Battle Beast is a Finnish heavy metal band established in Helsinki in 2008. The initial line-up consisted of guitarists Anton Kabanen, Juuso Soino and drummer Pyry Vikki, who were high school friends. The rest of the original line-up, singer Nitte Valo, bassist Eero Sipilä and keyboardist Janne Björkroth, joined the band after auditions. Before gaining a record contract, Battle Beast was best known for having won two major band competitions in year 2010: the international Wacken Metal Battle 2010, participated by thousands of bands from all around the world, which final stage was held at the famed German metal festival Wacken Open Air; [1] soon after that, the band was announced the winner of Radio Rock Starba, a band competition held by the major Finnish radio station Radio Rock. With their 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. [2] Althugh 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. [3] A reissue of Steel, which included one bonus track, was released to the European market in January 2012. The band was voted at the third place in the list for Newcomer Of The Year 2011 at the Finnish Metal Awards in February 2012. [4] To support the European release of Steel, Battle Beast toured for the first time as opening act for their countrymenNightwish in many European dates of the Imaginaerum World Tour. [5] 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 2012, after touring the Finnish rock festivals for the summer, Nitte Valo was announced to be leaving the band because of family issues. [6] With the news of her departure, came the announcement of a new lead singer Noora Louhimo from Tampere, Finland. [6] With Louhimo in the band, Battle Beast started another European tour in November, this time supporting the Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica. [7]
Battle Beastis aFinnishheavy metalband established inHelsinkiin
2008. The initial line-up consisted of guitarists Anton Kabanen,
Juuso Soino and drummer Pyry Vikki, who were high school friends.
The rest of the original line-up, singer Nitte Valo, bassist Eero
Sipil and keyboardist Janne Bjrkroth, joined the band after
auditions.Before gaining a record contract, Battle Beast was best
known for having won two major band competitions in year 2010: the
international Wacken Metal Battle 2010, participated by thousands
of bands from all around the world, which final stage was held at
the famed German metal festivalWacken Open Air;[1]soon after that,
the band was announced the winner of Radio Rock Starba, a band
competition held by the major Finnish radio stationRadio Rock. With
their 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, titledSteel, 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.[2]Althugh released only in
Finland, the album soon caught the attention of the international
metal labelNuclear Blast, with whom the band signed a licensing
deal in late 2011.[3]A reissue ofSteel, which included one bonus
track, was released to the European market in January 2012. The
band was voted at the third place in the list for Newcomer Of The
Year 2011 at the Finnish Metal Awards in February 2012.[4]To
support the European release ofSteel, Battle Beast toured for the
first time as opening act for their countrymenNightwishin many
European dates of theImaginaerum World Tour.[5]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 2012, after touring the Finnish rock festivals for the
summer, Nitte Valo was announced to be leaving the band because of
family issues.[6]With the news of her departure, came the
announcement of a new lead singer Noora Louhimo from Tampere,
Finland.[6]With Louhimo in the band, Battle Beast started another
European tour in November, this time supporting the Finnishpower
metalbandSonata Arctica.[7]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 toWarner
MusicFinland, 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
albumBattle Beaston 17 May 2013.[8]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.[9]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
bandsPowerwolfandU.D.O..[10]In January 2014,Battle Beastwas
announced one of the five nominees for the best Finnish metal album
in the nationalEmma-gaalaawards.[11]
