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Beast In Black

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Beast In Black
Beast In Black at South Park Festival, 2018
Beast In Black at South Park Festival, 2018
Background information
OriginHelsinki, Finland
Genres
Years active2015–present
LabelsNuclear Blast[3]
Spinoff ofBattle Beast[2]
Members
Past members
  • Sami Hänninen
Websitebeastinblack.com

Beast In Black is an International heavy power metal band, which was formed in Helsinki in 2015 by guitarist and songwriter Anton Kabanen.[4] The band's blend of power metal, 80s pop and electronic music [5] as well as their energetic live performances have made them pioneers of their genre. Beast In Black's current lineup consists of founding member and primary songwriter Anton Kabanen, lead vocalist Yannis Papadopoulos, guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen, bassist Mate Molnar and drummer Atte Palokangas. The band's original drummer Sami Hanninen left the band in 2017 because of the changing circumstances in his life and issues related to the nerve system on his left hand.[6]

Beast In Black's debut studio album Berserker was released in November 2017 and achieved rapid success by getting certified Platinum by the IFPI, same as their 2019 follow-up From Hell With Love, which further increased their popularity. The band's third studio album, Dark Connection was released on October 29, 2021, and achieved Gold status. With the proven success of the band's three releases, Beast In Black has become one of the most successful Finnish based heavy power metal bands of the decade. This was further solidified by the band's appearances on international music festivals including Graspop in 2019[7] and 2023,[8] Hellfest[9] in 2023 and Wacken Open Air[10] in 2024.

To date, the band has released three studio albums, 15 singles and one video game.[11] Their lyrics cover topics such as relationships, literature, dark fantasy, science fiction and societal issues, while the band's mascot, the "Beast", regularly appears on album artworks and live shows.[12][13]

History

[edit]

Formation (2015)

[edit]

Beast In Black was formed in Helsinki in 2015 when Finnish guitarist Anton Kabanen decided to give a call to all the musicians whom he has spotted over the years for a brand new, five-piece heavy metal band. More specifically, Kabanen and Finnish guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen met each other briefly in 2010 when Battle Beast and Merging Flare (Heikkinen's band)[14] were both supporting Blaze Bayley in Finland[15][16]Back then they didn't initiate too much of a connection between each other. However, it was at the end of 2013, when Battle Beast was supporting U.D.O. during their “Steelhammer” tour[17][18](Heikkinen had joined the ranks of U.D.O. earlier that year[19]), when they found out that they both shared a lot of similar interests, influences and opinions on music. When the Battle Beast thing was finally done for Kabanen, he asked Heikkinen to be a part of this new band[20]

In the early 2010s, Finnish drummer Sami Hänninen's band Brymir and Battle Beast shared the same rehearsal facilities where he occasionally met Kabanen. In 2011, Hänninen joined the Battle Beast tour in Central Europe as a driver, merchandiser and a general one-man crew[16]

Kabanen and Hungarian bass player Mate Molnar first met in the end of 2013 when Battle Beast and Wisdom (Molnar's band) were both supporting Powerwolf during their “Wolfsnächte” tour.[21] The chemistry worked pretty well between them from the very first moment and they kept in touch after the tour as well.[20] The two met again at the Hungarian show of Sabaton’s “Heroes On Tour” tour, on January 25, 2015,[22] for which Battle Beast was the opening act (Kabanen was still in their line-up). That was when Kabanen first talked about the idea of forming a new band, and Molnar immediately offered his services to him. In the end of that tour with Sabaton, on February 15, 2015, Kabanen and Battle Beast parted ways.[23][24] A few weeks later Kabanen joined Wisdom and during these times they laid the foundation of a new band.[25]

Kabanen contacted Greek vocalist Yannis Papadopoulos online in 2014, after discovering his YouTube channel and his band Wardrum.[26] They eventually met in Thessaloniki when Battle Beast played there with Sabaton, on January 31, 2015,[27] only six days after Kabanen met Molnar in Hungary, during the same tour.[28] This meeting laid the groundwork for Beast In Black, since Kabanen and Papadopoulos talked about all future plans, arrangements, and practically established Papadopoulos as the last missing piece of this new band. Beast In Black was officially formed on October 7, 2015, when Kabanen, Molnar, Papadopoulos, Heikkinen and Hänninen gathered in a small pub in Helsinki. That was the day when these people first met each other face to face.

The band name came from Kabanen. After parting ways with Battle Beast, he wanted to continue using the Beast character which he originally came up with back around 2005-2006.[16] As a huge fan of Berserk (manga), the Japanese manga-anime, he combined one of its characters’ names, The Black Swordsman[29] and his inner demon Beast of Darkness, which turned out to be Beast In Black.[30]

Later Years

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Beast In Black signed with the Nuclear Blast label and released their first album, Berserker on 3 November 2017, which received a very positive response worldwide.[31] The debut album ranked seventh on Finnish charts albums. In addition, Berserker also charted in Germany, United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland and France.[32]

On 7 February 2018, it was announced that Atte Palokangas would replace Sami Hänninen as the permanent drummer.[33] The band includes the Greek vocalist Yannis Papadopoulos (ex-Wardrum), the Hungarian bassist Mate Molnar (Wisdom) and Kasperi Heikkinen (former guitarist of bands like U.D.O., Amberian Dawn, etc.).

On 21 March 2018, it was announced that Beast In Black would be opening for Nightwish on the European leg of their Decades: World Tour.[34]

The band's second album, From Hell with Love, was released on 8 February 2019.[35] After the release of the album, the band did their first headline tour in Europe with the Finnish industrial metal band Turmion Kätilöt as support.[36]

On 26 October 2021, Beast In Black released their third album, Dark Connection. In addition to Berserk, several songs in the album reference science fiction series such as Blade Runner, Armitage III, Bubblegum Crisis and Cyber City Oedo. The album charted in Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, ranking first in Finland.[37]

Members

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Current members

[edit]
  • Anton Kabanen – guitars, backing vocals, keyboards (2015–present)
  • Yannis Papadopoulos – lead vocals (2015–present)
  • Kasperi Heikkinen – guitars (2015–present)
  • Máté Molnár – bass, backing vocals (2015–present)
  • Atte Palokangas – drums (2018–present)
  • Beast In Black, current lineup live at Rockharz 2022
  • Anton Kabanen
    Anton Kabanen
  • Yannis Papadopoulos
    Yannis Papadopoulos
  • Kasperi Heikkinen
    Kasperi Heikkinen
  • Máté Molnár
    Máté Molnár
  • Atte Palokangas
    Atte Palokangas

Former members

[edit]
  • Sami Hänninen – drums (2015–2017)

Timeline

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Discography

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Albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions
FIN
[38] 		AUT
[39] 		FRA
[40] 		GER
[41] 		NLD
[42] 		SCO
[43] 		SPA
[44] 		SWE
[45] 		SWI
[46] 		UK
Rock
[47]
Berserker 7 — — 51 — — — — 33 21
From Hell with Love
  • Released: 8 February 2019
  • Label: Nuclear Blast
 1 17 143 6 199 49 73 55 8 2
Dark Connection
  • Released: 29 October 2021
  • Label: Nuclear Blast
 1 16 165 13 — 31 — 53 11 7
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

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  • "Blind and Frozen" (2017)
  • "Beast In Black" (2017)
  • "Born Again" (2017)
  • "Zodd the Immortal" (2017)
  • "Sweet True Lies" (2018)
  • "Die by the Blade" (2019)
  • "From Hell with Love" (2019)
  • "Moonlight Rendezvous" (2021)
  • "One Night in Tokyo" (2021)
  • "Hardcore" (2021)
  • "Power of the Beast" (2024)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Beast In Black". ALLMusic. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Beast in Black". Metal Storm. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  3. ^ "BEAST IN BLACK – sign with Nuclear Blast, debut album "Berserker" due in November!". Nuclearblast.com. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Formation of the beast". maximumvolumemusic.com. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  5. ^ "BEAST IN BLACK - new song 'Power of the Beast' and music video out today!". www.nuclearblast.com. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Beast in Black - Introduce New Drummer". metalstorm.net. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  7. ^ "2019 | Graspop Metal Meeting 2024". www.graspop.be. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  8. ^ "2023 | Graspop Metal Meeting 2024". www.graspop.be. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Portfolio BEAST IN BLACK @ HellFest 2023 !". www.unitedrocknations.com. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Bands". www.wacken.com. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  11. ^ "One Night in Tokyo by Marvin Advergames". marvinadvergames.itch.iom. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  12. ^ "13.12.2019 Lordi & Beast in Black @ Jäähalli, Helsinki (Musicalypse Archive)". tuonelamagazine.com. 15 December 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Interview - Anton Kabanen of Beast in Black". crypticrock.com. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Interview with guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen". metalstorm.net. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  15. ^ crypticrock.com https://crypticrock.com/interview-anton-kabanen-beast-black. Retrieved 23 October 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ^ a b c "Interview_beast_in_black". www.metalcovenant.com. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Rock & Metal in My Blood". www.rockandmetalinmyblood.com. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Time to Rock Festival". timetorock.se. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Udo Dirkschneider – U.D.O. – 04/12/2013". rockmusicstar.com. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Interview with Beast in Black - "Songs are like a playground, in fact writing music is like a playground, you know, the whole experience with music is also a lot of fun!"". tuonelamagazine.com. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  21. ^ "POWERWOLF - Wolfsnächte Tour 2013 Announced; MAJESTY, BATTLE BEAST to Support". bravewords.comm. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Sabaton, Delain, Battle Beast - Koncertbeszámoló". www.kronosmortus.com. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  23. ^ "BATTLE BEAST Parts Ways with Guitarist and Main Songwriter ANTON KABANEN". blabbermouth.net. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Battle Beast split with Kabanen". www.loudersound.com. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Hard Rock Magazin archívum (2005 - 2019)". hardrock.hu. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  26. ^ www.metalpaths.com https://www.metalpaths.com/interviews/2017/11/09/interview-beast-black-yannis8. Retrieved 23 October 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  27. ^ "Sabaton European Tour 2015 - 31/01/2015 - Thessaloniki - Principal Club - Greece". en.concerts-metal.com. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  28. ^ "SABATON – BATTLE BEAST announced as". www.nuclearblast.com. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  29. ^ "Berserk Episode 1 - "The Branded Swordsman" Review". www.ign.com. July 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  30. ^ "Beast in Black Interview". kronosmortusnews.com. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  31. ^ "BERSERKER". Nuclearblast.com. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  32. ^ "Beast In Blackin debyytti menestyksekäs pelinavaus – levyn listasijoitukset julki". KaaosZine.fi. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  33. ^ "Beast in Black Introduce New Drummer Atte Palokangas". Bravewords.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  34. ^ "BEAST IN BLACK Supporting Nightwish on European DECADES tour". Hardwiredmagazine.com. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  35. ^ "From Hell With Love Beast In Black". Nuclearblast.de. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  36. ^ BEAST IN BLACK announce European headline tour 2019 with TURMION KÄTILÖT Archived 12 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Nordicmetal.net
  37. ^ "Beast in Black official website". beastinblack.com. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  38. ^ "Discography Beast In Black". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  39. ^ "Discographie Beast In Black" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  40. ^ "Discographie Beast In Black" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  41. ^ "Suche". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  42. ^ "Beast In Black – From Hell With Love" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  43. ^ Peak positions for albums on Scottish Album Charts:
  44. ^ "Beast In Black – From Hell With Love". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  45. ^ "Discography Beast In Black". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  46. ^ "Discographie Beast In Black" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  47. ^ Peak positions for albums on the UK Rock and Metal Album Charts:
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