MASTERSTROKE

MASTERSTROKE

As Days Grow Darker

IN STORES

25th of march (Finland)

27th of march (World)

15th of may (Germany)

When Niko Rauhala and Janne Juutinen decided to form a band in the spring of 2002, they had to think of a good name for a band that would have surprising and clever songs. After some brainstorming, they came up with a name that seemed to fit them perfectly: MASTERSTROKE. Of course.

After a few line-up changes and well-received demos, in 2005 the band went to the studio, but this time to record a full-length album. Arto Tissari played the bass on the album, but after the recordings he chose to concentrate on the other bands he plays in. The band wished him all the best and welcomed a new bass player, Marko Kolehmainen. The Masterstroke debut album Apocalypse was ready in the spring of 2005 and the band was stronger than ever.

Masterstroke also found a record company which was supposed to release Apocalypse worldwide. Unfortunately the company was unable to carry out these intentions, and in the end the album was only released in Japan and Russia (which makes it rather like a collector’s item).

If anything, the setback gave the band even more determination. In 2006 Masterstroke played some gigs and wrote new songs, this time in a slightly more aggressive vein. The band started to prepare for a new album in MSTR-studio, even though they didn’t know who would release it and when. The pre-production began in the autumn, and in early 2007 Masterstroke sent the pre-production CD to some record companies. A couple of them were seriously interested in the band, but after some negotiations, one of them turned out better than the rest. After some messages, phone calls and meetings, Masterstroke signed a deal with the Finnish record company Dynamic Arts Records.

Late 2007 saw the release of Sleep, along with a single of the track Turn Away. After what happened to Apocalypse (or didn't, as it were), the band saw this as a new beginning. And a great new start it was. Lots of gigs in support of the album all over Finland and then in the spring of 2008, Masterstroke was invited to support Jon Oliva's Pain along with Manticora on their European tour. Highlights in this 3,5 weeks of touring include opening for Primal Fear and Scorpions. More shows followed during the summer of '08, including an appearance in Sauna Open Air metal festival.

Then it was time once more to hit the studio. As with the previous album, drums were recorded in Fantom Studio by Samu Oittinen. This time, everything else (except mastering) was done "in-house" in MSTR-studio. Mastering was once again done by Svante Forsbäck of Chartmakers.

The result? A relentless barrage of ass-kicking, powerful and emotional songs delivered in world-class quality as only Masterstroke can! Be prepared As Days Grow Darker!

AS DAYS GROW DARKER (2009)

1. Wait for the Fall

2. As Days Grow Darker

3. Walls of My Temple

4. Unstoppable

5. Another Step Back

6. Purity Fades

7. Stillborn

8. Into Oblivion

9. Inside Myself

10. Old Wounds

11. Truth Revealed

SLEEP (2007)

1. Transition

2. Killing Creatures

3. Turn Away

4. Under Our Command

5. Another Failure

6. The Circle

7. Being Me

8. Sleep

9. Silent

10. Final Journey

TURN AWAY (CDS, 2007)

1. Turn Away

2. (I Just) Died in Your Arms

APOCALYPSE (2006, released in Japan)

01. Evil forces (never die)

02. I’ll take my time

03. Theater of madness

04. Children of the war

05. Calling 06. Memory of.

07. Seven deadly sins

08. Eye of the needle

09. Rusty angel

10. Metalstorm (bonus track)

"STILLBORN" - MUSIC VIDEO

"PURITY FADES" - MUSIC VIDEO

"TURN AWAY" - MUSIC VIDEO

MAKING OF "SLEEP" TEASER

MARKO DOES A TRICK

IN EUROPE PART I

IN EUROPE PART II

IN EUROPE PART III

IN EUROPE PART IV

IN EUROPE PART V

IN EUROPE PART VI

Booking:

Markus Povelainen

Email: booking (at) dynamicartsrecords.com

Phone: +358 44 288 5294

Label:

Dynamic Arts Records

P.O. Box 168

FIN-33101 Tampere

Finland

Internet: www.dynamicartsrecords.com

Email: info (at) dynamicartsrecords.com