Rotten Sound
Encyclopedia
Rotten Sound is a grindcore
band from Vaasa
, Finland
, formed in 1993. The band comprises vocalist Keijo Niinimaa, guitarist Mika Aalto, bassist Kristian Toivainen and drummer Sami Latva. The band has released eight studio albums and "earned a reputation for being one of the most intense bands on the Scandinavian death metal/grindcore scene".
Rotten Sound's first full-length album, Under Pressure, was released by Repulse Records (a Spanish label) in 1998 and was followed by Drain (also on Repulse) in 1999. This album was also the debut of second guitarist Juha Ylikoski. In early 2000, the band signed with American Necropolis Records
, a subsidiary Deathvomit label for release the EP Still Psycho, which included a cover of Carcass
's "Reek of Putrefaction
". Paul Kott of Allmusic praised the album saying, "Rotten Sound does a good job, and although the audio production does leave something to be desired, the finished product is well worth listening to for any fan of earlier death metal and more recent grindcore. The video segments are very well-produced, with fantastic live audio recording, multiple camera angles, and good edits." The band toured in Europe to promote the album, along with label mates Hateplow, In Aeturnum and Malevolent Creation
.
, in 2002. The Allmusic reviewer Alex Henderson stated, "This 2002 release gives the listener no room to breathe; from start to finish, Murderworks is an exercise in sensory assault for the sake of sensory assault." For the album's promotion, the group headline a European tour, titled Murdering Europe, with support of two Czech
bands, Fleshless and Lykathea Aflame. They also toured Europe during June 2003, along with Hateplow and Debauchery
. In May 2004, Rotten Sound teamed up with Circle of Dead Children
, Phobia
and Strong Intention for US Grind the East Coast tour. The band's fourth studio album, Exit
, was recorded at Soundlab studio in Örebro
, Sweden
with engineer Mieszko Talarczyk
and mastered at the Cutting Room. Shortly after their release, the album peaked at number 22 on the Finnish album charts. In March 2005, the band teamed up with Disfear
for a co-headline Scandinavian tour.
Former members
Extended plays
Splits
Singles
Compilations
DVDs
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
band from Vaasa
Vaasa
Vaasa is a city on the west coast of Finland. It received its charter in 1606, during the reign of Charles IX of Sweden and is named after the Royal House of Vasa...
, Finland
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...
, formed in 1993. The band comprises vocalist Keijo Niinimaa, guitarist Mika Aalto, bassist Kristian Toivainen and drummer Sami Latva. The band has released eight studio albums and "earned a reputation for being one of the most intense bands on the Scandinavian death metal/grindcore scene".
Formation, Under Pressure and Drain (1993–2000)
Rotten Sound was founded by guitarist Mika Aalto in Vaasa, Finland, in 1993. The group started recordings in 1994, releasing the single Sick Bastard through Genet label. Their subsequent underground releases, between singles and EPs, included 1995's Psychotic Veterinarian on SOA, 1996's Loosin' Face on Anomie, and 1997's Splitted Alive on IDS.Rotten Sound's first full-length album, Under Pressure, was released by Repulse Records (a Spanish label) in 1998 and was followed by Drain (also on Repulse) in 1999. This album was also the debut of second guitarist Juha Ylikoski. In early 2000, the band signed with American Necropolis Records
Necropolis Records
Necropolis Records was a record label founded in 1993, mainly providing an American home for extreme black metal to start. The label's roster included artists such as Archgoat, The Black, Incantation, Satanic Slaughter, Witchery, Rotten Sound, Babylon Whores, Dissection, Dawn,, Vondur, Impaled and...
, a subsidiary Deathvomit label for release the EP Still Psycho, which included a cover of Carcass
Carcass (band)
Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, who formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons....
's "Reek of Putrefaction
Symphonies of Sickness
Symphonies of Sickness is the second album by the British extreme metal band Carcass. It was released through Earache Records in December 1989.The band's style progressed since Reek of Putrefaction...
". Paul Kott of Allmusic praised the album saying, "Rotten Sound does a good job, and although the audio production does leave something to be desired, the finished product is well worth listening to for any fan of earlier death metal and more recent grindcore. The video segments are very well-produced, with fantastic live audio recording, multiple camera angles, and good edits." The band toured in Europe to promote the album, along with label mates Hateplow, In Aeturnum and Malevolent Creation
Malevolent Creation
Malevolent Creation is a death metal band originally hailing from Buffalo, New York. Moving to Florida in 1987, they became a part of the emergent local death metal scene, landing a deal with Roadrunner Records...
.
Murderworks and Exit (2001–2005)
Rotten Sound release their second full-length, MurderworksMurderworks
Murderworks is the third studio album by the Finnish grindcore band Rotten Sound. The album was recorded at Soundlab studios with production of Mieszko Talarczyk.- Release :...
, in 2002. The Allmusic reviewer Alex Henderson stated, "This 2002 release gives the listener no room to breathe; from start to finish, Murderworks is an exercise in sensory assault for the sake of sensory assault." For the album's promotion, the group headline a European tour, titled Murdering Europe, with support of two Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
bands, Fleshless and Lykathea Aflame. They also toured Europe during June 2003, along with Hateplow and Debauchery
Debauchery (band)
- History :They are currently signed to German label AFM Records and have toured extensively through Europe. The band was formed in 2000 as Maggotcunt, but changed their name in 2002 to Debauchery. Debauchery consisted of Thomas Gurrath and Dani until Dani was forced to leave the band in 2006...
. In May 2004, Rotten Sound teamed up with Circle of Dead Children
Circle of Dead Children
Circle of Dead Children is a deathgrind band formed on October 24, 1998, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania known for being purveyors of pure aural destruction with their claustrophobic, dense take on extreme metal...
, Phobia
Phobia (band)
Phobia is a Grindcore band from Orange County, California. The band was formed in 1990 and is heavily influenced by crust punk and grindcore. Their lyrical content focuses mainly on socio-political issues and left-wing politics.- History :...
and Strong Intention for US Grind the East Coast tour. The band's fourth studio album, Exit
Exit (Rotten Sound album)
-Track listing:# "Exit" – 1:05# "Burden" – 1:44# "Sell Your Soul" – 1:23# "V.S.A." – 2:10# "Follow" – 1:37# "Maggots" – 0:34# "Slave" – 1:34# "Mass Suicide" – 1:54# "Soil" - 1:31# "Fail to Fall" - 0:42# "Greed" - 0:48# "Slay" - 0:51...
, was recorded at Soundlab studio in Örebro
Örebro
-Sites of interest:Örebro's old town Wadköping is located on the banks of Svartån . It contains many 18th and 19th century wooden houses, along with museums and exhibitions....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
with engineer Mieszko Talarczyk
Mieszko Talarczyk
Mieszko Talarczyk was the lead singer and guitarist of the Swedish grindcore band Nasum, Genocide Superstars, Krigshot and Charles Harfager...
and mastered at the Cutting Room. Shortly after their release, the album peaked at number 22 on the Finnish album charts. In March 2005, the band teamed up with Disfear
Disfear
Disfear is a Swedish D-beat band that formed in the early 1990s. They have only recorded sporadically over the years. After releasing the albums Soul Scars in 1995 and Everyday Slaughter in 1997, the group did not release an album until 2003 with a 12 track album, Misanthropic Generation, featuring...
for a co-headline Scandinavian tour.
Cycles and Cursed (2006–present)
In 2008, Rotten Sound released Cycles and in 2011, Cursed.Members
Current members- Keijo Niinimaa (aka "G") – vocalsDeath growlA death growl, also known as death metal vocals, guttural vocals, death grunts, and harsh vocals among other names, is a vocalisation style usually employed by vocalists of the death metal and black metal music genre, but also used in a variety of heavy metal and hardcore punk subgenres.Death...
(1993–present) - Mika Aalto (aka "Q") – guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(1993–present) - Kristian Toivainen – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2010–present) - Sami Latva – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2006–present)
Former members
- Juha Ylikoski (aka "J") – guitar (1998–2001)
- Masa Kovero – bass (1994)
- Pekka Ranta – bass (1998–2000)
- Mika Häkki (aka "H") – bass (2000–2003)
- Toni Pihlaja – bass (2003–2009)
- Ville Väisänen – drums (1994)
- Kai HahtoKai HahtoKai Hahto is a Finnish musician and drummer.-Career:Hahto starting playing drums using a handmade Kumu drumkit.Hahto was a member of the grindcore band Rotten Sound....
(aka "K") – drums (1995–2006)
Discography
Studio albums- 1997 - Under Pressure (Repulse/Revenge)
- 1998 - Drain (Repulse/S.O.A.)
- 2002 - MurderworksMurderworksMurderworks is the third studio album by the Finnish grindcore band Rotten Sound. The album was recorded at Soundlab studios with production of Mieszko Talarczyk.- Release :...
(Autopsy Stench/Necropolis/Century MediaCentury Media RecordsCentury Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.- Background :...
/RelapseRelapse RecordsRelapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
) - 2005 - ExitExit (Rotten Sound album)-Track listing:# "Exit" – 1:05# "Burden" – 1:44# "Sell Your Soul" – 1:23# "V.S.A." – 2:10# "Follow" – 1:37# "Maggots" – 0:34# "Slave" – 1:34# "Mass Suicide" – 1:54# "Soil" - 1:31# "Fail to Fall" - 0:42# "Greed" - 0:48# "Slay" - 0:51...
(Spinefarm/No Tolerance/WillowtipWillowtip RecordsWillowtip Records is an independently owned and distributed heavy metal record label headquartered in Zelienople, Pennsylvania.-Background:Willowtip Records was founded in 2000 by Jason Tipton with a partner named Willosin, who is no longer involved with the label. The combination of the two names...
) - 2008 - Cycles (Spinefarm)
- 2011 - Cursed (Relapse)
Extended plays
- 1995 - Sick Bastard (Genet)
- 1995 - Psychotic Veterinarian (S.O.A.)
- 1996 - Loosin' Face (Anomie)
- 2000 - Still Psycho (NecropolisNecropolis RecordsNecropolis Records was a record label founded in 1993, mainly providing an American home for extreme black metal to start. The label's roster included artists such as Archgoat, The Black, Incantation, Satanic Slaughter, Witchery, Rotten Sound, Babylon Whores, Dissection, Dawn,, Vondur, Impaled and...
/Merciless) - 2006 - Consume to ContaminateConsume to ContaminateConsume to Contaminate is a 2006 EP by Finnish band Rotten Sound. Upon release, the EP reached second position on the Finnish singles chart.-Track listing:# "Decay" – 2:20# "Loss" – 1:48# "Crime" – 1:13# "GDP" – 3:02# "CTC" – 2:24# "Flesh" – 0:58...
(SpinefarmSpinefarm RecordsSpinefarm Records is a Finland-based record label focusing mainly on heavy metal artists. In 1999, a sub-label titled Spikefarm Records was started by Sami Tenetz from Thy Serpent...
/Power It Up) - 2010 - Napalm (RelapseRelapse RecordsRelapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
)
Splits
- 1997 - Spitted Alive Split with Control Mechanism (I.D.S.)
- 2001 - 8 Hours of Lobotomy Split with Unholy GraveUnholy GraveUnholy Grave is a grindcore band from Nagoya, Japan. They got their name from the song "Beyond the Unholy Grave" by Death. Their lyrics mainly focus on political and social issues. A common phrase appearing on the artwork of their releases is "Grindcore Against Terrorism!"...
(M.C.R.) - 2003 - Seeds of Hate Split with Mastic Scum (Cudgel Agency)
Singles
- 2011 - Curses (Fullsteam Records)
Compilations
- 2003 - From Crust 'Til Grind (Century Media) (Contains tracks from Sick Bastard, Pyschotic Veterinarin, Loosin' Face and Still Pyscho)
DVDs
- 2004 - Murderlive (Spinefarm)
- 2010 - Live at Obscene Extreme 2007 (Relapse)