Biography
1991-1997
The band was founded in 1991 by Sami Helle (vocals/guitar) under the name Maniax, shortly thereafter joined by drummer Santeri Salmi and bassist Tuomo Tukkimäki. The first demo "Face The Fact" was released 4 years later, and the second, called "Prophecy...", in 1996. The music was some sort of hardcore-influenced thrash metal. In 1998, the initial band name was changed to Dauntless, and the music begun to seek its current shape.
1998-2001
The third demo, "Cold I Am", was released in 1998, and the band felt their line-up needed a second guitarist. Well, a lead guitarist anyway. The post was taken by Riku Katainen. In 1999 they recorded another demo called "Inhumankind". They made a couple of successful shows (including one in the national band contest) and quickly earned their reputation as an aggressive live act. However, the Finnish army intervened the plot and the band was forced to recharge their batteries until early 2002.
2002-2003
In summer 2002 the band was ready to record their fifth demo, but this time they decided to try it out with another lead vocalist. Ari Nieminen (ex-Caledonian) impressed them at the first rehearsal and the search promptly ended. Coming to the end of the year, the demo "Modern Ways Of Discipline" was released and the first offers for a record contract were received. None were accepted, however. In 2003 another series of successful shows followed, including the afterclub of Tuska Open Air metal festival.
2004
Summer 2004 saw the band recording, yes, their sixth demo. "Ruins MMIV" and the video clip of the song "Ruins" gathered interest from many directions and supposedly more unreasonable record contracts were offered. The band was chosen as the demo band of the month in Inferno; this is when everyone, and I mean everyone started asking why is the band still unsigned.
2005-2006
In 2005 the original bass player Tuomo Tukkimäki left the band and was shortly after replaced by Olli Määttä, who stood his trial at the afterclub of Tuska (it was the second time Dauntless played there). The seventh demo "Obey - Erase - Obey" was released, and the band once again returned to their persistent quest for a decent record deal.
And yes, this time it finally happened. The Finnish label Firebox Records signed Dauntless, and sent them to the studio in late 2006 to record their debut album "Execute The Fact". The album compiled some of their most wanted songs from the demo times with a few unheard ones, surpassing everything Dauntless had made so far. And that kind of an assault was simply asking to be succeeded with another.
2007-present
After the release of "Execute The Fact" Dauntless spent a year sparsely on the road, already building up plans for their next full- length album. In 2008, however, they mutually cancelled their agreement with Firebox Records and started looking for another label. This time it wasn't so hard either. Newly founded Full Metal Records, also from Finland, took interest in the band and made them an offer they couldn't refuse.
So, after years of hard work, ups and downs (mostly downs), Dauntless is here to entertain us with another album that takes it from where they were left on "Execute The Fact". "Death Row Poet" introduces a new, matured side to their sound, grown on their deep roots in relentless death/thrash metal.
During the process of recording "Death Row Poet", the long-time drummer Santeri Salmi left his seat to pursue his other interests; meaning that he will most probably be involved on the next Dauntless album as an engineer. His replacement, Arto Vesander, was immediately found from among close friends.
So, the release date of "Death Row Poet" is at the end of February. Until then, hold your breath. And after?. Catch the band on the road when they hit the nearest town.
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