Sirenia (band)
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox musical artist
Sirenia is a Norwegian gothic metal band from Stavanger, founded in 2001 by Morten Veland.
The band uses melodic instrumentals, synthesizers, and distorted guitars with female vocals, male death vocals, clean male vocals, a choir, and violins. The lyrics are concerned with human existence, emotion, and mental states.
History
2001–2003: Formation and At Sixes and Sevens
In January 2001, Veland, a founding member of Tristania left the band, within a few weeks Veland had a new band along with three other members.<ref name=deadrhetoric /> He had written material for Tristania's next release but because of the split, he used it towards Sirenia's debut album At Sixes and Sevens with other new material written for it as well. The band entered the studio by November or December 2001. The band failed to find a suitable singer prior to recording in France, so they hired a session female singer named Fabienne Gondamin.<ref name=deadrhetoric>Template:Cite web</ref>
2004–2007: An Elixir for Existence and Nine Destinies and a Downfall
On the subsequent tour Fabienne Gondamin was replaced by Henriette Bordvik, with whom the band recorded the album An Elixir for Existence and the EP Sirenian Shores.
The band signed with Nuclear Blast in May 2005.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In November 2005, Henriette Bordvik left the band, citing personal reasons.
In 2007 they released a third album – Nine Destinies and a Downfall. The album features new singer, Monika Pedersen from Denmark, who joined the band in April 2006, and new guitarist Bjørnar Landa (from Artifact), who joined the band during the recording.
On 5 November 2007 Monika Pedersen quit the band over musical disagreements. Her departure caused Sirenia to pull out of a planned European tour with Therion.
2008–2011: The 13th Floor and The Enigma of Life
Sirenia began looking for a new singer in November 2007.<ref name="heavymetal.about.com">Template:Cite web</ref> The process in finding their newest member took about six months. About 500 applied, at the end they wanted to find someone from the EU region for practical reasons.<ref name="heavymetal.about.com" /> On 9 April 2008 Sirenia announced Spanish X Factor contestant Ailyn as their new female vocalist.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 19 May 2008 it was announced that Bjørnar Landa left the band in order to have more time for his family and studies. He was replaced by Michael S. Krumins (Green Carnation).
On 12 June 2008 Sirenia announced that for the first time in their career, they had decided to work with a bass player for their live shows. The session bass player would be Kristian Olav Torp.
Sirenia started recording their fourth album in July 2008. It was recorded in Sound Suite Studios, France and Stargoth Studios, Norway. The mixing and mastering took place in Antfarm Studios, Denmark with Tue Madsen. The album, called The 13th Floor, was completed in September and the release date was 23 January 2009. The album features guest appearances by Jan Kenneth Barkved. The first single, "The Path to Decay", was released on 26 December 2008 as a digital download.
On 8 July 2010, the band announced that they had started recording a new album. It was finished in November, and is titled The Enigma of Life. It was released on 21 January 2011.
The first single, "The End of It All", was released on 21 December 2010 as a digital download.
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On 19 April 2011, Michael left Sirenia to put in more time on his own bands and projects. Jan Erik Soltvedt joined the band and filled in as the lead guitarist. Soltvedt accompanied Sirenia on their American and European tours in 2011, including the Gallus Sonorus Musicallis festival (GSM Fest) held in June 2011 in Barcelos, Portugal, and the Wacken Festival in Germany, held in August.
On 16 July 2011, one of their most important performances of that year was held at the famous heavy metal festival Masters of Rock, which takes place annually in the city of Vizovice, Czech Republic. Their only former appearance at the fsetival was in 2008.
By the end of July and the beginning of August 2011, Sirenia made their second Latin American tour, which took them back to countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and for the first time to Peru and Chile in October.
2012–2016: Perils of the Deep Blue, The Seventh Life Path and Ailyn's departure
On 16 October 2012 Sirenia announced that they had entered the studio to record their next album for an early 2013 release. The band said of the album "The progress on the new album is going very well — we feel confident that the sixth Sirenia album will have some nice surprises up its sleeve, as we've been determined to make this record somewhat different from the previous two albums".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 13 April 2013 the band announced the title of their album on their Facebook page: Perils of the Deep Blue.<ref name=Facebook>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Their single "Seven Widows Weep" was released through Nuclear Blast on 12 May 2013. On 3 June 2013, the official music video of the song was released. It was filmed in April of the same year in Serbia by iCODE Team.<ref name=Facebook />
Perils of the Deep Blue represented the first Sirenia album in US charts, such as the Billboard Hard Rock Albums and the Heatseekers Albums.<ref>SIRENIA – Perils Of The Deep Blue Enters The Charts In The US</ref>
The band announced they had returned to Napalm Records on 3 April 2014 with a pending album release for early 2015.<ref name="blabbermouth.net" /> On 10 February 2015 Sirenia announced the title of their next record called The Seventh Life Path.<ref name=Facebook /> On 12 March 2015 the band announced on their Facebook page that Nightwatcher Films has signed Sirenia for the use of their song "Ducere Me In Lucem" of Perils of the Deep Blue for the opening title sequence of a film called Abandoned Dead, penned for release January 2016.<ref name=Facebook /><ref name=AbandonedDead>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 5 July 2016 Sirenia announced that after 8 years, Ailyn and the band were parting on good terms,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> but that the work with the upcoming album would proceed as normal.<ref name=Facebook /> The same day, Ailyn released a statement disputing the band's claim, saying that the decision was not hers and she was not a part of it.<ref name=":0" />
2016–2020: Dim Days of Dolor, new singer and Arcane Astral Aeons
On 29 August 2016 Sirenia revealed their eighth full-length album Dim Days of Dolor before their official announcement of their new singer.
On 8 September 2016 Sirenia announced their new singer Emmanuelle Zoldan, a French mezzo-soprano singer from Aix-en-Provence who had worked with Sirenia for 13 years as part of The Sirenian Choir.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She had already contributed the lead vocals for the Sirenian Shores EP cover of "First We Take Manhattan" by Leonard Cohen.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
Sirenia toured with Arkona and MindMaze in May 2017 for their debut in the United States and Canada.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In October 2017 before a European tour, French guitarist Nils Courbaron was unexpectedly invited to participate in the live performances, replacing Jan Erik Soltvedt. In November, longtime drummer Jonathan Pérez left the band and joined Green Carnation. Following this, Sirenia temporarily included Austrian drummer Roland Navratil, a live member who had performed with the band before.
The band returned to North America to join various bands on the heavy metal cruise, 70000 Tons of Metal for two shows on 2 and 3 February 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sirenia toured North America for the second time with Canadian metal band Threat Signal in April 2018, with support from Valinor Excelsior, Graveshadow, Niviane and Dire Peril.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 14 August 2018, Sirenia had revealed the title of their ninth studio album Arcane Astral Aeons, along with a European tour in the fall. The album was released 26 October of the same year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
A lyric video was made for the single "Love Like Cyanide" released on 21 September 2018. The song features a guest appearance by Yannis Papadopoulos from Finnish band Beast in Black.<ref>SIRENIA: Lyric Video For New Song 'Love Like Cyanide'</ref> On 12 October, "Into the Night" was released as the second single, followed by a music video. Both videos were directed by Swedish filmmaker and musician Owe Lingvall.<ref>Sirenia Premiere 'Into the Night' Music Video</ref>
In the fall of 2019, Sirenia went on an extensive European tour with bands such as Leaves' Eyes, Forever Still and Lost in Grey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the tour, a new official member was introduced, British drummer Michael Brush from Magic Kingdom.<ref>Sirenia welcomes new drummer</ref>
2020–present: Riddles, Ruins & Revelations, 1977 and Amanita Messis
On 8 December 2020, Sirenia announced the title of their tenth studio album Riddles, Ruins & Revelations, with the release of their first single off of the album, "Addiction No. 1". The album was released on 12 February 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The second single off of the album, "We Come to Ruins", was released on 12 January 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 10 February 2021, the band released their third single off of the album which is a cover of Desireless' "Voyage, voyage".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The tenth album was a remarkable stylistic shift for Sirenia, adding synth-pop to their usual symphonic metal musical style, opting for a more commercial bet.
On 22 March 2023, the band simultaneously announced the first single which is a cover of English singer Tanita Tikaram's "Twist in My Sobriety".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is the first single that was featured on the eleventh studio album, 1977, which was released on 26 May 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The other two singles were "Deadlight" and "Wintry Heart".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album followed in the same vein as the previous Riddles, Ruins & Revelations, but with a style influenced by the rock bands of the 70s-80s.
On 10 October 2025, the band released the single, "Nightside Den", which is the first single from their upcoming twelfth studio album, Amanita Messis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Band members
Current
- Morten Veland – guitars, harsh vocals, other instruments on studio (2001–present), live bass (2018–2020)
- Emmanuelle Zoldan – female vocals (2016–present), choir on studio (2003–present)
Former
- Kristian Gundersen – guitars and clean vocals (live only) (2001–2004)
- Henriette Bordvik – female vocals (2003–2005)
- Monika Pedersen – female vocals (2006–2007)
- Michael S. Krumins – guitars and harsh vocals (live only) (2008–2011)
- Ailyn – female vocals (2008–2016)
Live
- Bjørnar Landa – guitars (2004–2008)
- Kristian Olav Torp – bass (2008)
- Roland Navratil – drums (2004–2005, 2009, 2017)
- Jonathan A. Perez – drums (2003–2017)
- Jan Erik Soltvedt – guitars (2011–2020)
- Nils Courbaron – guitars (2018–present)
- Michael Brush – drums (2018–present)
The Sirenian Choir
- Damien Surian – choir on studio (2001–present)
- Mathieu Landry – choir on studio (2003–present)
- Emilie Bernou – choir on studio (2012–present)
Former Sirenian Choir
- Johanna Giraud – sirenian choir (2001–2004)
- Hubert Piazzola – sirenian choir (2001–2004)
- Emilie Lesbros – sirenian choir (2001–2010)
- Sandrine Gouttebel – sirenian choir (2003–2010)
Session
- Fabienne Gondamin – vocals (2001–2002)
- Pete Johansen – violin (2001–2002)
- Anne Verdot – violin (2003–2004)
- Jan Kenneth Barkved – clean vocals (2001–2002, 2008; died 2009)
- Stephanie Valentin – violin (2008–2010, 2018)
- Joakim Næss – clean vocals (2012–2016, 2021)
Timeline
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</timeline>
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL (Fla) <ref name="ultratop.be">Template:Cite web</ref> |
BEL (Wal) <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
FRA <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
GER <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
SWI <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
UK Rock <ref>Peaks on the UK Rock Chart:
|
US Heat <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
US Hard Rock <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |||||||||||||
| At Sixes and Sevens |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| An Elixir for Existence |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| Nine Destinies and a Downfall |
|
— | — | 134 | 54 | 85 | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| The 13th Floor |
|
— | — | 127 | 87 | 67 | — | — | — |
| ||||||||||
| The Enigma of Life |
|
— | — | — | 73 | 53 | — | — | — |
| ||||||||||
| Perils of the Deep Blue |
|
98 | 89 | 136 | 50 | 43 | 11 | 20 | 97 |
| ||||||||||
| The Seventh Life Path |
|
198 | 122 | — | 68 | 77 | — | 18 | — |
| ||||||||||
| Dim Days of Dolor |
|
— | 150 | — | — | 89 | 34 | — | 25 | |||||||||||
| Arcane Astral Aeons |
|
131 | 150 | — | — | 80 | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| Riddles, Ruins & Revelations |
|
— | — | — | 89 | 18 | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| 1977 |
|
— | — | — | — | 78 | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or was not released. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Extended plays
- Sirenian Shores (2004)
Singles and promo singles
- "My Mind's Eye" (2007) (Promo single)
- "The Path to Decay" (2008)
- "The End of It All" (2010)
- "Seven Widows Weep" (2013)
- "Once My Light" (2015)
- "The 12th Hour" (2016)
- "Dim Days of Dolor" (2016)
- "Love Like Cyanide" (2018)
- "Into the Night" (2018)
- "Addiction No. 1" (2020)
- "We Come to Ruins" (2021)
- "Voyage, voyage" (2021, Desireless cover)
- "Twist in My Sobriety" (2023, Tanita Tikaram cover)
- "Nightside Den" (2025)
Music videos
| Year | Title | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "My Mind's Eye" | iCODE Team |
| "The Other Side" | iCODE Team | |
| 2008 | "The Path to Decay" | Patric Ullaeus |
| 2011 | "The End of It All" | Patric Ullaeus |
| 2013 | "Seven Widows Weep" | iCODE Team |
| 2015 | "Once My Light" | iCODE Team |
| 2016 | "Dim Days of Dolor" | Owe Lingvall |
| 2018 | "Into the Night" | Owe Lingvall |
| 2020 | "Addiction No. 1" | iCODE Team |
| 2021 | "Voyage, voyage" (Desireless cover) | rowspan="2" Template:N/a |
| 2023 | "Twist in My Sobriety" (Tanita Tikaram cover) | |
| "Deadlight" | Cécile Delpoïo, Pierre Troestler |
References
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- Norwegian gothic metal musical groups
- Norwegian symphonic metal musical groups
- Musical groups established in 2001
- 2001 establishments in Norway
- Norwegian musical quartets
- Musical groups from Stavanger
- Nuclear Blast artists
- Female-fronted musical groups
- Mixed-gender musical quartets