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Silentium
Origin	Jämsänkoski, Finland
Genre(s)	Gothic Metal
Years active	1995 - Present
Label(s)	Spikefarm Dynamic Arts Records
Members
Riina Rinkinen Juha Lehtioksa Toni Lahtinen Matti Aikio Jari Ojala Sami Boman Elias Kahila

Silentium (previously called "Funeral") is a Finnish Gothic Metal band. The band was formed in 1995 and it origins from Jämsänkoski, Finland. Silentium's first demos and EPs have been released in tape format, and their albums have only been released in Europe and some Asian countries, although Silentium's last single (Dead Silent) has been uploaded to some Finnish music legal sites to download worldwide.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Members 2.1 Current members 2.2 Former members 3 Discography 3.1 Albums and EPs 3.2 Singles 4 External links 5 See also

The story of Silentium goes back to December 1995 into the ashes of a death/gothic metal band called Funeral. From the remains of Funeral, keyboardist Sami Boman and original vocalist Matti Aikio created Silentium by adding violin player Jani Laaksonen, guitar players Toni Lahtinen & Juha Lehtioksa and drummer Jari Ojala into the line-up.

Silentium's first recording was the four-song-demo-tape Illacrimó which was released in the end of year 1996. Their second, six-song Ep-tape Caméne Misera was released in 1998 and featured female vocals by Tiina Lehvonen who then became a permanent member of the band. This second tape caught the attention of Sami Tenetz who was at the time setting up his record label Spikefarm. After some negotiations Silentium signed a deal with Spikefarm and their first Spike-release Infinita Plango Vulnera in 1999 had the honor of becoming Spikefarm's first CD, NAULA001. The record also introduced the new drummer, Janne Ojala.

Infinita Plango Vulnera got extremely good feedback, pleasing goths worldwide, as did its successors, the 2001 CD Altum and it's little sister, the SI.VM E.T A.V.VM mini-CD.

Sufferion’s feedback was as expected; some loved and some couldn’t stand the idea of music and radio play. Every listener was touched some way and the long awaited gigs started to appear in the tour list. After the good start came a kick in the teeth: drummer Janne Ojala announced he’s got a lack of motivation and is leaving the band. Also Laaksonen and Anna Ilveskoski, who already gained the status of permanent vocalist, left and the whole band lived on the edge for a while. But the guys didn’t want to give up and the help was found surprisingly near; the original drummer Jari Ojala was willing to join in again and Riina Rinkinen gave her amazing voice to the band.

Silentium changed the record label also. In the 2005 they signed to the Finnish Dynamic Arts Records company and in the spring of 2005 it was time to head towards studio Sundi Coop. During the intense month they recorded material for the Silentium’s fourth full-length CD, Seducia, but also for their first single release, Frostnight. In these records can also be heard the change of violin to the cello played by Elias Kahila and the sound of Silentium has only completed from before.

The year 2006 came out to be bigger than ever; welcome for the Seducia was quite good and the fuss began to grow. The band had more touring than ever before and this time outside Finland also. Silentium had a gig in Romania with Amorphis and HIM and the welcome was just amazing. The country and the fans really knocked the band off their feet and they gave their absolute best for the sunny Sibiu. Few months after that came the news of a Silentium song being the part of the Portuguese film and the power play of Silentium in the radio. And all that time the band toured inside Finland and visited new venues and met new fans. As of September 2007, the band released their second single Dead Silent from their Seducia album after several delays.

We'll see what shall the year 2008 bring for Silentium...

• Riina Rinkinen - Female Vocals (2004-)
• Juha Lehtioksa - Guitar (1995-)
• Toni Lahtinen - Guitar (1995-)
• Matti Aikio - Bass, Vocals (1995-)
• Jari Ojala - Drums (1995-99, 2004-)
• Sami Boman - Keyboard, Backing Vocals (1995-)
• Elias Kahila - Cello (2005-)

• Tiina Lehvonen - Female Vocals (1998-2003)
• Maija Turunen - Female Vocals (2003)
• Janne Ojala - Drums (1999-2004)
• Jani Laaksonen - Violin (1995-2004)
• Anna Ilveskoski - Female Vocals (2003-04)

• Illacrimó (EP, 1996)
• Caméne Misera (EP, 1998)
• Infinita Plango Vulnera (1999)
• SI.VM E.T A.V.VM (2001)
• Altum (2001)
• Sufferion - Hamartia of Prudence (2003)
• Seducia (2006)

• "Frostnight" (2005)
• "Dead Silent" (2007)

• Silentium Official Website
• Silentium@MySpace
• Silentium@Dinamic Arts Records
• Silentium@Spinefarm Records
• Bulgarian Lullaby (Silentium's Bulgarian Fan Site)

Related genres:

• Gothic Metal
• Doom Metal
• Heavy Metal
• Death Metal
• Gothic Symphonic Metal