From the Midst of the Battle
Encyclopedia
From the Midst of the Battle is the third full-length album by the Finnish death metal
band Deuteronomium
, released on August 13, 2008 by Bullroser Records. During its release on the 34th week, From the Midst of the Battle peaked at number 11 on the Official Finnish Album Chart. The album was produced by Mikko Härkin
(ex-Sonata Arctica
, Mehida
) and Deuteronomium.
, Finland, a studio diary, and a concert travel documentary of their performance at Elements of Rock, Switzerland. The album features such special guests as Christian Palin (Random Eyes), Oula Siipola (Lumina Polaris), Kristiina Holländer, Mikko Härkin
(ex-Sonata Arctica
, Mehida
) and Claudio Enzler (Sacrificium
). The last song of the album is a 17 minute epic featuring such special instruments as kantele
. Warfare and battle are prominent themes on the album.
From the Midst of the Battle peaked at number 11 on the Official Finnish Album Chart in 34th week. The next week it was at number 16. Also in 34th week the album was on number 6 on Finnish rock music magazine Rumbas Album Chart that lists the sales numbers of over 30 stores that specialize in selling records. Following the release, the band was featured in the Finnish heavy metal music magazine Inferno's issue #59, and the album scored 4.5 points out of 5 in the review, achieving commendations for the "killer riffs" and J.J. Kontoniemi's drum playing. Out of all the reviews in the magazine, only one other album achieved as high points.
On September 4, the biggest Finnish heavy metal music site Imperiumi.net chose From the Midst of the Battle for "Record of the Week" status. The reviewer gave the album 8.5 points out of 10 and wrote:
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band Deuteronomium
Deuteronomium (band)
Deuteronomium is a Christian death metal band formed in 1993, Jyväskylä, Finland. Deuteronomium had a notable role in creating the Finnish Christian metal scene as they were one of the earliest and most influential groups pioneering in that genre....
, released on August 13, 2008 by Bullroser Records. During its release on the 34th week, From the Midst of the Battle peaked at number 11 on the Official Finnish Album Chart. The album was produced by Mikko Härkin
Mikko Härkin
Mikko Härkin is a Finnish power metal keyboardist, who has performed with Sonata Arctica and Kenziner.-History:...
(ex-Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica
Sonata 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.....
, Mehida
Mehida
Mehida is a Finnish Christian progressive melodic metal band formed by ex-Sonata Arctica keyboardist Mikko Härkin. The band also consists of three members of Wingdom as well as Jani Stefanovic and Thomas Vikström . Mehida's first album, Blood & Water, was released in Finland on Aug...
) and Deuteronomium.
Recording
On March 2008, Deuteronomium announced that they are recording a new album for the first time since 1999's Here to Stay -album. The album was recorded during Spring 2008 in Drum Forest Studio, and the album title was announced to be From the Midst of the Battle. It was released by Bulroser Records on March 2008, and The album was pre-released in a special book cover digibook edition that will include the CD as well as a full live concert from their performance at the True Attitude event, HeinolaHeinola
Heinola is a town and a municipality of inhabitants located in the Province of Southern Finland. Heinola is perhaps best known for its summer activities such as the Sauna-sitting World Championships.-History:...
, Finland, a studio diary, and a concert travel documentary of their performance at Elements of Rock, Switzerland. The album features such special guests as Christian Palin (Random Eyes), Oula Siipola (Lumina Polaris), Kristiina Holländer, Mikko Härkin
Mikko Härkin
Mikko Härkin is a Finnish power metal keyboardist, who has performed with Sonata Arctica and Kenziner.-History:...
(ex-Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica
Sonata 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.....
, Mehida
Mehida
Mehida is a Finnish Christian progressive melodic metal band formed by ex-Sonata Arctica keyboardist Mikko Härkin. The band also consists of three members of Wingdom as well as Jani Stefanovic and Thomas Vikström . Mehida's first album, Blood & Water, was released in Finland on Aug...
) and Claudio Enzler (Sacrificium
Sacrificium
Sacrificium is a death metal band from Stuttgart, Germany, formed in 1993. The band made its breakthrough in the metal scene with its 2002 album Cold Black Piece of Flesh. The second album Escaping the Stupor was released on Black Lotus Records...
). The last song of the album is a 17 minute epic featuring such special instruments as kantele
Kantele
A kantele or kannel is a traditional plucked string instrument of the zither family native to Finland, Estonia, and Karelia. It is related to the Russian gusli, the Latvian kokle and the Lithuanian kanklės. Together these instruments make up the family known as Baltic psalteries...
. Warfare and battle are prominent themes on the album.
Reception
On July 24, 2008, several songs from the album were played at the established Finnish heavy metal music radioshow Metalliliitto, and the radio host Matti Riekki commented: "I could announce this as one of the best albums of the year." Several songs were also played on the Finnish Radio Rock station.From the Midst of the Battle peaked at number 11 on the Official Finnish Album Chart in 34th week. The next week it was at number 16. Also in 34th week the album was on number 6 on Finnish rock music magazine Rumbas Album Chart that lists the sales numbers of over 30 stores that specialize in selling records. Following the release, the band was featured in the Finnish heavy metal music magazine Inferno's issue #59, and the album scored 4.5 points out of 5 in the review, achieving commendations for the "killer riffs" and J.J. Kontoniemi's drum playing. Out of all the reviews in the magazine, only one other album achieved as high points.
On September 4, the biggest Finnish heavy metal music site Imperiumi.net chose From the Midst of the Battle for "Record of the Week" status. The reviewer gave the album 8.5 points out of 10 and wrote:
Track listing
- Fields of War (5:20)
- 3:16 (4:00)
- Defending the Faith (4:13)
- Song of the Saved (2:07)
- Lost Indeed (3:44)
- Hail to the King (2:58)
- A Thorn Through Your Flesh (2:41)
- Holy War, Holy Violence (4:58)
- Tales from the Midst of the Battle (17:19)
Personnel
- Miika Partala – vocals, guitar
- Manu Lehtinen – bass
- Kalle Paju – guitar
- Janne-Jussi Kontoniemi – drums