Whispered

Whispered is a Finnish death metal and melodic death metal group from Tampere, active from 2004. The band centres on Jouni Valjakka, who handles guitars and vocals and also works on composing and web mastering. Other members listed in the group’s history include Mikko Mattila on guitars, Kai Palo on bass and vocals, and Jussi Kallava on drums. Previous members include Jaakko Nylund, Valtteri Arvaja, Pepe Ruponen and Mika Karjalainen.

History

The band begins in 2001, when Jouni forms an early version under the name Zealot. Mika and Kopone join him, and later Pepe Ruponen and Atte Pesonen become part of the group. Whispered records the demo Bloodthroned in 2003 and 2004. A later line-up with Toni Pöllänen and Valtteri Arvaja records the demo Wrath of Heaven in 2007, which receives a strong response. Another demo, Faceless, follows in 2009.

Releases and label

Whispered signs with Redhouse Finland Music Publishing in July 2008. Its first album, Thousand Swords, appears in 2010. The second album, Shogunate Macabre, follows in 2014. Listed singles include Sakura Omen and Jikininki (Single Version), and the group also has videos for Sakura Omen, Jikininki (Single Version), Lady of The Wind and Blindfold.

Style

The band is associated with melodic death metal and death metal, and is also tagged with folk metal, samurai metal and samurai death metal. Its imagery and song titles draw on Japanese and martial themes, including references to swords, shoguns, cherry blossoms and the shakuhachi.