Winds (band)
Encyclopedia
Winds is a Norwegian neo-classical
/progressive metal
band formed in 1998. The music is largely influenced by classical music, with Andy Winter's piano work and Carl August Tidemann
's guitar solos, often the central focuses. The lyrics are written by Andy Winter, and deal mostly with astral
and existentialist philosophy
.
as a neo-classical guitar virtuoso, prolific black metal drummer Jan Axel von Blomberg
and Andy Winter as a classically inspired pianist.
AS the first recording Of Entity and Mind
was completed in 2000, Avantgarde Music made an offer to sign Winds for two records. This deal was inked without even presenting the music to any other labels. Of Entity and Mind was well received for its combination of classical, progressive and metal music.
As Of Entity and Mind continued receiving positive feedback, the band had not been idle and was already far into the process of composing the follow-up, to be entitled Reflections of the I
. After this record was completed, The End Records
, who inquired about licensing the album for release in America
, contacted the band. Avantgarde Music was consulted and accepted the offer. Reflections of the I was released in 2002 and hosted great reviews and critical acclaim, receiving top scores in virtually every significant publication related to their style of music.
The band had almost completed ideas for all the tracks to a third album even before the previous was released. Having fulfilled their contract with Avantgarde Music, Winds was now free to accept offers from other labels. Once again, The End Records was quick to put an offer on the table, this time to take on the band worldwide. The band accepted the offer without hesitation, and although other labels had showed interest, the band signed to The End Records for three more albums.
So the time came to start recording the third album. The drums were recorded first, along with some basic guitar and piano ideas that were to be re-recorded later. Recording of the album was put on hold due to obligations to other bands on projects, once all members were free, recording was resumed.
After six months of being in and out of the studios (Toproom and Fagerborg in Norway, and The Factory in Vancouver
for mixing) the album was finally completed. The third Winds effort is entitled The Imaginary Direction of Time
. Following in the vein of the previous albums with philosophically charged lyrics, the band's website describes it as "the most accomplished record they have ever worked on, featuring the best individual performances they have ever done but also their best collective effort through carefully designed arrangements and a world class production that can compete with any other top release in the world today."
Neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is heavily influenced by classical music. It refers to a very technical performanceExact quote from the french text: "L'arrivée du néoclassique remet au goût du jour la virtuosité et le travail de l'instrument", « Les secrets du metal-...
/progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band formed in 1998. The music is largely influenced by classical music, with Andy Winter's piano work and Carl August Tidemann
Carl August Tidemann
Carl August Tidemann is a highly technical Norwegian Neo-classical metal guitarist and composer, best known for his work in progressive bands like Arcturus and Winds.- With Tritonus :# Shadowland Demo...
's guitar solos, often the central focuses. The lyrics are written by Andy Winter, and deal mostly with astral
Astral plane
The astral plane, also called the astral world, is a plane of existence postulated by classical , medieval, oriental and esoteric philosophies and mystery religions...
and existentialist philosophy
Existentialism
Existentialism is a term applied to a school of 19th- and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual...
.
History
Winds came into existence in 1998 when four Norwegian musicians from different backgrounds happened to cross musical paths. This was a result of previous work some of them had done with each other and through mutual acquaintances who lead them together. These individuals were already renowned within their specialties: Lars E. Si as a vocalist, Carl August TidemannCarl August Tidemann
Carl August Tidemann is a highly technical Norwegian Neo-classical metal guitarist and composer, best known for his work in progressive bands like Arcturus and Winds.- With Tritonus :# Shadowland Demo...
as a neo-classical guitar virtuoso, prolific black metal drummer Jan Axel von Blomberg
Jan Axel Blomberg
Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg is a three time Spellemannprisen award-winning heavy metal drummer. He is most well known for his drumming with the band Mayhem, with which he began his career...
and Andy Winter as a classically inspired pianist.
AS the first recording Of Entity and Mind
Of Entity and Mind
Of Entity and Mind is the first EP by the Norwegian neoclassical metal band Winds. It consists of an intro and 4 songs.-Track listing:# "Inception Perspective" # "In All Reflections" # "Bloodstained and Sworn"...
was completed in 2000, Avantgarde Music made an offer to sign Winds for two records. This deal was inked without even presenting the music to any other labels. Of Entity and Mind was well received for its combination of classical, progressive and metal music.
As Of Entity and Mind continued receiving positive feedback, the band had not been idle and was already far into the process of composing the follow-up, to be entitled Reflections of the I
Reflections of the I
Reflections of the I is the first full-length album by Norwegian progressive metal band Winds. It was released on September 7, 2002.-Track listing:#"Clarity" – 2:15#"Realization" – 4:53#"Of Divine Nature" – 4:37#"Transition" – 1:16...
. After this record was completed, The End Records
The End Records
The End Records is an independent record label, founded in 1998 in San Diego. Founder Andreas Katsambas initially wanted to bring attention to some underground bands he admired. In 2002, The End moved to Salt Lake City, when his wife took a job at the University of Utah. The label moved...
, who inquired about licensing the album for release in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, contacted the band. Avantgarde Music was consulted and accepted the offer. Reflections of the I was released in 2002 and hosted great reviews and critical acclaim, receiving top scores in virtually every significant publication related to their style of music.
The band had almost completed ideas for all the tracks to a third album even before the previous was released. Having fulfilled their contract with Avantgarde Music, Winds was now free to accept offers from other labels. Once again, The End Records was quick to put an offer on the table, this time to take on the band worldwide. The band accepted the offer without hesitation, and although other labels had showed interest, the band signed to The End Records for three more albums.
So the time came to start recording the third album. The drums were recorded first, along with some basic guitar and piano ideas that were to be re-recorded later. Recording of the album was put on hold due to obligations to other bands on projects, once all members were free, recording was resumed.
After six months of being in and out of the studios (Toproom and Fagerborg in Norway, and The Factory in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
for mixing) the album was finally completed. The third Winds effort is entitled The Imaginary Direction of Time
The Imaginary Direction of Time
The Imaginary Direction of Time is the second full-length album by Norwegian progressive metal band Winds. It was released on July 26, 2004.-Track listing:#"What is Beauty?" – 5:03#"Sounds Like Desolation" – 0:35#"Theory of Relativity" – 4:47...
. Following in the vein of the previous albums with philosophically charged lyrics, the band's website describes it as "the most accomplished record they have ever worked on, featuring the best individual performances they have ever done but also their best collective effort through carefully designed arrangements and a world class production that can compete with any other top release in the world today."
Current members
- Lars Eric SiLars Eric SiLars Eikind, also known as Lars Eric Si, has been a part of the Scandinavian rock/metal scene for many years. Both as musician and producer. He has been involved in a numerous bands, either as a full time or session member....
aka Eikind (Age of SilenceAge Of SilenceAge of Silence is a Norwegian avant-garde progressive metal band formed in 2004 by Andy Winter of Winds.-Current members:* Lars Are "Lazare" Nedland - Vocals...
, Before the DawnBefore the Dawn (band)- 4:17 am :4:17 am is the second full-length album released by Before the Dawn. It was released on May 24, 2004 through Locomotive Music, to generally favorable critical reviews. Aleksanteri Kuosa was the engineer and producer....
, ex-KholdKholdKhold is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 2000 after the split-up of Tulus. The band plays midpaced and somewhat "groovy" black metal and has a history of touring with bands such as Behemoth and Satyricon.-Current line-up:*Gard - vocals/guitar...
, ex-Tulus) - vocals, bass - Carl August TidemannCarl August TidemannCarl August Tidemann is a highly technical Norwegian Neo-classical metal guitarist and composer, best known for his work in progressive bands like Arcturus and Winds.- With Tritonus :# Shadowland Demo...
(ex-ArcturusArcturus (band)Arcturus is an avant-garde metal band formed in Norway in 1987. They named it Arcturus , after the Behenian fixed star Arcturus.-Biography:The band has released four official full-length albums...
, Tritonus) - guitars - Jan Axel von BlombergJan Axel BlombergJan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg is a three time Spellemannprisen award-winning heavy metal drummer. He is most well known for his drumming with the band Mayhem, with which he began his career...
aka Hellhammer (Age of Silence, Arcturus, The KovenantThe KovenantThe Kovenant is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo/Hamar. The band originally formed as Covenant in 1993, but in 1999 were forced to change their name to The Kovenant due to a dispute with a Swedish electronic band of the same name....
, MayhemMayhem (band)Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1984 in Oslo, Norway and regarded as one of the pioneers of the influential Norwegian black metal scene...
, Dimmu BorgirDimmu BorgirDimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
) - drums - Andy WinterAndy Winter (musician)Andy Winter is a Norwegian keyboardist that is a founding member of the Norwegian bands Winds and Age of Silence and is part of the American bands Sculptured and formerly Subterranean Masquerade....
(Age of Silence, SculpturedSculpturedSculptured is an American experimental heavy metal band, mixing classic death and doom metal riffs and vocals to atonal segments and brass sections.-Biography:...
, ex-Subterranean MasqueradeSubterranean MasqueradeSubterranean Masquerade is a progressive metal band that was formed in 1997 by Tomer Pink, who is a guitarist and primary songwriter for the band.-Overview:...
) - piano
Of Entity and Mind
- Drajevolitch - Voice
- Paul S : Bass, Fretless Bass
- K. Haugen : Electric & Acoustic Guitars (Age of Silence)
Reflections of the I
- Drajevolitch - Voice
- Vegard Johnsen - Violin
- Stig Ove Ore - Viola
- Hans Josef Groh - Cello
The Imaginary Direction of Time
- Andre Orvik - Violin
- Vegard Johnsen - Violin
- Dorthe Dreier - Viola
- Hans Josef Groh - Cello
Prominence and Demise
- Lars NedlandLars NedlandLars Are Nedland , known also as Lazare, from Kristiansand, Norway, is the vocalist, drummer and keyboardist for acclaimed avant-garde black metal band Solefald. He is also keyboardist for the progressive black metal act Borknagar...
(SolefaldSolefaldSolefald is a Norwegian avant-garde metal/black metal band that was formed by members Lars Are "Lazare" Nedland and Cornelius Jakhelln in August 1995, with Lars singing and playing keyboard/synthesizer/piano and drums, and Cornelius singing and playing guitar and bass. The meaning of the band's...
, Age of Silence, BorknagarBorknagarBorknagar is a progressive black metal band from Bergen, Norway, founded in 1995 by Øystein Garnes Brun. The band's style combines folk metal and black metal with progressive and melodic elements...
, ÁsmeginÁsmeginÁsmegin is a Norwegian folk/viking metal band formed in 1998. The name comes from Old Norse and means "by the might of the gods". Ásmegin's lyrics are written in Norwegian as well as some in Old Norse and older Norwegian...
) - Guest appearance, vocals - Dan SwanöDan SwanöDan-Erland Swanö is a Swedish musician who is currently the vocalist, guitarist, ex-bassist and ex-drummer for the band Nightingale as well as the Owner of Unisound but he achieved fame as the vocalist and songwriter of progressive death metal band Edge of Sanity.As a multi-instrumentalist he is...
(NightingaleNightingale (band)The band's latest album is White Darkness and it was released 4 June 2007.-Line-up:*Dan Swanö : Vocals, guitars, keyboards...
, Edge of SanityEdge of SanityEdge of Sanity was a Swedish death metal band. Edge of Sanity are regarded alongside Opeth as being the first to fuse extreme metal styles like death and black metal with progressive rock.- History :...
, BloodbathBloodbathBloodbath is a Swedish death metal supergroup from Stockholm formed in 1998.-History:A year after being formed, the band, then consisting of Mikael Åkerfeldt on vocals, Dan Swanö on drums, Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström on guitar, and Jonas Renkse on bass, released their EP Breeding...
) - Guest appearance, vocals - Oystein Moe (Tritonus)- Guest appearance, bass
- Agnete M. Kirkevaag (Madder MortemMadder MortemMadder Mortem is a Norwegian progressive metal band. They were formed in 1993 as Mystery Tribe.-Current lineup:* Agnete M. Kirkevaag − Vocals * BP M...
) - Guest appearance, vocals - Andre Orvik - Violin
- Vegard Johnsen - Violin
- Dorthe Dreier - Viola
- Hans Josef Groh - Cello
Discography
| Date of Release | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Of Entity and Mind Of Entity and Mind Of Entity and Mind is the first EP by the Norwegian neoclassical metal band Winds. It consists of an intro and 4 songs.-Track listing:# "Inception Perspective" # "In All Reflections" # "Bloodstained and Sworn"... |
Avantgarde Music |
| 2002 | Reflections of the I Reflections of the I Reflections of the I is the first full-length album by Norwegian progressive metal band Winds. It was released on September 7, 2002.-Track listing:#"Clarity" – 2:15#"Realization" – 4:53#"Of Divine Nature" – 4:37#"Transition" – 1:16... |
The End Records The End Records The End Records is an independent record label, founded in 1998 in San Diego. Founder Andreas Katsambas initially wanted to bring attention to some underground bands he admired. In 2002, The End moved to Salt Lake City, when his wife took a job at the University of Utah. The label moved... |
| 2004 | The Imaginary Direction of Time The Imaginary Direction of Time The Imaginary Direction of Time is the second full-length album by Norwegian progressive metal band Winds. It was released on July 26, 2004.-Track listing:#"What is Beauty?" – 5:03#"Sounds Like Desolation" – 0:35#"Theory of Relativity" – 4:47... |
The End Records The End Records The End Records is an independent record label, founded in 1998 in San Diego. Founder Andreas Katsambas initially wanted to bring attention to some underground bands he admired. In 2002, The End moved to Salt Lake City, when his wife took a job at the University of Utah. The label moved... |
| 2007 | Prominence and Demise Prominence and Demise Prominence and Demise is the third full-length album by Norwegian progressive metal band Winds, released on September 4, 2007.-Track listing:#"Universal Creation Array" - 8:20#"Distorted Dimensions" - 4:34#"The Grand Design" - 6:20... |
The End Records The End Records The End Records is an independent record label, founded in 1998 in San Diego. Founder Andreas Katsambas initially wanted to bring attention to some underground bands he admired. In 2002, The End moved to Salt Lake City, when his wife took a job at the University of Utah. The label moved... |
Note
- - the "history" is the official biography from the official Winds website: http://www.winds.ws/