www.northernkings.com | www.myspace/northernkings
Finnish rock supergroup takes on El Divo with symphonic rock versions of Radiohead's "Creep," David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes," and Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer"
Northern Kings to conquer UK after their
"Reborn" album sells gold in their native Finland
UK album release: Monday August 18th
UK digital download & Ltd edition CD single release: Available now
Four of Finland's most successful heavy rock vocalists have recently created a stir by forming an operatic rock super group, who originally went under the working name of Hell Divo. Named as the Northern Kings, this dynamic symphonic rock quartet is welcome alternative to classically trained vocal groups Il Divo and the 3 Tenors.
In October 2007 they released the album Reborn which featured symphonic orchestral rock interpretations of eighties classics ranging from Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms, David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes, Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer, Lionel Ritchie's Hello, Cutting Crew's I Just Died In Your Arms, Tina Turner's We Don't Need Another Hero, and Radiohead's 1993 song Creep.
"Initially, their was a lot of uncertainty about the idea of creating a vocal super group with four of Finland's biggest names in heavy metal on the same level as the classically trained vocal groups like Il Divo," says Erkka Korhonen, the producer of Northern King's ‘Reborn' debut album. "Since the release of the album in Finland, the album has sold gold and the band has proved so popular; that a new album is in the pipeline for release in November this year."
Northern Kings. Photo Credit ©Jere Hietala
Previously only available in Finland, Warner Music Entertainment in the UK will be the first country outside of Finland to release the Northern Kings' debut album. UK Release date is Monday June 16th 2008. The single, We Don't Need Another Hero will be released in the UK on 16th June as a digital download and limited edition CD single.
Although many will see this album as a symphonic rock version of Guilty Pleasures, Northern Kings' orchestral arrangements make the original songs sound like cover versions. Vocally, the four Northern Kings singers are just as diverse in vocal range any of the vocalists in Il Divo. However, it's their symphonic rock interpretation that puts a new perspective on the cultural significance of the original songs.
If you've never been a fan of Dire Straits' music, when you hear how Northern Kings have transformed Brothers in Arms into the symphonic rock equivalent of War and Peace, you'll be familiar with the original idea of the song, but this time around you'll listen to it with an entirely new set of ears.
Vocally impeccable, and cleverly arranged, Northern Kings have given a new lease of life to many eighties classics that may have been stuck in the decade that most people will want to forget, but can't. Who in their right mind could re-record a symphonic rock orchestral arrangement of Radiohead's classic 1993 global hit Creep and make it sound relevant in 2008?
Finland is no stranger to heavy metal music, which accounts for 90% of the country's best selling music. "Finnish audiences are much more interested in guitar bands that perform their music live," says Erkka Korhonen, the producer of the Reborn album. "In Finland, mainstream pop music doesn't sell as well as metal," adds Korhonen. "Iron Maiden has been popular in Finland for years, long before the rest of Europe started playing their music."
Northern Kings. Photo Credit ©Jere Hietala
Northern Kings is comprised of four of Finland's biggest heavy rock vocalists - Marco Hietala (Nightwish, Tarot), Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica), JP Leppäluoto (Charon), and J. Ahola (Teräsbetoni). Each vocalist is untrained, but commands their own distinctive vocal sound which ranges from deep tenor, operatic to high pitched falsetto.
Unlike most artists who try to reproduce the sound and arrangements of the original songs, the general tone of the album is to give the original songs a personalised metal rock facelift. The production values are overwhelming with their mix of electric guitars, pulsating bass and electric guitars, set to orchestral symphonic rock arrangements.
Reborn could be perceived as a novelty record, but inevitably it soon becomes evident that instead of copying the originals, the band has gone outside the box and done something new with the songs. The Northern Kings are playing Il Divo at their own game, and the similarities have to do with the dynamic range of the four vocalists.
There has never been a band who has taken a song like David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes or Radiohead's Creep and have made the songs sound just as good, if not better, than the originals.
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Track Listing:
Don't Stop Believin'
We Don't Need Another Hero
Broken Wings
Rebel Yell
Ashes To Ashes
Fallen On Hard Times
I Just Died In Your Arms
Sledgehammer
Don't Bring Me Down
In The Air Tonight
Creep
Hello
Brothers In Arms |
J. AHOLA. Photo Credit ©Jere Hietala |
JP LEPPÄLUOTO. Photo Credit ©Jere Hietala |
J. AHOLA
Although he had no musical training, J. Ahola can naturally bend a high note. His vocal range is crystal clear and sharp, to such an extent that it's unbelievable. Currently, he's the lead singer of the Finland's most popular metal band, ‘Teräsbetoni'*. The band originally formed in 2005, and are currently riding high in the Finnish album charts with their No.1 selling album ‘Myrskyntuoja' (which means ‘Stormbringer' in English). Their first two albums have been certified Gold. Their 2005 debut album ‘Metallitotuus' has been certified Platinum. |
JP LEPPÄLUOTO
The only musical experience JP had was when he sang in the school choir while doing his military service. JP's voice may not be as instantly recognizable as the other Kings, but without his mysterious voice, the line-up would not be complete.
He is the lead singer of the Finnish band, ‘Charon', who performs dark, depressive riff-based rock. They are hugely popular in Germany, Spain and Russia. |
MARCO HIETALA. Photo Credit ©Jere Hietala |
TONY KAKKO. Photo Credit ©Jere Hietala |
MARCO HIETALA
In the mid 80s he was the early pioneer of Finnish heavy metal and formed the band ‘Tarot'. Prior to that, Marco took voice training lessons and originally planned on studying in a music academy, but was rejected due to the fact that he had already released two albums with Tarot. In 2001 he joined Finland's internationally successful metal band, Nightwish, as bass player and co-vocalist. |
TONY KAKKO
He has – apart from taking piano lessons – no professional music training. He is the lead singer of the Finnish metal band ‘Sonata Arctica'. Several of their albums have been certified gold in Finland.
The band is popular in Japan and France. Kakko's songwriting skills are impeccable and his vocal range is faultless. |
*Teräsbetoni will represent Finland in this year's Eurovision in Belgrade, Serbia on 24th, and will perform the hit single ‘Missä Miehet Ratsastaa' (which means ‘Where All The Men Ride Forth'), taken from their ‘Myrskyntuoja' album.
About the songs:
* Don't Stop Believin' was originally a 1981 Top Ten soft rock AOR hit for the San Franciscan rock band, Journey. The song recently closed the last nail-biting scene in the final episode of the award-winning gangster television series The Sopranos.
* We Don't Need Another Hero was originally written and produced by guitarist Terry Britten and features the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The song, which appeared in Mel Gibson film "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome", went on to become a 1994 international hit for Tina Turner.
* Broken Wings was originally a 1985 No.1 hit single for the American band Mr. Mister. Comprised of session musicians and songwriters, the band was led by bassist/lead vocalist Richard Page and keyboardist/vocalist Steven George. ‘Broken Wings' went to No.1 in the U.S. Billboard Singles Chart, and featured on their second album, "Welcome to the Real World."
* Rebel Yell was the title track from Billy Idol's 1983 solo album "Rebel Yell." The song fell just short of the Top 40 in the U.S. Billboard Chart. Idol was one the first pop/rock artists to achieve massive success in the early '80s due to MTV.
* Ashes to Ashes was originally a No.1 U.K. hit single for David Bowie from the album "Scary Monsters," (1980). Summed up as the continuing adventures of Major Tom form the song "Space Oddity," the song was an acknowledgement of the then-burgeoning new romantic scene.
* Fallen On Hard Times appeared on Jethro Tull's 1982 album "The Broadsword and the Beast," which peaked at #19 on the U.S. Billboard Album Chart. The album was produced by ex-Yardbirds Paul Samwell-Smith.
* I Just Died In Your Arms – written by Nick VanEede, in 1987 the song became a massive hit I America for the British band Cutting Crew, and went to No.1 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
* Sledgehammer originally appeared on Peter Gabriel's fifth solo album "So" (1986). The song went on to become No.1 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. An Otis Redding-inspired soul-pop masterpiece of originality, "Sledgehammer" propelled the Gabriel toward blockbuster status.
* Don't Bring Me Down originally appeared on the Electric Light Orchestra's 1979 studio album "Discovery". Originally written by Jeff Lynne, the song went to No.4 in the U.S. Billboard Top 100 Singles Chart.
* In The Air Tonight originally appeared on Phil Collins' 1981 debut solo album "Face Value." The song became a number two hit in the U.K., and a Top 20 hit in America.
* Creep originally became a global hit Radiohead when it appeared on their 1993 debut album "Pablo Honey." The self-loathing breakthrough single achieved a rare power that is both visceral and intelligent and went to #34 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.
* Hello originally appeared on Lionel Ritchie's 1983 solo album "Can't Slow Down." The song went #1 in the U.S. Billboard Top 100 Singles Chart. The promo video for the single proved to be popular on MTV, which saw Ritchie singing the ballad to his blind woman.
* Brothers In Arms is the title track from Dire Straits' 1985 album of the same name. The album featured the song "Money for Nothing," a sardonic attack on MTV, that ironically became a popular favorite on MTV.
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