Artist: THE STORYTELLER
Album: UNDERWORLD (CD)

Year: 2006
Media type: CD

With their fourth album "Underworld", Storyteller have once again proved their position. Eleven new tracks SHOWING AGAIN THE VARITY OF THIS LEGENDARY Power Metal act. With producer Pelle Saether behind the desk you can only expect a masterpiece.

THE STORYTELLER started life as an acoustic liaison between vocalist L-G Persson and guitarist Fredrik Groth in late 1995. This unit was augmented by vocalist Magnus Bjork and guitarist Jocke Lundstrom for recording of a three track demo session. At this juncture the band was going under the title of STORYTELLER. (They became THE STORYTELLER) in 2000).

In mid 1996 Groth departed and was duly replaced by Per Nilsson. Internal manoeuvring would see Lundstrom switching to the drum role. This revised unit cut a fresh demo but dissatisfied with THE STORYTELLER's musical direction Persson put the band on ice for a term.

However, by December 1997 Persson and Groth reforged links to have another stab at THE STORYTELLER. Enlisted on the drum stool would be Martin Hjerpe. A radical shift in direction also witnessed the acoustic bent of previous material ditched in favour of Germanic inspired Power Metal.

Anders Ostlin enrolled as bassist and in April of 1998 a further demo CDR led to a strong interest from the established German Noise label. It was not to be plain sailing though. Although Noise liked the music they expressed the opinion that THE STORYTELLER required a new vocalist. The band stuck to their guns and recorded another two tracks retaining Persson on lead vocals. This effort saw a further rebuttal from Noise and the band was forced into a re-think on their strategy.

Persson took to the bass role and Anders Ostlin became a keyboard player. A few months later he left the band. THE STORYTELLER auditioned numerous potential lead vocalists and this search would find a new band member when Lasse Martinsen turned out to be a better guitarist than a vocalist. Unable to locate a frontman STORYTELLER re-instated Persson into the role. Mid 1999 brought forth a record deal with the No Fashion concern.

Shortly after recording the debut eponymous album at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg Martinsen was replaced by Erik Gornostajev. The record arrived on the racks in May of 2000. Japanese editions, as in keeping with tradition, boasting an extra exclusive track namely a demo version of 'Chant Of The Thieves' dating back to 1995.

Promoting the album with live work THE STORYTELLER was fortunate at one October gig to have both Oskar Dronjak and Joacim Cans of HAMMERFALL guest onstage with an impromptu jam of MANOWAR's 'Black Wind, Fire And Steel'!

Two weeks before commencement of recording for a second album Erik Gornostajev quit. Payre 'Parka' Kankanranta of KARYAN, ENDOMORPH and JAVELIN came in for the album sessions but after a mere brace of gigs he too was gone, journeying on to WINTERLONG and VIPERINE. During August of 2001 Jacob Wennerqvist took on guitar duties. The band's second album 'Crossroad' would be issued in Japan, complete with a bonus recording of IRON MAIDEN’s ‘Moonchild’, during December.

THE STORYTELLER returned in 2003 with the album 'Tales Of A Holy Quest', recorded and mixed between April and July at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg. In early 2005 Payre Kankanranta was announced as having joined reformed British Thrash Metal act ATOMKRAFT. The band entered Studio Underground in Vasteras in early May with producer Pelle Saether to craft a new album. The resulting 'Underworld' closed out with a cover version of MOTORHEAD's seminal 'Ace Of Spades'. Live work saw Finnish supports to HELLOWEEN in November.

Tracklisting:

01 Changeling
02 Eyes Of The Dead
03 The Fiddler
04 Wathcher In The Deep
05 Your Time Has Come
06 Beauty Is The Beast
07 Underworld
08 Magic Elements
09 Shine On
10 Ace Of Spades

Line-Up:

L.G. Persson (vocals / bass)
Erin Gornostajev (guitar)
Fredrik Groth (guitars / keyboards)
Martin Hjerpe (drums)

Discography:

Storyteller (No Fashion Records)
Crossroads (No Fashion Records)
Tales Of A Holy Quest (Black Lodge)
Underworld (Black Lodge)