Biography
Not far from the infamous Hamina, where the influence of the Russian conquest remains a prevalent part of the archipelago's history and the old picturesque fishermen's villages color the landscape belonging to the land of a thousand lakes, SINAMORE makes their home in "the ghettos" of Summa City. The childhood friends, Mikko Heikkila (vocals/guitar), Jarno Uski (bass) and Miika Hostikka (drums), though hidden away in the easternmost border of Europe, dreamed at a young age of reaching rock'n roll stardom.
After perfecting their craft, the members of SINAMORE soon developed their unique style and in 1998 began working on the long road ahead. Their first demo My Grace was released under the monicker HALFLIFE two years later, followed by Agony and She and the Devil.
With the addition of Tommi Muhli as a second guitarist in the spring 2002, the band, who had been working on their third demo, gathered new momentum. The first recording session together resulted in the demo Sleeping Away. The bands name was shortened to H/L and in the beginning of year 2004 they once again entered the studio in cooperation with producer Teemu Aalto to record their fifth demotape Follow into the Cry.
SINAMORE's efforts paid off shortly thereafter as they were signed by a small Japanese label. Excited by the promising development, the band went vigorously to work on their debut. Yet the excitement soon faded when they encountered problems with the label and were forced to dissolve the partnership. Determined not to allow such a setback to dampen their spirits the newly christened SINAMORE looked to better days ahead.
With a total of 5 recorded demos, two recording contracts, one dissolved, one full-length album left unreleased, the Finnish Rock Championships 2003 semi-final placing, compilation CDs, band-of-the-month titles, and of course live shows, SINAMORE was ready to join the ranks of international recording artists when the opportunity to sign with NAPALM RECORDS arose. At this point the band chose to re-record their debut album improving on the production, delivering a tighter artistic performance, and adding new tracks.
SINAMORE continuously works to achieve the right balance. Their music is a combination of beautiful melodies and dark yet rocking metal riffs, or as the band likes to explain, Katatonia meets HIM while gangbanging Bon Jovi. This seems to be the basis of SINAMORE, whose music is written in its entirety by Mikko. The arrangements are then worked on by the entire band, as they relentlessly search to find the right elements with which to color the final composition.
SINAMORE's debut, A New Day is scheduled for a 27 Jan 2006 release. The album was recorded and produced by Teemu Aalto (Omnium Gatherum, Sergio etc.) at Woodbine Garden, mixed by Anssi Kippo (Lullacry, To/Die/For, Children of Bodom) at Astia Studios, and mastered by Mika Jussila at the infamous Finnvox Studios. It may be best described as sad, bittersweet, biting, dark, and melancholicperhaps drawing its influences from the sombre yet hopeful Finnish persona. Undoubtedly, Gothic Rock has discovered a rising star patiently looming on the Finnish horizon!
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