Artist: MORGANA LEFAY
Album: ABERRATIONS OF THE MIND (CD)

Year: 2007
EAN/UPS: 4012743018323
Media type: CD

Previously titled DAMAGE, this Bolnas based Heavy Metal group, drafting SEPHER JEZIRAH singer Charles Rytkonen, changed their name to MORGANA LEFAY during 1989. Original guitarist Stefan Jonsson bowed out at this juncture allowing another SEPHER JEZIRAH member, guitarist Tommi Karppanen, to join the fold. The 1992 debut, self-financed album, featuring original bassist Joakim Lundberg, is extremely scarce, only 537 copies being pressed. The same year keyboard player Ulf Petersson joined GALLEON.

MORGANA LEFAY cut a demo entitled ‘Rumours Of Rain’ which prompted the interest of Black Mark Records, the label taking the band on for the 1993 ‘Knowing Just As I’ album. Touring in Germany found the band on the road with CEMETERY and INVOCATOR.

For the group's third album ‘The Secret Doctrine’ MORGANA LEFAY's line-up comprised vocalist Charles Rytkonen, guitarists Tommi Karpanen and Tony Eriksson, bassist Joakim Heder and drummer Jonas Soderlind. However, in June 1994, just after shooting a video for the track ‘Rooms Of Sleep’, Karpanen decamped. To fulfil live obligations the band drafted FANTASMAGORIA and SHOTGUN ALLEY guitarist Peter Grehn. A permanent replacement would be found in Daniel Persson, first making his presence felt on the February 1995 ‘Sanctified’ album.

The 1995 compilation album 'Past, Present, Future' includes cover versions of CRIMSON GLORY's 'Lost Reflection' and, strangely, ABBA's 'Voulez Vous'! The group toured Germany in late 1995 as support to GAMMA RAY before issuing a brand new album in 1996.

The 'Maleficium' record scored highly with the European Rock media and the band undertook a headline European tour to promote it supported by German Power Metal act BRAINSTORM and Texan Doomsters SOLITUDE AETURNUS.

Black Mark issued the compilation ‘Fata Morgana’ during 1998 in order to highlight the faster paced material of the band. Just as MORGANA LEFAY seemed set on track for greater things though a split in the ranks occurred when Jonas Soederlind, Joakim Heder and Daniel Persson all vacated. MORGANA LEFAY regrouped by enlisting a triumvirate of former FANTASMAGORIA personnel in Peter Grehn, Robin Engstrom and Micke Еsentorp.

With Black Mark Records contractually owners of the MORGANA LEFAY brand the revised act adopted the title LEFAY and signed to Noise Records. This new unit issued ‘The Seventh Seal’ album in 1999 as well as a re-worked version of the debut ‘Symphony Of The Damned’.

LEFAY issued a statement that they were to cease operations in 2000. However, late 2001 brought news that a reformation was on the cards and, indeed, LEFAY duly resurfaced for a new album and live work. Signing to Black Mark Records once again in September of 2004, LEFAY reverted back to the MORGANA LEFAY title to craft an album 'Grand Materia', a conceptual piece based upon the work of 14th century alchemist Nicholas Flamel. The double vinyl album edition boasted an extra, exlusive track 'Sangrael'.

The band scheduled their first ever performance in the USA at the April 2005 Chicago 'Powerfest' event. The band united with LANFEAR for European dates in May 2005. Festival performances included shows at the Sandviken 'ParkRock' and Solvesborg 'Sweden Rock' event and Germany's 'Wacken Open Air'. MORGANA LEFAY scheduled their debut UK performance for December 2005 at the 'Bloodstock Christmas Party' event. However, this show was cancelled when guitarist Peter Grehn was rushed to the hospital with an inflamed appendix.

Drummer Robin Engstrom opted out in May 2006 and a successor was located in the LEDNOTE and ROCK TOOLS credited Pelle Еkerlind. MORGANA LEFAY entered Soundcreation studio in Bollnas in late August to cut new album tracks for an album at first announced as 'Primal Chaos' but subsequently switching title to 'Aberrations Of The Mind'.

The group released a preceding single, entitled 'Over And Over Again', on February 26th 2007 via Black Mark. MORGANA LEFAY, SACRED STEEL and CUSTARD teamed up for a European tour commencing at the Osnabruck Bastard Club in Germany on March 22nd.

TRACKLIST:

1. Delusions
2. Make A Wish
3. The Rush Of Possession
4. Depression
5. Caught In The Tread Wheel
6. Reflections Of War
7. Face Of Fear
8. Where I Rule
9. In Shadows I Reign
10. Aberration Of Mind
11. Vultures Devouring
12. Over And Over Again

LINE-UP:

Charles Rytkonen (vocals)
Tony Eriksson (guitar)
Daniel Persson (guitar)
Joakim Heder (bass)
Jonas Soderlind (drums)