Oddland for Progressive Metal - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Formed in 2002, Turku, Varsinais-Suomi, Finland.

Bio from the band's facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/oddland

"More often than not, winners and fan favourites in today’s highly publicized music contests – no matter where in the world they take place – fail to do more than release a hit single or two before disappearing from the public eye. Finnish progressive metal band ODDLAND took just such a path on their way to securing their deal with Century Media, having won the majority of the Suomi Metal Star contest jury members, but they’re destined to be anything but a flash in the pan.

Launched in 2002 as a rock-oriented band with leanings towards grunge, Oddland slowly but surely drifted in a metal-oriented direction. Demos were recorded in 2004 (Against All Odds) and 2007 (Connection Critical Behind) more or less for fun, but the band began to take a much more serious approach to their music in 2008 when vocalist/guitarist Sakari Ojanen’s returned from a year-long hiatus in Spain. This resulted in the demo/promo Away From The Watching Eye in 2010. It was the beginning of Oddland as the prog monsters they are today.

“I don’t know if you can draw the line between us getting more serious and the music becoming more progressive,” says Ojanen. “The sound developed in its own way. I guess we kind of grew into listening to more progressive bands and metal in general. I did listen to heavy music, of course, but it was more like ALICE IN CHAINS and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS. Those bands are still important to me, but my taste for metal has grown since then.”

The Treachery Of Senses is prog metal at its most creative. Rather than zero in on the formula that DREAM THEATER inadvertently turned into a blueprint for the genre, Oddland serve up an uncompromising devil-may-care platter that recalls the dark atmosphere of the FATES WARNING classic A Pleasant Shade Of Gray, while touching on other musical greats such as TOOL, SYMPHONY X, ALICE IN CHAINS and even FAITH NO MORE. There is no formula in Oddland, no cookie-cutter compositions, only freedom of expression.

“I really believe that if any of us were to do solo albums they would sound very different from Oddland,” Ojanen offers. “When one of us brings an idea to the rest of the band, that idea changes a lot. Everybody adds their own touch to the songs in some way. Sometimes everybody is taking things in a different direction, so it can be a struggle. We sometimes end up with something we didn’t expect, which makes the music sound fresh to our own ears because it isn’t the result of just one person composing.”

Revered by veteran producer Dan Swanö as “one of the best album I have mixed, ever!” The Treachery Of Senses features a young band that clearly isn’t afraid of spitting in the face of current metal trends while keeping things aggressive yet playful. Case in point with Ojanen’s vocals, which come off as a mix between Tool’s Maynard Keenan and Faith No More’s Mike Patton as he neatly sidesteps the death metal growl approach so many newcomers rely on to fit in.

“I don’t know if it’s a completely conscious decision because my growling definitely doesn’t sound professional,” Ojanen laughs. “I haven’t been very interested in learning how to do that, either, and I don’t think the other guys in the band would want it in the music. So, not having that element in the music definitely sets us apart from other new bands these days.”

Oddland are also conscious of the fact they’re the odd men out, so to speak, on the Century Media roster. Proof that the label found something in the band’s brand of music that should be heard the world over.
“I think we were all very surprised in the end that they chose us,” Ojanen admits. “We knew there was a chance with the reactions we got through Suomi Metal Star, but this kind of music is not that easy to get into, so we’re very grateful to have their support.”

Members

Sakari Ojanen - Vocals, Guitars Joni Palmroth - Bass Ville Viitanen - Drums Jussi Poikonen - Guitars

Influences

Alice In Chains, Anthrax, Black Label Society, Dream Theater, Faith No More, In Flames, Jerry Cantrell, Opeth, Primus, Spiritual Beggars, System Of A Down, Testament, Tomahawk, Tool, Strapping Young Lad, Devin Townsend, Katatonia, Pain of Salvation

Also on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/oddland

OK, so let's have a listen then shall we?

Hmmmm....perhaps it might be worth adding Oddland and their 2012 album, Treachery of Senses, to Progressive Metal!

Edited by yam yam - August 15 2012 at 08:04

Bump
?

My 2012 List

Oddland are a Progressive Metal band from Turku, Finland. They began in 2002 as a rock-oriented band with leanings towards Grunge, but slowly drifted towards Metal. Demos were recorded in 2004 (Against All Odds) and 2007 (Connection Critical Behind) more or less for fun, but the band began to take a much more serious approach to their music in 2008 when vocalist/guitarist Sakari Ojanen’s returned from a year-long hiatus in Spain. This resulted in the demo/promo Away From The Watching Eye in 2010. Oddland won the title Suomi Metal Star 2011, whose final was held at the Finnish Metal Expo. Oddland's debut album, The Treachery of Senses, was released in April of 2012.

How's that?

My 2012 List

*cough*

My 2012 List

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dtguitarfan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 24 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Status: Offline Points: 1708	Topic: Oddland for Progressive Metal Posted: August 15 2012 at 05:55
	I'd like to suggest adding Oddland and their 2012 album, Treachery of Senses, to Progressive Metal.
	My 2012 List

yam yam Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 5814	Posted: August 15 2012 at 07:52
	Formed in 2002, Turku, Varsinais-Suomi, Finland. Bio from the band's facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/oddland "More often than not, winners and fan favourites in today’s highly publicized music contests – no matter where in the world they take place – fail to do more than release a hit single or two before disappearing from the public eye. Finnish progressive metal band ODDLAND took just such a path on their way to securing their deal with Century Media, having won the majority of the Suomi Metal Star contest jury members, but they’re destined to be anything but a flash in the pan. Launched in 2002 as a rock-oriented band with leanings towards grunge, Oddland slowly but surely drifted in a metal-oriented direction. Demos were recorded in 2004 (Against All Odds) and 2007 (Connection Critical Behind) more or less for fun, but the band began to take a much more serious approach to their music in 2008 when vocalist/guitarist Sakari Ojanen’s returned from a year-long hiatus in Spain. This resulted in the demo/promo Away From The Watching Eye in 2010. It was the beginning of Oddland as the prog monsters they are today. “I don’t know if you can draw the line between us getting more serious and the music becoming more progressive,” says Ojanen. “The sound developed in its own way. I guess we kind of grew into listening to more progressive bands and metal in general. I did listen to heavy music, of course, but it was more like ALICE IN CHAINS and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS. Those bands are still important to me, but my taste for metal has grown since then.” The Treachery Of Senses is prog metal at its most creative. Rather than zero in on the formula that DREAM THEATER inadvertently turned into a blueprint for the genre, Oddland serve up an uncompromising devil-may-care platter that recalls the dark atmosphere of the FATES WARNING classic A Pleasant Shade Of Gray, while touching on other musical greats such as TOOL, SYMPHONY X, ALICE IN CHAINS and even FAITH NO MORE. There is no formula in Oddland, no cookie-cutter compositions, only freedom of expression. “I really believe that if any of us were to do solo albums they would sound very different from Oddland,” Ojanen offers. “When one of us brings an idea to the rest of the band, that idea changes a lot. Everybody adds their own touch to the songs in some way. Sometimes everybody is taking things in a different direction, so it can be a struggle. We sometimes end up with something we didn’t expect, which makes the music sound fresh to our own ears because it isn’t the result of just one person composing.” Revered by veteran producer Dan Swanö as “one of the best album I have mixed, ever!” The Treachery Of Senses features a young band that clearly isn’t afraid of spitting in the face of current metal trends while keeping things aggressive yet playful. Case in point with Ojanen’s vocals, which come off as a mix between Tool’s Maynard Keenan and Faith No More’s Mike Patton as he neatly sidesteps the death metal growl approach so many newcomers rely on to fit in. “I don’t know if it’s a completely conscious decision because my growling definitely doesn’t sound professional,” Ojanen laughs. “I haven’t been very interested in learning how to do that, either, and I don’t think the other guys in the band would want it in the music. So, not having that element in the music definitely sets us apart from other new bands these days.” Oddland are also conscious of the fact they’re the odd men out, so to speak, on the Century Media roster. Proof that the label found something in the band’s brand of music that should be heard the world over. “I think we were all very surprised in the end that they chose us,” Ojanen admits. “We knew there was a chance with the reactions we got through Suomi Metal Star, but this kind of music is not that easy to get into, so we’re very grateful to have their support.” Members Sakari Ojanen - Vocals, Guitars Joni Palmroth - Bass Ville Viitanen - Drums Jussi Poikonen - Guitars Influences Alice In Chains, Anthrax, Black Label Society, Dream Theater, Faith No More, In Flames, Jerry Cantrell, Opeth, Primus, Spiritual Beggars, System Of A Down, Testament, Tomahawk, Tool, Strapping Young Lad, Devin Townsend, Katatonia, Pain of Salvation Also on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/oddland OK, so let's have a listen then shall we? Hmmmm....perhaps it might be worth adding Oddland and their 2012 album, Treachery of Senses, to Progressive Metal! Edited by yam yam - August 15 2012 at 08:04

lazland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: October 28 2008 Location: Wales Status: Offline Points: 13240	Posted: August 15 2012 at 12:25
	I've listened to two of the You Tube clips. on the basis of those, sent to Prog Metal for eval.
	Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org

dtguitarfan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 24 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Status: Offline Points: 1708	Posted: October 13 2012 at 09:23
	Bump ?
	My 2012 List

aapatsos Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: November 11 2005 Location: Manchester, UK Status: Offline Points: 9226	Posted: October 13 2012 at 10:22
	cleared now, would appreciate if suggesters were willing to take up bios as well

dtguitarfan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 24 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Status: Offline Points: 1708	Posted: October 13 2012 at 10:56
	Oddland are a Progressive Metal band from Turku, Finland. They began in 2002 as a rock-oriented band with leanings towards Grunge, but slowly drifted towards Metal. Demos were recorded in 2004 (Against All Odds) and 2007 (Connection Critical Behind) more or less for fun, but the band began to take a much more serious approach to their music in 2008 when vocalist/guitarist Sakari Ojanen’s returned from a year-long hiatus in Spain. This resulted in the demo/promo Away From The Watching Eye in 2010. Oddland won the title Suomi Metal Star 2011, whose final was held at the Finnish Metal Expo. Oddland's debut album, The Treachery of Senses, was released in April of 2012. How's that?
	My 2012 List

aapatsos Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: November 11 2005 Location: Manchester, UK Status: Offline Points: 9226	Posted: October 13 2012 at 19:37
	^ that's fine, although a copy from the facebook page (nothing wrong with this, though we need to cite their site if we are to take it more or less word-for-word) thanks

dtguitarfan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 24 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Status: Offline Points: 1708	Posted: November 02 2012 at 15:37
	cough
	My 2012 List

aapatsos Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: November 11 2005 Location: Manchester, UK Status: Offline Points: 9226	Posted: November 02 2012 at 18:09
	added now