Altaria | Akateeminen Kirjakauppa

Founded by ex-BLINDSIDE members Marko Pukkila (bass) and Tony Smedjebacka (drums) in 2000. After recording a couple of demos together with guitarist Jani Liimatainen (ex-SONATA ARCTICA), Altaria was offered a record deal and begun working on the debut album at Sonic Pump Studios in 2002. Before the recordings, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen (NIGHTWISH) also joined the band. The debut album “Invitation” (2003) was very well received and ALTARIA became the best selling act on their label at that time. The band toured their home country Finland, where they immediately managed to establish themselves a reputation as one of the finest live acts. On the second album, “Divinity” (2004), the production this time took place at Tico Tico Studios and was done by Ahti Kortelainen (SONATA ARCTICA, SENTENCED). The mastering – as on the debut CD – again was handled by Mika Jussila (STRATOVARIUS, AMORPHIS, APOCALYPTICA) at the legendary Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland. After two successful studio albums, some touring and line-up changes, ALTARIA released “The Fallen Empire” in 2006. The album orientated a lot more on the roots of the band, and compared to the predecessor „Divinity“ offered a slightly harder edge. A move going along with this development was the addition of Swedish producer Jonas Kjellgren and the new album was mixed and mastered at Kjellgren’s Black Lounge Studios in Sweden. To promote “The Fallen Empire” the band toured Europe as support to DORO & SONATA ARCTICA, followed by a tour in Finland. In 2009, a new, slightly different Altaria released the album “Unholy”. After the release the band, for various reasons, decided to take a break and only played a few shows and festivals to support the new album. In 2016, after years of silence, ALTARIA officially called it quits and played a farewell show in Finland at the legendary Nummirock Festival. The show included performances from all former ALTARIA members. In 2019, after three years in the grave, ALTARIA returned with their legendary and most successful 2006 lineup, with the signing of a worldwide record deal with Reaper Entertainment Europe. On March 27th 2020, Altarias second album “Divinity” was out as a remastered re-release on vinyl, CD and digital. The band then started to work on a new album in 2020, but due to Covid-19 the recordings and everything got delayed. Now, in 2022, a brand new Altaria album is ready to be unleashed.