Dauntless

1991-1997

The band was founded in 1991 by Sami Helle (vocals/guitar) under the

name Maniax, shortly thereafter joined by drummer Santeri Salmi and

bassist Tuomo Tukkimäki. The first demo "Face The Fact" was released 4

years later, and the second, called "Prophecy.", in 1996. The music

was some sort of hardcore-influenced thrash metal. In 1998, the

initial band name was changed to Dauntless, and the music begun to

seek its current shape.



1998-2001

The third demo, "Cold I Am", was released in 1998, and the band felt

their line-up needed a second guitarist. Well, a lead guitarist

anyway. The post was taken by Riku Katainen. In 1999 they recorded

another demo called "Inhumankind". They made a couple of successful

shows (including one in the national band contest) and quickly earned

their reputation as an aggressive live act. However, the Finnish army

intervened the plot and the band was forced to recharge their

batteries until early 2002.



2002-2003

In summer 2002 the band was ready to record their fifth demo, but this

time they decided to try it out with another lead vocalist. Ari

Nieminen (ex-Caledonian) impressed them at the first rehearsal and the

search promptly ended. Coming to the end of the year, the demo "Modern

Ways Of Discipline" was released and the first offers for a record

contract were received. None were accepted, however. In 2003 another

series of successful shows followed, including the afterclub of Tuska

Open Air metal festival.



2004

Summer 2004 saw the band recording, yes, their sixth demo. "Ruins

MMIV" and the video clip of the song "Ruins" gathered interest from

many directions and supposedly more unreasonable record contracts were

offered. The band was chosen as the demo band of the month in Inferno;

this is when everyone, and I mean everyone started asking why is the

band still unsigned.



2005-2006

In 2005 the original bass player Tuomo Tukkimäki left the band and was

shortly after replaced by Olli Määttä, who stood his trial at the

afterclub of Tuska (it was the second time Dauntless played there).

The seventh demo "Obey - Erase - Obey" was released, and the band once

again returned to their persistent quest for a decent record deal.



And yes, this time it finally happened. The Finnish label Firebox

Records signed Dauntless, and sent them to the studio in late 2006 to

record their debut album "Execute The Fact". The album compiled some

of their most wanted songs from the demo times with a few unheard

ones, surpassing everything Dauntless had made so far. And that kind

of an assault was simply asking to be succeeded with another.



2007-present

After the release of "Execute The Fact" Dauntless spent a year

sparsely on the road, already building up plans for their next full-

length album. In 2008, however, they mutually cancelled their

agreement with Firebox Records and started looking for another label.

This time it wasn't so hard either. Newly founded Full Metal Records,

also from Finland, took interest in the band and made them an offer

they couldn't refuse.



So, after years of hard work, ups and downs (mostly downs), Dauntless

is here to entertain us with another album that takes it from where

they were left on "Execute The Fact". "Death Row Poet" introduces a

new, matured side to their sound, grown on their deep roots in

relentless death/thrash metal.



During the process of recording "Death Row Poet", the long-time

drummer Santeri Salmi left his seat to pursue his other interests;

meaning that he will most probably be involved on the next Dauntless

album as an engineer. His replacement, Arto Vesander, was immediately

found from among close friends.



So, the release date of "Death Row Poet" is at the end of February.

Until then, hold your breath. And after?. Catch the band on the road

when they hit the nearest town.