WUTHERING HEIGHTS
(Denmark/Sweden)
www.wuthering-heights.dk
Originally formed in the beginning of the nineties, the symphonic speed metal band Wuthering Heights began to draw attention in the small metal-scene of Copenhagen. Different musicians as well as names like Minas Tirith and Vergelmir have come and gone in the history of the band, and the only founding member in the band today is Erik Ravn. In summer of 1997 the band got a deal with a German record label, who (for some reason) were convinced that the band played gothic/epic metal.This co-operation resulted in the demo CD "Within", which saw the band heading in a more progressive power/speed metal direction, leading to the break-up with this label.
In the beginning of 1998 Wuthering Heights started up a new co-operation with the American progressive rock/metal label The Laser's Edge/Sensory. After having signed an album-by-album deal with The Laser's Edge/Sensory, the recording of the debut album "Within" - part one of an up-coming trilogy - took place in August / September 1998 in the Aabenraa Studios with producer Jacob Hansen. At that time Wuthering Heights featured guitarist Erik Ravn, keyboarder Rune S. Brink, bassist Kasper Gram, drummer Morten Nødgaard and well known Swedish vocalist Kristian "Krille" Andrén (ex-Fifth Reason, Street Talk, Tad Morose and Memento Mori).
After the release of "Within" in October 1999, Wuthering Heights experienced tremendous response from media and fans all over the World. A great deal of interviews were arranged, and the name was spread throughout the worldwide metal scene.
In fall 2000 the band enlisted the services of Danish drummer extra-ordinaire Morten G. Sørensen (Aurora, Pyramaze), Swedish lead guitarist Henrik Flyman (Evil Masquerade, ex-ZooL, Moahni Moahna) plus Italian bassist Lorenzo Dehó (Time Machine / Khali). The famous Jailhouse Studio was the surroundings for the recording of the album, which took place in June 2001 with producer Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pretty Maids, TNT etc.). The album is nothing short of a brilliant epos of majestic and symphonic speed/progressive metal. The release of the album was July 2002 in Japan by Toshiba-EMI, September 2002 in the USA by Laser's Edge/Sensory, September 2002 by Sail Productions in Korea and followed shortly after with releases in Europe (by Lucretia Records) and Russia (by CD-Maximum).
After the release of "To Travel For Evermore", Erik and the band got really busy with interviews and promotion, but unfortunately they never made it out on tour. Instead Erik soon composed the material for the third disc, "Far From The Madding Crowd", which they recorded in Jailhouse Studios with Tommy Hansen in the summer of 2003. This time the band found a new singer in Nils Patrik Johansson from the Swedish band Astral Doors. Nils Patrik is the perfect fit for Wuthering Heights, with his great vocal range, sometimes reminding of Russel Allen, Jorn Lande or even Ronnie James Dio.
Erik handled the bass on the recording by himself, but the band kept looking for a permanent bassist to complete the line-up. "Far From The Madding Crowd" is less progressive and more melodic than "To Travel...", but it's still very typical Wuthering Heights. This time the band injected even more of the folk-music roots into the songs, and the album functioned lyrically as the last part of the trilogy about the lonely wanderer. An amazing album, that was released in December 2003 by Toshiba-EMI in Japan and followed by Sensory Records in USA, Hellion Records in South America and Locomotive Music in Europe in January 2004.
In 2004 the band once again modified their line-up, as Andreas Lindahl (ex-Platitude) jumped in on keyboards, Martin Arendal (Manticora) took the place as lead guitarist and Teddy Möller (Loch Vostok) joined as bassist. Wuthering Heights performed the first gig outside of Europe ever, at the prestigious ProgPower Festival in Atlanta, GA, USA in August 2004. The response was overwhelming!
In the summer of 2005, the band did their first gig on European soil in many years, as they played the Park Rock Festival in Sweden in front of several thousand enthusiastic metal fans. On this gig Toke Skjønnemand (Pyramaze) stood in for Martin Arendal, who unfortunately had a couple of months with an injured hand.
With the line-up that now has been consistent since 2004, the band entered the Jailhouse Studio once again in 2006 to record, their latest masterpiece, "The Shadow Cabinet".
From the opener "Demon Desire", the pace is set - fast and furious like never before. With a nerve and intensity that is felt deep in the belly of the listener, the album works its way through such majestic songs as "Beautifool" and "Envy", and most notably the 2-part epic "Apathy Divine".
With the pure metal anthems "I Shall Not Yield" and "Carpe Noctem" the album reaches its crescendo and sticks forever on the mind of the lucky persons who found their way to this album.
Line-Up:
Nils Patrik Johansson - vocals
Erik Ravn – guitars
Martin Arendal - guitars
Morten Gade Sørensen – drums
Teddy Möller – bass
Andreas Lindahl – keyboards