Aina (band)
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Aina | |
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Background information | |
Genres | Progressive metal, power metal, symphonic metal |
Years active | 2003–2004 |
Labels | Transmission/The End Records |
Associated acts | Heavens Gate, Avantasia, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot |
Members | Sascha Paeth Amanda Somerville Robert Hunecke-Rizzo Michael "Miro" Rodenberg |
Aina was a German progressive metal project produced by Sascha Paeth with a number of guest appearances including Glenn Hughes, Michael Kiske and Candice Night. It resulted in the metal opera Days of Rising Doom, which was released in 2003 by Transmission/The End Records. The concept was created by Amanda Somerville who also wrote the lyrics. The music was composed by Robert Hunecke-Rizzo. Ten years after its release, Paeth indicated that there were no plans to revisit the project.[1]
Story[]
The album tells the story of a fictional country, Aina, ruled by King Taetius. It begins with a warning delivered to King Taetius (Damian Wilson) from The Prophets. ("Revelations") The story involves a love triangle between Oria Allyahan (Candice Night) and the two sons of King Taetius: Talon (Glenn Hughes) and Torek (Thomas Rettke). ("Silver Maiden") After the death of Taetius, Torek becomes the king of Aina. However, he flees the kingdom in rage and humiliation when Talon is the one that gains lady Oria's hand in marriage. ("Flight of Torek")
Torek befriends a gruesome race known as the Krakhon, to whom he becomes a mix of king and deity; he also takes on the name of their deity, Sorvahr. ("Naschtok Is Born") Quickly, Sorvahr gathers the army of the Krakhon and leads them into a war against the whole world. ("The Beast Within") Eventually he sieges and takes over Aina, casting out his brother, Talon, as well as Talon's wife, Oria, and daughter, Oriana. ("The Siege of Aina") In an effort to preserve his kingdom, Talon sends Oriana away from him where she can be safe. ("Talon's Last Hope") Meanwhile, Sorvahr rapes Oria, who eventually gives birth to Syrius. ("Rape of Oria", "Son of Sorvahr")
Unknowing of their relation to each other (as half-siblings and as enemies), Oriana and Syrius meet one another and fall in love. ("Serendipity") As the couple reaches adulthood, Talon returns to the kingdom with a new army to retake the throne of Aina. ("Rebellion") Talon takes Oriana with him to help lead the army; on the other side, Sorvahr takes Syrius with him to lead the opposing army. As Oriana and Syrius meet in battle, they declare a tentative peace on the battlefield. The peace is shattered when Sorvahr, disgusted with his son for making peace rather than war, kills Syrius. Horrified and enraged, Oriana then takes the fight back to Sorvahr and defeats him on the battlefield. ("Oriana's Wrath") She then takes the throne of the newly reinstated Kingdom of Aina. ("Restoration")[2]
Track listing[]
Disc 1: Days of Rising Doom[]
- "Aina Overture" - 2:01
- "Revelations" - 5:29
- "Silver Maiden" - 5:00 singer: Michael Kiske
- "Flight of Torek" - 5:21 singer: Tobias Sammet
- "Naschtok is Born" - 4:39
- "The Beast Within" - 3:17
- "The Siege of Aina" - 6:50
- "Talon's Last Hope" - 6:10
- "Rape of Oria" - 3:05
- "Son of Sorvahr" - 2:58
- "Serendipity" - 4:04 singer: Michael Kiske
- "Lalae Amer" - 4:13
- "Rebellion" - 4:01 singer: Glenn Hughes
- "Oriana's Wrath" - 6:13
- "Restoration" - 4:55
Disc 2: The Story of Aina[]
- "The Story Of Aina" - (instrumental) - 15:08
- "The Beast Within" - (single version) - 3:43
- "Ve Toura Sol-Rape Of Oria" - (Ainae version) - 3:05
- "Flight Of Torek" - (single version) - 3:33
- "Silver Maiden" - (alternate version) - 4:59
- "Talon's Last Hope" - (demo) - 5:46
- "The Siege Of Aina" - (single version) - 3:55
- "The Story Of Aina" - 15:08
- "Oriana's Wrath" - (alternate version) (Japanese Bonus Track) - 6:11
Personnel[]
Credits for Days of Rising Doom adapted from liner notes.[3]
Aina
- Amanda Somerville (HDK, Epica, Kamelot) – vocals as Maiden Voice and Oriana's Conscience, choir vocals
- Robert Hunecke-Rizzo (Heavens Gate, Luca Turilli, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot) – drums, guitars, bass, choir vocals, mixing, engineering
- Michael "Miro" Rodenberg (Heavens Gate, Luca Turilli, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot) – keyboards, effects, choir vocals, vocals as The Prophet, mixing, engineering
Additional personnel
- Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath) – Talon
- Michael Kiske (formerly of Helloween, Unisonic) – Narrator
- André Matos (formerly of Shaaman, formerly of Angra, formerly of Symfonia) – Tyran
- Candice Night (Blackmore's Night) – Oria
- Sass Jordan – Oriana
- Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia) – Narrator
- Marko Hietala (formerly of Nightwish and Tarot) – Syrius
- Sebastian Thomson – The Storyteller
- Damian Wilson (Ayreon, Star One, Landmarq, Threshold) – King Taetius
- Thomas Rettke (Heavens Gate) – Torek (Sorvahr)
- Olaf Hayer (Luca Turilli) – Baktúk
- Cinzia Rizzo (Luca Turilli, Rhapsody, Kamelot) – vocals
- Rannveig Sif Sigurdardottir (Luca Turilli) – vocals
- Simone Simons (Epica) – soprano vocals
- Ann Shee – choir vocals
- Oliver Hartmann (formerly of At Vance) – The Prophets
- Herbie Langhans (Luca Turilli, Seventh Avenue) – The Prophets
- The Trinity School Boys Choir – The Angelic Ainae Choir
Additional musicians
- Olaf Reitmeier (Virgo) – acoustic guitars on "Revelations" and "Serendipity", engineering
- Derek Sherinian (formerly of Dream Theater) – keyboard solo on "The Siege of Aina"
- Jens Johansson (Stratovarius, Yngwie Malmsteen, Majestic, Dio) – keyboard solo on "Revelations"
- T.M. Stevens (Steve Vai, Tina Turner) – bass on "Son of Sorvahr"
- Axel Naschke (Gamma Ray) – organ on "Son of Sorvahr"
- Emppu Vuorinen (Nightwish) – guitar solo on "Rebellion"
- Thomas Youngblood (Kamelot, Ian Parry) – guitar solo on "Lalae Amêr"
- Erik Norlander (Ayreon, Ambeon) – keyboard solo on "Rebellion"[4]
- Andreas Pfaff, Gregor Dierck, Thomas Glöckner – violins
- David Schlage, Stefanie Priess – violas
- Jörn Kellermann, Lauri Angervo – cellos
Production
- Sascha Paeth – additional arrangements, mixing, engineering
- Peter van 't Riet – mastering
- Adam Briggs – artwork
- Carsten Drescher – layout
- Marc Klinnert – cover concept, artwork, logo
- Hans van Vuuren – executive producer
References[]
- ^ "Sascha Paeth (Avantasia) Interview @ PPM 2013". Metal Blast. Mons. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ Jepsen, Steen (September 29, 2014). "Album Review - Aina - Days Of Rising Doom". RevelationZ. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ (2003). "Days of Rising Doom liner notes". In Days of Rising Doom [CD booklet]. Transmission.
- ^ "AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- German progressive metal musical groups
- German power metal musical groups
- Musical groups established in 2003
- Concept albums
- Rock operas
- 2003 albums