"Stormbringer" CD by Before The Dawn

Appearing in digisleeve format.

After a 10-year hiatus, Finnish melodic death metal band BEFORE THE DAWN proudly returns! Founded in 1999, BEFORE THE DAWN was one of the most successful Finnish metal bands of the early 2000s, and since their disbandment in 2013, hundreds of thousands of new fans have discovered their music on streaming platforms, without any promotion or labels. Did the music find the people, or did the people find the music - it's hard to say, but after almost a decade of inactivity, BEFORE THE DAWN is now returning with their first new studio album since their break - and stronger than ever! The band started as a solo project of Finnish Metal Award winner Tuomas Saukkonen (Wolfheart), but over the years there have been several lineup changes. With the exciting new lineup, the band presents their biggest change yet. Former guitarist and vocalist Saukkonen has moved behind the drums, and talented Voice Of Finland 2022 finalist Paavo Laapotti has taken on all the duties of the singer, while Juho Räihä sits on the guitar. He has been the lead guitarist for BEFORE THE DAWN since 2006 and is also known as a member of Swallow The Sun. Now, the Finns have completely transformed into their new power and are ready to take back the scene! Strombringers kicks off with the powerful track 'Destroyer' - and takes no prisoners. Relentless drumming and constantly changing guitar lines build a wall of sound that sets the tone of the album perfectly, as heavy sounds alternate with quieter parts, Paavo Laapotti's intense clean vocals, and an amazing guitar solo. The opener 'Chains' entices the listener with pounding drums, heavy riffs, and ever-changing clean vocals with deep growls. With ease, the album balances between aggressive and raw death metal facets and poignant melancholy, carried by Paavo Laapotti's vocals and intense melodies. This is evident in 'Downhearted' - a forward-driving mid-tempo piece seasoned with haunting growls that illustrate the depths of darkness. Similarly, 'Reveries' is a powerful anthem with incredible melodies and excellent guitar lines, while 'Divided' enchants with a delicate intro that blends acoustic guitar and piano melodies, building up to a melodic wall of brutal sound. 'Chaos Star' immediately pulls the listener into an intense sonic landscape, where intense death metal parts mix with a melancholic, visceral melody and a passionate chorus that showcases Paavo Laapotti's vocal skills, while 'The Dark' immediately captivates with an intense intro and captures - as on the entire album - a wild ride between quieter parts, intense growls, and untamed death metal passages. With 'Strombringers,' BEFORE THE DAWN proves that even after 10 years of absence, they haven't lost any of their power and unleash a storm - paving the way to reclaim the scene! '