Amaranthe

Amaranthe is a heavy metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden, formed in 2008. It starts as Avalanche before changing its name in May 2009 because of legal issues. The group is known for combining several metal styles and for using three lead vocalists.

Formation and lineup

The project is formed by Olof Mörck and Joacim “Jake E” Lundberg. Elize Ryd and Andreas Solveström join the lineup on vocals, and Morten Løwe Sørensen joins on drums. Johan Andreassen later joins on bass, after the photoshoot for the Leave Everything Behind demo but before the recording of the first album. Mörck comes from Dragonland and Nightrage, Lundberg from Dreamland and Dream Evil, Ryd has toured with Kamelot, Solveström has been involved with Cipher System and Within Y, Sørensen with The Cleansing, Koldborn and Mercenary, and Andreassen with Engel.

Albums and releases

The band releases the demo Leave Everything Behind before its debut album, Amaranthe, which appears in 2011 and reaches number 35 in Sweden and number 16 in Finland. The Nexus follows in 2013 and reaches number 6 in Sweden, number 4 in Finland and number 12 on the US Heatseekers chart. Massive Addictive is released in 2014, followed by the compilation Breaking Point - B-sides 2011–2015 in 2015. Maximalism appears in 2016, Helix in 2018, Manifest in 2020 and The Catalyst in 2024.

Line-up changes and collaborations

Solveström leaves in 2013 and is replaced by Henrik Englund Wilhelmsson of Scarpoint. Jake E announces a break in 2016 and later leaves the band in 2017; he later joins Cyhra. Nils Molin of Dynazty joins as a permanent vocalist in 2017 after previously filling in live. Wilhelmsson leaves in 2022 and Mikael Sehlin becomes the new harsh vocalist in 2023. The band also works with former Arch Enemy vocalist Angela Gossow and Arch Enemy guitarist Jeff Loomis on the single “Do or Die”.

Later singles and activities

Amaranthe releases “365” in 2018 and contributes the credits theme for the 12 oz. Mouse special INVICTUS. In 2020 it signs with Nuclear Blast Records and releases a version of Sabaton’s “82nd All the Way”, then the singles “Do or Die”, “Viral”, “Strong” and “Archangel” ahead of Manifest. In 2021 it releases “PVP” as an anthem for the Swedish esports team at an esports world championship, with a music video and a browser game on the band’s website. “Find Life” follows in 2022, and “Damnation Flame” appears in 2023 before The Catalyst.

Style

The band is associated with melodic death metal, melodic metalcore, metalcore, power metal, symphonic metal and trance metal.