Amaranthe

Biography

Amaranthe is a Swedish heavy metal band originally known as Avalanche. The band blends various genres and has three lead vocalists.

Formation, self-titled debut album and The Nexus (2008–2013)

Formed by Olof Mörck (Dragonland, Nightrage) and Joacim "Jake E" Lundberg (Dreamland, Dream Evil) in 2008, they recruited singers Elize Ryd (toured with Kamelot) and Andreas Solveström (Cipher System, Within Y), and drummer Morten Løwe Sørensen (The Cleansing, Koldborn, Mercenary). Bassist Johan Andreassen (Engel) joined after the photoshoot for the Leave Everything Behind demo but before recording the first album, Amaranthe. The band was called Avalanche until May 2009, when they changed their name for legal reasons. The members renamed the band to Amaranthe. They later released their first demo, Leave Everything Behind.
The band's debut album, Amaranthe, was released in April 2011, and peaked at 35th on Swedish charts and 16th on Finnish Charts. Their second album, The Nexus×The Nexus13 March 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Afterlife (Commentary)0:492Invincible (Commentary)0:343The Nexus (Commentary)0:494Theory Of Everything (Commentary)1:195Stardust (Commentary)1:176Burn With Me (Commentary)0:487Mechanical Illusion (Commentary)1:148Razorblade (Commentary)1:119Future On Hold (Commentary)0:3610Electroheart (Commentary)1:2811Transhuman (Commentary)1:0412Infinity (Commentary)1:16, was released in March 2013. Mörck said the album had greater contrasts, mixed more genres, and featured more creative freedom than Amaranthe. According to Mörck, the band "took everything [up] to eleven" in the album. The album reached 6th on Swedish charts, 4th on Finnish charts, and peaked at 12th on the US Heatseekers charts.

Massive Addictive and Maximalism (2013–2017)

In October 2013, harsh vocalist Solveström left the band and was replaced with Henrik Englund Wilhelmsson (Scarpoint). Their third album, Massive Addictive×Massive Addictive15 October 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Dynamite3:142Drop Dead Cynical3:173Trinity3:114Massive Addictive3:295Digital World3:176True3:317Unreal3:368Over and Done3:389Danger Zone3:0110Skyline3:3911An Ordinary Abnormality3:2812Exhale3:43, was released on 21 October 2014. The compilation Breaking Point - B-sides 2011-2015 was released on 30 October 2015. It consists of b-sides and bonus tracks from Amaranthe's career. Their fourth album, Maximalism×Maximalism19 October 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks1Maximize3:102Boomerang3:233That Song3:134213:055On the Rocks3:096Limitless3:107Fury2:588Faster3:269Break Down and Cry3:5610Supersonic3:1811Fireball3:1512Endlessly3:4613Burn With Me (live version, London 2014)4:15141.000.000 Light Years (live version, London 2014)3:2415Leave Everything Behind (live version, London 2014)3:26, was released on 21 October 2016.
In November 2016, male clean vocalist Lundberg took a break from the band. In February 2017, the band confirmed that he had left permanently. In March 2017, he joined Cyhra. In July 2017, Amaranthe stated on their Facebook page that Nils Molin of Dynazty would join the band as permanent vocalist, after filling in for Lundberg on tour dates.

Helix and Manifest (2018–2021)

On 10 August 2018, Amaranthe released the single "365", from their fifth studio album, Helix×Helix19 October 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1The Score3:4023653:283Inferno3:124Countdown3:005Helix3:356Dream3:397GG63:098Breakthrough Starshot3:119My Haven3:4310Iconic3:1111Unified3:5812Momentum3:21, released on 19 October. At that time, they wrote and performed the credits theme song to the 12 oz. Mouse special "INVICTUS". On 16 October 2019, they announced that they had signed with Nuclear Blast Records.
On 3 January 2020, the band released their cover of Sabaton's "82nd All the Way×82nd All the Way3 January 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track0182nd All the Way3:21", from Sabaton's 2019 studio album The Great War. On 13 February, the band released the single "Do or Die×Do or Die14 February 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Do or Die3:28", which features former Arch Enemy vocalist Angela Gossow on growling vocals and Arch Enemy guitarist Jeff Loomis on the guitar solo. The official music video, filmed in Spain, was released the next day. In the music video's description, the band's label, Nuclear Blast, announced that their sixth studio album would be released in September 2020.
On 5 March, the band released the music video for "Endlessly", from the album Maximalism×Maximalism19 October 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks1Maximize3:102Boomerang3:233That Song3:134213:055On the Rocks3:096Limitless3:107Fury2:588Faster3:269Break Down and Cry3:5610Supersonic3:1811Fireball3:1512Endlessly3:4613Burn With Me (live version, London 2014)4:15141.000.000 Light Years (live version, London 2014)3:2415Leave Everything Behind (live version, London 2014)3:26. The video was directed, filmed and edited by Duminciuc Bogdan and documents the Transylvanian wedding of guitarist Mörck and wife Cătălina Popa, the flutist from German symphonic metal band Haggard, which took place on 19 July 2019 at Sungarden, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Amaranthe released their sixth studio album, Manifest×Manifest30 September 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 16 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Fearless3:312Make It Better3:503Scream My Name3:034Viral3:015Adrenaline3:096Strong3:067The Game3:018Crystalline3:209Archangel3:2310BOOM!14:1311Die and Wake Up3:0812Do or Die3:2813Strong (cinematic version)3:13Disc 21Do Or Die (music video)2Viral (music video)3Manifest Studio Documentary, on 2 October 2020. The first single, "Viral×Viral26 June 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Viral3:01", was released on 26 June 2020, followed by second single "Strong×Strong14 August 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Strong3:062Viral3:01" on 14 August 2020, and third single "Archangel" on 18 September 2020.

The Catalyst (2021–present)

In December 2021, Amaranthe released the single "PVP" as the official anthem for the Swedish E-Sports world cup team at the E-Sports world championship. The single was accompanied by a music video and a Browser game, hosted on the band's website.
On 8 June 2022, Wilhelmsson left the band to spend more time with his family and rest from touring. He said that he planned to release solo material in the then-near future. Amaranthe announced that two special guests would replace Wilhelmsson at their summer shows of that year. On 6 October, Amaranthe released "Find Life×Find Life6 October 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Find Life3:04", the first single from their seventh album.
On 27 June 2023, Amaranthe released second single "Damnation Flame×Damnation Flame27 June 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Damnation Flame3:33", and revealed new harsh vocalist Mikael Sehlin. The band later announced their seventh studio album, The Catalyst×The Catalyst21 February 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 17 tracks1The Catalyst3:412Insatiable2:593Damnation Flame3:344Liberated3:065Re-Vision3:056Interference3:147Stay a Little While3:368Ecstasy2:599Breaking the Waves3:1910Outer Dimensions3:0511Resistance2:5712Find Life3:0413Fading Like a Flower2:5414Insatiable (acoustic version)2:2115Damnation Flame (orchestral version)3:3016Breaking the Waves (acoustic version)2:4417The Dragonborn Comes2:03, released on 23 February 2024. On 26 September, the band unveiled third single "Insatiable×Insatiable26 September 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks1Insatiable2:592Damnation Flame3:34". On 16 November, they premiered the fourth single, "Outer Dimensions×Outer Dimensions16 November 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracks1Outer Dimensions3:052Insatiable2:593Damnation Flame3:34". On 11 January 2024, Amaranthe released the fifth single, "Re-Vision". The music video for the title track was released 23 February 2024, to coincide with the album release.

Musical style

Amaranthe's music remains difficult to categorize within heavy metal. Band members, websites, and critics have referred to the band and their albums as various different genres such as pop metal, melodic death metal, metalcore, power metal, symphonic metal, death metal, heavy metal, and alternative metal.

Band members

Current

Olof Mörck – guitars, keyboards, synthesizers (2008–present), bass (2008–2009)
Elize Ryd – female clean vocals (2008–present)
Morten Løwe Sørensen – drums (2008–present)
Johan Andreassen – bass (2010–present)
Nils Molin – male clean vocals (2017–present)
Mikael Sehlin – harsh vocals (2023–present)
Former

Joacim "Jake E" Lundberg – male clean vocals (2008–2017)
Andreas Solveström – harsh vocals (2008–2013)
Henrik "GG6" Englund Wilhelmsson – harsh vocals (2013–2022)
Touring

Olle Ekman – harsh vocals (2015)
Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye – male clean vocals (2016–2017)
Rob Love Magnusson – guitars (2019)
Samy Elbanna – harsh vocals (2022, 2024)
Richard Sjunnesson – harsh vocals (2022)
Melissa Bonny – female clean vocals (2025)