Karelia

Karelia first released a self-titled demo in 2000. Their first album Usual Tragedy was released in 2004 on the German label Drakkar Records. It features numerous orchestral arrangements that earned the band's music the label of symphonic heavy metal, or simply symphonic metal. As for the lyrics, Usual Tragedy is a concept album whose protagonist lived through both World Wars, lost his father during the first, lost his beloved during the second, witnessed the violence and madness of men, ended up losing his mind, and died alone and anonymous in a hospital. Their second album Raise, also released in 2005 on Drakkar Records, is not as orchestral as its predecessor but contains the dark and melancholic atmospheres that could already be heard on the first album.