Invitation

Invitation is the debut, released in 2003. The band's shape is explained by who was in it. In 2000 bassist Marko Pukkila and drummer Tony Smedjebacka, both out of Blindside, started it, and the guitarist they brought in was Jani Liimatainen — then in Sonata Arctica, later the man behind Cain's Offering. A couple of demos in, neither the press nor the fans left them alone. The line-up runs deeper than that. From 2002 to 2004 the other guitar was played by Emppu Vuorinen of Nightwish. Which means this record has the guitarists of Sonata Arctica and Nightwish on it at the same time. Jouni Nikula sang; he was in the band from 2002 to 2003, and this album is the only place his voice appears. Years later, hearing a re-recording, one fan wrote that the singer from 2003 was long gone, that he knew Taage Laiho was the better singer, and that he still did not want anyone but Nikula singing those songs. A man who lasted one album, still being defended two decades on.