Shade Empire

Shade Empire

Shade Empire is a Finnish black metal group from Kuopio, formed in 1999. The band’s music sits within industrial metal, melodic black metal, melodic death metal and symphonic black metal.

Early releases and recording history

The group releases three demos, each of which receives a strong response from the press. Their third demo attracts the attention of record companies and leads to a contract with Italian label Avantgarde Music. In 2004 the band releases its first album, Sinthetic, which combines orchestral and electronic elements with black metal and earns wide critical praise. The second album, Intoxicate O.S., is recorded with S. Jämsen at Perkele Studios.

Line-up

The current line-up includes Henry Hämäläinen on vocals, Juha Sirkkiä and Aapeli Kivimäki on guitars, Olli Savolainen on synthesizers, Eero Mantere on bass and Erno Räsänen on drums.

Former members include vocalist Juha Harju, guitarists Janne Niiranen and Tero Liimatainen, and drummer Antti Makkonen. Harju is also associated with Ajattara, Deathchain and ex-Trollheim's Grott, while Niiranen is linked with Chaosweaver and Project Silence.

Label

Shade Empire is associated with Candlelight Records and also signs to Avantgarde Music earlier in its career.