Eternal Tears of Sorrow
Encyclopedia
Eternal Tears of Sorrow is a Finnish
symphonic death metal band formed in Pudasjärvi
in Northern Ostrobothnia
, Finland
. Romantic lyrics and soft keyboard melodies show gothic metal
influence.
In spring 1994, they recorded a new demo, The Seven Goddesses of Frost. Now, the band decided to change their name to more serious Eternal Tears of Sorrow. Between 1994 and 1996 the band had a couple of songs on some compilation CDs
in Europe
and Canada
, and recorded their debut, Sinner's Serenade
. It took more than a year for the debut album to get released by X-Treme Records, a small underground label from Gothenburg
in Sweden
. After recording the second album (recorded with their own money), Vilda Mánnu
, Spinefarm Records
approached the band and soon they signed a deal with the label.
Their third album, Chaotic Beauty
(on which the band had three new members since Olli-Pekka Törrö had left the band), led to a European tour with Nightwish
and Sinergy
. Their fourth album, A Virgin and a Whore
, went to the Finnish Album Top 40 charts. After releasing four albums, the band announced having a break just after the release of A Virgin and a Whore; however, they broke up in January 2003.
In February 2005, the band announced they were to make a comeback. Their fifth album, Before the Bleeding Sun
, was released in April 2006 (excluding releases in Russia and Japan
that were released later). This album also went to the Finnish Album Top 40 charts, to #26. The band broke their 66-month gig silence in late 2006 with two session members since Petri Sankala and Janne Tolsa were unavailable at that time.
In late 2008, the band told Jarmo Kylmänen (who had been part of the band's song-writing team since 2005) had joined the band as an official member. Soon after that, their long-time drummer Petri Sankala had left the band because of his back pain. In early April 2009, it was reported that Risto Ruuth has left the band. The band found a replacement, Mika Lammassaari, and has started rehearsing for the postponed live shows originally planned for May.
The band's sixth "Children Of The Dark Waters" came out in May 2009 through Suomen Musiikki in Finland, Massacre Records in Europe excluding Finland, and Marquee/Avalon in Asia. A new single, "Tears of Autumn Rain," was released in Finland and Japan as well as on the band's MySpace page. The other track on the single was a rerecorded version of "Vilda Mánnu" from their second album. "Children of the Dark Waters" album charted at #19 at the Finnish Album Top 40 charts.
Currently, the band is finishing their tour and starting to prepare for their seventh album, to be released in early 2012.
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...
symphonic death metal band formed in Pudasjärvi
Pudasjärvi
Pudasjärvi is a town and a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The city has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
in Northern Ostrobothnia
Northern Ostrobothnia
Northern Ostrobothnia is a region of Finland. It borders to the regions Lapland, Kainuu, Northern Savonia, Central Finland and Central Ostrobothnia.- Municipalities :Main article: Municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia...
, 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...
. Romantic lyrics and soft keyboard melodies show gothic metal
Gothic metal
Gothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the aggression of doom metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music...
influence.
Biography
The band was formed in 1994 by Jarmo Puolakanaho, Altti Veteläinen and Olli-Pekka Törrö, after some various projects that featured several people that later were members of Eternal Tears of Sorrow. Andromeda, a first death/doom/thrash metal project, had been put on hold in late 1992 because the rehearsal place had burned down. It seemed their home town was not able to give them a new rehearsal place, so the three members started a new sideproject (M.D.C.) and recorded a demo tape, Beyond The Fantasy in autumn 1993.In spring 1994, they recorded a new demo, The Seven Goddesses of Frost. Now, the band decided to change their name to more serious Eternal Tears of Sorrow. Between 1994 and 1996 the band had a couple of songs on some compilation CDs
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and recorded their debut, Sinner's Serenade
Sinner's Serenade
-Credits:* Altti Veteläinen − vocals, bass guitar* Jarmo Puolakanaho − guitar, keyboards* Olli-Pekka Törrö − guitar, keyboards...
. It took more than a year for the debut album to get released by X-Treme Records, a small underground label from Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
in 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....
. After recording the second album (recorded with their own money), Vilda Mánnu
Vilda Mánnu
-Band members:* Altti Veteläinen − vocals, bass guitar* Jarmo Puolakanaho − guitar, keyboards* Olli-Pekka Törrö − guitar, keyboards...
, Spinefarm Records
Spinefarm Records
Spinefarm 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...
approached the band and soon they signed a deal with the label.
Their third album, Chaotic Beauty
Chaotic Beauty
Chaotic Beauty is the third album by Finnish symphonic death metal band Eternal Tears Of Sorrow. It was their first album without the original three founding members of the band and the first EToS album with a five-member line-up...
(on which the band had three new members since Olli-Pekka Törrö had left the band), led to a European tour with Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
and Sinergy
Sinergy
Sinergy was a Finnish power metal band started in 1998 by American musician, Kimberly Goss. Aside from Sinergy, the most notable bands Goss has been involved with are Dimmu Borgir; as keyboardist, and Children of Bodom; where she filled in live for Janne Wirman and also contributed lyrics...
. Their fourth album, A Virgin and a Whore
A Virgin and a Whore
Japanese bonus tracks:# "As I Die" – 4:03# "The River Flows Frozen" – 5:47-Band members:* Altti Veteläinen – vocals, bass guitar* Jarmo Puolakanaho – guitar* Antti Kokko – lead guitar...
, went to the Finnish Album Top 40 charts. After releasing four albums, the band announced having a break just after the release of A Virgin and a Whore; however, they broke up in January 2003.
In February 2005, the band announced they were to make a comeback. Their fifth album, Before the Bleeding Sun
Before the Bleeding Sun
Before the Bleeding Sun is the fifth studio album released by the Finnish symphonic death metal band Eternal Tears of Sorrow. The album counts guest performances from Marco Hietala , Jarmo Kylmänen , Sfinx and Tony Kakko .According to the band, The album is damn heavy but still more diverse and...
, was released in April 2006 (excluding releases in Russia and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
that were released later). This album also went to the Finnish Album Top 40 charts, to #26. The band broke their 66-month gig silence in late 2006 with two session members since Petri Sankala and Janne Tolsa were unavailable at that time.
In late 2008, the band told Jarmo Kylmänen (who had been part of the band's song-writing team since 2005) had joined the band as an official member. Soon after that, their long-time drummer Petri Sankala had left the band because of his back pain. In early April 2009, it was reported that Risto Ruuth has left the band. The band found a replacement, Mika Lammassaari, and has started rehearsing for the postponed live shows originally planned for May.
The band's sixth "Children Of The Dark Waters" came out in May 2009 through Suomen Musiikki in Finland, Massacre Records in Europe excluding Finland, and Marquee/Avalon in Asia. A new single, "Tears of Autumn Rain," was released in Finland and Japan as well as on the band's MySpace page. The other track on the single was a rerecorded version of "Vilda Mánnu" from their second album. "Children of the Dark Waters" album charted at #19 at the Finnish Album Top 40 charts.
Currently, the band is finishing their tour and starting to prepare for their seventh album, to be released in early 2012.
Full-length albums
- Sinner's SerenadeSinner's Serenade-Credits:* Altti Veteläinen − vocals, bass guitar* Jarmo Puolakanaho − guitar, keyboards* Olli-Pekka Törrö − guitar, keyboards...
(1997) - Vilda MánnuVilda Mánnu-Band members:* Altti Veteläinen − vocals, bass guitar* Jarmo Puolakanaho − guitar, keyboards* Olli-Pekka Törrö − guitar, keyboards...
(1998) - Chaotic BeautyChaotic BeautyChaotic Beauty is the third album by Finnish symphonic death metal band Eternal Tears Of Sorrow. It was their first album without the original three founding members of the band and the first EToS album with a five-member line-up...
(2000) - A Virgin and a WhoreA Virgin and a WhoreJapanese bonus tracks:# "As I Die" – 4:03# "The River Flows Frozen" – 5:47-Band members:* Altti Veteläinen – vocals, bass guitar* Jarmo Puolakanaho – guitar* Antti Kokko – lead guitar...
(2001) - Before the Bleeding SunBefore the Bleeding SunBefore the Bleeding Sun is the fifth studio album released by the Finnish symphonic death metal band Eternal Tears of Sorrow. The album counts guest performances from Marco Hietala , Jarmo Kylmänen , Sfinx and Tony Kakko .According to the band, The album is damn heavy but still more diverse and...
(2006) - Children of the Dark WatersChildren of the Dark Waters-Charts:-Personnel:* Altti Veteläinen – lead vocals, bass guitar* Jarmo Kylmänen – clean vocal/backing vocals* Janne Tolsa – keyboards* Jarmo Puolakanaho – rhythm guitar* Risto Ruuth – lead guitar* Juho Raappana – drums...
(2009)
Singles
- Sacrament of WildernessSacrament of WildernessSacrament of Wilderness is the second single by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released as the first single from their album Oceanborn....
(Split single with NightwishNightwishNightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
and Darkwoods My BetrothedDarkwoods My BetrothedDarkwoods My Betrothed are a black metal band from Kitee, Finland.Formed in 1992 as Virgin Cunt, they set out to be the "most blasphemous black metal band in Europe", in a rather tongue-in-cheek sense. After recording a couple demos under this name, the band started to take themselves a lot more...
) (1998) - The Last One For Life (Finland only) (2001)
- Tears of Autumn Rain (2009)
Pre-EToS demos
- The Fourth Dimension - (as Andromeda, May 1992)
- II (unfinished demo) - (as Andromeda, August 1992)
- DWN (instrumental demo) - (as D.W.N., June 1993)
- Beyond the Fantasy - (as M.D.C., October 1993)
Current members
- Altti Veteläinen – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(Since 1994) - Jarmo Kylmänen – clean vocals (Since 2008)
- Jarmo Puolakanaho – 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...
(Since 1994) - Mika Lammassaari – 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...
(Since 2009) - Janne TolsaJanne TolsaJanne Tolsa is a Finnish heavy metal musician. Known for his keyboard work in Tarot from the late 1980s, Tolsa also takes part in the melodic death metal band Eternal Tears of Sorrow, which he joined in 2005 for their album Before the Bleeding Sun, as well as the industrial metal band Turmion...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(Since 2005) - Juho Raappana – 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 ....
(Since 2008)
Former members
- Olli-Pekka Törrö – guitar, 1994–1999 (For My Pain...For My Pain...For My Pain... is a gothic metal supergroup from Oulu, Finland, featuring members from Embraze, Eternal Tears of Sorrow, Nightwish, Charon and Reflexion...
, also in all the previous pre-EToS projects) - Pasi Hiltula – keyboards, 1999–2003 (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:...
, Scenery Channel, Burning PointBurning PointBurning 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...
), session tour musician 2009-2010 - Antti-Matti Talala – guitar, 1999–2000 (To/Die/ForTo/Die/ForTo/Die/For is a gothic metal band from the town of Kouvola in southeast of Finland, assembled in 1993 as a hard rock band under the name Mary-Ann. In 1999, they decided to change their musical style to gothic metal, changing their band name as well...
, SoulrelicSoulrelicSoulrelic were a Gothic melodic metal band from Finland who formed in 2003. The band decided to separate in 2007. They were signed to Spinefarm Records. They are also known as Kurakello, but the reason for this is unknown outside of the band...
, 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:...
) - Antti Kokko – guitar 2000–2003, bass as a session tour musician 1997-1998 (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:...
) - Petri Sankala – drums 1999–2008, session tour musician 1997-1998 (For My Pain...For My Pain...For My Pain... is a gothic metal supergroup from Oulu, Finland, featuring members from Embraze, Eternal Tears of Sorrow, Nightwish, Charon and Reflexion...
, 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:...
, also in Andromeda 1992-93) - Risto Ruuth – guitar 2005–2009 http://eternaltears.info/album6/?p=116
Guest musicians on albums
- Heli Luokkala – guest vocals on Vilda Mánnu
- Kimberly GossKimberly GossKimberly Goss is the vocalist and founding member of the Finnish band Sinergy.-Early life:She was born in Los Angeles to a Korean father and a German-American mother, who was a jazz singer...
– guest vocals on Chaotic Beauty (SinergySinergySinergy was a Finnish power metal band started in 1998 by American musician, Kimberly Goss. Aside from Sinergy, the most notable bands Goss has been involved with are Dimmu Borgir; as keyboardist, and Children of Bodom; where she filled in live for Janne Wirman and also contributed lyrics...
, TherionTherion (band)Therion is a Swedish symphonic metal band founded by Christofer Johnsson in 1987. The word "therion" comes from the Greek therion , meaning "Beast," i.e., that of the Christian Book of Revelation...
) - Juha KylmänenJuha KylmänenJuha Kylmänen is a Finnish vocalist of gothic metal bands For My Pain... and Reflexion.-Studio albums:* A Virgin and a Whore * Fallen * Out of the Dark...
– guest vocals on A Virgin and a Whore (For My Pain...For My Pain...For My Pain... is a gothic metal supergroup from Oulu, Finland, featuring members from Embraze, Eternal Tears of Sorrow, Nightwish, Charon and Reflexion...
, ReflexionReflexion (band)Reflexion is a mix of Gothic Metal, Alternative Metal and Melodic Hard Rock band from Finland.Formed as Enchanted in 1995, but in 1996 they changed their name to Barbarianz, and then to Reflexion in 2000.-Members:* Juha Kylmänen – Vocals...
) - Miriam Elisabeth Renvåg – guest vocals on Before the Bleeding Sun and Children of the Dark Waters (Ram-ZetRam-ZetRam-Zet is an extreme metal/avant-garde metal band formed in Norway in 1998. It began as a one-man project by singer and guitarist Zet, which later evolved into a full-grown band with the arrival of Küth and Solem , leading to the release of Ram-Zet's debut album Pure Therapy in September...
, For My Pain...For My Pain...For My Pain... is a gothic metal supergroup from Oulu, Finland, featuring members from Embraze, Eternal Tears of Sorrow, Nightwish, Charon and Reflexion...
) - Tony KakkoTony KakkoToni Kristian "Tony" Kakko is a Finnish musician, composer and vocalist. He is mainly known as the vocalist, primary songwriter, and creative force in the band Sonata Arctica since 1996.-Biography:...
– guest vocals on Before the Bleeding Sun (Sonata ArcticaSonata ArcticaSonata Arctica are a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, originally assembled in 1995. Their later works contain several elements typical of progressive metal.....
) - Marco HietalaMarco HietalaMarko Tapani "Marco" Hietala is a heavy metal vocalist and bassist. Internationally, he is most known as the current bassist, male vocalist and composer, of the symphonic metal band Nightwish...
– guest vocals on Before the Bleeding Sun (TarotTarot (band)Tarot is a heavy metal band from Finland. They are most famous for the song “Wings of Darkness” from the 1986 album Spell of Iron. While having enjoyed a broad underground popularity in Finland, the band has never been very famous elsewhere until gaining new success in the recent years when their...
, NightwishNightwishNightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
, SinergySinergySinergy was a Finnish power metal band started in 1998 by American musician, Kimberly Goss. Aside from Sinergy, the most notable bands Goss has been involved with are Dimmu Borgir; as keyboardist, and Children of Bodom; where she filled in live for Janne Wirman and also contributed lyrics...
) - Heidi Parviainen – guest vocals on Children of the Dark Waters (Amberian DawnAmberian DawnAmberian Dawn is a Finnish symphonic power metal band, formed in 2006 by Tuomas Seppälä and Tommi Kuri. Their third album End of Eden was released on Spinefarm Records in October 2010.-Atheme One :...
)
Session tour musicians
- Pekka Kokko – bass guitar, 1999 (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:...
) - Heidi Määttä – keyboards, 2000 (EmbrazeEmbrazeEmbraze 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...
, The Man-Eating Tree), temporarily replacing Pasi Hiltula. - Juha KylmänenJuha KylmänenJuha Kylmänen is a Finnish vocalist of gothic metal bands For My Pain... and Reflexion.-Studio albums:* A Virgin and a Whore * Fallen * Out of the Dark...
– clean vocals, 2001 (For My Pain...For My Pain...For My Pain... is a gothic metal supergroup from Oulu, Finland, featuring members from Embraze, Eternal Tears of Sorrow, Nightwish, Charon and Reflexion...
, ReflexionReflexion (band)Reflexion is a mix of Gothic Metal, Alternative Metal and Melodic Hard Rock band from Finland.Formed as Enchanted in 1995, but in 1996 they changed their name to Barbarianz, and then to Reflexion in 2000.-Members:* Juha Kylmänen – Vocals...
, To/Die/ForTo/Die/ForTo/Die/For is a gothic metal band from the town of Kouvola in southeast of Finland, assembled in 1993 as a hard rock band under the name Mary-Ann. In 1999, they decided to change their musical style to gothic metal, changing their band name as well...
) - Veli-Matti Kananen – keyboards, 2006–2007, 2010 (Tacere), temporarily replacing Janne Tolsa
- Tuomo Laikari – drums, 2006–2007, temporarily replacing Petri Sankala