Cryoshell (band)

Cryoshell
Cryoshell's logo used in promotional material.
Background information
Origin	Copenhagen, Denmark
Genres	Alternative rock hard rock symphonic rock
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Cryoshell I/S (2008–present) VME (2009–2013) The Leaders (2013–present)
Members	Christine Lorentzen Kasper Søderlund Mikkel Maltha Martin Pagaard
Past members	Niels Brinck Jakob Gundel Tine Midtgaard

Cryoshell (stylized as C R Y O S H E L L) is a Danish rock band from Copenhagen formed in 2006. The line-up currently consists of lead vocalist Christine "Lore" Lorentzen, guitarist Kasper Søderlund, keyboardist Mikkel Maltha and drummer Martin Pagaard.

In the band's early years, they recorded several songs used as soundtracks for Bionicle, a popular series of construction toys manufactured by The Lego Group. In the wake of the theme's original discontinuation, they recorded their self-titled debut studio album, released in 2010 in Scandinavia by Voices Music & Entertainment and later in other global territories. Preceded by the release of three singles, the album is set for a global reissue at a currently unknown date.

Cryoshell's genre of music has usually been classified as alternative rock, hard rock, metal, or even a crossover between the three. They have a style similar to that of bands such as Delain and Evanescence (both of which are also fronted by a female singer) and have also been compared to other acts like Linkin Park and Within Temptation.

History

2006–08: Formation and work with The Lego Group

The group that would later become Cryoshell was formed in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2006. Music composer Mikkel Maltha was contacted by The Lego Group to write and produce a song for their early 2007 wave of Lego Bionicle construction toys. Maltha was accompanied by fellow composer and guitarist Kasper Søderlund and producer Eddie Simonsen. They held auditions for a potential vocalist, and after sending five singers to The Lego Group's U.S headquarters to audition, the company chose creative agency Advance employee Christine "Lore" Lorentzen, whose vocals were used on the track titled "Creeping in My Soul". Upon release, the track became an instant hit from the official Lego website, rapidly becoming the number-one downloaded file, and eventually reaching over one million views on YouTube. The song itself is featured in commercials, teaser trailers and a mini-animated film advertising Lego's Bionicle Barraki toy wave, first released in early 2007.

From the popularity of "Creeping in My Soul", Maltha and Søderlund went on to produce two new songs to promote Bionicle's Mahri and Phantoka waves of mid-2007 and early 2008 respectively. The songs "Face Me" and "Gravity Hurts" feature Danish singer Niels Brinck, who also co-wrote the two tracks.

By mid-2008, Maltha and Søderlund were rejoined by Lorentzen and recorded the track "Closer to the Truth" as their first official song as the now-named band Cryoshell. Like with their previous releases, the song was used to promote another Lego Bionicle toy wave - the Mistika of mid-2008. Cryoshell later announced plans to record a debut album featuring their previously released songs as well as new material set for a release in the fall of 2008, however, it got pushed back numerous times.

2009–14: Cryoshell

In July 2009, Cryoshell released their debut single "Bye Bye Babylon", which also served as their fifth and final promotional song for Bionicle; this time used in the commercials for their Glatorian and Glatorian Legends toy waves of that year as well as in the end credits of the film Bionicle: The Legend Reborn.

Following the announcement of their debut album, Cryoshell began writing and recording with Danish producer Jacob Hansen. They released a re-recording of "Creeping in My Soul" as their second single in December 2009 followed by EP baring the same name in January 2010. Cryoshell released their self-titled debut studio album on June 7, 2010 in Scandinavia under Norwegian label Voices Music & Entertainment. Due to the struggle of publishing the album internationally, it was released in other countries over a period of two years, and by February 2012 was available in most global territories.

In November 2011, Lorentzen took maternity leave from the band in while Tine Midtgaard - a runner-up from the 2010 series of Danish talent show The X Factor - was confirmed to feature in two newly recorded songs; "Breakout" - released December 9, 2012 - and a re-recording of "Gravity Hurts", which premiered on January 4, 2013.^[1] Lorentzen rejoined Cryoshell in October 2013, when it was announced the songs would feature as bonus tracks on a reissue of the Cryoshell's debut album under Greek metal label The Leaders, a global release date is yet to be announced.

Regarding a second studio album, the band commented in an interview with Ravenheart Music in October 2013 "We would love to release another album, but it is not right around the corner. We are in a creative process, playing around with ideas and sounds, and we hope that it will result in an album."^[2]

2015–Present: Work with Faber Fuel

In February 2015, original Bionicle concept artist Christian Faber confirmed that Cryoshell would produce the soundtrack for Rebel Nature; a project currently being developed by his new independent creative agency Faber Fuel. Recording material for the project's first release, a mobile app game called Escape RIG21, began in September 2015.^[3] In January 2016, Cryoshell announced that production on a new album featuring songs inspired by Rebel Nature would be crowd-funded using the funding platform Kickstarter under the campaign name "Sounds of the Rig", a date of when the project will launch is to be announced.^[4]

Band members

Discography

The discography of Cryoshell currently consists of 1 studio album, 1 extended play, 3 singles and 5 music videos. The band has also produced an extensive number of songs for the Lego toy theme Bionicle between 2007 and 2009 respectively. Their third single "Breakout" also features in two episodes of Hero Factory; a TV series based off the Lego toy line of the same name.

References

External links

• Cryoshell's MySpace Page
• Official Cryoshell YouTube Channel
• Secondary Cryoshell YouTube Channel