Madrid, SPAIN (Top40 Charts/ Locomotive Records) - "Hellroad Caravan," the fourth release from Finland's hardest rocking groove-masters Mannhai has received a North American release through Locomotive Music.
"Hellroad Caravan" is the first album that unites former Amorphis bandmates Olli-Pekka "Oppu" Laine (bass) and Pasi Koskinen (vocals) but its sound is eaons away from duo's Finnish folk-inspired death metal, walking a ground along the lines of classic Black Sabbath and modern-day Black Label Society.
"Mannhai already existed when I left Amorphis, but I also wanted to do something completely different after that," Laine said. "I listened to lots of KISS and AC/DC when I was a kid, so it was exciting to learn how to play rock music properly. But really we just started the band for fun, and we didn't think about how we should sound."
The group released three albums, "The Sounds of Yesterday's Black Grouse," "Evil Under the Sun," and "Exploder," before embarking on a European tour in 2005. In the midst of the tour, Mannhai split with its vocalist and called upon Koskinen to fill in. After returning home from the tour, the group quickly decided that things were gelling with the new vocalist and agreed to continue the collaboration. "It feels great to work with Pasi again, as I've always dug his voice and vocal arrangements," said Laine.
With a tighter band and heavier, more melodic songs, Mannhai holed up in a friend's Helsinki studio for a month to record "Hellroad Caravan." "I recall it as one of the most hectic sessions I've ever been in," said Laine. "We recorded 14 songs and 10 of them ended up on the album. It was a great session and I remember that we spent the whole Christmas in the studio too!"
"Hellroad Caravan" has also proved to be Mannhai's most successful record to date. "Spaceball," its first single, entered the Finnish single charts at number and stayed in the Top 10 for three weeks. "It was a huge surprise, of course," Laine said. "I think people were curious to hear Pasi singing with us, so they went and bought the single. Finland is more open to heavy music. Even small children and old people seem to dig metal here nowdays."
Locomotive Records was founded in 1996 by music producer Goyo Esteban. Since its formation 11 years ago, the company has become one of the biggest Independent labels in Europe, South America, and the United States. With well-known artists from many genres, its main focus remains rock and metal music, and as a US licensor for bigger Indie labels. As a small record label in Spain, the company started with a lone office in Madrid but soon opened up another office in Cologne, Germany, in 2002. That office is now responsible for the international business and artistic vision for the whole company. In January 2008 Locomotive Records will open a US office in New York to increase its profile in the US market and offer a local and country-specific partner to expand its business even further.
Locomotive Records is driven by a passion for music and is always anxious to pave the way for new artists and bands who also share their love for good music and have an ability to delight the audience.
