January 21th 2010 | Reviews
The first reviews of Ripples are flying in! Check them out at the press section! Please notify us if you want your review posted in our press section. Also, some new gigs are coming, but first up are our release concert, in the middle of Oslo - no admission!
January 7th 2010 | Press release
What A Difference A Year Makes…
“Wow! What a year!” is vocalist Atle Pettersen’s awe-struck take on 2009, and given the way thatASPERA have suddenly gone from nowhere to appear on everybody’s radar he certainly has a point. This time last year the band were complete unknowns; but the last twelve months have seen the band play a number of high-profile gigs, record an album and sign a worldwide deal with InsideOut Music. Not bad for a bunch of relative youngsters – all (by bizarre co-incidence) being born in the last quarter of 1989 – from Skien, Norway.
Under the name Illusion ASPERA had already released three self-recorded EPs, so it was a brave move to take a step back and start again. But the gamble has paid off and ‘Ripples’, the Norwegian melodic progressive metal outfit’s first album, is already picking up enthusiastic reviews in advance of its official release, starting on 22nd January across Europe.
Although no strangers to the live scene, 2009 saw the band supporting Tarja across Europe and playing a number of prestigious festivals (including Rock Festival 1001, Sluserock, and being the second headliner at Norway’s Winterfestival) which helped them establish a firm fanbase. They also found time to write and record ‘Ripples’, an astonishing collection of ten quite varied and dynamic compositions. The finishing touches to the album were added by famed producer Jens Bogren (Opeth, Paradise Lost, Hammerfall, Symphony X) who noted, “The debut album from ASPERA is one of the best progressive metal albums I’ve heard in a long time…”
A number of labels approached the band, but InsideOut Music were the perfect partners for a band of ASPERA’s ability and talent. “Look at the calibre of artists they’ve got,” said guitarist Robin Ognedal when they signed. “It’s a great label, we’ve always wanted to work with them, and they made us an offer we literally couldn’t refuse.”
And if 2009 was a rollercoaster, the band had better hang on to their hats as 2010 promises to be even more exciting with the release ‘Ripples’ and a considerable amount of live shows to back it up, kicking off with the album launch party in Oslo on 28th January @ Smuget. It’s going to be one hell of a year!
January 1th 2010 | Band Message
We wish you all a HAPPY & ROCKING NEW YEAR!! We're releasing our debut album Ripples 25th january and therefore we're inviting YOU to our release party at Smuget, Oslo the 28th jan 2010!! You'll be able to buy the new album there, t-shirts and there will also be a signing session after the concert. We have special guests from Pagan's Mind, and our support band this evening is the great band Third Brigade - Don't miss it! (No entrance fee!) We have posted some new and old photos to the gallery, be sure to check them out, and also we have posted the lyrics for most of our songs (you can find them in the discography section.) If you don't have an account for our forum yet, be sure to sign up! There are also more gigs coming up, more info later. Enjoy 2010, and keep rocking!
November 28th 2009 | Record Deal
ASPERA sign worldwide deal with InsideOut Music; Debut album “Ripples” out January 25th 2010; Launch first online sample via MySpace!
Norway’s melodic progressive metal band ASPERA are proud to announce signing of a worldwide deal with InsideOut Music and the release of their debut album “Ripples” is now scheduled for January 25th, 2010.
These five aspiring musicians from Skien, Norway, are truly what can be described as ‘youngsters’ and ‘newcomers’, being just 20 years of age (all born in the last quarter of the year 1989!) and even only 18-19 years old while producing “Ripples”. The name ASPERA is taken from Latin and stands for ‘thorns’ or ‘rugged ground’, which describes the band’s complex and colourful sound in an appropriate way.
Despite their young individual age, ASPERA have gathered previous experience under the band name “Illusion” and shared stages in their native Norway with bands like Pagan’s Mind, Circus Maximus or Audrey Horne and most recently also debuting internationally as support band for former Nightwish vocalist Tarja Turunen on two shows in Spain and one in Switzerland.
ASPERA quote acts like Pain Of Salvation, Pagan’s Mind, Symphony X, Dream Theater, or Evergrey as common favourites and stylistic influences and the band’s debut full-length album "Ripples" was mixed and mastered at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden by Jens Bogren, who has previously produced bands such as Opeth, Paradise Lost, Hammerfall or Symphony X. Bogren was obviously impressed by the potential of the young musicians and comments on “Ripples” as follows: “The debut album from ASPERA is one of the best progressive metal albums I've heard in a looong time! Since 1992, to be exact! It was an honor helping the band getting the album the way they deserve."
Based on the strength of “Ripples”, the band had been approached by a number of labels but it was what InsideOutMusic had to say that interested them the most. “The deal they offered us was perfect,” comments vocalist Atle. “It showed that their ideas for the band matched our goals and aspirations, and it was exactly the deal we wanted.”
“And we’re big fans of InsideOut,” adds guitarist Robin. “Look at the calibre of artists they’ve got! It’s a great label, we’ve always wanted to work with them, and they made us an offer we literally couldn’t refuse. It’s a great opportunity for us as a band.”
“It’s important to have the right partners to launch a new band,” says ASPERA’s manager Manuela Froehlich. “The knowledge, expertise and support of a label like InsideOut is exactly what ASPERA need to be able to realize their true potential.”
“Ripples” consists of 10 extremely well-composed and varied tracks, wrapped in a dynamic and a powerful production. The album’s title-track, “Ripples”, is now launched on the band’s MySpace profile and can be checked out here: www.myspace.com/asperaofficial
Here is the exact track-listing of the album:
ASPERA - "Ripples" CD
1. Intro
2. Ripples
3. Do I Dare?
4. Remorse
5. Between Black & White
6. Catatonic Coma
7. Torn Apart
8. Traces Inside
9. Reflections
10. The Purpose
For interviews & press enquiries, please contact Peter @ PIRATE SMILE: peter.klapproth@pirate-smile.de.
November 9th 2009 | Record Deal
Successful live performances abroad were followed by an increased industry interest and we waited just long enough, since mixing the album in April this year, to now get an offer that fits perfectly with the bands targets and ambitions.
A record and a publishing deal will be signed shortly to bring the album Ripples onto the market in January 2010. Details will be announced soon!
October 2th 2009 | Thank you Tarja!
We've just got back from Spain and Switzerland, and it was just awesome! We've met many great people along the way. We want to thank Tarja Turunen for letting us play on the three gigs, and also the audience who turned up on Salamandra, La Riviera and Z7. We'll do whats in our power to get back there! Next weekend (9th - 10th oktober) we're playing a the festival 1001 Watt with headliners Scar Symmetry and Sabaton.
August 24th 2009 | New gigs
Aspera is now confirmed for three support shows for Tarja Turunen! (Ex-Nightwish). Two shows will be in Spain, and one in Switzerland. This is truly great, and we're all looking very forward to sharing stage with the great Tarja and her band, consisting of Mike Terrena (Masterplan, ex-Rage), Oliver Holzwarth (Blind Guardian) Max Lilja (Apocalyptica) Christian Kretschmar(Schiller), and Alex Scholpp (Farmer Boys).
JULY 6th 2009 | News
The "Aspera Mansion" which four of us has called our home for the last year, is now deserted! We've moved out, but the band will of course go on as normal. We have been confirmed for the local "1001 Watt" festival in October, and we're planning some other concerts. Enjoy our site, and please sign up at our forum!
JUNE 5th 2009 | New website!
New website finally up and running! Thanks so much once again, to Joakim Severinsen of Adyta for taking the time! Today we're appearing at two norwegian television shows; Norge Rundt, NRK1 19:30, and Tv-Telemark, 17:30 - Tune in! Tomorrow, we play Sluserock09, along other great bands, such as Big Bang and El Caco, so please come by - more info on their website, sluserock.no.
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