Rapture (band)

Rapture is a doom metal/melodic death metal band formed in 1997 by a group of musicians from Helsinki, Finland. The members of Rapture have played in several bands, including Barathrum, Diablerie, Ensiferum, Finntroll, Fragile Hollow, The Mist and the Morning Dew, Rain Paint, Shape of Despair and Thy Serpent.

"Rapture paint with bleak shades yet with clarity second to none. The main songwriter Tomi Ullgren’s soaring guitar leads are tempered with powerful death grunts courtesy of Henri Villberg, a nod to their underground roots perhaps, yet they do not shy away from clearer vocals should the occasion so demand. The beguiling mid-tempo employed is a slow acting poison: you will be hooked before you know it. In a live situation Rapture reproduce their timeless sound with a line-up of eight personnel." -Spinefarm RecordsFact|date=May 2008

History

In 1999, Rapture signed a contract from Spikefarm Records, a subsidiary of Spinefarm Records. The band released their debut album, "Futile", in late 1999. The album was also licensed to Relapse Records for distribution outside of Finland. In early 2002, the band recorded their second effort, titled "Songs for the Withering". This album sold better than their debut and gave Rapture recognition beyond the local scene, eventually leading them to sign a contract with Century Media. Rapture released their third album, "Silent Stage", in 2005. This album continued in the vein of the previous two, with a morose, depressive atmosphere and a combination of both clean singing and death grunts. The band is now without a record label.

As of 2007, Rapture have announced a tour with fellow doom metal band, November to take place around Finland in May.

Line-up

* Petri Eskelinen - Vocals
* Tomi Ullgren - Guitar
* Aleksi Ahokas - Guitar
* Ian Huntely - Bass
* Pete Raatikainen - Drums

Discography

* "Futile" (1999)
* "Songs For The Withering" (2002)
* "Silent Stage" (2005)

Former members

* Henri Villberg - Vocals
* Jarno Salomaa - Guitars
* Joni Öhman - Bass
* Sami Hinkka - Bass
* Samuel Ruotsalainen - Drums

External links

* [http://www.rapture.kicks-ass.net Official Homepage]
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* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=3684 Rapture] at Encyclopaedia Metallum
* [http://www.last.fm/music/Rapture Rapture] at Last.fm
* [http://www.stereokiller.com/bands/rapture] at Stereokiller