OCTOPLOID is a solo band of Olli-Pekka Laine (Amorphis). “Beyond The Aeons” due to be released in July of 2024.
OCTOPLOID is a solo band of Olli-Pekka Laine (Amorphis, Barren Earth, Mannhai). “Beyond The Aeons” marks the band’s debut album, due to be released in July of 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music.
The band’s music combines elements from 90’s death/black metal, 70’s prog rock and 90’s psychedelic rock. In one phrase, Octoploid has been described as “Classic Death Prog”.
The core band includes Mikko Pietinen on drums, Peter Salonen on lead/rhythm guitars, Kim Rantala on keyboards and Mikko Kotamäki on vocals. Mikko Pietinen is a well seasoned and diverse drummer, bringing experience from stoner rock (Mannhai) to Finnish mainstream poprock (Kasmir, etc). Peter Salonen is a fresh face in the scene, recently known from The Kinky Thing, who play covers of the Finnish psych rock legends, Kingston Wall. Kim Rantala and Mikko Kotamäki are known from Amorphis and Swallow the Sun. The entire line up being as follows:
Mikko Kotamäki: Vocals
Mikko Pietinen: Drums and percussion
Peter Salonen: Rhythm and lead guitars
Kim Rantala: Keyboards
Olli-Pekka Laine: Bass, keyboards, backing vocals
With:
Petri Eskelinen (Feastem): Vocals
Tomi Koivusaari (Amorphis): Vocals
Tomi Joutsen (Amorphis): Vocals
Janitor Muurinen (Xysma, Mannhai): Vocals
Jón Aldará (Hamferð): Vocals
Samu Leminen: Additional guitars
Kasper Mårtenson (ex-Amorphis): Keyboards
Ile Laaksomaa: Solo guitar on track 8
Song titles and credits:
1. Dawns in Nothingness (vocals: Mikko Kotamäki)
2. Coast of the Drowned Sailors (vocals: Tomi Koivusaari, Janitor Muurinen)
3. Human Amoral (vocals: Tomi Joutsen)
4. Shattered Wings (vocals: Petri Eskelinen)
5. Beyond the Aeons
6. Hallowed Flame (vocals: Mikko Kotamäki)
7. Concealed Serenity (vocals: Mikko Kotamäki)
8. Dusk of Vex (vocals: Jón Aldará)
Mixed by Petri Majuri (Hanoi Rocks, Michael Monroe, Frans Ferndinand, Billy Cobham) https://e-studio.fi/contact/petri-majuri/?lang=en
Mastered by David Castillo (Opeth, Whitechapel, Katatonia, Carcass) http://davidcastillo.se
All music, lyrics and arrangements by OPL