Rotten Sound

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Rotten Sound


Img_capt = Rotten Sound live at the Kuopio Rockcock, in 2008
Img_size = 250
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Vaasa, Finland
Genre = Death metal, grindcore
Years_active = 1993–present
Label = Spinefarm, Willowtip
Associated_acts = …And Oceans
URL = [http://www.rottensound.com/ www.rottensound.com]
Current_members = Keijo Niinimaa
Mika Aalto
Toni Pihlaja
Sami Latva
Past_members = Masa Kovero
Ville Väisänen
Pekka Ranta
Juha Ylikoski
Mika Häkki
Kai Hahto

Rotten Sound is a Finnish grindcore band, formed in 1993 in Vaasa.

Rotten Sound plays music in the same vein as Napalm Death and Extreme Noise Terror, lyrically attacking social issues such as greed, conformity, and racism. The band has been praised mostly for its ferocity and relentlessness, as well as the unusually high musicianship of the group, particularly ex-drummer Kai Hahto, who left to join the Finnish progressive/melodic death metal band Wintersun.

History

Formation, "Under Pressure" and "Drain" (1993–2000)

Rotten Sound was founded by guitarist Mika Aalto in Vaasa, Finland, in 1993. The group started recordings in 1994, releasing the single "Sick Bastard" through Genet label. Their subsequent underground releases, between singles and EPs, included 1995's "Psychotic Veterinarian" on SOA, 1996's "Loosin' Face" on Anomie, and 1997's "Splitted Alive" on IDS.cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3xfwxq9kldfe~T10|title=Rotten Sound > Biography|last=Henderson|first=Alex|publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2008-10-01] Rotten Sound's first full-length album, "Under Pressure", was released by Repulse Records (a Spanish label) in 1998 and was followed by "Drain" (also on Repulse) in 1999. This album was also the debut of second guitarist Juha Ylikoski. In early 2000, the band signed with American Necropolis Records, a subsidiary Deathvomit label for release the EP "Still Psycho", which included a cover of Carcass's "Reek of Putrefaction".cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:djfoxqekldhe~T00|title=Still Psycho > Review|last=Kott|first=Paul|publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2008-10-02] Paul Kott of Allmusic praised the album saying, "Rotten Sound does a good job, and although the audio production does leave something to be desired, the finished product is well worth listening to for any fan of earlier death metal and more recent grindcore. The video segments are very well-produced, with fantastic live audio recording, multiple camera angles, and good edits." The band toured in Europe to promote the album, along with label mates Hateplow, In Aeturnum and Malevolent Creation.cite web|url=http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/finland/rotten+sound#bio|title=MusicMight - Artists - Rotten Sound > Biography|publisher=rockdetector.com|accessdate=2008-10-01]

"Murderworks" and "Exit" (2001–2005)

Rotten Sound release their second full-length, "Murderworks", in 2002. The Allmusic reviewer Alex Henderson stated, "This 2002 release gives the listener no room to breathe; from start to finish, Murderworks is an exercise in sensory assault for the sake of sensory assault."cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hbfuxq90ldte~T00|title=Murderworks > Review|last=Henderson|first=Alex|publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2008-10-02] For the album's promotion, the group headline a European tour, titled "Murdering Europe", with support of two Czech bands, Fleshless and Lykathea Aflame. They also toured Europe during June 2003, along with Hateplow and Debauchery. [cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=12270|title=Hate Plow, Rotten Sound, Debauchery to tour Europe|date=2003-05-26|publisher=blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2008-10-01] In May 2004, Rotten Sound teamed up with Circle of Dead Children, Phobia and Strong Intention for US "Grind the East Coast" tour. [cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=21245|title=Phobia, Rotten Sound, Strong Intention to team up for Grind the East Coast tour|date=2004-04-09|publisher=blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2008-10-02] The band's fourth studio album, "Exit", was recorded at Soundlab studio in Örebro, Sweden with engineer Mieszko Talarczyk and mastered at the Cutting Room. Shorly after their release, the album peaked at number 22 on the Finnish album charts. [cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=31808|title=Rotten Sound enter Finnish Album Chart at no. 22|date=2005-01-21|publisher=blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2008-10-02] In March 2005, the band teamed up with Disfear for a co-headline Scandinavian tour. [cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=31881|title=Disfear and Rotten Sound to team up for Scandinavian tour|date=2005-01-22|publisher=blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2008-10-02]

Members

*Mika Aalto (aka "Q") – guitar (1993–present)
*Keijo Niinimaa (aka "G") – vocals (1993–present)
*Toni Pihlaja (aka "T") – bass (2003–present)
*Sami Latva – drums (2006–present)

Former members

*Masa Kovero – bass (1994)
*Ville Väisänen – drums (1994)
*Kai Hahto (aka "K") – drums (1995–2006)
*Pekka Ranta – bass (1998–2000)
*Juha Ylikoski (aka "J") – guitar (1998–2001)
*Mika Häkki (aka "H") – bass (2000–2003)

Discography

EPs

*1995 - "Sick Bastard" (Genet Records)
*1995 - "Psychotic Veterinarian" (S.O.A. Records)
*1996 - "Loosin' Face" (Anomie Records)
*2000 - "Still Psycho" (Necropolis Records/Merciless Records)
*2006 - "Consume to Contaminate" (Spinefarm Records / Power It Up Records)

Full-length albums

*1997 - "Under Pressure" (Repulse Records/Revenge Productions)
*1998 - "Drain" (Repulse Records/S.O.A. Records)
*2002 - "Murderworks" (Autopsy Stench Records/Necropolis Records/Century Media Records/Relapse Records)
*2003 - "From Crust 'Til Grind" (Century Media Records)
*2004 - "Murderlive" (Spinefarm Records)
*2005 - "Exit" (Spinefarm Records/No Tolerance Records/Willowtip Records)
*2008 - "Cycles" (Spinefarm Records)

plits

*1997 - "Spitted Alive" Split with Control Mechanism (I.D.S. Records)
*2001 - "8 Hours of Lobotomy" Split with Unholy Grave (M.C.R. Records)
*2003 - "Seeds of Hate" Split with Mastic Scum (Cudgel Agency)

References

External links

* [http://www.rottensound.com/ Official website]
*
*
* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=2927 Rotten Sound] at Encyclopaedia Metallum
* [http://grindcore.com/readarticle.php?article_id=20 Rotten Sound INTERVIEW]