Year : 2025 (Reaper Entertainment Records Edition)
Style : Melodic Death Metal
Country : Finland
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 92 mb
Bio:
The band was founded in 1999 by Tuomas Saukkonen as his solo project: "I played and recorded all instruments in the first demo To Desire Part 1 by on my own then for the second demo I had a friend of mine on the drums. The first line-up was gathered so that BTD could perform live. With many changes in the line up BTD entered the studio to record the MCD called Gehenna. I received couple of deal offers but nothing serious enough. BTD continued playing gigs and I kept on writing lots of new material, and the next MCD called My Darkness got very good feedback and a serious enough record deal was offered by Locomotive Music." Joined by Panu Willman, Mike Ojala, and Kimmo Nurmi, the newly formed lineup released their first full-length album, My Darkness, in 2003. It was followed up by a second album in 2004, 4:17 am. The band supported Katatonia on a Scandinavian and European tour in 2003.The Ghost followed, released in 2006.Because of the huge amount of song material written for that album, Saukkonen created another album, The Darkness, for a side-project, Dawn of Solace.With Lars and Juho as new permanent band members, the band released the next full-length album Deadlight in 2007.The single "Deadsong", released in February 2007, immediately reached #2 on Finnish Top 20 charts; for four months it remained among the Top 20 of Finnish Radio Rock. The single "Faithless" featuring Jone Nikula on the Pantera cover "Mouth for War", reached #2 on the Finland Top 20 charts for the week of 15 July 2007.During the recording sessions for the fifth studio album Soundscape of Silence, drummer Dani Miettinen dropped out; the band decided to leave the position vacant and work with session drummers for live shows (e.g. Matti Auerkallio). Right after its release at the end of October 2008, Soundscape of Silence went to the top 20 of Finnish album charts (#14).The core band members were later joined by drummer Atte Palokangas (from the band Agonizer). Atte became an official new band member in mid-2009, and Before the Dawn supported Amorphis on their Forging Europe Tour in late 2009 with a completed line-up.The anniversary EP Decade of Darkness went straight to #1 on Finnish single charts after its release in spring 2010.The music video for "End of Days" from this EP was released throughout Europe and in Japan; it shows footage from the band's 2010 shows in Asia. The European edition of this EP, released in February 2011, contains a bonus DVD with footage of the band's concert at German Summerbreeze Festival 2009.Before the Dawn in 2009: In February 2011, Tuomas Saukkonen won the Finnish Metal Award in the category "Best Instrumentalist"; Before the Dawn reached #3 in the category "Best Band".Tuomas defended this title successfully in the year 2012 as well.The new album Deathstar Rising cracked the Finnish Album Top 10 and reached #8 in first week of March 2011.In June 2011 bassist and vocalist Lars and drummer Atte left the band; Lars for personal reasons and Atte for musical reasons.On 25 January 2012 the band announced on their Facebook page that Rise of the Phoenix would be the title of their new album. It was released through Nuclear Blast Records on 27 April 2012.On 10 January 2013 through a press statement, Tuomas Saukkonen announced that he was putting Before the Dawn to rest along with his other active bands (Black Sun Aeon and RoutaSielu), ending them in order to create new project called "Wolfheart", which he will entirely focus from now on.In 2021, Before the Dawn was reformed. On 30 April, the band released the single "The Final Storm". The single was made for the Deadlight reissue which was released in 9 July 2021.On 7 September 2022 BTD announced that a new member Paavo Laapotti joins the band as a vocalist, while Tuomas takes up live drumming. Laapotti brought attention of the band during The Voice of Finland where he sang a Before the Dawn song called Deadsong. An album titled Stormbringers was released on 30 June 2023.On 7 February 2024, they announced a new EP Archaic Flame, its title song is available online. The premiere of the new EP is scheduled to be released on 8 March.It is followed by their ninth studio album, Cold Flare Eternal, released on 5 September 2025.
Album:
9th studio album by finnish melodic death metal veterans BEFORE THE DAWN return with Cold Flare Eternal, a record that not only reaffirms their status in the Nordic metal scene but also pushes their sound into heavier, more aggressive territory. Following 2023’s critically acclaimed Stormbringers, this album demonstrates a band at the peak of their creative power, blending melodic sophistication with raw, crushing intensity. From the first note of Initium to the final moments of Ad Infinitum, Cold Flare Eternal is an emotionally and sonically immersive journey through the depths of melodic death metal.The album opens with Initium, a brief but atmospheric introduction that sets the stage for what’s to come. At just 1 minute and 25 seconds, it serves as a cold, cinematic prelude, hinting at the dark landscapes and intense emotions that will define the album. This sense of anticipation quickly gives way to Fatal Design, a track that immediately establishes the band’s signature balance of melody and aggression. Soaring guitars and pounding drums create a sense of grandeur, while TUOMAS SAUKKONEN'svocal delivery injects both menace and melancholy, embodying the tension between beauty and brutality that runs throughout the album.s Above, So Below continues this trajectory, layering dramatic instrumentation and ghostly atmosphere over tight rhythmic structures. The song’s expansive arrangement demonstrates the band’s ability to maintain listener engagement through dynamic shifts, moving effortlessly from melodic passages to crushing, riff-driven intensity. In contrast, Mercury Blood delivers a concise, high-energy burst of metallic aggression. Clocking in at just over three minutes, it is packed with groove-laden riffs and relentless percussion, showcasing the heavier facet of the band’s sound while still retaining their melodic sensibility.Stellar Effect represents one of the album’s more atmospheric moments, emphasizing haunting melodies and expansive soundscapes. Here, BEFORE THE DAWN reveal their emotional depth, crafting an immersive listening experience that balances melancholy and majesty. Following this, Flame Eternal and Stronghold highlight the band’s versatility. Both tracks combine melodic hooks with crushing heaviness, while the intricate layering of guitars and drums, honed at JUHO RÄIHÄ’s studio, adds depth and sophistication to the arrangements. These mid-album tracks illustrate the band’s mastery of pacing, alternating moments of tension and release with precision.Destination stands out as a cinematic and emotionally charged composition. With its rising intensity and epic scope, it creates a sense of forward momentum that carries listeners into the album’s most explosive moment: Shockwave. The ninth track is the heaviest single BEFORE THE DAWN have ever released, combining thundering riffs, relentless drums, and fiery vocals. As the band themselves describe, it “contains the fire of a thousand suns and the weight of a dying star”. It is both a live show highlight and a statement of intent, capturing the raw energy and power of the band while staying true to their melodic roots.The album closes with Ad Infinitum, a track that leaves a lasting impression of grandeur and emotional resonance. It reinforces the band’s ability to balance crushing heaviness with atmospheric beauty, culminating in a final statement that lingers long after the music fades. Throughout Cold Flare Eternal, the emotional contrasts are striking: moments of melancholic reflection alternate with bursts of fury and intensity, creating a dynamic listening experience that keeps the album compelling from start to finish.TUOMAS SAUKKONEN’s vision and experience are central to the album’s impact. Over the past two decades, his work with projects like WOLFHEART and DAWN OF SOLACE has shaped Finnish metal, and his leadership in BEFORE THE DAWN ensures a perfect balance of aggression, melody, and atmosphere. The album’s artwork, crafted by Gogo Melone, visually captures this duality of darkness and beauty, providing a fitting complement to the music.In conclusion, Cold Flare Eternal is a masterclass in modern melodic death metal. It merges crushing heaviness, soaring melodies, and the cold, atmospheric beauty of Finland’s landscapes into an emotionally resonant and powerful listening experience. For fans of melodic death metal seeking both intensity and depth, this album demonstrates that BEFORE THE DAWN remain at the top of their game - an unmissable release that solidifies their legacy in the Nordic metal scene.
Line Up:
Paavo Laapotti - Vocals (lead) (2022-present) - See also: Defiled Serenity, Kuusuo, Poponjet
Juho Räihä - Guitars (lead) (2007-2013, 2021-present) - See also: Gloria Morti, I Am the Night, Riverside Syndicate, Swallow the Sun, ex-Hedonihil, ex-Hallatar (live), ex-Red Moon Architect (live), ex-Wolfheart (live)
Pyry Hanski - Bass (2011-2013, 2022-present) - See also: ...and Oceans, Gloria Morti, Mörbid Vomit, Red Moon Architect, Trollheims Grott, True Black Dawn, Tuoni, Amorphis (live), Dawn of Solace (live), Oceanwake (live), Swallow the Sun (live), ex-RoutaSielu, ex-Black Sun Aeon (live), Bügenhagen, Duo HANN, ex-Aeonian Sorrow, ex-Casket, ex-Endzeit, ex-Omnium Gatherum (live), ex-Stam1na (live), ex-Less than Three
Tuomas Saukkonen - Guitars (rhythm, acoustic) (1999-2013, 2021-present), Vocals (harsh) (1999-2013, 2021-2022), Keyboards (2004-2013), Bass (2005), Drums (2021-present) - See also: Crowen, Dawn of Solace, Wolfheart, ex-Black Sun Aeon, ex-Bonegrinder, ex-RoutaSielu, ex-The Final Harvest, ex-Jumalhämärä, ex-Rajavyöhyke
Saku Moilanen - Keyboards (2024-present) - See also: Beyond Seventh Dimension, Godflesh Deformed, Red Moon Architect, Slaughterror, ex-RoutaSielu, ex-Aeonian Sorrow, ex-Crimson Sun, ex-The Hypothesis
Production:
Recorded At – SoundSpiral Studio
Recorded At – Inka Studio (2)
Mixed At – SoundSpiral Studio
Mastered At – SoundSpiral Studio
Artwork, Layout – Gogo Melone
Tracklist:
01. Initium 01:24 instrumental
02. Fatal Design 03:57
03. As Above, So Below 04:29
04. Mercury Blood 03:16
05. Stellar Effect 04:49
06. Flame Eternal 04:20
07. Stronghold 04:09
08. Destination 04:32
09. Shock Wave 04:54
10. Ad Infinitum 03:34
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