Entwine

Finland's ENTWINE have travelled a long way from their Death Metal-ish first demo tapes to the catchy Gothic tunes of their latest albums. Founded by Aksu Hanttu (drums), Tom Mikkola (guitar, also vocals at the time) and T.Taipale (bass) in 1995, Entwine only managed to receive proper attention from the media and record labels when their music was turning more Gothic-Metal orientated in 1997, a change that required not only a new vocalist, but also some keyboards and a second guitar. For vocals, founding members found P. Willman, whose talents were immediately put to a test on ENTWINEs first softer demo, Divine Infinity. Encouraged by the tapes success, the band also asked for keyboard player Riitta Heikkonen to join ENTWINEs ranks, and the band could finally start playing live shows.

The bands underground success did not go unnoticed for long. In 1999 Spikefarm Records offered ENTWINE a recording deal, and in September the same year ENTWINEs debut album "The Treasures Within Hearts" was released. Although the debut album gained good reviews and the band grew more and more successful with each gig they played, all was not working within the group. Soon after the release of Treasures, singer Willman and bass player Taipale left the band.

Luckily for ENTWINE, it did not take long for replacements to be found: Singer Mika Tauriainen and bass-player Joni Miettinen joined the band in May 2000, enabling the recordings of their second album, Gone (which was also the first album to be licensed by Century Media Records for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, BeNeLux and North America), to start.

The first single release from Gone, entitled "New Dawn", proved the bands potential to every Goth-LIstener on this planet and paved the way for the huge success of Gone. Needing a second guitarist, Jaani Kähkönen was added to ENTWINEs line-up in 2001, just in time to start the recordings of their third album Time Of Despair, which was released in the Spring of 2002 and then followed by a European tour with Theatre of Tragedy and Ram-Zet. Both the album and the tour were milestones on ENTWINEs career, establishing their place in the Gothic Metal hall of fame and the band additionally also performed extremely successful shows at festivals like NummiRock in Finland and Summer Breeze in Germany.

After a year of silence, ENTWINE finally returned with a new album, this time entitled DiEversity, once again packaged in artwork courtesy of leading designer Travis Smith, who had already delivered the cover for Time Of Despair. The album was recorded at the famed Finnish Astia-Studios, the birthplace of such albums as Children of Bodoms Hate Crew Deathroll and To/Die/Fors Jaded. Finishing touches for DiEversity were added at Finnvox studios by mixer Mikko Karmila (who has previously worked with Nightwish, Lullacry and Charon to name a few) and by mastering engineer Mika Jussila (famous for his golden touch on all albums of Nightwish and Children of Bodom).

"Fatal Design" presents a new, heavier Entwine - a band that makes goth go one step further. The album release was preceded by the release of the "Surrender" single. The last single "Chameleon Halo" s was released in Finland 01.11.06 on www.spinefarm.fi

Another evolutionary leap from the more commercial Americanism and electro leanings of 2004’s “DiEversity” and heaviness of 2006’s “Fatal Design”, the latest step, “Painstained” presents an even more melody-oriented Entwine than any of its predecessors. The band has headed into yet another new direction. Layering Mika Tauriainen’s melodic vocals over de-tuned and heavy guitars and the strong backbone of the Hanttu/ Miettinen rhythm section, with “Painstained” Entwine have truly come to their own. They’re ready to give the Lacuna Coils and HIMs of this world a run for their money.

Having renewed their contract with Spinefarm Records and not needing to prove anything to anyone anymore, Entwine has managed to forge a living, breathing body of work with a seemingly unbreakable succession of highlights. Starting with the radio single “Strife” and ranging to the last fading notes of “Say Goodbye”, “Painstained” is a captivating slab melodic supremacy. Broadening their musical horizons once more Entwine has created the ultimate goth rock sound; catchy and dark. Painstained is released on 14.01.09.

The band probably won't be able to respond to all the messages and comments themselves on here, so if you want to contact them as individuals it's best to do so via the offical site and email address there!

You can contact Entwine by writing to: Entwine, PL 95, 15141 Lahti, Finland
(For a reply, please include 1 IRC or an envelope with Finnish stamps)

or email them at entwine@entwine.org

WWW.ENTWINE.ORG

If you want to join the Street Team and help Entwine, email lynn at lynn.entwine(at)gmail.com or check the info out on the Official Forum's Street Team section on www.entwineforum.com

‎You can also keep up with Entwine news at :
www.myspace.com/entwineofficial
http://www.bebo.com/Entwine  and
http://www.last.fm/music/Entwine