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Battle Beast (band)

Battle Beast is a Finnish heavy/power metal band established in Helsinki in 2008 by Anton Kabanen, Juuso Soinio and Pyry Vikki. The initial line-up consisted of guitarists Soinio and Kabanen, and drummer Vikki, who were high school friends. The rest of the original lineup, bassist Eero Sipilä, keyboardist Janne Björkroth and lead singer Nitte Valo, joined the band after auditions.

Battle Beast
Battle Beast live at Rockharz Open Air 2023
Battle Beast live at Rockharz Open Air 2023
Background information
OriginHelsinki, Finland
Genres
Years active2008–present
LabelsWEA, Nuclear Blast
SpinoffsBeast in Black[4]
MembersJuuso Soinio
Pyry Vikki
Eero Sipilä
Janne Björkroth
Noora Louhimo
Joona Björkroth
Past membersNitte Valo
Anton Kabanen
Websitebattlebeast.fi
Noora Louhimo at Tuska Open Air 2013

History

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Before gaining a record contract, Battle Beast was best known for having won two major band competitions in 2010. They won the international Wacken Metal Battle 2010, with contributions from thousands of bands from all around the world, whose final stage was held at the famed German metal festival Wacken Open Air.[5] Soon after, the band was announced the winner of Radio Rock Starba, a band competition held by the major Finnish radio station Radio Rock. With its victory in the Finnish competition, the band received intense media exposure, and before the end of 2010 they had signed a record deal with the Finnish label Hype Records.

Battle Beast's first album, titled Steel, was released in Finland in Spring 2011. With the support of the two singles, "Show Me How to Die" and "Enter the Metal World", and their heavy airplay on Radio Rock, the album peaked at No. 7 upon its release.[6] Although released only in Finland, the album soon caught the attention of the international metal label Nuclear Blast, with whom the band signed a licensing deal in late 2011.[7] A reissue of Steel, which included one bonus track, was released to the European market in January 2012. The band was voted third place on the Newcomer Of The Year 2011 list at the Finnish Metal Awards in February 2012.[8] To support the European release of Steel, Battle Beast toured for the first time as opening act for their countrymen Nightwish in many European dates of the Imaginaerum World Tour.[9] The tour was reported a success by both bands. On the final show of the tour Nightwish paid their respects to the support band by performing a cover of "Show Me How to Die" as a part of their acoustic set.

In autumn of 2012, after touring Finnish rock festivals during the summer, Nitte Valo was announced to be leaving the band because of family issues.[10] New singer candidates appeared both in Finland and abroad. Noora Louhimo from Tampere, Finland, was chosen as the new lead singer, with Kabanen having originally found her “by accident while browsing YouTube”.[11][10] With Louhimo in the band, Battle Beast started another European tour in November, this time supporting the Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica.[12]

 
Rockharz Open Air 2018 in Ballenstedt, Germany. 2018

After the tour, the band immediately went into studio to record their second album. The label Hype Productions had gone out of business and the band moved on to Warner Music Finland, with Nuclear Blast still handling international releases. The first single with Noora Louhimo on vocals, "Into the Heart of Danger" was released on 26 April 2013, followed by the album Battle Beast on 17 May 2013.[13] Another single and a music video for the song "Black Ninja" was released to coincide with the release of the album. The album topped the sales of its predecessor easily, peaking at No. 5 and staying on the charts for 17 weeks.[14] The album also charted on various European countries including Germany. The following autumn Battle Beast headed on another European tour, this time supporting the German bands Powerwolf and U.D.O.[15]

In January 2014, Battle Beast was announced one of the five nominees for the best Finnish metal album in the national Emma-gaala awards.[16]

In January 2015, Battle Beast released its third album, Unholy Savior, topping the Finnish album chart on its release week.[17] Soon after a European tour supporting Sabaton, in February 2015 the band parted ways with Anton Kabanen with both parties citing musical disagreements and other unsolvable issues within the band.[18][19] He was replaced by Ossi Maristo and keyboardist Janne Björkroth's brother, Joona Björkroth, on a sessional basis. Joona Björkroth became a permanent member in 2016. Kabanen went on to form Beast In Black.[8]

The first single with the renewed line-up "King For a Day" was released in January 2016, immediately picking up heavy airplay in Finland's Radio Rock, followed by another single "Familiar Hell" in early 2017. Battle Beast released their fourth album Bringer of Pain on February 17, 2017 again topping the charts in their homeland.[20] The album was also its first to reach the top 20 in Germany, debuting at #14 on its release week.[21] Following the release of Bringer of Pain, Battle Beast went on a 5+ week European tour with support from Majesty and GYZE. It toured for the first time in North America that spring, supporting Sabaton's "The Last Tour" with Leaves' Eyes.[22] The band performed in Japan for the first time in September 2017.

On 22 March 2019, Battle Beast released their fifth studio album, No More Hollywood Endings.[23]

On 4 October 2021, the band announced their sixth studio album, Circus of Doom. It was released on 21 January 2022.[24]

On 29 September 2024, Battle Beast's lead vocalist Noora Louhimo provided the vocals for the song "BEYOND THE QUEST",[25] which was composed by Yasuharu Takanashi and used as an insert song in episode 13 of the Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest anime.[26]

Members

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  • Juuso Soinio – rhythm guitar[27] (2008–present)
  • Pyry Vikki – drums (2008–present)
  • Eero Sipilä – bass, backing vocals (2008–present)
  • Janne Björkroth – keyboards, backing vocals (2008–present)
  • Noora Louhimo – lead vocals (2012–present)
  • Joona Björkroth – lead guitar, backing vocals (2015–Present)

Former members

  • Nitte Valo – lead vocals (2008–2012)
  • Anton Kabanen – lead guitar, backing vocals (2008–2015)

Touring members

  • Ossi Maristo – lead guitar (2015)
  • Atte Aho - lead guitar (2022, 2024)[28]
  • Battle Beast, Line-Up at Rockharz 2018
  • Drummer Pyry Vikki 
    Drummer Pyry Vikki
  • Bassist Eero Sipilä 
    Bassist Eero Sipilä
  • Keytarist Janne Björkroth 
    Keytarist Janne Björkroth
  • Lead vocalist Noora Louhimo 
    Lead vocalist Noora Louhimo
  • Lead guitarist Joona Björkroth 
    Lead guitarist Joona Björkroth

Timeline

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Discography

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Albums

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Year Album Peak positions Certifications
FIN
[29] 		BEL
[30] 		SWI
[31] 		GER
[32]
2011 Steel 7  –  –  –
2013 Battle Beast 5 111 77 82
2015 Unholy Savior 1  – 71 39
2017 Bringer of Pain 1
[33] 		64 16 14
2019 No More Hollywood Endings 1
[34] 		190 12 11
2022 Circus of Doom 1
[35] 		 – 5 9

Singles

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  • "Show Me How to Die" (2011)
  • "Enter the Metal World" (2011)
  • "Into the Heart of Danger" (2013)
  • "Black Ninja" (2013)
  • "Touch in the Night" (2014)
  • "Madness" (2014)
  • "King for a Day" (2016)
  • "Familiar Hell" (2017)
  • "Bringer of Pain (2017)
  • "No More Hollywood Endings" (2019)
  • "Eden" (2019)
  • "Endless Summer" (2019)
  • "The Golden Horde" (2019)
  • "Master of Illusion" (2021)
  • "Eye of the Storm" (2021)
  • "Where Angels Fear to Fly" (2022)
  • "Wings of Light" (2022)

References

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  1. ^ "Battle Beast". Nuclear Blast. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Battle Beast". Metal Storm. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Battle Beast". ALLMusic. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Beast in Black". Metal Storm. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  5. ^ "BATTLE BEAST Confirmed For Germany's WACKEN OPEN AIR Festival". Blabbermouth.net. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Battle Beast - Steel (album)". Finnishcharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  7. ^ "BATTLE BEAST Signs With NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS". Blabbermouth.net. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  8. ^ a b "FINNISH METAL AWARDS: Winners Announced". Blabbermouth.net. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  9. ^ "Live - Archive: 2012". Nightwish Official Website. Archived from the original on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  10. ^ a b "BATTLE BEAST Parts Ways With Singer, Announces Replacement". Blabbermouth.net. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  11. ^ "Battle Beastin Anton Kabanen kommentoi laulajanvaihdosta: "Tuli niin sanotusti puun takaa"". Rumba.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  12. ^ "BATTLE BEAST Featuring New Singer NOORA LOUHIMO: First Performance Footage Available". Blabbermouth.net. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  13. ^ "Uusi BATTLE BEAST -single julkaistaan tänä perjantaina 26.4.!". Warner Music Finland (in Finnish). Warner Music. 23 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  14. ^ "Battle Beast - Battle Beast (album)". Finnishcharts.com. Media Control Charts. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  15. ^ "BATTLE BEAST: Stuttgart Fan-Filmed Video Footage". Blabbermouth.net. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  16. ^ "Emma-kategoriat 2013: Metalliabumi" (in Finnish). Emma-gaala. Archived from the original on 4 April 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  17. ^ "Musiikkituottajat - Tilastot - Suomen virallinen lista - Albumit". Ifpi.fi. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  18. ^ "Battle Beast split with Kabanen - Metal Hammer". Metalhammer.teamrock.com. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  19. ^ "BATTLE BEAST Parts Ways With Guitarist And Main Songwriter ANTON KABANEN". Blabbermouth. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  20. ^ "Musiikkituottajat - Uutiset - Arkisto - Battle Beast – Bringer of Pain nousee listaykköseksi!". www.ifpi.fi (in Finnish). 25 February 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  21. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de (in German). Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  22. ^ "Leaves' Eyes Announces Tour With Sabaton - in Metal News". Metalunderground.com. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  23. ^ "BATTLE BEAST To Release No More Hollywood Endings Album In March". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  24. ^ "BATTLE BEAST To Release 'Circus Of Doom' Album In January". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  25. ^ "BEYOND THE QUEST". YouTube.com. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest - Episode 13". YouTube.com. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Battle Beast - Unholy Savior (Album Review) - Cryptic Rock". Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  28. ^ "Battle Beast on Instagram: "Due to family reasons, our very own shred lord Joona Björkroth is forced to take a temporary break from touring, and therefore will not be performing with us on the 𝘊𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘰𝘰𝘮 European tour. Thankfully, his stand-in is of the highest caliber, as Atte Aho, one of the most accomplished young guitar players in Finland, will be there to fill his shoes. Joona will be back on six-string duty again from October onwards. Please join us in wishing all the best for Joona and his family and give a warm welcome to Atte! It's gonna be a great tour! - BATTLE BEAST"". Instagram. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  29. ^ "Battle Beast discography". finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  30. ^ "Battle Beast discography". ultratop.be/fr/ Belgian Wallonia Albums Chart. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  31. ^ "Battle Beast discography". hitparade.ch Swiss Hit Parade Albums. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  32. ^ "Discographie Battle Beast". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  33. ^ "Albumit 8/2017 – Suomen virallinen lista – Musiikkituottajat". Ifpi.fi. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  34. ^ "Albumit 13/2019 – Suomen virallinen lista – Musiikkituottajat". Ifpi.fi. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  35. ^ "Albumit 4/2022". Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
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