Trail of Tears Interview 2013
June 16, 2013 (via Skype)

The passing of one of gothic metal’s most revered bands warrants an epic Viking send-off. And, oh my, does Trail of Tear’s final album, Oscillation, deliver! The flames of wrath shoot skyward, while the dueling voices of Ronny Thorsen (harsh vocals) and Cathrine Paulsen (soprano vocals) beat at each other mercilessly. You can almost feel the heat of the flaming longship roaring through your speakers. Oscillation is a fitting final war cry for Trail of Tears.

Amberian Dawn Interview 2013
June 2, 2013 (via Skype)

You could have knocked me down with a medium-sized feather when Amberian Dawn announced that they were parting ways with their longtime vocalist, Heidi Parviainen, shortly after their electrifying performance at Metal Female Voices Fest X. And well, you could have knocked me down with a tiny feather when the band announced that they would release an album of re-recorded songs, taken from Amberian Dawn’s previous four albums, with their new vocalist Capri. Despite some initial trepidation, Re-Evolution is an album that stands on its own merits, rather than feeling like an imitation. Yes the songs are familiar, butCapri punches up the songs with her rock style, while the music continues to have the wondrous precision that Amberian Dawn fans adore.
 

I was so pleased to have another opportunity to talk with Tuomas Seppälä, Amberian Dawn’s founder and composer, and to meet the band’s new Finnish vocalist, Capri. Dive in to get all the behind-the-scenes details on Re-Evolution, the arduous search for a new vocalist, and what is coming down the road for Amberian Dawn!