MANITOU

Manitou biography
MANITOU is a progressive heavy metal band from Kotka, Finland consisting of Markku Pihlaja (vocals), Antti Lauren (guitar), Markus Vanhala (guitar), Ismo Laukkanen (bass) and Matti Suhonen (drums). The main point of the band is to make traditional heavy metal mixing progressive elements in the vein of QUEENSRYCHE and IRON MAIDEN.

The band recorded several demos between the years of 1999-2002, "Mad Moon Rising," "Mercenary," "Machine Mind," "Face The Snake," "Brother's Promise," and "The Valley Of Evergreen."

After sending the demo "Valley of Evergreen" to record companies the band was contacted by Rage of Achilles and they released their debut album "The Mad Moon Rising" in the summer of 2004.

Later that year, Rage of Achilles had financial problems and the band had to search for a new label. They re-released their debut with a couple of bonus tracks through Firebox Records and underwent a few line-up changes. After a mini-tour in 2004 with PAUL DI'ANNO, the band fired keyboardist Jukka Perälä who was never replaced.

They released the CSD "Fools in Control", followed by their second full length album "Deadlock" on Firebox Records in 2006.

In 2007, the band released their third studio album "No Signs of Wisdom" on Metal Heaven Records.

WHY THIS BAND IS IN THE ARCHIVES:

MANITOU is a heavy metal band in the vein of IRON MAIDEN, TAROT, DIO, ANNIHILATOR, JUDAS PRIEST and QUEENSRYCHE mixing some stylistic elements of progressive metal. They were approved by the Prog Metal Team and are highly recommended.