Amberian Dawn is musically lead by keyboardist/guitarist Tuomas Seppälä, who exclusively composes all music for AD.
All members of the band have some form of extended history with music and have played in many different bands. Tuomas Seppälä, Heikki Saari(drums), Peter James Goodman (vocals), and Tommi Kuri played in a band called Virtuocity. As Virtuocity disbanded, they started working on songs composed by Tuomas. He started playing guitar, which he mastered as well as playing keyboards. Sampo Seppälä (guitars) and Tom Sagar (keyboards) joined to establish Atheme One.
It was in the summer of 2006 that Tuomas and Tommi decided to start looking for a female classical singer. Tuomas had composed dozens of songs that were not suitable for the voice of Atheme One's vocalist, Peter James Goodman. They didn't want to waste the songs, so they began searching for suitable singer.
After a few weeks search, almost at the same time, they found the same advertisement - a classical soprano singer Heidi Parviainen (from the band Iconofear). They listened to her sample and decided to organize a demo session. They were pleased with the demo and thought that Heidi would be a perfect match and they liked the fact that Heidi can write lyrics too.
Their first studio session was in fall 2006 in which they recorded two songs (River of Tuoni and Evil Inside Me) at the Rockstar Productions studio in Hyvinkää, Finland. Soon after, Heikki Saari moved to a band called Norther, being replaced by Joonas Pykälä-Aho (from the band Thaurorod and Lathspell).
After a while Sampo Seppälä decided to leave the band due to personal reasons. On August 1, 2007 the band introduced Kasperi Heikkinen (previously in Guardians of Mankind, Merging Flare, and Iconofear) as the new guitarist.
Amberian Dawn signed a record deal with Finnish label KHY Suomen Musiikki. Their debut album, River of Tuoni, was released in Finland on January 30, 2008 and hit the charts right after release in Finland.
In the summer and Autumn of 2008, they were the main support for Epica's European tour. In late 2008, they recorded their second album The Clouds of Northland Thunder which was released in June of 2009.
Third album End of Eden was released in October 2010 on Spinefarm Records
Their fourth album Circus Black was released in February 2012.
In late 2012, the band lost three members, vocalist Heidi Parviainen, drummer Heikki Saari and guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen. Parviainen made an announcement on Facebook, saying that "Early this year we noticed that we had reached the point where we didn't have much to offer to each other any more, and my own ambitions and Amberian Dawn's goals weren't coinciding any longer." Former members Joonas Pykälä-aho (drums) and Emil "Emppu" Pohjalainen (guitar) were announced to be rejoining to replace the two departing instrumentalists.
On December 21, 2012, the new singer was revealed to be Päivi "Capri" Virkkunen, and that she would participate in the creation of a compilation album. In the announcement, Tuomas Seppälä said: "Finding Capri and getting her to join AD is like a big dream coming true to me. Capri shares the same taste in music as I and that's why is obvious that our new partnership is like “match made in heaven”. She really makes my compositions to shine like never before and I'm so impressed about her every way. I'm as excited as back then, when I found our original singer Heidi. Now my main focus is to make the whole world to hear about Capri and start composing new songs for her. But first, we're all concentrating on recording this compilation album with Capri and then I'll start working with new material for the new studio album".
Their compliation album "Re-Evolution" was released on June 14, 2013 (Finland) and June 17, 2013 (Europe, USA, Japan, Asia & Australia). It features songs previously sung by Heidi Parviainen, but interpreted by Capri.
Official site: http://www.amberiandawn.com
Evil Inside Me
Amberian Dawn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh Father, now hear me! This sinner on her knees!
When I turn my head towards your light I see this shadow
shading my eyes, fear I can't hide, evil's after my soul!
Dominating all my thaughts evil takes my soul.
Fear I cannot hide how dark pulls me away from your light!
Oh Father, come save me! The evil's after me!
Evil lurkes under my skin there dwells an enemy within.
I am the worst what I fear - I m the evil that is near.
Father hear me, evil's in me- I pray to save my soul!
Fear I cannot hide how dark pulls me away from your light!
SOLO
Oh Father, come save me!The evil's after me!
Oh Father, come save me!The evil's after me!
Evil lurkes under my skin there dwells an enemy within.
I am the worst what I fear - I'm the evil that is near.
Father hear me, evil's in me- I pray to save my soul!
Fear I cannot hide how dark pulls me away from your light!
The lyrics of Amberian Dawn's song "Evil Inside Me" depict a desperate plea for salvation from a sinner who realizes that evil has taken over her soul. The repetition of the phrase "Oh Father, now hear me! This sinner on her knees!" emphasizes the urgency and sincerity of the singer's prayer. The dichotomy between light and dark, good and evil is explored throughout the song with the singer admitting her fear that the darkness is pulling her away from the light.
The lyrics suggest a struggle with inner demons and a realization that evil is not an external force, but rather something that exists within oneself. The line "I am the worst what I fear - I'm the evil that is near" articulates this realization succinctly. The solo that follows the second chorus adds a sense of desperation and emotion to the song.
Overall, "Evil Inside Me" is a powerful exploration of the human struggle between good and evil, of the fear of losing oneself to darkness, and of the desperate need for salvation.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Father, now hear me! This sinner on her knees!
The singer is acknowledging their sins and asking for forgiveness from God.
When I turn my head towards your light I see this shadow shading my eyes, fear I can't hide, evil's after my soul!
The singer sees the light of God, but also feels the presence of evil within them, causing fear and a sense of impending danger.
Dominating all my thaughts evil takes my soul. Fear I cannot hide how dark pulls me away from your light!
Evil is encompassing the singer's thoughts and they feel as though they are losing their connection with God due to the darkness within them.
Oh Father, come save me! The evil's after me!
The artist pleads with God to intervene and save them from the evil that is threatening them.
Evil lurkes under my skin there dwells an enemy within. I am the worst what I fear - I m the evil that is near.
The artist feels as though they are their own worst enemy and the evil within them is a constant threat.
Father hear me, evil's in me- I pray to save my soul! Fear I cannot hide how dark pulls me away from your light!
The singer acknowledges the evil within them and asks for God's help to save their soul, while also feeling the darkness pulling them away from the light of God.
SOLO
Musical interlude.
Oh Father, come save me!The evil's after me!
Repetition of earlier plea for God's help and protection.
Evil lurkes under my skin there dwells an enemy within. I am the worst what I fear - I'm the evil that is near.
Reiteration of the artist's internal struggle with the evil within them.
Father hear me, evil's in me- I pray to save my soul! Fear I cannot hide how dark pulls me away from your light!
Final plea to God for help in overcoming the darkness within, and the fear that accompanies it.
Contributed by Caden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.