" − 4:14...
was recorded in their home country in 2000 at Tico-Tico Studios with Ahti Kortelainen (Kalmah
Kalmah
Kalmah is a melodic death metal band from Oulu, Finland that formed in 1998. In less than a year after its formation, Kalmah was signed by Spinefarm Records. The word "kalmah" is Karelian and could be translated as "to the grave" or "to the death."-History:...
, Eternal Tears of Sorrow
Eternal Tears of Sorrow
Eternal Tears of Sorrow is a Finnish symphonic death metal band formed in Pudasjärvi in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland...
, Dawn of Relic
Dawn of Relic
Dawn of Relic is a Finnish black metal / dark metal band.-Biography:The band was formed by Jukka Juntunen in 1993 in Oulu, Finland. They released their first full length album, One Night in Carcosa, in 1999, on Wicked World Records...
). Their last album for Massacre Records was entitled Eskhata
Eskhata
Eskhata is the fourth full-length album by the Finnish melodic black metal band Catamenia. The album was released on April 29, 2002, by Massacre Records and was distributed by Sony.-Track listing:# "Storm" − 4:19# "Rain of Blood" − 4:31...
, released in 2002, recorded in Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
, Finland at SoundMix Studios with producer Mika Pohjola
Mika Pohjola
Mika Pohjola is a Finnish-born jazz pianist and composer, who resides in New York City. He is one of the most prolific Scandinavian jazz musicians in his generation.-Childhood in Helsinki, Finland 1971-87:...
(The Black League
The Black League
The Black League is a metal band from Finland. They were formed in 1998 by Taneli Jarva, three years after his departure from Finnish metal heavyweights Sentenced. The Black League's first two full-lengths carry on the spirit from Taneli's work with his former band, seasoning their metal with...
). After the release and promotion of Eskhata, Catamenia renewed their contract with Massacre Records for three more albums, citing good working relations.
Catamenia faced many line-up changes during the rehearsal of their fifth album, but their line-up steadied and again were a six-piece for its release.
Catamenia recorded their fifth album Chaos Born
Chaos Born
Chaos Born is the fifth full-length album by the Finnish melodic black metal band Catamenia. It was released on May 26, 2003, through Massacre Records.-Track listing:# "Kuolon Tanssi" − 4:35 # "Calm Before the Storm" − 5:39 # "The Fallen Angel Pt...
at Neo Studio in Oulu, Finland with Kari Vähäkuopus and Immu Ilmarinen (Burning Point
Burning Point
Burning Point is a heavy metal band from Oulu, Finland who have released two albums on the large independent German record label, SPV and two albums on the large German record label Metal Heaven...
, Embraze
Embraze
Embraze was a group from Kiiminki, Finland. Their music could be described as a combination of traditional metal and dark/gothic elements. The band's last album The Last Embrace was released on 16 August 2006...
, Afterworld, Sentenced). ChaosBorn combines melodics and aggressive metal with excellent balance. After praise from media and their fans for ChaosBorn, Winternight Tragedies
Winternight Tragedies
Winternight Tragedies is the sixth full-length album by the Finnish melodic black metal band, Catamenia. It was released on April 25, 2005, through Massacre Records."Fuel for Hatred" a cover of a Satyricon song, from their album Volcano....
was stated as their sixth studio release, again with Mastervox Studios and producers Kakke Vähäkuopus and Immu Ilmarinen.
While working on Winternight Tragedies, the band encountered problems with collaboration, distance and lack of practice. As a result line-up changes were made. Vocalist Mika and bassist Timo were replaced by new vocalist O.J. Mustonen and bassist Mikko Hepo-oja.
The album features raw, aggressive and angry songs while still keeping the melodious background intact.
In 2006, their seventh album, Location:COLD was released. Later that year, a DVD entitled, Bringing the Cold to Poland
Bringing the Cold to Poland
Bringing the Cold to Poland is Catamenia's first live DVD released by Massacre Records on 27 November, 2006, in Europe and on 16 January, 2007, for the rest of the world. It contains just over 50 minutes of a live show recorded in the Stodola Club in Warsaw, Poland. Metal Mind Productions is...
, was released featuring live
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
recordings at the Stodola Club in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
Drummer Veikko Jumisko departed from Catamenia in Spring 2007 because he was not able to join the tour anymore.
The US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tour was postponed until 2008, because of promotion problems. A short Canadian tour called Brothers of Cold took place in May 2008.
In May 2008, Olli Mustonen left the band for undisclosed reasons. It is believed since he missed the Canadian tour, he was deemed unreliable. Ari Nissilä will take over lead vocals from now on.
In December 2009 Catamenia started the recording of the their upcoming album called Cavalcade. It was released via Massacre Records on February 26, 2010.
In September 2010, Ari Nissilä, Toni Kansanoja, Mikko Nevanlahti and Kari Vähäkuopus decided to leave the band, but already in early October, there were new members attached to the band - bassist Mikko Hepo-oja, drummer Tony Qvick and guitarist Sauli Jauhiainen. Later on the band attached new singer Juha-Matti Perttunen and keyboardist Jussi Sauvola to the band.
Albums
- Halls of Frozen NorthHalls of Frozen NorthHalls of Frozen North is the first album by the Finnish melodic black metal band Catamenia. It was released on January 20, 1998, by Massacre Records.-Track listing:* All music and lyrics by Catamenia.# "Dreams of Winterland" − 3:30...
(1998) - Morning CrimsonMorning CrimsonMorning Crimson is the second full-length album by the melodic black metal band Catamenia.-Track listing:# "Aurora Borealis" − 3:15# "Talviyön Varjot" − 2:40# "...And Winter Descends" − 3:16# "In Blood They Lay" − 3:17...
(1999) - Eternal Winter's ProphecyEternal Winter's ProphecyEternal Winter's Prophecy is the third full-length album by the Finnish melodic black metal band Catamenia. The album was released on August 21, 2000, by Massacre Records.-Track listing:# "Gates of Anubis" − 3:06# "Soror Mystica" − 4:14...
(2000) - EskhataEskhataEskhata is the fourth full-length album by the Finnish melodic black metal band Catamenia. The album was released on April 29, 2002, by Massacre Records and was distributed by Sony.-Track listing:# "Storm" − 4:19# "Rain of Blood" − 4:31...
(2002) - Chaos BornChaos BornChaos Born is the fifth full-length album by the Finnish melodic black metal band Catamenia. It was released on May 26, 2003, through Massacre Records.-Track listing:# "Kuolon Tanssi" − 4:35 # "Calm Before the Storm" − 5:39 # "The Fallen Angel Pt...
(2003) - Winternight TragediesWinternight TragediesWinternight Tragedies is the sixth full-length album by the Finnish melodic black metal band, Catamenia. It was released on April 25, 2005, through Massacre Records."Fuel for Hatred" a cover of a Satyricon song, from their album Volcano....
(2005) - Location:COLD (2006)
- VIII - The Time UnchainedVIII - The Time UnchainedVIII - The Time Unchained is the eighth full-length album by the Finnish melodic black metal band Catamenia. It was released on October 24, 2008, through Massacre Records. The first album not to feature keyboards in any song.- Track listing :...
(2008) - Cavalcade (2010)
Demos/EPs
- Demo '95 (1995)
- Winds (1996)
- Shape Edition (1999)
Video
- "Kuolon Tanssi" (music video) (2003)
- "Tuhat Vuotta" (music video) (2006)
- Bringing the Cold to PolandBringing the Cold to PolandBringing the Cold to Poland is Catamenia's first live DVD released by Massacre Records on 27 November, 2006, in Europe and on 16 January, 2007, for the rest of the world. It contains just over 50 minutes of a live show recorded in the Stodola Club in Warsaw, Poland. Metal Mind Productions is...
(DVD) (2006) - "Location: COLD" (music video) (2006)
- "Cavalcade" (music video) (2010)
Cover songs
- "Fuel for Hatred" (SatyriconSatyricon (band)Satyricon is a Norwegian black metal band, and the first one in the genre to join a multi-national record label .-Biography:Satyricon was formed in 1990 by Czral and Wargod. Ulver and Satyr soon joined them...
) − on Winternight Tragedies - "I Wanna Be SomebodyI Wanna Be Somebody"I Wanna Be Somebody" is the first single from heavy metal band W.A.S.P.'s debut album W.A.S.P..It was ranked at #84 in VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.-Track listing:7" single-Charts:...
" (W.A.S.P.) − on Location: COLD - "From Out of Nowhere" (Faith No MoreFaith No MoreFaith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
) - on VIII - The Time Unchained - "Viivakoodit" (ApulantaApulantaApulanta is a Finnish rock band, founded in 1991 when its members were in their mid-teens. Initially playing various forms of rock such as punk, ska, and metal, they soon shifted to a catchier, more radio-friendly style, and have been fluctuating between these extremes and many others since...
) - on VIII - The Time Unchained - "Synti Voittaa" (Shitter Limited) - on VIII - The Time Unchained
- "Angry Again" (Megadeth) - on Cavalcade
- "Farewell" (Sentenced) - on Cavalcade
Current
- Riku Hopeakoski − lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
, keyboardsElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
on Eskhata - Mikko Hepo-oja - bass (2005–2006, 2010-)
- Juha-Matti Perttunen - vocals
- Toni Qvick - drums
- Sauli Jauhiainen - guitar
- Jussi Sauvola - keyboards
Former
- Ari Nissilä - guitar, vocals (2000–2010)
- Mikko Nevanlahti - drums (2008–2010)
- Toni Kansanoja - bass, backing vocals (2006–2010)
- Kakke Vähäkuopus - clean vocals (2006–2010), rhythm guitar (2010)
- Olli-Jukka Mustonen − vocals (2005–2008)
- Mika Tönning − vocals (1995–2003)
- Sampo Ukkola − guitars (1997–1999)
- Timo Lehtinen − bass (KalmahKalmahKalmah is a melodic death metal band from Oulu, Finland that formed in 1998. In less than a year after its formation, Kalmah was signed by Spinefarm Records. The word "kalmah" is Karelian and could be translated as "to the grave" or "to the death."-History:...
) (1996–2003) - Heidi Riihinen − keyboards (1995–2000)
- Tero Nevala − keyboards (2003–2006)
- Toni Tervo − drums (1995–1999)
- Kimmo 'Sir' Luttinen – drums (The Black LeagueThe Black LeagueThe Black League is a metal band from Finland. They were formed in 1998 by Taneli Jarva, three years after his departure from Finnish metal heavyweights Sentenced. The Black League's first two full-lengths carry on the spirit from Taneli's work with his former band, seasoning their metal with...
, Impaled NazareneImpaled NazareneImpaled Nazarene is a Finnish black metal band that incorporates elements of grindcore in their sound and punk rock in their aesthetics. The band is currently signed to Osmose Productions of France....
) (1999–2001) - Veikko Jumisko − drums (2003–2007)
Guest and session musicians
- Antti Haapsamo − vocals on Location: COLD
- Sir Luttinen − drums on Eternal Winter's Prophecy
- Janne Kusmin − drums on Eskhata
External links
- Catamenia official site
- Catamenia at Massacre RecordsMassacre RecordsMassacre Records is an independent record label based in Abstatt, Germany.The label was founded in 1991 by Torsten Hartmann. The label is specialized on bands of the harder varieties of metal...
- Catamenia at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Catamenia at Metal from Finland