So the Kiuas saga continued with their debut album "The Spirit of Ukko", an album paying homage to the Finnish Zeus: Ukko, the mightiest one! Springtime of 2005 saw the release of this melodic, aggressive and graceful debut that, not naming any influences, bore a streak of tantalizing resemblances to some good old metal bands.
After being released in Japan by Universal Music, "The Spirit of Ukko" was carried all the way to the land of the rising sun where Kiuas played their debut gig. After Japan Kiuas toured Finland extensively, and then headed to the studio to record a follower to their debut.
The recordings of “Reformation” were begun at the Sonic Pump Studios in Winter 2006, in Helsinki. Mixed and produced by Sonic Pump’s Nino Laurenne, the album was then mastered at Finnvox by Mika Jussila. Reformation hit the 21st place on the official finnish Top40 chart.
Kiuas´ third full-length album "The New Dark Age" was released on the 12th of March 2008 in Finland and Central Europe. The album hit the 10th place on the official finnish album chart. The album was the highest newcomer of the week. "The New Dark Age" was released on the 12th of May in the UK and the US (Spinefarm US) + Japanese (Universal) release on July 2008. Kiuas toured in Britain in September 2008 and in Europe in November 2008 with Firewind.
The song "Of Sacrifice, Loss and Reward" was also released as a SINGLE in Finland (February 20th). The single hit the 1st place on the official finnish single chart.
"The New Dark Age" was recorded and produced by Nino Laurenne at Sonic Pump Studios (Helsinki, Finland) during October 2007. Kiuas used producer Janne Joutsenniemi in the pre-production phase. The album was mixed at Finnvox by Mikko Karmila in December 2007 and mastered at Chartmakers by Svante Forsbäck in January 2008.
FOLLOWING ON from ‘The New Dark Age’, their Finnish Top 10 album released in 2008, epic metallers KIUAS have confirmed that latest outing ‘Lustdriven’ will be made available through Spinefarm Records March 31st in Finland and Central Europe and in the UK April 26th 2010.
A 10-track affair produced by Janne Joutsenniemi (Ensiferum, Suburban Tribe and Stone) and mixed by Mikko Karmila (Children Of Bodom, Nightwish), ‘Lustdriven’ sees the Finnish five-piece – from the town of Espoo, near Helsinki – further creating a signature style that draws from a broad range of influences; these include both power metal & prog, with death, symphonic & folk metal also playing a part, the whole thing topped off with a healthy sprinkling of myth & legend, plus the soul-stirring vocals of high-energy frontman Ilja Jalkanen.
As well as lead track ‘The Quickening’, the album features songs such as ‘Cry Little Angel’, ‘Of Love, Lust And Human Nature’ & ‘Lights Are Many’ – ambitious compositions displaying the development that has taken place in the band’s 10-year history.
“On this new album, we’ve kept the most aggressive elements of KIUAS,” says guitarist Mikko Salovaara, “everything is very raw and in your face. At the same time, however, we’ve pushed the epic, orchestral side to new heights, and although you’ll find some of our fastest and heaviest songs here, we’ve tried to maintain a real sense of melody throughout.”
Kiuas will tour Finland intensively on April and May. At the moment, UK shows and Eurotour are being lined up for later in the year, and of course KIUAS are no strangers to these shores, having played here with both Children Of Bodom & Firewind; they also appeared at the Hard Rock Hell festival in Prestatyn, Wales, back in 2009.
So, enjoy this breath of fresh air – or take it hot and sweaty if you like – and turn up the heat. I mean volume!
In late 2010 Ilja Jalkanen announced that he would not continue in Kiuas anymore because he thought that Kiuas needed a singer with his heart 100% in the music that Kiuas plays. In 15.1.2011 Kiuas had a gig in Nosturi where the band officially confirmed that the new singer is Asim Searah.
After Jalkanen left Kiuas, the band announced that keyboardist Atte Tanskanen and drummer Markku Närenevä would also part ways with the band. They were replaced by Jari Pailamo (keys) and Rainer Tuomikanto (drums).
On 12th September 2012, Kiuas announced on their website that the singer Asim Searah was fired, because quote "he has proven to be too unreliable, unpredictable and untrustworthy". A new singer is yet to be announced.
Current Lineup
Mikko Salovaara – Guitars
Teemu Tuominen – Bass
Jari Pailamo – Keyboard
Rainer Tuomikanto – Drums
Official Website: http://www.kiuas.net
Official MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kiuasweb
aftermath
Kiuas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Their tongues whisper a venomous lie
So well disguised
They deceive even you
They're not to blame
They're just part of this game
Where egos make the moves
[Chorus:]
Anger grows in me
Twisting my sense of reality
This sweet dream shattered
Beauty and bliss that could have been
Now – as you're weak and bleeding
Dwelling in your tomb of misery
I – still undefeated
Enjoy the spoils of my victories
Too late to see my divinity
With blood and with sweat
I've paid for my success
Even more dedication
I would've offered you
But you're a disease
A parasite I do not need
Gladly I leave you on
The withered killing field
[Chorus]
Now – as you're weak and bleeding
Ditching your soul in a rotten tomb
Sick, alone and needing
You hope I'd be there to comfort you
Your time for pity is overdue
[Chorus:]
Anger burns in me
Releasing me from this misery
One sweet dream shattered
But now I know who I'm meant to be
Force – it gathers in us
Leading us on to our destiny
With might now handed to us
We shine with joy, grace and unity
You just did not want to follow me
You – alone and needing
I – still undefeated
You lie weak, cold, alone and needing
I move on forever undefeated
The lyrics of Kiuas's song "Aftermath" are dark and powerful, reflecting a story of betrayal and revenge. The opening lines, "Snakes in your mouth, their tongues whisper a venomous lie," depict a situation where the singer's trust has been broken by someone close to them. The sense of deception that follows is emphasized by the line, "So well disguised, they deceive even you." The next lines, "They're not to blame, they're just part of this game, where egos make the moves and hearts always lose," suggest that the betrayer's actions were influenced by a sense of competitiveness and a lack of empathy.
The chorus, "Anger grows in me, twisting my sense of reality, this sweet dream shattered, beauty and bliss that could have been," expresses the singer's emotional turmoil and the shattered hopes and dreams that follow the betrayal. The subsequent verses, "With blood and with sweat I've paid for my success, even more dedication I would've offered you, but you're a disease, a parasite I do not need," describe the singer's hard work and dedication that were undermined by the betrayer's actions. The implication is that the singer was willing to share their success with the betrayer, but their toxic behavior made this impossible.
The powerful lyrics of "Aftermath" are a reminder of the destructive consequences that betrayal can have on relationships. They highlight the pain and emotional turmoil that can follow when trust is broken, and the dark emotions that can arise in response. The song is an intense and emotional reflection on the complexity of human relationships and the destructive impact that deceit can have on them.
Line by Line Meaning
Snakes in your mouth
Falsehoods and lies are present in the words that you speak
Their tongues whisper a venomous lie
The insincere words you speak harm me
So well disguised
Your lies are expertly crafted to deceive me
They deceive even you
Your lies are so expertly crafted that even you believe them
They're not to blame
The lies are not responsible for their presence, people are
They're just part of this game
Deceit and falsehoods are a common occurrence in life
Where egos make the moves
People's pride, arrogance, and self-importance dictate their actions
And hearts always lose
Compassion and kindness rarely triumph in this game
Anger grows in me
I am becoming more and more furious
Twisting my sense of reality
My anger has started to affect how I perceive things
This sweet dream shattered
My pleasant illusion has been shattered
Beauty and bliss that could have been
The wonderful things that were possible but can never be achieved now
Now – as you're weak and bleeding
You are now vulnerable and suffering
Dwelling in your tomb of misery
You are stuck in your misery and can't escape it
I – still undefeated
Despite my losses and difficulties, I am still able to go on
Enjoy the spoils of my victories
I am now basking in the rewards of my success
Too late to see my divinity
You didn't recognize my superiority earlier, and it's now too late
With blood and with sweat
I have worked hard and made sacrifices for my achievements
I've paid for my success
I have suffered in some way to attain my goals
Even more dedication
I was willing to work even harder for you if you had asked
But you're a disease
You are harmful and an unwelcome presence in my life
A parasite I do not need
You are like a leech that feeds off me, and I have had enough
Gladly I leave you on
I am happy to abandon you
The withered killing field
The place where you will be left is a barren wasteland
Ditching your soul in a rotten tomb
You are in a place of despair and hopelessness
Sick, alone and needing
You are now sick and alone, needing help
You hope I'd be there to comfort you
You wish that I were still there to console and help you
Your time for pity is overdue
You should not expect me to feel sorry for you anymore
Anger burns in me
I am consumed with fury
Releasing me from this misery
My anger is freeing me from my suffering
But now I know who I'm meant to be
Through my experience, I have discovered my true calling
Force – it gathers in us
We are accumulating power and momentum
Leading us on to our destiny
Our fate is pushing us in a certain direction
With might now handed to us
We now have immense power in our hands
We shine with joy, grace and unity
We are radiating positivity, elegance, and harmony
You just did not want to follow me
You refused to come along with me
You lie weak, cold, alone and needing
You are in a pitiful state of being
I move on forever undefeated
I am moving forward, never to be defeated
Contributed by Liam G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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These guys kick ass!