Re-Armed

Re-Armed

Re-Armed is a Finnish metal group from Kerava, Finland, active since 2001. The band starts as a five-piece playing music influenced by Gothenburg-style melodic death metal, and its sound develops over time through several demo tapes, live shows and lineup changes.

Recordings

Their debut album, Worldwide Hypnotize, is released internationally in 2012 through Massacre Records. The second album, Rottendam, follows in 2014 on Eternal Sound Records. After a period of major lineup changes, the band self-releases the single/EP Total Lack of Communication in 2015. Its third album, The Era of Precarity, arrives in 2016 on Saarni Records. That release is a fully conceptual album built around dystopian themes, future scenarios and contemporary world politics, and it broadens the band’s approach with death/thrash metal, groovier death metal, stoner rock, black metal and classic heavy metal influences.

Live activity and touring

Following Worldwide Hypnotize, Re-Armed tours Europe with Chimaira, Suffocation, Origin, Cattle Decapitation and Cryptopsy. The group makes its first major outdoor festival appearance at Bloodstock Open Air at Catton Hall in the UK in 2012. Other notable live dates include support slots for Chimaira on their European tour, Suffocation and Origin on The End of Humanity tour, and Cryptopsy, Cattle Decapitation and Decrepit Birth in the UK and Europe. The band also plays Neurotic Deathfest in Tilburg in 2013, heads a UK tour with Wretched Soul the same year, and later heads a China tour in 2015 to support the Total Lack of Communication release.

Line-up

After several membership changes, the 2016 line-up is Jussi Venäläinen on guitars, Juhana Heinonen on bass and backing vocals, Jouni Matilainen on lead vocals, Mika Oinonen on guitars and backing vocals, and Iiro Karjalainen on drums. Former guitarist and songwriter Tommi Helkalahti leaves the group, leaving Matilainen as the only remaining original member mentioned in the account.

Style and collaborators

The band describes its music as retaining its established melodic death metal base while incorporating aggressive death/thrash elements and a broader set of heavy influences. Over the years, it also plays support shows and showcases alongside Arch Enemy, Keep of Kalessin, Amorphis, Eternal Tears of Sorrow, Diablo, Nicole, Kalmah, Profane Omen, Gloomy Grim, Rytmihäiriö, Pagan Rites, Catamenia, Battlelore, Total Devastation and Agathodaimon.