Ladies and gentlemen,
Finally Finland's true underground kult legend (sic), RAPTURE has a website! 10 years and this is the first proper haven for these melancholic miscreants.
Who are they?
Rapture is a band formed in 1997 by a group of musicians from Helsinki, Finland. The members of Rapture have played and still play in several bands, including Barathrum, Diablerie, Ensiferum, Finntroll, Fragile Hollow, The Mist and the Morning Dew, Rain Paint, Shape of Despair and Thy Serpent.
In 1999, Rapture signed a contract from Spikefarm Records, a subsidiary of Spinefarm Records. The band released their debut album, Futile, in early 2000. The album was also licensed to Relapse Records for distribution in the USA. In early 2002, the band recorded their second effort, titled Songs for the Withering. This album sold better than their debut and gave Rapture recognition in Europe and the USA, eventually leading them to sign a licensing deal with Century Media for Songs For The Withering. Rapture released their third album, Silent Stage, in 2005. This album continued in the vein of the previous two, with a morose, depressive atmosphere and a combination of both clean singing and death grunts.
No future for Finlands dreaming, to slightly misquote Mr Johnny Rotten except there might be after all. The stories told on the new Rapture album may convey a hopeless message, but that is one adjective which just doesnt apply when speaking of the quality of delivery on Silent Stage
Two albums down and it still rains in Helsinki Rapture may be something of an undiscovered gem, but album three proves they are here to stay. Who knows, with a little luck Rapture ought to see their small but loyal fanbase enjoy some serious (and well-deserved) growth.
To call Silent Stage mere melodic death metal is a convenient half-truth made entirely irrelevant by a few spins of the disc. Comparisons to the Brave Murder Day era Katatonia or classic Paradise Lost are not entirely baseless, yet Rapture are by no means painting themselves to a corner: sipping deep from the same cup of melancholy just happens to come with the territory. The emphasis is squarely on music and not flashy individual performances, as the band would probably be quick to point out. Rapture do not muck around with a thousand styles either. Silent Stage is a solid album by a band confident in their craft.
Rapture paint with bleak shades yet with clarity second to none. The main songwriter Tomi Ullgrens soaring guitar leads are tempered with powerful death growls courtesy of Henri Villberg, a nod to their underground roots perhaps, yet they do not shy away from clearer vocals should the occasion so demands. The beguiling mid-tempo employed is a slow acting poison: you will be hooked before you know. In live situation Rapture reproduce their timeless sound with a line-up of up to eight personnel.
Rapture are far from being the hype of the day but for your fix of quality downer rock/metal, they remain the premium choice. Look no further.
Check it out for yourself @: http://www.rapture.eu.tc
Rapture @ MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/rapturefin
Morosely yours,
Rapture
Finally Finland's true underground kult legend (sic), RAPTURE has a website! 10 years and this is the first proper haven for these melancholic miscreants.
Who are they?
Rapture is a band formed in 1997 by a group of musicians from Helsinki, Finland. The members of Rapture have played and still play in several bands, including Barathrum, Diablerie, Ensiferum, Finntroll, Fragile Hollow, The Mist and the Morning Dew, Rain Paint, Shape of Despair and Thy Serpent.
In 1999, Rapture signed a contract from Spikefarm Records, a subsidiary of Spinefarm Records. The band released their debut album, Futile, in early 2000. The album was also licensed to Relapse Records for distribution in the USA. In early 2002, the band recorded their second effort, titled Songs for the Withering. This album sold better than their debut and gave Rapture recognition in Europe and the USA, eventually leading them to sign a licensing deal with Century Media for Songs For The Withering. Rapture released their third album, Silent Stage, in 2005. This album continued in the vein of the previous two, with a morose, depressive atmosphere and a combination of both clean singing and death grunts.
No future for Finlands dreaming, to slightly misquote Mr Johnny Rotten except there might be after all. The stories told on the new Rapture album may convey a hopeless message, but that is one adjective which just doesnt apply when speaking of the quality of delivery on Silent Stage
Two albums down and it still rains in Helsinki Rapture may be something of an undiscovered gem, but album three proves they are here to stay. Who knows, with a little luck Rapture ought to see their small but loyal fanbase enjoy some serious (and well-deserved) growth.
To call Silent Stage mere melodic death metal is a convenient half-truth made entirely irrelevant by a few spins of the disc. Comparisons to the Brave Murder Day era Katatonia or classic Paradise Lost are not entirely baseless, yet Rapture are by no means painting themselves to a corner: sipping deep from the same cup of melancholy just happens to come with the territory. The emphasis is squarely on music and not flashy individual performances, as the band would probably be quick to point out. Rapture do not muck around with a thousand styles either. Silent Stage is a solid album by a band confident in their craft.
Rapture paint with bleak shades yet with clarity second to none. The main songwriter Tomi Ullgrens soaring guitar leads are tempered with powerful death growls courtesy of Henri Villberg, a nod to their underground roots perhaps, yet they do not shy away from clearer vocals should the occasion so demands. The beguiling mid-tempo employed is a slow acting poison: you will be hooked before you know. In live situation Rapture reproduce their timeless sound with a line-up of up to eight personnel.
Rapture are far from being the hype of the day but for your fix of quality downer rock/metal, they remain the premium choice. Look no further.
Check it out for yourself @: http://www.rapture.eu.tc
Rapture @ MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/rapturefin
Morosely yours,
Rapture