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Former XYSMA, CALLISTO Members Launch Progressive Pop Project UHRIJUHLA

November 12, 2012

Finnish supergroup UHRIJUHLA will release its self-titled debut album on December 7 through Svart Records. Featuring members of XYSMA and CALLISTO, UHRIJULHA's full-length CD follows a seven-inch single release and two videos.

Even though the band themselves would shun the description, there are enough reasons to call UHRIJUHLA a "supergroup." Male vocalist Janitor Muurinen is best known from XYSMA, the world's most criminally underrated death metal group, and guitarist Markus Myllykangas is the leading member of post-metal band CALLISTO. Female vocalist Olga is a successful solo artist in her own right. Most of the music and all of the lyrics are written by Kauko Röyhkä, one of the most respected Finnish singer-songwriters, with a 30-year career and a few dozen albums under his belt.

UHRIJUHLA ("Sacrificial Feast" in English — although the name is inspired by the cult classic movie "The Wicker Man", which is called "Uhrijuhla" in Finland) came together three years ago with the purpose of playing a new kind of progressive rock — partially homage to the grand masters from the '70s but also influenced by modern progressive pop such as PORTISHEAD and MASSIVE ATTACK. After a few fruitless attempts to get the band going, CALLISTO guitarist Myllykangas joined the fold in 2012 and suddendly everything just clicked. The eponymous album was recorded in the springtime and finished in September. The result is a multi-faceted, lush, and adventurous progressive vintage pop album with moods ranging from HAWKWIND-style guitar psychedelia to Linda Perhacs-like introspection.

Svart Records, having already worked with both XYSMA and CALLISTO, snapped the new band up quickly. The debut seven-inch single and music video, "Liian Kaukana", appeared in October and the second video, "Avaruuden Lapsi", in November. The band is now gearing up to play live dates with such acts as HEXVESSEL and SAMMAL and is already writing new material.

"Uhrijuhla" track listing:

01. Avaruuden Lapsi
02. Se Minkä Maa Voi Antaa
03. Kotona
04. Liian Kaukana
05. Kevään Airut
06. Maaliskuun Yössä
07. Yökello
08. Pikimusta Tähtikirkas Yö
09. Tunturit

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