Year : 2018 (Japan Edition)
Style : Melodic Hard Rock
Country : Finland
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans + Video
Size : 130 mb
Bio:
King company was formed in the early spring of 2014. Drummer Mirka ”Leka” Rantanen (Raskasta joulua, Warmen, ex-Thunderstone, ex-Kotipelto, etc) had already been thinking about forming a new hard rock / melodic metal band for a long time. In this band he wanted to play with people with whom he had worked before and who he knew as both good musicians and friends. First, he contacted guitarist Antti Wirman (Warmen) who immediately wanted to join the band. The singer Pasi Rantanen was in Mirka’s mind from the beginning, as they had played together in a couple of bands before (Thunderstone, Warmen). After keyboardist Jari Pailamo (Kiuas, Ponies To Kill), and bassist Time Schleifer (Enfarce) joined the band, this super-group was ready to start working. The band’s original name was “No Man’s Land”. Bursting with enthusiasm the band started to work on their first songs and in the autumn of 2014 they entered the famous Astia Studio to record their first 3 song demo. Shortly after Antti Wirman got a temporary gig as the touring guitarist of Children Of Bodom, which limited their rehearsal time, but still the band managed to write more and more songs. They started co-operation with Heta Hyttinen & Ginger Wine Management which eventually got them a recording contract with Frontiers Records. This was the band’s dream come true, and the debut album recordings could begin. In the autumn of 2015 the band played two very succesful gigs in Helsinki and Jyväskylä. The nearly sold out venue “On The Rocks” witnessed the band’s first live performance as they played a set full of songs from the upcoming album. Immediately after these gigs began the debut album recordings and the album was mastered in January 2016. The album recording and mixing was done by Janne Wirman and Kal Kaercher and mastered by Mika Jussila. At this point Frontiers Records suggested that the name of the band should be changed because there already were two other bands with the same name and there was a risk of confusion. The band changed its name to “King Company”. The album release date is in early autumn 2016, and after that the band performs at least in Finland and later in the rest of the world. The debut album is called ”One for the Road”.
Album:
Finnish hard rockers KING COMPANY are back with album number two on Frontiers Music next month. The record, titled "Queen Of Hearts" got its Japanese edition released tomorrow, with a bonus track. Formed in 2014, King Company comprises experienced musicians from the Scandinavian scene, most of them coming from metal-based bands.However, their musical style here is elaborated classic hard rock with melody.The band already impressed with their debut, and this second effort not only showcases a step forward but also some interesting changes.After the release of King Company debut in August 2016, the band toured their home territory in 2017, but vocalist Pasi Rantanen wound up having severe vocal cord problems and eventually could not sing at all. With a tour of Spain already booked, a high pressure search for a replacement singer resulted in the band finding the perfect candidate on... YouTube.Italian-Argentinian Leonard F. Guillan accepted the job and, proving to be a great live performer, ended up joining the band as their permanent lead vocalist.Alongside the refreshing vocals of Guillan, King Company shows a relevant musical progression on this album in the songwriting and arrangements. Also, they have grown up a lot as a band, which means a more tight assemble and strong musicianship."Queen Of Hearts" is a classic hard rocker to open the album, driven by a pumping bass line, swirling guitar licks and a catchy chorus. Guillan's voice in the classy mold, and we can hear a guitar / keyboard duel in the middle."One Day Of Your Life" is more modern, but production and sonic approach - as on the entire album - is classic '80/90s inspired. On this track the chorus is epic, very Scandinavian.It's time for a melodic rocker, and 'Stars' has all the ingredients of the genre, even some AORish verses and keys into the mix. A winner and a personal favorite.The stratospheric hard rock riffs are back with the killer 'Living In A Hurricane' (love the way the keyboards support the chorus), then 'Never Say Goodbye' is a midtempo ballad ready for lighters in the air.More effective stuff comes with the punchy 'Learn To Fly', the groovy 'Berlin', and another dash of melodic rock / AOR with the very '80s 'King For Tonight'.The Japanese bonus track is an acoustic version of 'Never Say Goodbye', an example that the band is not afraid of the use of prominent keyboards / pianos, as heard here and on the entire CD.Catchy and solid Melodic Hard Rock are the best words to describe King Company's second effort "Queen Of Hearts", but more elaborated than your regular album of the genre.While these 'elaborated arrangements', at places, conspire against the 'instant catchiness', I really like the way the songs develop into something different from what we usually hear.A very good new disc from these guys from Finland, rock-solid and melodious with a 'plus'.
Line Up:
Leonard F. Guillan - vocals
Antti "Eversti" Wirman - guitars (Warmen)
Jari Pailamo - keyboards (Kiuas, Ponies To Kill)
Time Schleifer - bass (Enfarce)
Mirka "Leka" Rantanen - drums (Raskasta joulua, Warmen, ex-Thunderstone, ex-Kotipelto, etc)
Tracklist:
01. Queen Of Hearts
02. One Day Of Your Life
03. Stars
04. Living In A Hurricane
05. Under The Spell
06. Never Say Goodbye
07. Learn To Fly
08. Berlin
09. King For Tonight
10. Living The Dream
11. Arrival
12. Never Say Goodbye (Acoustic Version) (Japan Bonus Track)
+ Video "Living In A Hurricane" (Official Video)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
