Kristian Ranta

Infobox Musical artist


Img_size = 250
Img_size = 250
Name = Kristian 'Kride' Ranta
Background = solo_singer
Born = birth date and age|1981|5|13
Helsinki, Finland
Origin = Helsinki, Finland
Instrument = guitars Clean Vocals
Genre = Melodic death metal
Years_active = 2000-present With Norther
Label = Spinefarm
Associated_acts = Norther
URL = [http://www.norther.net Norther's Website]

Kristian Ranta, also known as Kride, is one of two guitarists for the Finnish melodic death metal band Norther - best known for their single "Released", which entered the Finnish "Top 5". Ranta has played the guitar on the band's four full length albums, the most recent being "N (album)" (2008) and the " No Way Back EP" (2007), and contributed clean vocals to the "Solution 7 EP", "Till Death Unites Us" and the "No Way Back EP". He has formed an experimental side project named Gashouse Garden with Children of Bodom drummer Jaska Raatikainen.

Personal Information

*Name: Kristian 'Kride' Ranta
*Date of Birth: 13th of May, 1981
*Place of Birth: Helsinki, Finland
*Instruments Played: Guitar (since 1996) and Piano (since around 1987)
*Practices: At least an hour a day, sometimes more.
*Idols/Influences:

"Guitarists:" Paul Gilbert, Nuno Bettencourt, Roope Latvala, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Romeo, Zakk Wylde, Marty Friedman.

"Bands:" Waltari, Children of Bodom, Arch Enemy, Emperor, Sentenced, King Diamond, Stone, Eppu Normaali, Van Halen, Lost Horizon (band), Slayer, Pantera, Skid Row, Stratovarius, Amorphis, Opeth, In Flames.
*Speaks: Finnish, English, Swedish, and German.

Equipment

*As of May 30th Kristian Ranta has been using a Amfisound Custom. Norther is now endorsing Amfisound. [http://www.norther.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2091 Confirmed here]
*Jackson RR Custom (24 frets, Skull and Crossbones inlays, EMG-81 bridge and EMG-85 neck pickups)
*Black Jim Dunlop Jazz III Picks
*Marshall EL34 50/50 Power Amp and Digitech GSP 1101 pre-amp / multieffect
*Roland MIDI Pedal
*DR 11-52 set strings in D tuning
*Kristian uses Steinberg Cubase for recording

Discography

With Norther

*"N" (2008) - CD
*"No Way Back" EP (2007) - EP
*"Till Death Unites Us" (2006) - CD
*"Scream" (2006) - CD Single
*"Solution 7" EP (2005) - EP
*"Spreading Death" (2004) - DVD Single
*"Death Unlimited" (2004) - CD
*"Spreading Death" (2004) - CD Single
*"Mirror of Madness" (2003) - CD
*"Unleash Hell" (2003) - CD Single
*"Dreams of Endless War" (2002) - CD
*"Released" (2002) - CD Single

With Gashouse Garden

*Untitled 3-track Demo (available for free download on the [http://www.gashousegarden.com Official Gashouse Garden website] (offline))

External links

* [http://www.norther.net/index.php?pg=newspg Norther] - Official page
* [http://www.gashousegarden.com Gashouse Garden] - Official Gashouse Garden page (offline)
* [http://www.endlesswar.net/ Endless War] - Fan site

Credits

Above information was gathered from the [http://www.norther.net/ Official Norther website] , the [http://www.norther.net/phpBB2/ Official Norther Forum.] , the [http://www.endlesswar.net/index.php?p=Ranta EndlessWar member information page] , and the [http://www.gashousegarden.com/ Official Gashouse Garden website.] (offline) Photo found at the [http://www.spinefarm.fi/press/spinefarm/norther/index.html Spinefarm Records press area.]