BEFORE THE DAWN was born 1999 in Finland, Nastola, as solo project of Tuomas Saukkonen who recorded the first demo all by himself, and continued as "one-man-project" with guest performers, which explains the long list of former band members or studio/session musicians. A second demo and two MCD's were produced, until good reviews raised the attention of Spanish Locomotive Records. The debut album "My Darkness" came out in February 2003, the same year the band supported KATATONIA on their Scandinavian and Central European tour dates. The second album "4:17 AM" followed in 2004, but the tension in the band was growing, and after their DVD "The First Chapter" release in 2005, Saukkonen disbanded the old line-up and hit the stage with his new "Live Action Assault Team", including the Norwegian Lars Eikind, clean vocals & bass and guitarist Juho Räihä.
In 2006 the huge amount of new song material created two albums: "The Ghost" for BEFORE THE DAWN and "The Darkness" for DAWN OF SOLACE, Tuomas' side project; Lars Eikind and Juho Räihä also appear on both CDs. In summer they toured with MOONSPELL across Finland and the Baltic States. In November the recording sessions for the new album "Deadlight" began, this time for the Finnish label Stay Heavy Records, but it seemed that Tuomas would have to go solo again; he had to record drums, guitars and bass all by himself, and Lars added clean vocals.
Yet with Juho and Lars the basis of a new stable line-up emerged, and in March, shortly after the release of the fourth CD "Deadlight", and Dani Miettinen could be welcomed back on the BEFORE THE DAWN drum throne. A more than lucky incident: "Deadlight" received good reviews in Finland and abroad; both singles "Deadsong" and "Faithless" reached 2 of Finnish charts. BEFORE THE DAWN played many concerts and at festivals, e.g. Wacken, and by October 2008 the fifth album "Soundscape Of Silence" was released. "Soundscape Of Silence" entered Finnish charts immediately on 14th position, way ahead of acts like Cradle Of Filth and Pain, and even Pop-Star Pink. Once again European media were full of praise for BEFORE THE DAWN's new release. Yet another line-up change
was due, several live and session drummers replaced Dani Miettinen, before Atte Palokangas could be welcomed as official new band member in summer 2009.
Finally, right in time to celebrate BEFORE THE DAWN's 10th anniversary, the band will conquer European stages on tour with AMORPHIS in autumn 2009.
A DECADE OF DARKNESS... and the story continues...
"Deadlight" has been released in Germany and all over Europe, Japan and all over Asia as a special edition version.
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"Deadsong", Before The Dawn's first single on Stay Heavy Records, entered the Official Finnish Single charts at position No. 2, ahead of such competition as WITHIN TEMPTATION and IRON MAIDEN. It is also the main theme of Finnish TV-show "Rokkikorjaamo". This track is featured in the bestseller video game "Call Of Duty 4" as the main theme of web Modification called "Before The Dawn - Modern Warfare". It also made it on the "Dynamite" compilation CD 07/07, edition nro 242, June 13, 2007 of German Rock Hard magazine.
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The "Deadsong" video has had by now more than 407,000 hits on YouTube.
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"Faithless", the second single from the Deadlight album, entered the Official Finnish Single Charts at position No. 2, ahead of such big Finnish bands like AMORPHIS and HANOI ROCKS.
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Both singles stayed in the Official Single Charts all nine weeks, including a "Faithless" re-entry for two weeks. "Deadlight" entered the Official Finnish Album Charts position No. 29 and it is ahead of Metal monster METALLICA. DEADLIGHT has been in the charts for all 24 weeks and re-entered the Album Charts precisely one year after the Finnish release date.
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"Soundscape Of Silence" entered Finnish Charts as 14, way ahead of such big international acts like CRADLE OF FILTH and PAIN, even leaving Pop-Star PINK's new release behind.
SUE - 9/10
"Erittäin vahva on kuin japanilaisen miekkamestarin suurtyö. Hauraan ja elegantin näköinen ja virtaviivainen luomus joka on kuitenkin niin terävä ja vahva että sillä leikkaa mitä tahansa eikä siihen pure edes ajan hammas." - Jussi Lahtonen
Inferno - 4/5
"Jokaisen yhtyeestä aiemmin pitäneen kehtaa väittää koukuttuvan Soundscape of Silencesta." - Mikko Kuronen
Imperiumi - 8+/10
"Rouheampi riffittely on astetta vähäisempää ja kuulaat melodiat ovat muuttuneet kirkkaammiksi, vieläkin astetta tarttuvammiksi ja jollakin tasolla myös hieman eeppisemmiksi. Muutenkin levyn soundimaailma on isompi kuin Before the Dawnilla koskaan, joten tähän uusia ulottuvuuksia tavoittelevaan junaan on mukava asettua päätepysäkille asti yhä uudestaan ja uudestaan." - Tero Lassila
Stalker - 9,5/10
"Still, the first chords of "Dying Sun" had my jaw drop: powerful drumming, blow-away riffs and then this sad glass-clear guitar theme - instant goose-flesh, even before those beautiful lyrics started, that lasted until the last chord of the album." - Klaudia Weber
Rock Hard (GER) - 8,5/10
"Although with a shot HIM's hit feeling (Hide Me) and a shot of Opeth's playfulness (Fabrication) the disk sounds nevertheless strong and heavy as always. These mix is nearly already a warranty for an entering the Finnish Charts. Would have earned that." - Bruder Cle
Metal Hammer (GER) - 5/7
"One imagines into for instance the sound landscapes of Opeth (GHOST of REVERIES) and Amorphis (SILENT WATERS), in order to get a vague idea from SOUNDSCAPE OF SILENCE." - Matthias Mineur
Can't wait to see you guys again!!!! ;o) Ei kahta ilman kolmatta! ;D
Gonna be fun in Munich!!! It's a great venue - hope it's gonna be full!!! Saw one of my most favourite shows of all time there --> Stone Sour back in 2006!
Thanks for the add!!! I love your music. Good music like that only comes out of europe. I'm from hungary myself, but I live in the states now. Too bad most of the american bands are cheese shit, unlistenable. I see you guys are on tour right now. I envy those lucky people who did and will see you live. Have fun on the tour and keep it heavy!!! You guys rule!
Hi guys! Yesterday was the coolest show that I've ever seen in Diesel. I really loved this version of My room:). I hope I could welcome back you in Hungary soon!
AntiProduct's brilliant new LP, PLEASE TAKE YOUR CASH available exclusively from myspace.com/antiproduct. Produced by Sylvia Massy (with new and improved no added middle men)!
A HUGE THANKS FOR THE ADD BEFORE THE DAWN,COZ I REALLY ENJOYED YOUR GREAT STUFF.HOPE TO SEE U IN THESSALONIKI AND GET YOUR CD FROM THE MERCH STORE OVER THERE.HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND MY FRIENDS.HORNS UP!METALHERC.
Congratulation to your fantastic gig at the Summer Breeze Festival, it was one of the highlights! Looking forward to see you with Amorphis in Vienna...and by the way...Lars has a fantastic voice...
