Blinded Colony

Infobox musical artist
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Origin = Karlshamn, Sweden
Genre = Melodic death metal
Years_active = 2000–present
Label = Pivotal Rockordings Scarlet Soundholic
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URL = [http://www.blindedcolony.com/ www.blindedcolony.com]
Current_members = Tobias Olsson Johan Blomstrom Jeoan Olsson
Staffan Franzen
Past_members = Denny Axelsson Johan Schuster Roy Erlandsson Christoffer Nilsson Annika Haptén Niklas Svensson

Blinded Colony is a melodic death metal band from Karlshamn, Sweden formerly known as Stigmata. They are currently signed to Pivotal Rockordings.

Background

tigmata (2000–2002)

Blinded Colony was formed in January 2000, by guitarists, Johan Blomstrom, Tobias Olsson and vocalist Niklas Svensson. At that point the band was known as Stigmata. In June 2000, the band began recording their first demo, "Painreceiver", and two new members were recruited, Christoffer Nilsson to play drums, and Annika Haptén, who would provide female vocals. Later that summer Staffan Franzén was officially announced as the bass player. After finishing the recording of "Painreceiver", the band performed shows around Sweden, but began to lose faith in the endeavor. Due to lack of interest the band went on hiatus.

Six months later drummer Christoffer Nilsson decided to leave the band. Staffan then made the decision of switching from playing bass guitar to playing drums. Shortly after Christoffer's departure, Johan and Tobias began playing again and eventually found a new bass player, Roy Erlandsson. After reforming, Annika Haptén quit the band due to musical differences. In 2002, the band's second demo, "Tribute to Chaos", was released. "Tribute to Chaos" caught the attention of Italy-based Scarlet Records. Coinciding with their new record deal, the band officially changed their name to Blinded Colony. [cite web|title=Stigmata (Blinded Colony) Bio|author=Vampire Magazine |publisher= |date= |url=http://vampire-magazine.com/showband.php?bid=3869|accessdate=2007-07-29]

Divine and Scarlet Records

Blinded Colony's debut studio album, "Divine", was self-produced and released in 2003 through Scarlet Records throughout Europe and was distributed in Japan through Soundholic Records. Blinded Colony and Scarlet Records parted ways a year later.cite web|title=Blinded Colony Bio|author=Blinded Colony |publisher= |date= |url=http://www.blindedcolony.com/band.php|accessdate=2007-07-29] After parting ways with Scarlet Records, Blinded Colony announced the departure of the band's original vocalist, Niklas Svensson, and the addition of new vocalist Johan Schuster. [cite web|title=BLINDED COLONY Part Ways With Singer, Announce Replacement|author=Blabbermouth.net |publisher= |date= |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=31294|accessdate=2007-07-29]

Bedtime Prayers and Pivotal Rockordings

The band would then record 2005's "Promo Demo" and release it in early April, 2005. The demo would catch the attention of U.S. based upstart record label, Pivotal Rockordings. [cite web|title=BLINDED COLONY Sign With PIVOTAL ROCKORDINGS|author=Blabbermouth.net |publisher= |date= |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=50510|accessdate=2007-07-29]

After signing with Pivotal Rockordings, Blinded Colony began recording their second full-length album, "Bedtime Prayers", in the spring of 2006. The band chose once again to produce and record the album themselves at their home studio, SoundPalace. [cite web|title=BLINDED COLONY: In Recording Mode|author=Blabbermouth.net |publisher= |date= |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=55138|accessdate=2007-07-29] "Bedtime Prayers", was warmly received by underground metal circles and was compared to the works of other established melodic death metal bands like In Flames and Soilwork. [cite web|title=BLINDED COLONY - BEDTIME PRAYERS REVIEW|author=Blabbermouth.net |publisher= |date= |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=1025|accessdate=2007-07-29] A music video for the song "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" was made, but the proposed music video for the song "Heart" was cancelled. [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=69474]

Blinded Colony recently completed the 'Outcasts Over Europe' tour in support of Ektomorf and former Scarlet Records label-mates Kayser. [cite web|title=BLINDED COLONY To Film 'Heart' Video Next Week|author=Blabbermouth.net |publisher= |date= |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=69474|accessdate=2007-07-29] They have also shared the stage with notable acts such as former Pivotal Rockording label-mates Sonic Syndicate, and Dark Tranquillity. After touring Blinded Colony would take part in summer festivals for 2007. [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=70749] In late August of 2007 it was announced that vocalist Johan Schuster and bassist Roy Erlandsson had been replaced by Denny Axelsson and Jeoan Olsson. The split was announced as "professional differences." [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=79762] After a quiet winter spent with the band writing new material, another replacement was announced, as Johan Blomström moved from guitar to bass and the band added new guitarist Martin Bergman to fill the slot left by the switch. [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=94791] Although Pivotal Rockordings never released a press release about the departure of the band, they are currently unsigned and are writing new material for their third full length studio album. It was announced on October 9, 2008 that vocalist Denny Axelsson and the band had parted ways citing "professional differences" as the reason. [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=106560]

Other media

The song "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" is featured in the Xbox 360/Playstation 3 video game The Darkness.
Prior to the release of Bedtime Prayers, the song "My Halo" was featured on the charity CD Project Suubi for Ugandan orphans. [cite web|title=BLINDED COLONY: New Song To Be Featured On Charity CD|author=Blabbermouth.net |publisher= |date= |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=59584|accessdate=2007-07-29]

Discography

tudio albums

* "Divine" (2003)
* "Bedtime Prayers" (2007)

Demos

* "Painreceiver" (2000)
* "Tribute to Chaos" (2002)
* "Promo Demo 2005" (2005)

Members

Current members

* Tobias Olsson – guitar
* Martin Bergman - guitar
* Johan Blomstrom – bass
* Staffan Franzen – drums, (formerly bass guitar)

Former members

* Christoffer Nilsson – drums
* Annika Haptén – vocals
* Niklas Svensson – vocals
* Johan Schuster – vocals
* Denny Axelsson - vocals
* Roy Erlandsson – bass
* Jeoan Olsson - bass

References

External links

* [http://www.blindedcolony.com Blinded Colony - official website]
* [http://label.pivotalalliance.com/ Pivotal Rockordings - official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/blindedcolonymusic Myspace Page]