Women in Metal Music

Rayna Foss (born August 26, 1970) was the original bassist for the California based alternative metal band Coal Chamber.

Rayna Foss was born on August 26, 1970 in Atlanta, Georgia. She first started playing bass at a friend's party. Her roommate had recently moved out and left the instrument behind. Rayna found it and her friend simply gave it to her.

Shortly thereafter Dez (whom she met through his then wife) asked Rayna to audition for a new band. Less than eight days later she was playing live with what was to become Coal Chamber.

Rayna played with the band on their first two albums and supporting tours. Shortly after their first album was released the band toured with Sevendust where she met drummer Morgan Rose. The two got along well and a romantic relationship ensued. Within a year they were married. During the recording of the band's second album Chamber Music Rayna became pregnant with their first child, Kayla Moray Rose, born October 5, 1999. They have since divorced. The pregnancy led to Nadja Peulen filling in on bass when Rayna was not able to play shows. Shortly after the completion of Dark Days, Rayna announced she was leaving Coal Chamber to raise her daughter.

Source: Wikipedia

Anneke van Giersbergen’s long-awaited album “Everything Is Changing” is slated for a January 2012 release on PIAS Recordings. The first single “Feel Alive” preceded the full-length disc in September 2011, and the accompanying video became an Internet sensation.

“Everything Is Changing” was recorded mainly at her home studio in the Netherlands and at Ultrasound Studios, Braga (PT) with production done by Daniel Cardoso. This album is the first one to be released under her own name and promises to reveal an entirely new side of this multi-talented singer.

Anneke describes the creative process surrounding the album as ‘finding my own identity as a solo artist’. It reflects the changes she’s been going through in recent years, resulting in a unique blend of upbeat rock, electronic sounds and of course Van Giersbergen’s trademark heartfelt singing style.

When Anneke van Giersbergen started her solo career back in 2007, she had already been the frontwoman of Dutch metal pioneers The Gathering for 13 years. Together with her band Agua de Annique she released several outstanding albums to both critical and popular acclaim in a short period of time which immediately put her in the picture as a solo artist.

She was also involved in several interesting co-operations with the likes of Within Temptation (“Black Symphony” 2008), eccentric multi-talent Devin Townsend (“Addicted” 2009) and long-time friends Anathema (“Falling Deeper” 2011).

Over the last few years, Anneke van Giersbergen has been exploring her musical boundaries to the fullest. In 2008, together with Dutch A-list bands Racoon and Bløf, she recorded a song in her native language: “Als je ooit nog eens terug kan”, which shot straight to #1 on the Dutch charts.
Recently she captured the eyes and hearts of a huge audience through her version of U2's "All I want is You" at the popular daily Dutch prime-time television show “De Wereld Draait Door”. People were talking about it for days afterwards.

For four years, Anneke van Giersbergen has been touring successfully as a solo artist, both in her home country and across the globe. She has performed from Chile to Lebanon & from Mexico to Finland, as well as support for The Smashing Pumpkins and a special presentation in front of H.H. the Dalai Lama.

Source: www.annekevangiersbergen.com/bio

Sonic Syndicate is a heavy metal band from Falkenberg, Sweden. They are influenced by Swedish melodic death metal bands such as In Flames and Soilwork and American metalcore bands like Killswitch Engage and All That Remains.

The band was founded by brothers Richard and Roger Sjunnesson, their cousin Robin Sjunnesson and friends Andreas Mårtensson (keyboards), Magnus Svensson (bass) and Kristoffer Backlund (drums). As of today the band consists of British singer Nathan J. Biggs, bass player Karin Axelsson, drummer John Bengtsson and cousin guitarists Roger and Robin Sjunnesson. The band is currently on hiatus.

Source: Wkikipedia

Johanna Charlotte Wessels (born 13 May 1987) is the lead vocalist of the Dutch symphonic metal band Delain. She was previously a member of gothic metal band To Elysium, before the band's split. She formed Delain in 2005 with ex-Within Temptation pianist Martijn Westerholt.

Charlotte has been trained in both jazz singing and classical singing. She was first trained in jazz, but later her instructor suggested classical singing to her. However, Charlotte has stated that she found classical training to be very restrictive, and so she likes to do something "in between the classical and the jazz stuff, and if you look at classical music with high vocal lines, then you kind of get to gothic very soon!"

Source: Wikipedia

The former Distorted front woman returned in 2010 with her new band, System Divide, founded with husband and co-vocalist Sven de Caluwé (of Aborted fame). The extreme metal band’s first full length release, The Conscious Sedation turned heads, as does Miri’s physical and vocal beauty. Raised in Bat-Yam, Israel just outside Tel-Aviv, the one time graphic designer started playing piano at 5-years-old, eventually learning guitar as well. Miri originally auditioned as a keyboardist for Distorted, but it was her voice that the band latched onto. She has a husky and rich quality to her singing. Miri’s not a screamer, but she’s quite powerful and melodic in her delivery. In an extreme metal field filled with growlers, her style is a fresh counterpoint. Miri has also performed live with another famed Israeli metal band, Orphaned Land, whom she is close friends with.

Miri lost a longtime friend, Tina Ben Harosh, and in response she showed off her softer side by writing a beautiful ballad, “More Than A Memory” which she dedicated to her lost loved one.

Source: metalholic.co/miri-milman-system-divide-ex-distorted/

Sharon Janny den Adel (born 12 July 1974, in Waddinxveen, South Holland, Netherlands) is a Dutch singer and composer, best known as the lead vocalist and one of the main songwriters in the Dutch symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation. She has performed with various bands since she was 14, including a blues rock band called Kashiro,before forming Within Temptation with Robert Westerholt 1996

Goth metal stars Within Temptation marry the guitar-driven force of hard rock with the sweep and grandeur of symphonic music, and the results have made them one of the most popular bands ever in the Netherlands. Within Temptation were formed in 1996 by guitarist Robert Westerholt and vocalist Sharon den Adel, who are partners on stage and off. Within Temptation's early material caught the attention of the Dutch label DSFA, which signed the group to a record deal; the band's first album, Enter, was released in 1997. Up until this time, Within Temptation had been a studio project, but the success of the album led to invitations to play several live shows, including the Dynamo Music Festival, one of the biggest live music events in the Netherlands. Within Temptation demonstrated their strength as a concert act, and began playing Germany, Austria, Belgium, and the Czech Republic. Booked to play Dynamo's main stage in 1998, Within Temptation felt recording new material was in order, and they released the Dance EP for the occasion. Shortly afterwards, Within Temptation went on hiatus as the group's members dealt with personal commitments and Westerholt and den Adel built a studio for their ambitious recording projects.

In late 2000, Within Temptation returned with their second full-length album (and first for Sony), Mother Earth, and the band continued to appear at major music festivals in Europe and the Netherlands; the album was a major commercial success, and the song "Ice Queen" was released as a single, rising to number two on the Dutch charts. After several years of steady touring (including major festival appearances in France and Mexico), Within Temptation returned to the studio to record their third album, 2004's The Silent Force, an ambitious project featuring a full orchestra and 80-voice choir accompanying the band. It was their first disc to be released simultaneously in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe, and became a major commercial success, going platinum at home and reaching the Top Ten in Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Finland. Having become the Netherlands' best-selling international act, Within Temptation finally landed an American record deal with the venerable metal imprint Roadrunner, which released their fourth album, The Heart of Everything, in 2007. Black Symphony, a live CD/DVD recorded at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam with a full choir and orchestra, followed in 2008. Their 2011 effort The Unforgiving was a concept album, supported by a series of short films plus a comic book written by Steven O’Connell.

Source: Wikipedia

Katarina Lilja is a singer from Örebro, Sweden. She was the vocalist of the band Sobre Nocturne and a session singer for the symphonic metal band Therion and a live member for the Gothic Kabbalah world tour, the 20 Year Celebration Tour in 2007 and the Sithra Ahra Tour in 2010.

Source: Wikipedia



Video: Lori Lewis and Katarina Lilja. Lilja is on the right.

Cristina Adriana Chiara Scabbia (born 6 June 1972) is an Italian singer, best known as one of the two vocalists in the Italian gothic metal band Lacuna Coil. She also writes an advice column in the popular rock magazine Revolver, alongside musician Vinnie Paul. Scabbia is featured in a Megadeth song, "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)". She is also the featured artist in the Apocalyptica song "S.O.S. (Anything But Love)" and another version of the Alter Bridge song "Watch Over You". Scabbia has said that the biggest compliment that a fan could pay her would be to remark on her vocal abilities. Scabbia has a contralto vocal range.*

Source: Wikipedia

Aghora is a progressive metal band from Miami Florida formed in 1995 by Guitarist Santiago Dobles. In 2000 they released their first album, self titled Aghora, recorded in 1999 with Sean Malone, Sean Reinert (Cynic, Death), Charlie Ekendahl, and Danishta Rivero. Since then the band has gone through some line up changes with new members: Diana Serra, Giann Rubio, Alan Goldstein. In May 2007 Aghora globally released their 2nd CD titled "Formless" through Label Seasons of Mist. The band has shared the stage with many artists including Allan Holdsworth, Atheist, Kamelot, Sonata Artica, Deicide, The Absence, Necrophagist.


Source: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t7iwPEmyHM

Angela Gossow is the most recognized extreme female vocalist in the metal scene today, fronting the highly acclaimed, worldwide successful metal band ARCH ENEMY.Angela, who was born in Cologne, Germany (5th of November 1974) joined her first death metal band ASMODINA in 1991. ASMODINA released 2 demo tapes and 2 cd’s. They split up in 1998 and Angela formed a new band: MISTRESS. After releasing 3 demos, Angela left the band to join metal titans ARCH ENEMY in 2001.Formed by guitarist Michael Amott after his departure from the now legendary Carcass, ARCH ENEMY first garnered praise with the metal milestones Black Earth (1997), Stigmata (1998) and Burning Bridges (1999).

However, ARCH ENEMY really began to develop their true potential once outstanding new vocalist Angela Gossow joined the fold on 2001/2002’s critically acclaimed Wages of Sin album, marking the first time a band of this caliber and ferocity was fronted by a woman. The album was showered with universal praise, from front cover press in worldwide metal magazines to national daily newspapers alike.

Naturally, Wages Of Sin proudly claimed a position in all the end-of-the-year ”Best Of…” lists, whilst the metal underground had found a new band to champion, and one that would soon show on the live stage that it had even more to offer with Angela bringing a hitherto unseen level of growling and glamour to extreme metal.An exciting year of sold out tours followed, which took ARCH ENEMY around the globe and gained them a huge following in breathtaking speed.The band’s 2003 album, Anthems of Rebellion, was immediately hailed as a metal masterpiece. The record proved to be a landmark release for Century Media, as it delivered the label its then-highest first-week U.S. SoundScan sales ever, on the way to becoming one of its 10 best-selling albums of all time.

Worldwide press raves continued to pour in – Anthems for example scored an unprecedented 5/5 in both Alternative Press and Kerrang!, Rock Hard Germany made it their ”album of the month”, and Metal Hammer Germany stated it to be ”melodic, grasping, delicately built but nevertheless a massive hit in your face.”On the back of such a great response the band headed back out on the road and completed high-profile U.S. tours over the next year with Slayer, Hatebreed, Cradle Of Filth and Iron Maiden, as well as playing huge European festivals like Download, Rock Hard, Fields Of Rock, Graspop and Tuska, among others.Late in 2004 ARCH ENEMY returned with the ”Dead Eyes See No Future EP”, followed by ”Doomsday Machine” in 2005, released whilst they were doing the OZZFEST tour 2005. Following OZZFEST, Arch Enemy embarked on a 2,5 months long world tour, taking them to all 5 continents.

Finally in 2007 they released the album ”Rise Of The Tyrant” and played several shows in the USA,Japan,China and Europe.ARCH ENEMY released their first Live DVD ’Live Apocalypse’ in 2006,followed by their 2nd stunning Live DVD ’Tyrants Of The Rising Sun – Live In Japan’ in 2008.

Despite her bands busy touring schedule, Angela Gossow finds the time to develop and grow as a singer. She is taking private singing and piano lessons and has recently started to work together with acclaimed vocal coach MELISSA CROSS in New York. She has had professional vocal coaching since 2002 after she encountered some vocal problems.Angela is being featured in Melissa Cross 2nd DVD ”The Zen Of Screaming II”. She has been voted ”best vocalist” in Burrn! Magazine (Japan) and is recognized as one of the genres leading extreme vocalists in all metal magazines across the globe.

Her face has illustrated many magazines from all over the world.Her vocal influences are deeply rooted in the early death metal of the 90ies. Her favorite singers are Chuck Schuldiner (DEATH), John Tardy (OBITUARY), Jeff Walkers (CARCASS) and David Vincent (MORBID ANGEL). With more than 15 years of singing experience, she has developed her own unique vocal style, ranging from low growls to piercing screams. She has learned to maintain her voice despite months and months of touring, with hardly any days off in between.Angela is providing information and advice for aspiring singers in metal on this website (see ’vocal advice’ section) and is teaching in person as well.

Source: www.angelagossow.com

Morgan Lee Lander (born January 6, 1982) is the lead singer and guitarist for the Canadian alternative metal group Kittie.

Schoolgirls Mercedes Lander (drums) and Fallon Bowman (guitar) met in gym class and said, "Let's play together!" And thus, Kittie was born. At least, that's how legend has it, and it's not that far from the truth. Four teenage girls with a love of heavy metal, a desire to prove naysayers wrong, and a passion to rock formed the hard-sounding metal-esque quartet in 1997 while still in high school. One part glam rock and one part death metal, the women of Kittie signed with the NG Records-distributed Artemis Records after a stint of playing covers of Nirvana, Silverchair, and even Corey Hart. By the time indie record producer GGGarth had gotten hold of their demo, they had graduated from teen pop to pushing their sound up a notch along the likes of L7 and Godsmack. The debut full-length, Spit, showcasing their incisive sound, was released late in 1999 with Lander's sister Morgan picking up vocals/guitar and Talena Atfield (replacing Tanya Candler) on bass. The album was eventually certified gold and the Paperdoll EP followed a year later. In 2001, they released Oracle, their second full-length, followed by the Safe EP, which featured six live tracks, two versions of the title track, and an enhanced video of three cuts from a different live show. Various lineup shifts occurred, and the release further featured new bassist Jennifer Arroyo. 2004 saw the release of Until the End. More lineup shifts occurred (Arroyo left in early 2005 to join Suicide City), and by 2006, Kittie comprised the Lander sisters alongside guitarist Tara McLeod and bassist Trish Doan, formerly of the Ontario bands Sherry and Her, respectively. The group released Funeral for Yesterday the following year, with In the Black arriving in 2009.

Source: www.allmusic.com

To some, Sarah doesn't need much of an introduction. After spending 14 years in Cradle Of Filth as a backing singer, singing on all of their albums apart from the first and the latest one, she also spent 6 years in Therion and Mortiis. Sarah has sung on over 35 albums with bands including The Kovenant (In which "Nexus Polaris" won a grammy award for), The Gathering, Mystic Circle, Trigger The Bloodshed, Mensrea (GWAR side project), Graveworm, Tulus (Name later changed to Khold), Creations Tears (Features ex Paradise Lost drummer Lee Morris) and many others. She has been part of many DVDs and books and finally, in 2005, joined forces with Chris Rehn (Ex Evergrey/Abyssos) and created Angtoria in which she took center vocals. Angtoria signed to Listenable Records and released "God Has A Plan For Us All" and received an amazing response in Europe. Sadly, Sarah still favored Cradle Of Filth and Angtoria took a back seat. In 2008, Sarah decided it was time to walk away from Cradle of Filth and follow her heart and released "A Sign Of Sublime" on a UK based record label and then later signed to Candlelight USA.

"A Sign Of Sublime" contained guests such as Dave Pybus (COF/Angtoria/Anathema) on Bass, Chris Rehn (Angtoria) Keys/Programming, Martin Powell (Ex COF/My Dying Bride/Anathema) Keys and Max Blunos (Trigger The Bloodshed) on drums. The album did ok but lacked promotion but she finally completed her first ever tour as a front woman in the UK July 2010 and also played The Female Voices Of Metal in Belgium.

Although under her solo name, SARAH JEZEBEL DEVA is a touring band and a tight, hardworking one at that. She enlisted some amazing musicians that have an impressive back ground and with the new album being recorded at Legacy London Studios, England (Formally Escape Route Studios) and having Pzy-Clone from The Kovenant adding the final touches, Sarah feels "The Corruption Of Mercy" should have been the first album.*

*www.sarahjezebeva.co.uk.

****SPECIAL MENTION FOR A BAND FROM QUEBEC (FRENCH CANADIA)****

The Agonist is a Canadian metal band from Montreal, Quebec. Their debut full-length album, Once Only Imagined was released on August 14, 2007. Their second full-length album, Lullabies for the Dormant Mind was released on March 19, 2009. Alissa White-Gluz uses both vocal fry and clean vocals for the band. They have toured with bands such as Arsonists Get All the Girls, Epica, The Faceless, Chelsea Grin, Kamelot, Visions of Atlantis and many more.

Alissa White is the singer.

Source: Wikipedia

Zuberoa Aznarez is the singer for Spanish band Diabulus in Musica.

Diabulus In Musica is a symphonic metal band that perfectly mixes the passion of classical music with the most heartbreaking and modern metal.

In 2010 Diabulus in Musica’s debut album ‘Secrets’ was released. It was distributed worldwide under the well-known international label Metalblade Records. This album placed the band up in the highest position of the genre, receiving many awards, nominations and great reviews from the specialized medias.

Despite it being the first studio work for Diabulus in Musica, the production of ‘Secrets’ had a prestigious technical team, made up of greatest professionals such as Sascha Paeth or Ad Sluijter (ex Epica). Also, members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, RTVE Orchestra, Spanish National Choir and the Ensemble ‘Nova Lux’, collaborated in the recording of ‘Secrets’.

Diabulus in Musica has just recorded their second album, entitled ‘The Wanderer’, which is foreseen to be released in early 2012 under Napalm Records. It is a conceptual album, direct and really promising, where Diabulus in Musica is working again with great and well-known professionals such as Jacob Hansen, Stefan Heilemann or John Kelly & Maite Itoiz among others.

Diabulus in Musica has played many gigs so far. They have supported Manowar in their Spanish tour and Theatre of Tragedy in their farewell tour in Mexico. The band has also shared stage with bands like Arch Enemy, Cradle of Filth, Doro, Therion, Kreator, Rage, Saxon, Epica, Sabaton and many more.

After the great success achieved at the Metal Female Voices Fest (MFVF 8, Belgium) last year, Diabulus in Musica was booked to play again at the MFVF 9, this time as co-headliners. In that occasion, the band had the opportunity to release their very first videoclip and single ‘Sceneries of Hope’ (The Wanderer), in front of more than 4000 people. The video was also included in the official Metal Female Voices Fest DVD.

It is worth highlighting the welcome that Diabulus in Musica received among their fans. Only a year after the release of Secrets, four fanclubs have been created: ‘Secret Club’ (Costa Rica), ‘The Seventh Gate’ (Mexico), ‘Diabulus in Reinaissance’ (Southamerica) and ‘Los Secretos del Diablo’ (Spain).

Source: diabulusinmusica.com/biography

lux was born on August 12, 1985 and at the age of twelve, she was taught how to play drums at a Latin music school she and her sisters attended. They learned to play Cumbias, Rancheras, and Balladas; Latin dance music. By the age of 13, lux and her sisters were playing paid gigs at weddings and parties. For the next three years they continued to play Latin music until they were introduced to the song "Zombie" by The Cranberries... After being exposed to hard rock, there was no turning back. lux went on to teach herself to play hard rock while listening to bands such as The Cranberries, Van Halen, Megadeth, and Sonic Youth. During her sophomore year of high school, her brother brought home a Judas Priest album: Painkiller. lux was amazed at the incredible double bass speed and fast rolls, she bought a second bass drum and has been playing double bass ever since.


lux has achieved major credibility in the 12 years of her drumming career. She has thousands of loyal fans and is recognized in the male dominated metal, hard rock, and indie/punk experimental scenes. Her signature drumming combines heavy metal double-bass with complex rhythms and dynamics, all while playing in stilettos and it doesn’t stop there. She also has the creative mind to incorporate elements of progressive and experimental rock rhythms. Music Connection Magazine describes her drumming as “…unique, off kilter, Keith Moon inspired drumming.” In November '07 she was awarded ‘Best Female Drummer’ in the Metal/Hard Rock category at the All Access Magazine Music Awards. In December '07 she was awarded ‘Outstanding Female Drummer of the Year’ by Rock City Magazine.


This young drum goddess has opened for Third Eye Blind, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Reverend Horton Heat, Christian Death 1334, Chris Caffery, Doro, and Kamelot. She was on the 2006 Vans Warped Tour (which she received recognition for in the September ’06 issue of Drum! Magazine). In December 2006, lux was announced as 'Miss WFD 2007' for the World's Fastest Drummer competition at the NAMM Convention where lux amazingly set the record for Single Strokes in the Female Category at 901 Strokes in 1 minute. Shortly after, she was seen once again in Drum! and Modern Drummer magazines, April & May issues, for her record. In 2008 lux was seen on television on Sí TV's Jammin battle of the bands contest where after playing live in front of music mentor Dave Navarro (Janes Addiction), he commented "...I know a lot of guys who can't play like that." The show is still being aired as re-runs on MTV and Sí TV.


lux has a very promising future with her ability to play fast rolls like Terry Bozzio and double bass like Dave Lombardo. She takes music seriously and enjoys playing it. lux is an official endorser of Paiste, Axis Percussion, Serial Drummer Clothing, run by drummer Franky Costanza, and has a full sponsorship with Too Fast Clothing. She is currently drumming for the well established psychobilly band Nekromantix and the thrash/death metal band Sacred Storm. Sacred Storm recorded a new EP titled Extreme Assault, now available on iTunes and CDBaby. Nekromantix recently returned from a nationwide tour with Reverend Horton Heat in August and will be on national tour again this Fall and Winter with ROB ZOMBIE. The band is in the process of recording a new album which will be released in 2010.



Source: www.luxdrummerette.com

Floor Jansen (born 21 February 1981, Goirle) is a Dutch singer, who was the lead singer of the symphonic metal band After Forever which disbanded in 2009, and is the current singer for ReVamp.

Jansen was sixteen when she joined Apocalypse (the name of the band After Forever in its early days) in 1997. Three years later the band released its first album, Prison Of Desire. Floor's ability to sing both classical and rock music have made her reasonably popular in the metal scene. She took sole charge of After Forever's lyrics and vocal melodies since the departure of Mark Jansen (no relation) in 2002.[1] Prior to this, up until the Decipher album, the two would write together.

Floor started studying music at the Dutch Rock Academy in 1999 and entered the conservatory three years later. She studied Musical Theatre and one year of Opera. Later on, she started teaching performing in her own course called Wanna be a Star?!.

Floor plays the guitar, piano and flute and has completed several years of music studies, and has a Dramatic Soprano vocal range.

Three albums by the Dutch composer and multi-instrumentalist Arjen Anthony Lucassen include guest vocals from Floor. She sang one song on Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer, made a number of contributions to the Star One project and plays the character Ω in the Ayreon album 01011001. She is the older sister of fellow singer and Ayreon guest vocalist Irene Jansen, who played "Passion" on The Human Equation. She has also been a guest for the metal band Nightmare.

Source: Wikipedia

Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli (born August 17, 1977) is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves.[1]

Turunen studied singing at Sibelius Academy and Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe. She is well known as a professional classical lied singer but best known as the former lead vocalist of the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, which she founded with Tuomas Holopainen and Erno Vuorinen in 1996. Their combination of hard and fast guitar riffs with Turunen's classical lead vocals quickly achieved critical and commercial popularity. Their symphonic metal style, soon dubbed "opera metal", inspired many other metal bands and singers.

Turunen was dismissed from the band on October 21, 2005 for personal reasons. She started her solo career in 2006 with the release of a Christmas album called Henkäys Ikuisuudesta. In 2007, Turunen released My Winter Storm, an album featuring various styles, including alternative rock and symphonic metal and started the Storm World Tour. Turunen released her third album, What Lies Beneath, in 2010. She performed several concerts in Europe, playing in metal festivals including the Graspop Metal Meeting and the Wacken Open Air, before starting the What Lies Beneath World Tour, scheduled to last until April 2012.

Source: Wikipedia.

Doris Yeh is the bassist for Chthonic.

Chthonic (sometimes typeset ChthoniC or ChThoniC) is a Taiwanese metal band, formed in 1995 in Taipei. The group incorporates influences from traditional Taiwanese music including the classical Asian instrument erhu (the band often calls it hiân-á in their native Taiwanese). They are acclaimed artists, as well as political activists who advocate Taiwan independence and self-determination for Tibetans and Uighurs. Since the band's formation, Chthonic has released six studio albums. Their most recent album, Takasago Army, was released on August 1, 2011 in Europe and on September 6, 2011 in North America via Spinefarm records.

Source: Wikipedia

Simone was born on January 27, 1985, in Hoensbroek. She is a Dutch coloratura mezzo-soprano singer who is the lead vocalist of symphonic metal band Epica.

She is currently involved in a romantic relationship with Kamelot keyboardist Oliver Palotai.

*Wikipedia.

Lori Lewis (born 27 December) is an American soprano currently residing in Salem, Oregon. She was one of the live members of the symphonic metal band Therion for the Gothic Kabbalah world tour,[2] the 20 Year Celebration Tour in 2007 and the Sitra Ahra tour in 2010 in support of Therion's CD release, Sitra Ahra.

Besides being a touring lead singer for Therion, Lewis is also the former singer for Aesma Daeva, a band that toured with Therion in Canada and the USA in 2005. In October, 2007, Lewis performed with both bands on the US/Canada portion of Therion's world tour (Aesma Daeva supported Therion).

On September 11th of 2011, Christofer Johnsson, Therion's head, announced that Miss. Lewis was named permanent member of the band, becoming then the first female member to have permanent status in the history of the band.

Source: Wikipedia

Susanne Ehlers is the soprano for German symphonic metal band Haggard. The group combines classical music and early music with doom metal.

Haggard was founded in 1991 and originally played death metal.[1] They changed their musical style after their first demo tape, Introduction in 1992, becoming a band with symphonic melodies and classical instruments but folk themes. The album And Thou Shalt Trust... the Seer marked their breakthrough in 1997. After their second album Awaking the Centuries (the life of the prophet Nostradamus), they toured through Mexico twice. In 2004, they released their third album Eppur Si Muove which is about the life of Italian scholar, Galileo Galilei, sentenced to house arrest for heresy by the Catholic Church for supporting Copernicus' claim that the Earth revolved around the sun.

Just before their album Awaking The Centuries was released, the group had its highest number of musicians at 21. All their songs are written by vocalist and guitarist, Asis Nasseri.
Haggard playing at Global East Rock Festival 2010

The fourth album, Tales of Ithiria, was released in 2008 and is based on a fantasy story.

In 2010, the band had its first concert along with a symphonic orchestra. Haggard played together with the philharmonic orchestra of Plovdiv in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv on April 19, 2010.

The next album will be about the tales of the brothers Grimm.

Source: Wikipedia

Maria "Masha Scream" Arkhipova

Arkona (Russian: Аркона) is a Russian pagan metal band. Their lyrics are heavily influenced by Russian folklore and Slavic mythology, and their music incorporates several traditional Russian musical instruments. The name of the band "Arkona" refers to the last pagan Slavic city-castle.

Their singer, also historian and songwriter, Maria "Masha Scream" Arkhipova, is one of relatively few successful female vocalists to sing in a death growl style. Maria "Masha Scream" Arkhipova is married to fellow band member Sergei "Lazar" Atrashkevich with whom she has two children.

Source: Wikipedia

The beginnings of ARKONA date back to 2002, when members of local pagan community "Vyatichi", Masha "Scream" Arhipova and Alexander "Warlock" Korolyov, decided to form a band that mirrored their individual philosophy and musical tastes. The band, at the time still known as Hyperborea, comprised Masha "Scream" Arhipova (vocals), Eugene Knyazev (guitar), Eugene Borzov (bass), Ilya Bogatyryov (guitar), Alexander "Warlock" Korolyov (drums), and Olga Loginova (keyboard), but it wasn’t until February 2002 that ARKONA surfaced from the depths of Russia’s underground scene.

ARKONA soon decided to record several of their pagan/folk songs for their first demo. The recording took place at CDM-Records Studio in December 2002. The demo included 3 tracks – "Kolyada", "Solntsevorot” (Solstice)" & "Rus'” (Russia). These tracks were later included as a bonus on the live album "Zhizn' vo slavu” (Live for the Great) released in 2006.

ARKONA began performing live in early 2003. Many concert-goers experienced the band for the first time at the Yazycheskaya Rus" Festival. By the summer of 2003, ARKONA was ready to record their debut, but disinterest in the band by some of its members saw the band disappear from the scene as quickly as it had arrived. Yet Masha’s perseverance would not subside. Continuing on her own, and with the help of the members of Nargathrond, she proceeded to compose new material. Her fellow musicians readied their instruments, read through the partitions, and without ever looking back, recorded their debut album "Vozrozhdenie” (Revival) in March 2004.

"Vozrozhdenie” (Revival) quickly became one of the most successful Slavic pagan metal albums of all time. As soon as the studio work was completed, Masha dedicated herself to the creation of new songs and by the end of summer 2004, the material for the second album "Lepta” (The Contribution) was completed. With the support of the same line-up, the band finished the recordings in autumn. “Lepta” was released in December 2004 and presented the listener with a darker and gloomier style. ARKONA was also supported by poet and vocalist Les’yar (Nevid', ex-Butterfly Temple), who not only performed, but also wrote the lyrics for "Zarnitsy Nashei.Svobody".

The album’s release placed ARKONA back on the scene as a contending force. With a complete line-up, ARKONA returned to the stages in the beginning of 2005.

An ever-espousing fountain of creativity, Masha continued writing new material and by the summer of 2005, ARKONA was recording their next album. "Vo Slavu Velikim” (For the Glory of Great) proved to be the most complicated and varied album thus far, as the band withdrew from the use of synthesized sounds, replacing them with authentic folk instruments. As such, the list of guest musicians grew considerably including the renowned folk musician Vladimir Cherepovskiy (Mervent, ex- Voinstvo Sidov, Veter Vody, Trio Mario), as well as members of Svarga and Alkonost.

Though the arrangements for each song at times exceeded 100 recorded tracks, ARKONA was able to finally piece together the album and “Vo Slavu Velikim!” (For the Glory of Great) was finally released in September 2005. During the touring that followed in support of the album’s release, ARKONA recorded their performance for the purpose of releasing a DVD and the live album "Zhizn’ vo Slavu". Fueled by their outstanding achievements, ARKONA opted not to rest on its laurels and made sure to return with a new album as soon as possible. Fans heard a preview of “Ot Serdca K Nebu" (From the Heart to the Sky) at the 2008 Ragnarok Festival. In addition, the band embarked on a 30-day tour throughout Europe with Brutal Assault being just one of the highlights.

Back at home, ARKONA decided not to take a break, but to immediately begin working on their fifth album. In order to top their previous effort, the band aimed to create something unique. While working on “Goi, Rode, Goi!”, the band also planned their second DVD. “Noch Velesova” was released via Napalm Records in May 2009. ARKONA also performed at the German festival Winternoise, taking a well-deserved break from the arduous recording process.
Upon their return, ARKONA continued to work on the new album, completing the recordings in June 2009. It was quite an enterprise, as over 40 musicians were involved in the making of “Goi, Rode, Goi!”. The band described the process as the most labor-intensive and time-consuming work in its history. ARKONA made use of a full-fledged chorus and string quintet for the first time in their career. The heart of the album is undoubtedly the 15-minute saga 'Na Moey Zemle' that relates the adventures of a Slav in European countries. This epic features the voices of members of Manegarm, Menhir, and Heidevolk, among others. Vladimir Cherepovsky and Vladimir “Volk!, who has recently become a full-time member of ARKONA, are responsible for the traditional instruments on the album. The artwork was again the work of the legendary Kris Verwimp. He delivered a series of conceptual illustrations for each song on the album.

The result was worth the hard work, as “Goi, Rode, Goi!“ proved to be the next logical step in the band’s journey. Fans would experience the live power of the new material at numerous live performances. ARKONA also produced video clips to the title track, the anthem “Yarilo”, as well as the melancholic “Liki Bessmertnykh Bogov“. The band played numerous shows in support of the new album and also released an EP in the summer of 2011 to ease the fans’ anticipatory wait for the upcoming album.

The members of Arkona have already managed to make a name for themselves within the pagan metal scene that extends way beyond the borders of their native Russia. Their new album "Slovo" acknowledges their well-earned reputation with outstanding tracks. The band revolving around lead warrior Masha Scream has managed to outshine all past efforts. "Slovo" bundles Arkona's strengths and catapults the band to new musical heights. The foundation of blast beats, double bass attacks, and heavy riffs remain, yet it is the attention to detail that rounds off Arkona's multi-faceted sound. Folk melodies, complex vocal lines and choruses, clean vocals and growls, orchestral passages, and authentic instruments (violins, flutes, etc.) serve to embellish "Slovo". The diversified end result features epic ballads and heavy folk-oriented tracks bound for certain glory at upcoming live performances. Masha's Russian lyrics add a hardened, yet melancholic touch to this latest work. Once again, Arkona has chosen master illustrator Kris Verwimp (Vintersorg, Månegarm, Thyrfing, etc.) to design the album's artwork. "Slovo" is an album full of highlights destined for yet another impressive victory on the pagan metal battlefield.

Source: www.arkona-russia.com/en/ehistory/