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| Finnish Northern Kings to conquer UK Northern Kings to conquer UK after their "Reborn" album sells gold in their native Finland. UK album release: Monday June 16th. UK digital download & Ltd edition CD single release: 16th June. Four of Finland's most successful heavy rock vocalists have recently created a stir by forming an operatic rock super group, who originally went under the working name of Hell Divo. Named as the Northern Kings, this dynamic symphonic rock quartet is welcome alternative to classically trained vocal groups Il Divo and the 3 Tenors. In October 2007 they released the album Reborn which featured symphonic orchestral rock interpretations of eighties classics ranging from Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms, David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes, Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer, Lionel Ritchie's Hello, Cutting Crew's I Just Died In Your Arms, Tina Turner's We Don't Need Another Hero, and Radiohead's 1993 song Creep. "Initially, their was a lot of uncertainty about the idea of creating a vocal super group with four of Finland's biggest names in heavy metal on the same level as the classically trained vocal groups like Il Divo, " says Erkka Konhonnan, the producer of Northern King's 'Reborn' debut album. "Since the release of the album in Finland, the album has sold gold and the band has proved so popular; that a new album is in the pipeline for release in November this year." Previously only available in Finland, Warner Music Entertainment in the UK will be the first country outside of Finland to release the Northern Kings' debut album. UK Release date is Monday June 16th 2008. The single, We Don't Need Another Hero will be released in the UK on 16th June as a digital download and limited edition CD single. Although many will see this album as a symphonic rock version of Guilty Pleasures, Northern Kings' orchestral arrangements make the original songs sound like cover versions. Vocally, the four Northern Kings singers are just as diverse in vocal range any of the vocalists in Il Divo. However, it's their symphonic rock interpretation that puts a new perspective on the cultural significance of the original songs. If you've never been a fan of Dire Straits' music, when you hear how Northern Kings have transformed Brothers in Arms into the symphonic rock equivalent of War and Peace, you'll be familiar with the original idea of the song, but this time around you'll listen to it with an entirely new set of ears. Vocally impeccable, and cleverly arranged, Northern Kings have given a new lease of life to many eighties classics that may have been stuck in the decade that most people will want to forget, but can't. Who in their right mind could re-record a symphonic rock orchestral arrangement of Radiohead's classic 1993 global hit Creep and make it sound relevant in 2008? Finland is no stranger to heavy metal music, which accounts for 90% of the country's best selling music. "Finnish audiences are much more interested in guitar bands that perform their music live, " says Errka Honnakan, the producer of the Reborn album. "In Finland, mainstream pop music doesn't sell as well as metal, " adds Konnaken. "Iron Maiden has been popular in Finland for years, long before the rest of Europe started playing their music." Northern Kings is comprised of four of Finland's biggest heavy rock vocalists - Marco Hietala (Nightwish, Tarot), Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica), JP Leppäluoto (Charon), and J. Ahola (Teräsbetoni). Each vocalist is untrained, but commands their own distinctive vocal sound which ranges from deep tenor, operatic to high pitched falsetto. Unlike most artists who try to reproduce the sound and arrangements of the original songs, the general tone of the album is to give the original songs a personalised metal rock facelift. The production values are overwhelming with their mix of electric guitars, pulsating bass and electric guitars, set to orchestral symphonic rock arrangements. Reborn could be perceived as a novelty record, but inevitably it soon becomes evident that instead of copying the originals, the band has gone outside the box and done something new with the songs. The Northern Kings are playing Il Divo at their own game, and the similarities have to do with the dynamic range of the four vocalists. There has never been a band who has taken a song like David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes or Radiohead's Creep and have made the songs sound just as good, if not better, than the originals. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |