VALERIAN: Intimations of Sorrow

Valerian

Intimations of Sorrow

© 2004 City Canyons Records (881017000326)

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Catchy rock with strong vocals and tasty guitars influenced by both 80's metal and post-Nirvana alternative rock.

notes

City Canyons Records warmly welcomes to its roster Finland's finest, Valerian. Valerian is the latest, and we think the greatest, in an invasion of remarkable talent from Scandinavia and Northern Europe including the likes of Sahara Hotnights. Sounding like no one else but instantly familiar, Valerian is a one-group invasion-conquering new worlds with the fiery intelligence of its songs and the disciplined wildness of its play. Valerian is full of surprises, moving from grinding almost metallic riffs to soaring and dramatic guitar solos to a softer almost delicate lyricism, all tied to solid, heartfelt lyrics voiced with style and conviction by a remarkable lead singer who uses his chameleon voice to tell stories ranging from the travails of life on the road in "Homesick" to the blood chilling "Nothing Will Ever Take Me Away From You (From the Archives of a Serial Killer)". That lead singer and spark-plug is Olli Koskela and he is backed by the brilliant guitars of Toni Ritonen and Matti Toivonen and the inspired rhythm section of Janne Jaaskelainen on bass and Tipi Andersson on drums.

reviews

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  • Awesome cd
    author: Carmen

    Firstly, CD baby is awesome. Cds ALWAYS arrive at lightening speed. Valerian is incredible. Finnish music RAWKS!!!

  • Amazing guitar rifts!
    author: Keith Preciados, The Hurricane, University of Miami

    Allan Bloom once said, "Rock music is junk food for the soul." If this were the case, Valerian's Imitations of Sorrow would be an extra large bag of sugary Pixie Stix with a jumbo 7-11 squishie on the side...Valerian is composed of five gifted artists from Scandinavia. Sporting denim blazers and leather jackets, they encompass a unique fashion style similar to Mötley Crüe and Scandivanian punk rock quartet Sahara Hotnights. Combining a lively, rambunctious, easy-to-listen rock beat clashed with musical qualities of '80s rock and roll, Imitations of Sorrow can be truly described as one of City Canyon's finest records, with 10 brand-new tracks, each song is filled with amazing electric guitar rifts and free-spirited lyrics.... Fit for any rock music junkie, Imitations of Sorrow surely sets Valerian's foot in the door of American rock music.

  • Outstanding!
    author: V-M.V

    Second album from great Finnish melancholic rockband! Buy this record and you´ll get catchy melodies, memorable choruses with emotional vocals. Valerian is a band that will come to larger consciousness in the near future.

  • A band that stands out from the rest of the crowd!
    author: Travis Bain, Ballbuster

    What ever happened to classic rock with a modern edge? Well, it's here with Valerian, that combines dirty old school rock 'n' roll and kick ass bluesy guitar solos with a hip European look. "Homesick," is an absolutely catchy song. Singer Olli Koskela has a unique voice that echoes with charisma topped with personal and heart felt lyrics. He sings, "I couldn't go any further / I couldn't walk another yard / I know it ain't never easy / But this time it was way too hard." The second song on the CD, "Corporation Mule," blows you off your feet with heavy metal ballsy dirty power chords by Matti Toivonen and Toni Ritonen. It's topped off with a powerful guitar solo that brings another echelon to the band. However, these hard rockin' boys have a soft side and the ballad "Liar," displays it perfectly. This is where the band comes full circle and shows they have the goods with technical musicianship and a social conscious message. Every so often you hear a band that stands out from the rest of the crowd. Valerian is that band, and flaunts it with everything they have. This album is for anyone who loves rock, hard rock, and is a sucker for an occasional ballad.

  • Soaring beast of song with immense melodies!
    author: Zeitgeist

    The single would have to be "Liar", a soaring beast of a song, with an immense melody designed for the megadromes of America. There’s even some classic ‘woohooing’ going on for good measure. The best of the power ballads is "Mine Forever", another song that would have been Top 10 with a bullet back in the day. There aren’t enough bands doing the pop glam metal thing these days, and Valerian could soak up that particular demand, if enough people hear it. If they can cut it live, they could rule their own world.

  • "I see them going stratospheric!"
    author: .Dimitrios Fatouros, Metal Invader

    Valerian's INTIMATIONS OF SORROW is quite excellent, very potent stuff indeed. Think of a good 80s hard rock band, with big pop/alternative hooks (Think ROXXETE meets the BANGLES... But a tad more sorrowful), in the choruses. The best of both worlds really. Think of a mellower, acoustic FAITH NO MORE, a “lies” kinda era GNR, a lil THE CULT, a little emo, throw in hints of ALICE IN CHAINS and a bit of CHRIS CORNELL perhaps. Also pour in a lil bit of RHCP funky skagness and a bit of MOTLEY and BRYAN ADAMS ?! Sounds like it couldn’t work…. Doesn’t it !? Well it does work! VALERIAN pulls it off remarkably. Fusing all those different influences, they still sound original. They have 3 songs that could be huge hits.. .. The “hits” are namely, “Liar”, an anthem to the powers that may-be, for not caring enough for what’s going on, in this world. “Never bring me down” with it’s cool syncopated rhythm and super catchy chorus and the soul stirring, stupendously long titled, elegy of “Nothing will ever take me away from you”. (From the archives of a serial killer). The band is tight; their singer is oozing with charisma, managing to sound like Chris Cornell one minute, David Bowie subsequently and himself, the next.... The tunes are instantly gripping and still grow even more with a couple of spins. Get them on TV and they could be huge. I can see them going stratospheric, if they keep producing songs of this caliber....

  • Catchy guitar riffs, power choruses"
    author: Kirsti Singer, The Villiage Idiot

    Prior to reviewing Valerian's latest release, INTIMATIONS OF SORROW, I had never heard of the band. The reason - it's a Finnish group (a.k.a. from Finland).... But, luckily this album found its way to my CD player because I quite enjoyed it (thanks to City Canyons Records).... One of my favorite tracks is the opening number, "Homesick," a layered rock number with catchy guitar riffs and a powerful chorus. Valerian seems to cover a complete emotional gamut on INTIMATIONS led by the powerful vocal chords of singer Olli Koskela. Backed by guitarists Tony Ritonenand Matti Toivonen, bassist Janne Jaaskelainen and drummer Tipi Andersson, Valerian has a "full experience" rock sound unlike most of today's modern rock.

  • "Powerhouse of Sound!"
    author: Naomi de Bruyn, Linear Reflections

    “Liar” will rip a hole in your heart as Olli’s vocals strain forth from the speakers, laden with conviction and heartfelt emotion. Backed by an incredible melody played by phenomenal musicians, Olli’s lyrics will have you searching your soul if in similar straits. If not, he’ll have you empathizing with everything you have! “Are you only a liar?” It’s a haunting track…I loved each and every track on this CD, which is a rarity...I’ve only got two questions where Valerian is concerned – when’s the next release? And of course, when are you going to be touring...?! Get INTIMATIONS OF SORROW you won’t be disappointed. It’s a powerhouse of sound, talent and uniqueness. It has become my favourite CD, and if I could I’d listen to it 24/7....

  • One of our most requested European groups!
    author: Internet Radio Free Kansas

    Catchy, edgy and loaded with killer guitar Riffs. Olli and his band rock. We are playing them on our broadband MP3 stream: http://www.tafcommedia.net

  • Melodic, Power Driven Rock with Insane Twin Guitar Attack!
    author: Mark E. Waterbury, Music Morsels

    Finnish rock act Valerian provides a unique blend of melodic but power driven metallic rock with different vocal personalities and an insane twin guitar attack. "Homesick" has a near hooky pop metal quality, while "Corporation Mule " goes more progressive with it's grungy cords and raw feeling production. "Mine Forever" is an interesting hybrid of ballad and snappy but airy rock. Stranger but also more innovative than a lot of heavier music out there.

  • Smart modern rock!
    author: Michael Popke, Sea of Tranquility

    INTIMATIONS OF SORROW ... should appeal to a wide range of listeners. From the hook-filled life-on-the-road-sucks opener “Homesick,” to the haunting epic ballad “Angel of Death,” to the creepy closer “Nothing Will Ever Take Me Away From You (From the Archives of a Serial Killer)”, Valerian plays smart modern rock fronted by a strong and moody singer (Olli Koskela) and laced with evocative and intelligent lyrics.

  • Village Voice's Chuck Eddy Picks Valerian for Eddytor's Dozen
    author: Chuck Eddy, Eddytor's Dozen,

    Hard rock...in the tradition of 1989 Faster Pussycat

  • Wonderful vocals and great guitar riffs!
    author: RockNet Webzine

    This band hails from Finland and I have to say that country exports some damn good musical talent from Hanoi Rocks to Children Of Bodom to these guys with their CD, INTIMATIONS OF SORROW. Having been a huge lover of the 80's music scene it's nice to have some new bands putting fresh blood into that. There's some angst and melancholy in some of the tunes. Some ballads. Wonderful vocals and great guitar riffs. I think the Finnish invasion is definitely taking us by storm...

  • Rocking Power Vocals!
    author: John Shelton Ivany, Top 21 CD's

    Valerian's lead singer and spark plug, Olli Koskela, fronts a set of growling taboo-twisting guitarists who can sound like the Butthole Surfers, while, he belts out rocking power vocals. The band proves to be a great surprise from the frozen land of the Fins, with the pleasing blend of conscious lyrics in "Corporation Mule" and the sorrowful power of love and loss in "Ain't Crying For You."

  • Power-packed!
    author: Ricky Flake, Biloxi Sun Herald

    Power-packed band Valerian.... are Olli Koskela (vocals, guitar), Matti Toivonen (guitar, backing vocals), Toni Ritonen (guitar), Janne Jaaskelainen (bass) and Tipi Andersson (drums, percussions). Highlights of Valerian’s debut album INTIMATIONS OF SORROW include the power-packed opener, "Homesick" and the New Wave-ish "Love Gone Loco," which elicits several voices from Olli as it makes its way from chugging minimal bass on the verses to pleading refrains and hard-charging choruses.

  • Melodic Indie and Alt-Rock with Crunchy Guitar Riffs!
    author: Past and Present Webzine

    It’s good to hear that Finland are about other things than all things metal. That’s not to say that newcomers Valerian aren’t wearing a few metal-influences on this, their debut-album out in November on City Canyons Records. No, actually they are, but this is far from a metal album. It’s more of a modern melodic indie and alt-rock album with crunchy guitar-riffs and soaring solos....I like it.

  • Vocals that reign high, illustrious guitarwork!
    author: J-Sin, Smother.Net

    Valerian, a new group out of Finland, presents their North American debut "Intimations of Sorrow". Throaty vocals that reign high on the melody and harmony parts are equaled by the illustrious guitarwork finding that niche between 90's classic alternative rock and today's rock-n-roll...in this meaty debut."

  • Distinctive melodies, tasty guitar solos!
    author: Marianne Moro, Suite 101.com

    City Canyons Records' Valerian... melds distinctive melodies with tasty guitar solos. The songs concern life on the road ("Homesick"), "the man" ("Corporation Mule") and serial killers ("Nothing Will Ever Take Me Away From You") The best song on the CD is "Liar," which features a classic pop-metal guitar work, courtesy of Toni Ritonen and Matti Toivonen.

  • Great vocals, hot smoking guitars!
    author: BandsBackStage

    Outstanding in every musical perspective, Valerian rocks! Olli Koskela has an enticing, sensuous, voice that will have the listener absorbing every word as he enchants fans with his lyrical stories. Great vocals is not the only thing Valerian has going for it. INTIMATIONS OF SORROW (the band's new release) is full of hot, smokin' guitar that will satisfy guitar enthusiasts immensely. Likewise, the rhythm is amazing. Valerian's music will have waters parting and red carpets rolling as they become the rock stars they are obviously meant to be.

  • Power and melodic intricasy--an accomplished work!
    author: Rob Moran, Splendid Magazine

    Mining the riff-books and wardrobes of such '80s pop-metal acts as Motley Crue and Bad English, and infusing them with the dark and distorted power-pop flourishes of Frosting On The Beater-era The Posies, Valerian have crafted an album that's sure to draw attention upon its release. Harshly anthemic yet imbued with enough melodies to make it a sing-along favorite, INTIMATIONS OF SORROW is an accomplished work, and "Liar" is clearly its standout track -- a perfectly explosive statement of intent. With its fist-pumping guitar bursts and rabble-rousing melody, it's the type of rocker metal kids from the '80s have been waiting for since, well...the '80s. Frontman Olli Koskela's plaintive emoting and coming-of-age lyrics erupt during a bombastic, distortion-drenched chorus that echoes with the band's harmonious "woohoo"ing. It's a classic hair-metal rocker that actually outshines its own inspirations....When a band can rock, as Valerian do, with so much power and melodic intricacy...simply listen and enjoy.

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