The history of Norther dates back to the year 1996, when Toni Hallio and Petri Lindroos started playing together under the moniker Requiem with two other guys. After a short split-up, the band continued, changing their name to Norther, probably due to another Finnish band now calling themselves Requiem. Compares to Children of Bodom, Arch Enemy etc.

DREAMS OF ENDLESS WAR (2002) SPINEFARM

Things are often strange in the CD-collecting business. I got a Spinefarm Records promo-sampler together with a magazine I bought. And the one band that stood out as one to get was Norther. Being a huge fan of the melodic death metal genre, they caught my interest. And what do you know, the same week a friend of mine calls me up. He's just got in some new stuff for sale that he wants me to check out. And Norther was the band he was most eager to let me hear. I didn't even have to consider it twice, so I grabbed the disc. And I'm not disappointed by a long shot. These Finnish guys deliver a bombastic first album. They manage to be the most melodic death metal band I've ever heard, complete with a very upfront keyboard sound. But at the same time they capture a raw and cold sound, mostly due to their vocalist. The only bad thing about this debut is that it is maybe a bit too short. Only 7 tracks are real songs, and add to that one instrumental, 1 cover of Europe's "Final Countdown" (imagine that with growling death vocals!), and a multi-media track. I'm already on the lookout for the follow-up, entitled 'Mirror Of Madness'. Is Finland taking over the metal-throne?

Killer tracks: Darkest Time, Released, Endless War, Dream