THE MAN-EATING TREE Parts Ways With Keyboardist, Prepares To Enter Studio

THE MAN-EATING TREE — the atmospheric metal band featuring former SENTENCED drummer Vesa Ranta alongside current/former members of POISONBLACK, REFLEXION and EMBRAZE — has issued the following update:

"Our band has been working on a material for the third record for over a year now, with some very promising results.

"A few months ago, we went through all the material we'd already come up with and decided which songs we would continue with and would probably end up on the next THE MAN-EATING TREE record. At the end of August we're about to enter the studio. We're excited and certain that once again we've found some new elements to enrich our music. In the studio we have also some new things going on, this time we'll be working with the producer/musician Aksu Hanttu.

"Describing our own music is always difficult, but you could say that our basic sound is getting somewhat heavier and more somber, but you still definitely recognize the old THE MAN-EATING TREE sound. Our new singer, Antti Kumpulainen, brings some new nuances to our sound. With him we've done more demo recordings than ever before."

Says Kumpulainen: "I knew that my longtime friend Janne had this new band and I'd heard both 'Vine' and 'Harvest' and really liked the atmosphere there was. But what I didn't know was that THE MAN-EATING TREE were looking for a new singer. So after a brief discussion with the members of the band, it became very clear that I wanted to be a part of THE MAN-EATING TREE.

"I've always been into music that has the light and the shade in it, some kind of 'the beauty and the beast' mentality.

"For me, music and lyrics together create an atmosphere that's passionate, cathartic, beautiful, somber. Some sort of emotional passage which eventually will become cathartic.

"I have various musical inspirations, DEFTONES, NINE INCH NAILS, ALICE IN CHAINS, CULT OF LUNA, KATATONIA, PORTISHEAD and A PERFECT CIRCLE, to name some. But my main inspiration comes from the highs and the lows of our everyday lives."

Adds Ranta: "Like I told you before, for the last year our band has been working hard with the new material. At the same time, our keyboardist Heidi Määttä was studying elsewhere in Finland. After her studies she felt that she's no longer part of our band and therefore could not continue. There's no drama, we just grew apart, that's all. THE MAN-EATING TREE wants to thank Heidi for everything and wishes all the best for her."

THE MAN-EATING TREE is:

Antti Kumpulainen - Vocals
Janne Markus (ex-POISONBLACK] - Guitar
Antti Karhu (CLOCK PARADOX) - Guitar
Mikko Uusimaa (REFLEXION) - Bass
Vesa Ranta (SENTENCED) - Drums

THE MAN-EATING TREE's sophomore album, "Harvest", was released in November 2011 via Century Media Records. The CD was once again helmed by producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, SENTENCED, AMORPHIS) and marked the recording debut of guitarist Antti Karhu.

THE MAN-EATING TREE's debut album, "Vine", came out in Finland on September 22, 2010 via Cobra Records and in other territories through Century Media Records.