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Suidakra (stylized SuidAkrA) is a German
melodic death metal
Melodic death metal (also referred to as melodeath) is a subgenre of death metal that employs highly melodic guitar riffs, often borrowing from traditional heavy metal (including New Wave of British Heavy Metal). The genre features the heavines ...
band from
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf ( , , ; often in English sources; Low Franconian and Ripuarian: ''Düsseldörp'' ; archaic nl, Dusseldorp ) is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second-largest city in th ...
, Germany.
During their twenty-year career, they have performed over 200 live shows for several European and Russian tours,
as well as a North American tour.
They are known for their use of traditional instruments to augment their sound, such as the
bagpipe
Bagpipes are a woodwind instrument using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. The Great Highland bagpipes are well known, but people have played bagpipes for centuries throughout large parts of Europe, Nor ...
,
banjo
The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Early forms of the instrument were fashi ...
, and
tin whistle
The tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is a type of fipple flute, putting it in the same class as the recorder, Native American flute, and other woodwind instruments that meet such criteria. ...
.
History
Suidakra was formed in 1994 by guitarist
Arkadius Antonik and drummer Stefan Möller under the name Gloryfication. The band recorded two demos with varying lineups, until finally solidifying its line-up with keyboardist Daniela Voigt, guitarist Marcel Schoenen and bassist Christoph Zacharowski. Later in the same year the band's name was changed to Suidakra (Arkadius spelled backwards).
In 1997, the band released their first album, the self-published ''
Lupine Essence
''Lupine Essence'' is the debut studio album by the German melodic death metal
Melodic death metal (also referred to as melodeath) is a subgenre of death metal that employs highly melodic guitar riffs, often borrowing from traditional heavy m ...
''. The album attracted the attention of German record company Last Episode. A deal was signed, and the band proceeded to record their second album ''
Auld Lang Syne
"Auld Lang Syne" (: note "s" rather than "z") is a popular song, particularly in the English-speaking world. Traditionally, it is sung to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. By extension, it is also often ...
'' in 1998. Soon after the release bassist Nils Bross replaced Christoph Zacharowski.
''
Lays from Afar
''Lays From Afar'' is the third studio album by the German melodic death metal band Suidakra.
Track listing
# A Darksome Path - 04:35
# Chants of Lethe - 04:31
# The Well of Might - 04:03
# The Hidden Quest - 03:52
# Morrigan - 03:49
# Peregri ...
'' and ''
The Arcanum'' were released in 1999 and 2000, respectively. At this point, the sound of the band had developed into melodic death metal reminiscent of many
Gothenburg
Gothenburg (; abbreviated Gbg; sv, Göteborg ) is the second-largest city in Sweden, fifth-largest in the Nordic countries, and capital of the Västra Götaland County. It is situated by the Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, and has ...
area bands. Further lineup changes took place after the release of ''The Arcanum'', as Daniela Voigt and Stefan Möller left the band and Marcel Schoenen retired his band position to concentrate on song writing.
In 2001, SuidAkrA signed a deal with
Century Media Records
Century Media Records is a heavy metal record label with offices in the United States, Germany and London. In August 2015, Century Media was acquired by Sony Music for US$17 million.
Background
Century Media was founded by Robert Kampf and Oli ...
. Drummer Lars Wehner and guitarist Germano Sanna joined Antonik and Bross to record the follow-up to ''The Arcanum'', titled ''
Emprise to Avalon
Emprise to Avalon is the fifth studio album by the German melodic death metal band Suidakra.
Track listing
# "Darkane Times" – 5:47
# "Dinas Emrys" – 1:54
# "Pendragon's Fall" – 5:32
# "The Highking" – 4:00
# "The Spoils of Annwn" – ...
'', released in 2002. This lineup did not last long, as Bross left the band soon after recordings were complete. Marcus Riewaldt joined the band to take up the bass spot. A year later Marcel Schoenen returned to replace Sanna.
The new lineup meant a change in the creative responsibilities. For the band's sixth studio album, ''Signs for the Fallen'', all members took part in writing material. While the lineup remained the same for the next album, the band had run into disagreement with their label and eventually split. They went on to finance the next album on their own, and later signed a new recording deal with
Armageddon Music. ''Command to Charge'' was released in 2005.
Their eighth studio release, titled ''
Caledonia
Caledonia (; ) was the Latin name used by the Roman Empire to refer to the part of Great Britain () that lies north of the River Forth, which includes most of the land area of Scotland. Today, it is used as a romantic or poetic name for all ...
'' was released on 2006-11-17. The Scottish themed album included some fairly prominent use of highland
bagpipes
Bagpipes are a woodwind instrument using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. The Great Highland bagpipes are well known, but people have played bagpipes for centuries throughout large parts of Europe, No ...
, contributed by Axel Römer, who also appeared on some of the larger live performances.
From 5–12 August 2007, some old tracks were re-recorded for a Best Of compilation titled ''13 Years of Celtic Wartunes''. Others tracks were remastered. This was released on 25 April 2008.
together with a live DVD containing registrations of the
Wacken 2007 performance as well as the acoustic show at the Kielowatt Festival in 2006. Release dates for other regions were 2008-04-28 (Europe) and 2008-06-10 (USA).
Shortly after their performance on Ultima Ratio 3 in November 2007 the band announced that Marcel Schoenen had left the band for the second time, to concentrate on his job. Consequently, a new live guitar player was recruited in the form of Tim Siebrecht, ex-member of the disbanded formation Sleeping Gods.
The band returned to Gernhart recording studios in November 2008 to record their ninth studio album ''
Crógacht
Crógacht is the ninth studio album by the German melodic death metal band Suidakra. This album features a greater Celtic sound and theme than earlier works. In particular, it builds on the sound formed in the previous album, '' Caledonia'', not ...
''. The album featured greater Celtic influences, taking its name from the Gaelic word for bravery.
It was released on 20 February 2009 in Germany, 23 February in the rest of Europe, and 3 March in the USA. Suidakra supported this album with a US and European tour throughout 2009.
In May 2009, Suidakra announced a Chinese tour, as well as informing fans that tour guitarist and backup vocalist, Sebastian Hintz, was promoted to full member.
On 6 October 2010, the band announced that, after a short tour and some festival appearances, they would enter the studio to begin recording their tenth studio album, ''
Book of Dowth
''Book of Dowth'' is the tenth studio album by the German melodic death metal band Suidakra. It was released in 2011 on AFM Records.
Track listing
# "Over Nine Waves" - 01:57
# "Dowth 2059" - 04:38
# "Battle-Cairns" - 03:36
# "Biróg's Oath" - 04: ...
''. Early the next year, the band signed with
AFM Records
AFM Records GmbH is a music label based in Schwalmstadt, Germany. They focus on the heavy metal musical genre, signing bands such as U.D.O., Doro, Lordi, Kotipelto, Masterplan, Nostradameus, and Annihilator.
In 2005, Candlelight Records si ...
, and ''Book of Dowth'' was released through that label on 25 March 2011. Immediately after release of the album, the band embarked on a European tour.
In February 2012, Suidakra played in India for the first time, appearing at
VIT University in
Vellore
Vellore (English: ), also spelt as Velur (), is a city and the administrative headquarters of Vellore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the Palar River in the northeastern part of Tamil Nadu and is separa ...
as well as performing in
Bangalore
Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...
at
Summer Storm Festival (supporting
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish progressive metal/rock band from Stockholm, formed in 1990 by lead vocalist David Isberg. The group has been through several personnel changes, including the replacement of every original member; notably Isberg in 1992. Mikael ...
). A tour of the United States followed, with Tim Siebrecht standing in for Marcus Riewaldt on bass. Siebricht would become the permanent bassist for the band. Suidakra returned to India in June to perform at Bangalore Open Air as a fill-in act for
Iced Earth
Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band formed in Tampa, Florida and currently based in Columbus, Indiana. They were formed in 1984 under the name the Rose, then Purgatory, by guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer and original drummer ...
.
The title of the band's eleventh album, ''
Eternal Defiance'', was announced in December 2012, with recordings finished by February 2013. ''Eternal Defiance'' was released on 24 May 2013 by AFM Records. In September of that year, Suidakra appeared on the Heidenfest Tour with fellow folk metal bands
Equilibrium,
Ensiferum
Ensiferum (Latin: , n adj., meaning "sword bearing") is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. The members of the band label themselves as "melodic folk metal."
History Formation, demos and ''Ensiferum'' (1995−2002)
''Ensiferum'' was founde ...
, and
Turisas
Turisas is a Finnish metal band from Hämeenlinna. They were founded in 1997 by Mathias Nygård and Jussi Wickström, and named after an ancient Finnish god of war.
Turisas are a folk metal band, incorporating elements of power metal and symp ...
.
Songwriting for Suidakra's twelfth studio album, ''Realms of Odoric'', began in January 2015. ''Realms of Odoric'' will be a collaboration with Kris Verwimp, who is doing lyrics for the album.
Verwimp had previously done cover artwork for several of the band's albums.
Line-up
Current members
* Arkadius Antonik – vocals, guitars (1994–present), keyboards (2000–present)
* Sebastian Jensen – guitars, clean vocals (2009–2010, 2018–present)
* Tim Siebrecht – bass (2012–2016, 2019–present), live guitars, clean vocals (2008–2009)
* Ken Jentzen – drums (2019–present), bass (2018-2019)
Live musicians
* Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann – guitars, clean vocals (2009)
Past members
* Stefan Möller – drums, vocals (1994–2000)
* Daniela Voigt – keyboards, vocals (1994–2000)
* Christoph Zacharowski – bass (1994–1998)
* F.T. – bass (1999–2001)
* Nils Bross – bass (1998–1999)
* Marcus Riewaldt – bass, backing vocals (2002–2012)
* Marcel Schoenen – guitar, clean vocals (1996–2000, 2005–2007)
* Matthias Kupka – guitars, clean vocals (2004-2005)
* Marius "Jussi" Pesch – guitars, clean vocals (2012–2018; live 2010–2012)
* Jan Jansohn – bass (2016-2018)
* Lars Wehner – drums, backing vocals (2001–2018)
Timeline
Discography
Albums
* ''
Lupine Essence
''Lupine Essence'' is the debut studio album by the German melodic death metal
Melodic death metal (also referred to as melodeath) is a subgenre of death metal that employs highly melodic guitar riffs, often borrowing from traditional heavy m ...
'' (1997)
* ''
Auld Lang Syne
"Auld Lang Syne" (: note "s" rather than "z") is a popular song, particularly in the English-speaking world. Traditionally, it is sung to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. By extension, it is also often ...
'' (1998)
* ''
Lays from Afar
''Lays From Afar'' is the third studio album by the German melodic death metal band Suidakra.
Track listing
# A Darksome Path - 04:35
# Chants of Lethe - 04:31
# The Well of Might - 04:03
# The Hidden Quest - 03:52
# Morrigan - 03:49
# Peregri ...
'' (1999)
* ''
The Arcanum'' (2000)
* ''
Emprise to Avalon
Emprise to Avalon is the fifth studio album by the German melodic death metal band Suidakra.
Track listing
# "Darkane Times" – 5:47
# "Dinas Emrys" – 1:54
# "Pendragon's Fall" – 5:32
# "The Highking" – 4:00
# "The Spoils of Annwn" – ...
'' (2002)
* ''
Signs for the Fallen'' (2003)
* ''
Command to Charge'' (2005)
* ''
Caledonia
Caledonia (; ) was the Latin name used by the Roman Empire to refer to the part of Great Britain () that lies north of the River Forth, which includes most of the land area of Scotland. Today, it is used as a romantic or poetic name for all ...
'' (2006)
* ''
Crógacht
Crógacht is the ninth studio album by the German melodic death metal band Suidakra. This album features a greater Celtic sound and theme than earlier works. In particular, it builds on the sound formed in the previous album, '' Caledonia'', not ...
'' (2009)
* ''
Book of Dowth
''Book of Dowth'' is the tenth studio album by the German melodic death metal band Suidakra. It was released in 2011 on AFM Records.
Track listing
# "Over Nine Waves" - 01:57
# "Dowth 2059" - 04:38
# "Battle-Cairns" - 03:36
# "Biróg's Oath" - 04: ...
'' (2011)
* ''
Eternal Defiance'' (2013)
* ''Realms of Odoric'' (2016)
* ''
Cimbric Yarns'' (2018)
* ''
Echoes of Yore'' (2019) (Re-recording of selected songs)
* ''
Wolfbite'' (2021)
Extended plays
* ''The Eternal Chronicles'' (2013)
Demos
* ''
Dawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the appearance of indirect sunlight being scattered in Earth's atmosphere, when the centre of the Sun's disc has reached 18° below the observer's horizo ...
'' (1995)
Compilations
* ''
13 Years of Celtic Wartunes'' (2008)
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
German melodic death metal musical groups
German folk metal musical groups
Celtic metal musical groups
Musical groups established in 1994
Musical quartets