Snakegod biography
The Melodic-Metal band Snakegod was founded 1998 in Tampere/Finland. Starting as a hobby-cover-band of Whitesnake and Dio songs, they soon developed their own material. In '99 and 2000, the band recorded some demos, gathered its strength, and was able to raise the quality of their style continually; they established their own unique sound.
Already their first and only demo-posting to the Finnish label Mastervox, lead to a record contract, and shortly after, the German Major MTM Music & Publishing showed big interest in the band as well, and purchased the licence for Snakegod's debut album "Invitation".
While recording "Invitation", two band members left and were replaced by Kari"Lacu"Lahtinen, who banged the drums for Michael Monroe, and Jani Hölli on keyboards. The drums on the album were still played by Heikki Malberg/Diablo though.
With "Invitation", Snakegod gave a unique debut. Their music, definitely Melodic Metal, is compared to classics like Whitesnake, Rainbow and Deep Purple, with a touch of Dream Theater and Saga, but still in their own style and with the joy to play young Finns have.
The album was mixed by the HIM album producer TT Oksala, released worldwide on September 24th 2001, and reached already in the same month place 5 of the top sellers of a US distributer. Two months later the album was still on place 6. It received excellent international reviews.
Ever since Snakegod has given interviews to press, radio, and webzines of Finland, Germany, Italy, Greece, France, Sweden, Russia, Spain and Holland, and also appeared on Finnish TV.
In the end of 2001 drummer Kari Lahtinen returned to Michael Monroe, who now reformed his band Hanoi Rocks after many years. After trying many different drummers, Snakegod decided in spring 2002 for Mikael Hakamies, and could finally begin to perform live.
They started in May as special guest of the two-days-event "Stars Of Tampere", followed by the Sweden Rock Festival in June and the Finnish HeartRock2002 Festival.