Excalion
{{Short description|Finnish metal band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Excalion
| image = Excalion John Smith 2019 (2).jpg
| caption = Excalion at John Smith 2019 festival in Peurunka, Finland
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| origin = Konnevesi, Finland
| genre = Power metal
| years_active = 2000–present
| label = Sound Riot, Limb
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|excalion.com}}
| current_members = Marcus Lång
Aleksi Hirvonen
Jarmo Myllyvirta
Onni Hirvonen
Henri Pirkkalainen
| past_members = Tero Vaaja
Timo Sahlberg
Kimmo Hänninen
Jarmo Pääkkönen
Vesa Nupponen
}}
Excalion is a Finnish metal band led by Jarmo Myllyvirta that has released six albums since 2005.{{Cite web|title = Excalion interview (06/2010) - Metal Storm|url = http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/interview.php?interview_id=582|website = www.metalstorm.net|accessdate = 28 October 2015}} They are largely studio-based and have toured only in their native country.{{Cite web|title = Thoughts Of Metal - Interviews|url = http://users.telenet.be/mettal/ThoughtsOfMetal/interviews/interviewexcalion0310.htm|website = users.telenet.be|accessdate = 28 October 2015}}
History
The band was formed in December 2000 in Konnevesi, central Finland. The name came from a misspelling of Excalibur, suggested by ex-bassist Timo Sahlberg.{{Cite web|title = Excalion Interview|url = http://www.powerofmetal.dk/interviews/excalion_2007.htm|website = www.powerofmetal.dk|accessdate = 28 October 2015}} In the autumn of 2001, Excalion recorded their first demo, Forlorn. The next two years, the band played a few gigs while working on their material. In autumn of 2003, Excalion made a second demo titled Obsession to Prosper. At the end of 2003 the band signed a deal with Sound Riot Records, and the recording of Excalion's debut album was finished at Studio Watercastle (Jyväskylä) in September 2004. The debut album, Primal Exhale, was released through Sound Riot Records in autumn 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.excalion.com/index.php?page=discography |title=Discography |publisher=Excalion |date= |accessdate=18 June 2013}}{{Cite web|title = Excalion - Primal Exhale|url = http://www.discogs.com/Excalion-Primal-Exhale/release/4983748|website = Discogs|accessdate = 28 October 2015}} In Japan it was released by Stay Gold/Art Union Records.
Early 2005, before the release, the band went through some line-up changes. Kimmo Hänninen left the band and bassist Timo Sahlberg left shortly after. When the band found a new guitarist, Vesa Nupponen, the decision was made that Tero Vaaja would switch to the bass, and Excalion would continue as a five-member band with one guitar.{{Cite web|title = Excalion interview @ Tartareandesire.com|url = http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/excalion.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061112164122/http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/excalion.html|url-status = usurped|archive-date = 12 November 2006|website = www.tartareandesire.com|accessdate = 28 October 2015}}
In May 2006, the band began to record their second album, Waterlines. The material for this album was more melodic with a greater emphasis on the vocal lines. The recordings once again took place in Watercastle Studio while the band decided to move to Limb Music (except Japan) after issues with the previous record company. It was released 2 March 2007.{{Cite web|title = Excalion - Waterlines|url = http://www.discogs.com/Excalion-Waterlines/release/2519031|website = Discogs|accessdate = 28 October 2015}}
On 29 January 2010, the album High Time was released, again in Limb Music.{{cite web|url=http://www.excalion.com/discography/high-time|title=High Time|publisher=Excalion|accessdate=18 June 2013}} In 2014 it was announced that Nupponen and Pääkkönen had left the band and were replaced by Marcus Lång on vocals and Aleksi Hirvonen on guitars.{{Cite web|title = Excalion - News|url = http://www.excalion.com/news/108/17/New-line-up-and-Promo-video|website = www.excalion.com|accessdate = 28 October 2015}}
On 5 July 2017, the album named Dream Alive was presented at Katse Ravintola in Jyväskylä city. This was the first show with this new material and formation with Onni Hirvonen on bass guitars.
During 2019, the band released their fifth album Emotions In September but were unable to tour in support of it as the Coronavirus pandemic halted touring for 2020.{{Cite web|title = EXCALION – The details of the new album 'Emotions'- News|url = https://loudandproud.it/excalion-i-dettagli-del-nuovo-album-emotions}}
In January 2023, Excalion released a new single called Soulbound again featuring new singer Lång along with the announcement of a full length album entitled Once Upon a Time.{{Cite web|title = EXCALION – Details of the new album 'Once Upon a Time'- News|url = https://loudandproud.it/excalion-i-dettagli-del-nuovo-album-once-upon-a-time}} A month later, the band announced the album would be released on March 24.{{cite web|url=https://metalshockfinland.com/2023/02/12/excalion-to-release-new-album-once-upon-a-time-on-march-24th/|title=EXCALION to Release New Album “Once Upon a Time” on March 24th|website=Metal Shock Finland|access-date=March 24, 2023|date=February 12, 2023}}
Members
Current members
- Jarmo Myllyvirta - keyboards (2000-present)
- Onni Hirvonen - bass (2016-present)
- Henri Pirkkalainen - drums (2000-present)
- Aleksi Hirvonen - guitars (2014-present)
- Marcus Lång - vocals (2015-present)
Former members
- Timo Sahlberg - bass (2000-2005)
- Kimmo Hänninen - guitars (2000-2005)
- Jarmo Pääkkönen - vocals (2000-2014)
- Vesa Nupponen - guitars (2005-2014)
- Tero Vaaja - bass (2000-2005, 2005-2016)
= Timeline =
{{#tag:timeline|
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ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:2000
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id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals
id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitars
id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:Keys value:purple legend:Keyboards
id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album
id:other value:gray(0.5) legend:EP
LineData =
layer:back
at:11/11/2001 color:other
at:09/17/2003 color:other
at:07/17/2005 color:studio
at:03/02/2007 color:studio
at:01/29/2010 color:studio
at:07/07/2017 color:studio
at:09/27/2019 color:studio
at:03/24/2023 color:studio
BarData =
bar:JP text:"Jarmo Pääkkönen"
bar:ML text:"Marcus Lång"
bar:KH text:"Kimmo Hänninen"
bar:TV text:"Tero Vaaja"
bar:VN text:"Vesa Nupponen"
bar:AH text:"Aleksi Hirvonen"
bar:TS text:"Timo Sahlberg"
bar:OH text:"Onni Hirvonen"
bar:JM text:"Jarmo Myllyvirta"
bar:HP text:"Henri Pirkkalainen"
PlotData=
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:JP from:01/01/2000 till:12/30/2014 color:Vocals
bar:ML from:01/01/2015 till:end color:Vocals
bar:KH from:01/01/2000 till:12/31/2005 color:Guitar
bar:TV from:01/01/2000 till:12/31/2005 color:Guitar
bar:TV from:01/01/2006 till:06/15/2016 color:Bass
bar:OH from:06/16/2016 till:end color:Bass
bar:VN from:01/01/2006 till:12/31/2013 color:Guitar
bar:AH from:01/01/2014 till:end color:Guitar
bar:TS from:01/01/2000 till:12/31/2005 color:Bass
bar:JM from:01/01/2000 till:end color:Keys
bar:HP from:01/01/2000 till:end color:Drums
}}
Discography
- Primal Exhale (2005)
- Waterlines (2007)
- High Time (2010)
- Dream Alive (2017)
- Emotions (2019)
- Once Upon a Time (2023)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.excalion.com}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Finnish power metal musical groups