HB News

[Verbum Lux]

I know there are some other HB fans here, so I thought I'd post it in case someone didn't know.

First off, singer Johanna Aaltonen has left the band. Thankfully, it's not a Nightwish-style debacle - she's leaving Finland and won't be able to sing in the band anymore, and the split seems to have been on friendly terms. This was pretty sad news for me, because I thought she brought something special to the band, and her vocals were a big a part of what made me love them. Wishing her the best in whatever it is she's doing now.

The new singer is Miia Rautkoski of G-Powered and Rammas Atas. I haven't heard Rammas Atas, but I do enjoy G-Powered (it's dance music, not metal, in case anyone wonders). I'll miss Johanna, but I think Miia was a good choice. She seems like a cool person too.

There's also a new album in the works and compilation of their Finnish material. But there was something else that made me very, very happy - the news that an English version of Pääkallonpaikka is to come. I consider that to be their best work by large margin, and it's one of my all-time favorite albums. I had pretty much given up hope on an English release, so was a most pleasant surprise. Now here's hoping they don't mess with it too much like they did with The Battle of God (the English remake of their first album). Pääkallonpaikka is wonderful just the way it is musically, so little or no change to that part would be best.

The band has been through some tough times in the last year or so and the singer change is certainly big for them, but I'm glad they're not hanging it up and hopeful for the future.

Here's a video announcement - it's in Finnish, but most of it has English subtitles. It's fairly long, so I also put a link to an article below that gives a condensed version.



Article

 

[SeaStorm]

Doh Thanks for the update; I hadn't heard. Drat...

 

[Verbum Lux]

I could be wrong, but I think Antti is the only original member left. Fortunately, he's the main (possibly the sole) songwriter. All my albums or digital though, so I haven no booklets to confirm this. Anyone know?

On another note, I'm listening to Rammas Atas on Spotify now, and it's really cool. Techno + metal = awesome. Good mix of clean female singing and growls too. Reminds me vaguely of Blood Stained Child's last album, which I'm a big fan of.

 

[Parched Earth]

I was just about to post a link to this same video. Sad news, but I'm still looking forward to future releases!

Antti is definitely the main songwriter. Though some of the Finnish albums are hard for me to tell (the booklets being in Finnish and me not speaking Finnish), from what I can tell, he wrote everything on the 1st 3 albums (English & Finnish versions) except "Joy Upon The Lord" which he cowrote with Janne Karhunen. Then on Pääkallonpaikka, Bob cowrote the music of 5 of the songs with Antti.

 

[Verbum Lux]

Johanna's letter which was posted on their web site:

Hi, my dear neighbours!

The time has come to end an era, to move on to new waters and face new challenges. It is time to say farewell and pass the baton to the next runner. It means that my time in HB has come to an end and the band will continue their work with a new and skilled singer.

This decision wasn't made in the spur of a moment but instead was a result of a process that has been going on for several years. There also isn't any particular drama involved in this situation. I have been a part of HB since the beginning of the band and experienced both times of joy and sorrow and everything in between and I'm very grateful for all that I have seen and gone through. Of course I want to give thanks to all the current and former members of the band and to everyone who has in one way or another supported us: to everyone who has come to hear us play, listened to our songs and remembered us in their prayers.

My journey will continue in the Central Europe. I still believe in Jesus and pray that in these new circumstances I would be given new ways to spread the Gospel.

May the Lord bless you all!

-Johanna

Then on Pääkallonpaikka, Bob cowrote the music of 5 of the songs with Antti.

I didn't realize that. It's a shame Bob isn't in the band anymore.

 

[Rawshik]

Never was a huge fan of HB. Maybe this will change my mind.

 

[Aletheus]

Bob?

 

[labarum]

I cannot seem to find Rammas Atas on Spotify....

 

[Matt-S]

I'm sad that Johanna left the band. But I#m also looking forward to the new album.

 

[Parched Earth]

Bob?

Not Finnish enough of a name for you.

The liner notes simply refer to him as Bob....no last name.

 

[Verbum Lux]

Not Finnish enough of a name for you.

The liner notes simply refer to him as Bob....no last name.

I always thought it odd that Bob and Sofia (another former HB guitarist) were only listed by their first names. Although I see Sofia's last name is now on the band's wiki page.

I cannot seem to find Rammas Atas on Spotify....

For some reason, it won't autocomplete on the search function. However, if you type in the full name and hit enter, their album, 'Til Life Do Us Part, will come up.

They don't appear to be active, which is kind of a shame. I thought they had a lot of potential.