Manitou - Biography
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1997-2008
Biography
Manitou, a heavy metal band hailing from Karhula-area (the sub-urban of Kotka), Finland, was formed sometime around 1997 with a little bit different line-up. The main point of the band was then and still is to make traditional heavy metal mixing a little proggy elements here and there. The archetypes for Manitou are for example Queensryche, Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Ozzy, Tarot, Dio, Judas Priest and Annihilator...
The first demo recording Mad Moon Rising was made by the band itself in a rehearsal place at the beginning of the year 1999 and because of that, it suffered from poor sound quality. The next demos were recorded at a local studio and were called Mercenary (1999), Machine Mind (2000) and Face The Snake (2000). After this last one-song demo the band fired their second guitarist Turo Komulainen and replaced him by Markus Vanhala, a guitarist from another local metal band Omnium Gatherum. He debuted on the music video for the song "Face The Snake" which was broadcast abundantly on the Finnish music television channel Moon TV. The following demos were Brothers Promise (2001) and The Valley Of Evergreen (2002). Manitou also made another music video from the song "Valley of Evergreen" in February 2002.
As a result of laziness the Valley Of Evergreen demo was practically the first one that the band ever sent to any record companies or anywhere else. Rage Of Achilles Records from England signed Manitou right after receiving the demo. The debut full-length album The Mad Moon Rising was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland and released through Rage Of Achilles in early summer 2004. The album got awesome feedback from the media, for example UK´s legendary Kerrang! Magazine praised that "Young Finns deliver an instant classic at the first attempt", and gave 5/5 K´s to the album.
Soon after the album release Rage Of Achilles label quitted their business in late 2004 because of label´s financial problems. So, Manitou had to find soon a new label to work with as the debut release wasn´t promoted much because of this. It was a good chance to re-release the album with a couple of bonus tracks through Firebox Records. Some line-up changes took place as well. After the tour with ex-Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di´Anno in late 2004 Manitou keyboardist Jukka Perälä was fired because of attitude problems. Manitou didn´t take anyone to replace him, as the band had made the decision to develop their style more into traditional heavy metal style, away from the progressive style. Manitou also played one show as Di´Annos background band, playing early Maiden classics, as Di´Anno himself liked so much Manitou´s stuff and their attitude.
Soon after re-releasing The Mad Moon Rising the band signed a deal with Firebox Records for two further albums. The second, yet-unreleased album "DEADLOCK" was recorded at the end of the year 2005 at Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland. Material could be described as ballsier, more straight-forward heavy metal with little bit lunatic wanna-be-proggy spices here and there? Wait to be unleashed until spring 2006!
Source: www.manitouband.com
The first demo recording Mad Moon Rising was made by the band itself in a rehearsal place at the beginning of the year 1999 and because of that, it suffered from poor sound quality. The next demos were recorded at a local studio and were called Mercenary (1999), Machine Mind (2000) and Face The Snake (2000). After this last one-song demo the band fired their second guitarist Turo Komulainen and replaced him by Markus Vanhala, a guitarist from another local metal band Omnium Gatherum. He debuted on the music video for the song "Face The Snake" which was broadcast abundantly on the Finnish music television channel Moon TV. The following demos were Brothers Promise (2001) and The Valley Of Evergreen (2002). Manitou also made another music video from the song "Valley of Evergreen" in February 2002.
As a result of laziness the Valley Of Evergreen demo was practically the first one that the band ever sent to any record companies or anywhere else. Rage Of Achilles Records from England signed Manitou right after receiving the demo. The debut full-length album The Mad Moon Rising was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland and released through Rage Of Achilles in early summer 2004. The album got awesome feedback from the media, for example UK´s legendary Kerrang! Magazine praised that "Young Finns deliver an instant classic at the first attempt", and gave 5/5 K´s to the album.
Soon after the album release Rage Of Achilles label quitted their business in late 2004 because of label´s financial problems. So, Manitou had to find soon a new label to work with as the debut release wasn´t promoted much because of this. It was a good chance to re-release the album with a couple of bonus tracks through Firebox Records. Some line-up changes took place as well. After the tour with ex-Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di´Anno in late 2004 Manitou keyboardist Jukka Perälä was fired because of attitude problems. Manitou didn´t take anyone to replace him, as the band had made the decision to develop their style more into traditional heavy metal style, away from the progressive style. Manitou also played one show as Di´Annos background band, playing early Maiden classics, as Di´Anno himself liked so much Manitou´s stuff and their attitude.
Soon after re-releasing The Mad Moon Rising the band signed a deal with Firebox Records for two further albums. The second, yet-unreleased album "DEADLOCK" was recorded at the end of the year 2005 at Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland. Material could be described as ballsier, more straight-forward heavy metal with little bit lunatic wanna-be-proggy spices here and there? Wait to be unleashed until spring 2006!
Source: www.manitouband.com