Finnish melodic gothic metallers LUNAR PATH have announced a new lead guitarist, Elmeri Kokkomäki (see the photo below). The band released the following statement on band’s Official Facebook Page:
We are very happy to officially welcome our new lead guitarist, Elmeri Kokkomäki to the Lunar Path family. Elmeri has been a good friend of the band and was a top choice in our search for a new lead guitarist. Elmeri impressed us with his awesome playing style, great personality, can-do attitude and vast technical knowledge. We are very exited to continue working on our second album and having some fresh blood on board.
Some of you might even have had the chance to see Elmeri perform with us live, as he’s been our temporary bass player a few years back, including the tours with Deathstars and Paul Di’Anno.
Finnish melodic gothic metal/rock band LUNAR PATH have parted ways with bassist Jesse Mäläskä.
Commented the group: “We are sad to inform that our bass player, Jesse Mäläskä, has decided to leave the band. The decision was fully understood by both parts and there was absolutely no drama involved. Jesse grew apart from the band musically. This, in turn, led to the situation that the smartest choice would be to part as friends. So, after two years of awesome bass duty, we thank him and wish him all the best in his future career!”
LUNAR PATH‘s debut album, “Memento Mori”, was released in February via Inverse Records.
According to a press release, “Memento Mori” is “a concept album about a downward spiral in depression and death, set out to stretch the boundaries of traditional melodic/gothic metal with its dark and brooding atmosphere. This nightmarish journey through hell and back was inspired by arson, mishaps, bad luck as well as the lineup changes the band endured during these past years. These events shaped the band and transformed the album into a dynamic ensemble with warm and cold flashes of traditional metal and darkly progressive stunts, promising to raise eyebrows and make hearts race.”
“Memento Mori” features guest appearances by such acclaimed musicians and vocalists such as Attila Csihar (MAYHEM, ABORYM), Tuomas Saukkonen (BEFORE THE DAWN, BLACK SUN AEON), Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto (CHARON, NORTHERN KINGS, HARMAJA) and Antti Leskinen (FATAL SOUND PROJECT, CHAINED, MURENA).
Formed in late 2006, LUNAR PATH released a few demos and EPs before starting to work on “Memento Mori”. The band became victims of arson in early 2010 when a deranged person intentionally set fire to the ground floor of their practice flat while the band was playing, trapping them upstairs. During the attempt to reach safety, guitarist and album producer Jonas Eriksson sustained severe damage to his foot, but luckily nobody else was hurt in the fire. The band didn’t spend their time crying over spilled milk as a few months later the band toured Scandinavia supporting DEATHSTARS and ex-IRON MAIDEN vocalist Paul Di’Anno; with Eriksson playing the entire tour sitting down with his broken leg in a cast.
LUNAR PATH lead vocalist Janica Lönn has been working with BLACK SUN AEON lately, most notably singing on their highly acclaimed “Blacklight Deliverance” album.
Artist -Lunar Path Album – Memento Mori Label – Inverse Records Year – 16th of March 2012
1. The Beginning and the End
2. Promise Me
3. We’ll be There
4. The One Behind the Mirror
5. Thin white Lines
6. In the End (Feat JP Leppäluoto)
7. Dead Weight
8. Farewell to Arms
9. The Only Way Out is Through
10. Walls are Whispering (Feat Attila Csihar)
11. Close the Door
12. Nothing to Regret
13. Drag Me Down to Hell (Feat Tuomas Saukkonen)
14. Who are you Talking to?
15. River Runs Deep
Forming in late 2006 this Finland melodic metal band has set about to create a new type of metal whilst modifying what we all know as traditional melodic/gothic metal. The album has been crammed full of acclaimed musicians and vocalists featuring that of ‘Attila Csihar’ (Mayhem, Aborym), ‘Tuomas Saukkonen’ (Before The Dawn, Black Sun Aeon), ‘JP Leppäluoto’ (Charon, Northern Kings, Harmaja) and ‘Antti Leskinen’ (Fatal Sound Project, Chained, Murena) With only a few Demo’s and Ep’s before them, all efforts were put into place for ‘Memento Mori’.
The band became victims of arson in early 2010 when a person intentionally set fire to the ground floor of their practice flat whilst the band was playing, trapping them upstairs. During the attempt to reach safety guitarist and album producer Jonas Eriksson sustained severe damage to his foot, but luckily nobody else was hurt in the fire. The band didn’t spend their time crying over spilled milk as a few months later the band toured Scandinavia supporting Deathstars and ex-Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di’Anno; with Eriksson playing the entire tour sitting down with his broken leg in a cast.
Although we “almost” have a strong sense of Symphonic metal here, everything seems to be lost behind the vocals. As song by song plays there really seems to be no new definition to the sound or the overall layout. A few elements of heavy metal here and there, and almost some leading music but that’s about it which is a shame. It feels as though the concept album is going through a transitional stage where by everything is lost with no real direction but the premise for what they are trying to achieve is there and should eventually come to light.
‘In the End’ has a very strange combination of vocals between the lead and backing with the oddest layers I’ve come across in a long time. It almost feels like a pop song and I wouldn’t be surprised if I heard it in the local charts. The lead vocals are very nasal driven, feel ‘squeaky’ and lose tone from time to time but thankfully continuity does exist within the pianos and music at least.
Although I was not impressed by this album at all, it is really dedicated to fans of Dark rock/metal/heavy pop (if the genre exists).
For me, there was no “Come and get me” in this album, nothing keeping me interested. But I’d say, make up your own minds, it may suit some of you.
Finnish melodic gothic metal/rock band LUNAR PATH will release its debut album, “Memento Mori”, on February 1 via Inverse Records.
According to a press release, “Memento Mori” is “a concept album about a downward spiral in depression and death, set out to stretch the boundaries of traditional melodic/gothic metal with its dark and brooding atmosphere. This nightmarish journey through hell and back was inspired by arson, mishaps, bad luck as well as the lineup changes the band endured during these past years. These events shaped the band and transformed the album into a dynamic ensemble with warm and cold flashes of traditional metal and darkly progressive stunts, promising to raise eyebrows and make hearts race.”
“Memento Mori” features guest appearances by such acclaimed musicians and vocalists such as Attila Csihar (MAYHEM, ABORYM), Tuomas Saukkonen (BEFORE THE DAWN, BLACK SUN AEON), Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto (CHARON, NORTHERN KINGS, HARMAJA) and Antti Leskinen (FATAL SOUND PROJECT, CHAINED, MURENA).
Formed in late 2006, LUNAR PATH released a few demos and EPs before starting to work on “Memento Mori”. The band became victims of arson in early 2010 when a deranged person intentionally set fire to the ground floor of their practice flat while the band was playing, trapping them upstairs. During the attempt to reach safety, guitarist and album producer Jonas Eriksson sustained severe damage to his foot, but luckily nobody else was hurt in the fire. The band didn’t spend their time crying over spilled milk as a few months later the band toured Scandinavia supporting DEATHSTARS and ex-IRON MAIDEN vocalist Paul Di’Anno; with Eriksson playing the entire tour sitting down with his broken leg in a cast.
LUNAR PATH lead vocalist Janica Lönn has been working with BLACK SUN AEON lately, most notably singing on their newly released and highly acclaimed “Blacklight Deliverance” album. She will also perform live with BLACK SUN AEON at this year’s Summer Breeze open-air festival in Germany and other European festivals.
“Memento Mori” track listing
01. The Beginning And The End
02. Promise Me
03. We’ll Be There
04. The One Behind The Mirror
05. Thin White Lines
06. In The End (feat. Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto)
07. Deadweight
08. Farewell To Arms
09. The Only Way Out Is Through
10. Walls Are Whispering (feat. Attila Csihar)
11. Close The Door
12. Nothing To Regret
13. Drag Me Down To Hell (feat. Tuomas Saukkonen, Antti Leskinen)
14. Who Are You Talking To?
15. River Runs Deep
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 