Gifted Finnish vocalist Timo KOTIPELTO has enjoyed worldwide
fame for numerous years of international success, experienced
break-through album releases and has toured relentlessly all over the globe with
Power Metal heroes Stratovarius and belongs among the most charismatic
performers within the scene. Having wanted to expand his personal
creative horizons, KOTIPELTO decided to move on with a solo career,
releasing his 2002 debut Waiting For The Dawn via Century Media Records and
received acclaim from every supporter of Power/Heavy Metal for his
well-balanced outcome combining bombastic, technically intriguing arrangements
in his songs with a remarkably straight forward approach, an
overwhelming melodic sense and a crystal-clear, pounding vocal delivery. Having
performed his live debut in central Europe at 2002’s Wacken Open Air
festival, KOTIPELTO received a very warm and motivating reception and
response by the Metal community and decided to continue working on !
new material for his sophomore release.
Once again, KOTIPELTO gathered almost the same group of talented
musicians that already co-operated with Waiting For The Dawn to record
Coldness: Janne Wirman on keyboards (Children Of Bodom / Warmen), Mirka
Rantanen on drums (Thunderstone / Tunnelvision / Warmen), fellow
Stratovarius member Jari Kainulainen (Bass), guitar wizard Mike Romeo (Symphony X)
as well as axeman Juhani Malmberg (Tunnelvision) as well as guest lead
guitarist Antti Wirman (Warmen / Craydawn). These outstanding players
not only serve as a guarantee for top-notch results on Coldness but also
add a very individual vibe and special feel to all of KOTIPELTO’s
compositions on the record: From the powerful, bombastic opening track
“Seeds Of Sorrow” to the more moody, almost Hard Rock influenced “Reasons”
(Title track of the album’s first single, released on March 22nd) to the
speeding “Can You Hear The Sound”, the pounding “Snowbound” to the more
epic final offering “Here We Are”, this album offers a diverse!
and very personal reflection of KOTIPELTO’s enchanting musical and
lyrical abilities. Coldness was engineered by Janne Wirman at Beyond
Abilities studios and by Tero Kostermaa at High and Loud’s ELK-Studios as
well as famous Finnvox studios in Helsinki, Finland, while the latter
also served as the household location for the mix (by Mikko Karmila) and
mastering (by Mika Jussila).
The atmospherically suitable artwork was designed by Mattias Norden
(Lost Horizon, Evergrey, Into Eternity, etc.) and as a special bonus the
finished retail version of the album will include enhancements of the
first video clip (for the “Reasons”) as well as a “making of” feature for
the video and for the recording process of the album. Coldness is sure
to hit straight to the heart of every follower of Melodic Metal and
will leave those of you who were curious about the future activities of
KOTIPELTO after his wildly speculated, recent split from Stratovarius
positively impressed with the energy and depth he displays on the album. A
departure always incites the beginning of a new chapter – feel invited
to be a part of great things to come with Coldness!
KOTIPELTO
