Twilight Ophera Biography
For the most part, the death metal/black metal field is not known for its intricacy. Death metal and black metal bands usually pride themselves on how harsh and mercilessly bombastic they can be, and pure, raw exhilaration is their only real concern. But there are exceptions to that rule; one of them is Twilight Ophera. The Finnish band specializes in a style known as symphonic black metal, which has sought to broaden black metal's horizons by paying more attention to melody. Twilight Ophera is forceful and aggressive; sledgehammer brutality is an important part of what they do, but so are nuance and intricacy.
And instead of only having death metal and black metal bands as influences, Ophera also gets some inspiration from power metal, progressive rock, and goth rock. While Slayer and British black metal torturers Cradle of Filth are influences, the ambitious Finns also show a strong awareness of Canadian prog rockers Rush and '80s power metal favorites such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Queensrÿche, and King Diamond. Some of Ophera's riffs and melodies, in fact, would not have been out of place on Queensrÿche's 1987 epic, Operation: Mindcrime. In Ophera's world, craftsmanship and bombast go together.
Ophera's original lineup was formed in 1996, and the following year, they signed a contract with Cacophonous Records (an independent British label). Cacophonous released Shadows Embrace the Dark, the Finns' debut album, in 1998, and put out their sophomore album, Midnight Horror, in 1999. Things seemed to be going well for the Nordic black metallers, but in 1999 and 2000, they encountered some major bumps in the road. First, Cacophonous suffered financial problems and decided to drop all of its artists, leaving Ophera without a record deal -- and to make matters worse, the band experienced their share of lineup changes around that time. Timo Kollin, Ophera's drummer since 1997, mysteriously and suddenly disappeared in 1999, and none of his bandmates had any idea what became of him -- then, in 2000, lead vocalist Sauli "Karkkunen" Lehtisaari and bassist Jani Viljakainen both left the band. After looking around for a new lead singer, Ophera hired Mikko Häkkinen (who had played with Draugen [a drummer] and the band Thyestean Feast) in 2001.
But despite all the turmoil and challenges they experienced, Ophera persevered -- and in 2003, they landed a deal with the Phoenix, AZ-based Crash Music, which released their third album, End of the Halcyon Age, in the United States in 2004. That year, the band's six-man lineup consisted of Häkkinen on lead vocals, Mikko Kaipainen and Toni Näykki on guitar, Kasperi Heikkinen (aka Lord Heikkinen) on bass, Janne Ojala on drums, and Timo Puranen on keyboards. Näykki has also been a member of the bands Gandalf, Korpiklaani, and Soulgrind, while the other groups on Ojala's resumé have included Gloomy Grim, Silentium, Dehydrated, and Funeral (not to be confused with Dark Funeral). Kaipainen, meanwhile, has been a part of Ensiferum and Soulstream, and Heikkinen has been with at least six other bands: Gloomy Grim, Walhalla, Fire Trance 666, Saha, Soulgrind, and Tenebre. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Popular Biographies:
Mortiis Biography: Usually dressed in an elf, troll, or goblin costume (sometimes complete with bat wings and skull codpiece), the mysterious Mortiis was an indispensable force in the genesis of Norway's epic Viking...
Brand new Biography: Formed on Long Island, NY, Brand New appeared on the punk-pop scene in 2000. Consisting of drummer Brian Lane, vocalist/guitarist Jesse Lacey, bassist Garrett Tierney, and guitarist Vin Accardi, the...
Space odyssey Biography: One of many projects helmed by Swedish keyboard ace Richard Andersson, Space Odyssey also consists of vocalist Patrik Johansson (Astral Doors), guitarist Magnus Nilsson (Talisman), bassist Marcel...
Dexateens Biography: Playing a gale-force fusion of punk and hard rock fueled by massive doses of guitar firepower, the Dexateens came together in Tuscaloosa, AL, in 1998. After the breakup of his band the Phoebes,...
Meshuggah Biography: Offering a complex form of metal that combined the sweeping adverturism of math rock, the oddball tempos of experimental jazz, and the stunning brutality of thrash metal, Meshuggah raised the bar for...
Shonen knife Biography: The Japanese trio Shonen Knife has made major fans out of alt-rock's elite (Sonic Youth, Nirvana, and Redd Kross, among others) and built a solid, worldwide cult following with their Ramones meets...
Until the end Biography: Until the End formed in January 2000 with a goal of putting a message back into a hardcore scene they felt had lost its base in the '90s and early 2000. The band's music is dark and aggressive and...
Suicide commandos Biography: Before Prince, Hüsker Dü, Soul Asylum, and the Replacements dominated and defined the Minneapolis rock scene of the '80s, three guys, Chris Osgood, Steve Almaas, and Dave Ahl, had a...