Gardenian
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Gardenian was a Swedish
melodic death metal Melodic death metal (also referred to as melodeath) is a subgenre of death metal that employs highly melodic guitar riffs, often borrowing from traditional heavy metal (including New Wave of British Heavy Metal). The genre features the heavines ...
band from
Gothenburg Gothenburg ( ; ) is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, second-largest city in Sweden, after the capital Stockholm, and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated by the Kattegat on the west coast of Sweden, it is the gub ...
that formed in 1996 and disbanded in 2004. They reunited in 2012 before disbanding once again in 2016.


History

Gardenian was formed in April 1996 by drummer Thim Blom and vocalist/guitarist Jim Kjell. Eventually, guitarist Niklas Engelin and bassist Håkan Skoger joined the band. Later in 1996, the band recorded a demo and sent it to
Listenable Records Listenable Records is an independent metal label officially founded in 1997 in France. The label specializes in metal, with a focus on extreme metal music. Releasing 7inches by soon to be legendary bands like Immortal, My Dying Bride, in its e ...
who gave the band a
record deal A recording contract (commonly called a record contract or record deal) is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording act (artist or group), where the act makes an audio recording (or series of recordings) for the label to sell and ...
and booked
Studio Fredman Studio Fredman is a well-known recording studio in Gothenburg, Sweden, owned and operated by producer Fredrik Nordström. It is popular among Swedish metal bands, with artists such as At the Gates, Deathstars, Nightrage, Norwegian band Dimmu ...
that same year so that the band could record their debut studio album. In 1997, Gardenian released their debut studio album, ''Two Feet Stand''. After the album's release, the band was pretty dormant due to lack of interest by their label Listenable Records. At this point Niklas Engelin decided to join
In Flames In Flames is a Swedish Heavy metal music, heavy metal band, formed by guitarist Jesper Strömblad in Gothenburg in 1990 out of the Swedish death metal, Swedish death metal scene. Their lineup has changed several times, with vocalist Anders Frid ...
for some tours. However, eventually the band decided they needed to break off their contract with Listenable Records and dedicate themselves fully to the band, something which bassist Håkan Skoger felt he could no longer do due to wanting to focus on his other band Headplate. After breaking off their contract with Listenable Records the band signed with
Nuclear Blast Nuclear Blast Records is a German record label with subsidiary, subsidiaries located in Germany, the United States and Brazil. It was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Donzdorf. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on ...
. In 1999, Gardenian recorded and released their second studio album, ''Soulburner'', which was also recorded in Studio Fredman. This album featured guest vocals by Eric Hawk (ex-Artch) and Sabrina Khilstrand (ex-Ice Age). After ''Soulburner''s release the band toured with bands such as
In Flames In Flames is a Swedish Heavy metal music, heavy metal band, formed by guitarist Jesper Strömblad in Gothenburg in 1990 out of the Swedish death metal, Swedish death metal scene. Their lineup has changed several times, with vocalist Anders Frid ...
,
Dark Tranquillity Dark Tranquillity is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Gothenburg. They are considered one of the pioneering acts of the Swedish death metal, Gothenburg metal scene, which also includes bands such as In Flames and At the Gates - regarded a ...
,
Children of Bodom Children of Bodom was a Finnish melodic death metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993 as Inearthed, the final line-up of the group upon their split in 2019 consisted of frontman Alexi Laiho, drummer Jaska Raatikainen, bassist Henkka Seppälä, ...
,
Hypocrisy Hypocrisy is the practice of feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not. The word "hypocrisy" entered the English language ''c.'' 1200 with the meaning "the sin of pretending to virtue or goodness". Today, "hypocrisy" ofte ...
,
The Kovenant The Kovenant is a Norwegian industrial metal band from Hamar. The band originally formed as a symphonic black metal act known as Covenant in 1993, but in 1999 were forced to change their name to The Kovenant due to a dispute with a Swedish elec ...
, and Evereve. In 2000, Gardenian recorded and released their third studio album, ''Sindustries''. This album was recorded in Abyss Studio and produced by
Peter Tägtgren Alf Peter Tägtgren (born 3 June 1970) is a Swedish musician and record producer. He is the founder, main songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist of death metal band Hypocrisy as well as the industrial metal band Pain in which he is the only m ...
. Shortly after the release of the album, Gardenian felt disappointed with the way Nuclear Blast was treating them, so they broke off their contract. In 2003, Gardenian underwent major line-up changes and in 2004, the band eventually disbanded. In 2012, it was announced that the band would reunite with the original lineup, only once for the 4–5 January 2013 edition of The Gothenburg Sound festival, which took place in Trädgår'n,
Gothenburg Gothenburg ( ; ) is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, second-largest city in Sweden, after the capital Stockholm, and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated by the Kattegat on the west coast of Sweden, it is the gub ...
, Sweden but then in March 2013 it was announced that they were not going to do the one-off reunion as planned and remain active. They split up again in 2016.


Members

Final lineup * Jim Kjell – vocals, guitar (1996–2003, 2012–2016) *
Niclas Engelin Niclas Engelin (born 27 December 1972) is a Swedish guitarist, who is currently playing with Engel, Drömriket, We Sell the Dead, and The Halo Effect. He previously was the lead guitarist for Gardenian and Passenger and the co-guitarist for ...
– guitar (1996–2004, 2012–2016) * Thim Blom – drums (1996–2004, 2012–2016) * Håkan Skoger – bass (1996–1999, 2012–2016) Former members * Kriss Albertsson – bass (1999–2003) * Robert Hakemo – bass (2003–2004) *
Apollo Papathanasio Apostolos "Apollo" Papathanasiou (; born 15 March 1969) is a Swedish heavy metal vocalist of Greek descent, who is currently with the band Spiritual Beggars. He has also sung for Firewind, Meduza, Evil Masquerade, Gardenian, and Richard And ...
– vocals (2003–2004) Timeline


Discography


References


External links

*
Interview with Jim Kjell

2001 Interview with Jim Kjell


{{Authority control Swedish melodic death metal musical groups Metal Mind Productions artists Musical groups established in 1996 Musical groups disestablished in 2004 Musical groups from Gothenburg Swedish musical quartets Musical groups reestablished in 2012 Musical groups disestablished in 2016