MANITOU

MANITOU, a heavy metal band hailing from Karhula-area (the sub-urban of Kotka), Finland, was formed sometime around 1997 with a little bit different line-up. The main point of the band was then and still is to make traditional heavy metal mixing a little proggy elements here and there. The archetypes for Manitou are for example Queensryche, Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Ozzy, Tarot, Dio, Judas Priest and Annihilator...

The first demo release “Mad Moon Rising” was recorded by the band itself in a rehearsal place at the beginning of the year 1999. The next demos were recorded at a local studio and called “Mercenary” (1999), “Machine Mind” (2000) and “Face The Snake”  (2000). After this last one-song demo, the band split with their second guitarist Turo Komulainen and replaced him with Markus Vanhala, the guitarist from local metal band Omnium Gatherum. He debuted on the music video for the song "Face The Snake" which was broadcasted abundantly on the Finnish music television channel Moon TV. Two more demos followed: “Brothers Promise”  (2001) and “The Valley Of Evergreen” (2002). MANITOU also made another music video from the song "Valley of Evergreen" in February 2002.
The “Valley Of Evergreen” demo was practically the first one that the band ever sent to any record companies or anywhere else. Rage Of Achilles Records from England signed Manitou right after receiving the demo. The debut full-length album “The Mad Moon Rising” was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland,  and released through Rage Of Achilles in early Summer 2004. The album got awesome feedback from the media, for example UK´s legendary Kerrang! magazine gave 5/5 K´s to the album.

Soon after the album release Rage Of Achilles label quitted their business in late 2004.. It was a good chance to re-release the album with a couple of bonus tracks through Firebox Records. Some line-up changes took place as well. After the tour with ex-Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di´Anno in late 2004, MANITOU keyboardist Jukka Perälä left the band. MANITOU didn’t take anyone to replace him, as the band had made the decision to develop their style more into traditional heavy metal style, away from the progressive style. MANITOU also performed at one show as Di´Annos background band, playing early Maiden classics.
Soon after re-releasing “The Mad Moon Rising” the band signed a deal with Firebox Records for two further albums. The second  album "Deadlock" was recorded at the end of the year 2005 at Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland. Material could be described as ballsier, more straight-forward heavy metal with little bit lunatic wanna-be-proggy spices here and there…

The first Manitou single ever “Fools in control” reached #2 at the official Finnish single chart. At the same time, they released “Fools in control” music video at the band’s website. Right after releasing “Deadlock” in Finland, Manitou were touring the whole Spring of 2006 around Finland and the album now finally sees the day of light in various other countries through Metal Heaven as well who licensed the album from Firebox for G-A-S, Benelux & Spain.

Line-Up:

vocals: Markku Pihlaja
lead guitar: Markus Vanhala
guitar: Antti Laurén
bass: Ismo Laukkanen
drums: Matti Suhonen

Releases:

The Mad Moon Rising (2004)

Deadlock (2006)

Official website:

http://www.manitouband.com

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