Biography

1991-1997

The band was founded in 1991 by Sami Helle (vocals/guitar) under the name Maniax, shortly thereafter joined by drummer Santeri Salmi and bassist Tuomo Tukkimäki. The first demo "Face The Fact" was released 4 years later, and the second, called "Prophecy...", in 1996. The music was some sort of hardcore-influenced thrash metal. In 1998, the initial band name was changed to Dauntless, and the music begun to seek its current shape.

1998-2001

The third demo, "Cold I Am", was released in 1998, and the band felt their line-up needed a second guitarist. Well, a lead guitarist anyway. The post was taken by Riku Katainen. In 1999 they recorded another demo called "Inhumankind". They made a couple of successful shows (including one in the national band contest) and quickly earned their reputation as an aggressive live act. However, the Finnish army intervened the plot and the band was forced to recharge their batteries until early 2002.

2002-2003

In summer 2002 the band was ready to record their fifth demo, but this time they decided to try it out with another lead vocalist. Ari Nieminen (ex-Caledonian) impressed them at the first rehearsal and the search promptly ended. Coming to the end of the year, the demo "Modern Ways Of Discipline" was released and the first offers for a record contract were received. None were accepted, however. In 2003 another series of successful shows followed, including the afterclub of Tuska Open Air metal festival.

2004

Summer 2004 saw the band recording, yes, their sixth demo. "Ruins MMIV" and the video clip of the song "Ruins" gathered interest from many directions and supposedly more unreasonable record contracts were offered. The band was chosen as the demo band of the month in Inferno; this is when everyone, and I mean everyone started asking why is the band still unsigned.

2005-2006

In 2005 the original bass player Tuomo Tukkimäki left the band and was shortly after replaced by Olli Mättä, who stood his trial at the afterclub of Tuska (it was the second time Dauntless played there). The seventh demo "Obey - Erase - Obey" was released, and the band once again returned to their persistent quest for a decent record deal.

And yes, this time it finally happened. The Finnish label Firebox Records signed Dauntless, and sent them to the studio in late 2006 to record their debut album "Execute The Fact". The album compiled some of their most wanted songs from the demo times with a few unheard ones, surpassing everything Dauntless had made so far. And that kind of an assault was simply asking to be succeeded with another.

2007-2010

After the release of "Execute The Fact" Dauntless spent a year sparsely on the road, already building up plans for their next full- length album. In 2008, however, they mutually cancelled their agreement with Firebox Records and started looking for another label. This time it wasn't so hard either. Newly founded Full Metal Records, also from Finland, took interest in the band and made them an offer they couldn't refuse.

So, after years of hard work, ups and downs (mostly downs), Dauntless is here to entertain us with another album that takes it from where they were left on "Execute The Fact". "Death Row Poet" introduces a new, matured side to their sound, grown on their deep roots in relentless death/thrash metal.

During the process of recording "Death Row Poet", the long-time drummer Santeri Salmi left his seat to pursue his other interests; meaning that he will most probably be involved on the next Dauntless album as an engineer. His replacement, Arto Vesander, was immediately found from among close friends.

So, the release date of "Death Row Poet" was at the end of February 2009. After the release band did touring and played some serious kick-ass gigs - like the Tuska 2009 gig.

After the dust of "Death Row Poet" had landed, and active touring with that record ended, Ari Nieminen decided to leave the band due to personal reasons. After that, Dauntless got great opportunity to be as a warm-up act for Dimebag Beyond Forever tour. They felt that this opportunity can't be missed, so they hired Anssi Nevalainen to replace Ari for that tour. The tour was incredibly great, with all the rock'n'roll hazards (The tour bus burned to the ground near Tampere). On the Dimebag tour band found Micko Hell, and after some auditions he was picked as the new singer of Dauntless.

After two gigs with Micko, the collaboration suddenly ended. After some twists and turns that will not mentioned here the original singer, Ari Nieminen, joined back in Dauntless. Dauntless felt whole once again.

Life was good.

2010 - present

The lineup was now back on track and band realized that there were too much time spent in vain (drama, trusting empty promises, etc). So, they started to write some kick-ass material for the 3rd album, and after the long painfully purifying process 10 tracks were picked for the forthcoming masterpiece. After some recording deal negogiations had turned out to be waste of time, the band decided to finance the making of new album by themselves. Drums were recorded at Noise Floor Studio by Mikko Herranen, and other instruments in several other locations (including Riku's Cottage at Vääksy, Mannevox Studio @ Puistola, to name but a few). Herranen also mixed the album. Jaakko Viitalähde did the mastering at Virtalähde Studio.

Well, this is where the past meets present. The new album "Imbalance" is here for you to listen and download. Enjoy!

Life is good.

Player

Lyrics

1. The Illusionist

Hail, hail, hail! - the arena bellows
Swollen lips utter empty words to inspire
He bows to none, he outwits all
His humble servants with need to worship installed

A simplified mindset used for merely one purpose
While his pockets are not empty, they are glad to donate more
He feeds them with truths that they already would know
What a fertile ground for mind abuse - ignorant losers

Decadent - faultlessly

As the prophecies claim, the antichrist will be crowned
What we have here is even worse, they all just kneel before a clown

Inside the glass hall the serpent is speaking
The master of the puppets giving out a brief display
Of confidence gained through delusive acts
Grand illusion holds - until they lost all they had

No more hails - the arena's silent
Successful deception - and so gone is the trickster
Now all they do is pray to the moon
For another lead-on to prophesize doom

As the prophecies claim, the antichrist will be crowned
What we have here is even worse, they kneel...

All the wealth that you can gather
(by illusions, by betrayal)
Just a glimpse of what would matter
(desperation, the great deception)

2. Hybris

Anti-satan, anti-god, anti-freedom, anti-war
I'm above it all
It's not easy to be the superior being
Among such fucking inferior breed

It's just a matter of will, so let's cross the mountain
And spit in the faces of gods

"Pride comes before a fall"
Keeps us connected
To the cage

Beating the fools is just like a fuel that keeps my motherfucking engine running
Righting the wrongs through the joints and the bongs has made my hippie-meter go blood-red
I, the Soothsayer of new-born faith that worships no-one No-one but me

It's just a matter of will, so let's cross the mountain
And spit in the faces of gods

"Pride comes before a fall"
Keeps us connected
To the cage

So, forget the modesty
Do what thou wilt
And break out from the cage

(Pride comes before a fall they say, but I'm way too far away
Out of touch with reality but I couldn't care less)

"Pride comes before a fall"
Keeps us connected
To the cage

So, forget the modesty
Do what thou wilt
And break out from the cage

3. Worms

Given up the battle against the greatest threat of life
Masses too hard to control, no capability Word of wisdom will spread no more
It stranded down to the empty shore

Underestimating the threat was the fatal fault
We let the maggots convert us to their thought

Word of wisdom will spread no more
It stranded down to the empty shore

Worms
Like the parasites, digging their way to consume the mind
Worms
The generations change, yet the Worms remain the same
Infested planet gave nest to the Worms

Oh my fucking god

Wasting all earth, wasting our life
Stubborn as fuck, we nail the coffin of the humankind
Embrace the faith and fuck the science
No - cleanse the faith, and form the alliance

Word of wisdom will spread no more
It stranded down to the empty shore

Worms
Like the parasites, digging their way to consume the mind
Worms
The generations change, yet the Worms remain the same
Infested planet gave nest to the Worms

World can be terminated only through mass production
Survival depends only on how we manage to consume

Worms
Like the parasites, digging their way to consume the mind
Worms
The generations change, yet the Worms remain the same
Infested planet gave nest to the Worms

4. Uncrested Cannon

The freedom of speech, an illusion
Cast by conjurers of state
The grand delusion, cultural fusion Just accelerates the hate
Exploitation of the system
We are pointing all the fingers at those
Who have no say back
...and tend to forget that the
Flaw is in the machine itself

Amputation and the problem is solved
Dissecting the organs that are involved
Ripping open the scars so old
Castrating the genitals of this world

Well…
Fuck the efforts for the earth's revival
It has always been so that we are the rivals
As we travel back down the memory lane
Was there something done that was not insane?

Light me up, light me up - let's go

Uncrested cannon aimed at our nest
We crawl, we crawl - we'll die before new dawn
An ultimatum made for planet’s best
We crawl, we crawl - we'll die before new dawn

Amputation and the problem is solved
Dissecting the organs that are involved
Light me up, light me up - let's go

Uncrested cannon aimed at our nest
We crawl, we crawl - we'll die before new dawn An ultimatum made for planet’s best
We crawl, we crawl - we'll die before new dawn

...and we crawl, and we crawl, and we crawl

5. As the Embers Ignite

Beaten again - (why?) - to welcome the day
Cursing their strength - (count) the number of hits
Day after day I have prayed them to do it again
Life of submission for ages to harden my skin

Coal won't turn into a diamond

As the embers ignite
Black rage out-weights the white
No mask, no need to hide
Mind healed through the number of frags

As the embers ignite
Black rage out-weights the white
The flame guides, lights my night
And it won't fade before I die

Beaten again - (shock) - for the last time
Releasing my strength - (block) - igniting the will
Locking and loading my two-barrel friend for the show
When we are to enter submission has taken its toll Coal won't turn into a diamond

As the embers ignite Black rage out-weights the white
No mask, no need to hide
Mind healed through the number of frags

As the embers ignite
Black rage out-weights the white
The flame guides, lights my night
And it won't fade before I die

"Beauty is only as thick as the skin, so let's rip it off
And see them from within"

6. Nonexistent

Sun is at the zenith, but the light won't heal
The burning beacon for the people who will never feel
Freedom - it is just a word, generated by the person that built that
Bomb - that is on the way, detonated by the underprivileged's
Pain - no more, grab a fucking big mac and kill us all

Industrial revolution - rapid rise of welfare for the western world
Prosperity blooms - hunger's finally beaten, no matter the cost
North and West, view over the free world for the ones who consume
East and South, they point at the filth who manufactures our world

Serenity in our eyes, we keep our hidden lies
In new tomorrow's rise, the old always has to die

Exploiting the labor - working night and day keeps them occupied
No need for education - not knowing any better keeps grievance masked
Kings and peasants - setup from the dark days still applies
The balance is gone - we are living on credit, soon the tables turn

Serenity in our eyes, we keep our hidden lies
In new tomorrow's rise, the old always has to die

We tore down it all, and still built a wall
Between us and them
We tore down it all, and still built a wall
Our greatest achievement, the Nonexistent

Economic growth needs casualties
We choose the ones to keep on their knees

We tore down it all, and still built a wall
Between us and them
We tore down it all, and still built a wall
Our greatest achievement, the Nonexistent

…and we tore down it all, and still built a wall
We created the Nonexistent

7. Drowning

I am drowning - accelerating as I’m sliding to the
Deepest parts of the unknown where the
Light dies - where asphyxia will take me slowly
Beyond the curtain of tranquility

Life in me was lost long ago
I let it go when I went with the flow
I knew the limit, and still shat on it
I knew the limit

Even deeper - I wave to benthos as the pressure’s getting
Stronger - discharging the years of pain and
Torment - unable to resist, it never was in
My hands - yet this is how I chose it to be Life in me was lost long ago
I let it go when I went with the flow
I knew the limit, and still shat on it
I knew the limit

Though the light is fading
I will find the key

Voices whisper through windows
And water fills the halls
After all I’ve gone through I fear nothing at all

The light keeps on fading…
The light is fading
I fear nothing at all

Blinded - limb-restrained in a white room without
Corners - the light flickers to mock my being
Once more - I was almost done but strangely I’m
Awake now - just how could I get back there this time?

Voices whisper through windows
And water fills the halls
After all I’ve gone through
I fear nothing at all

8. The Wait of the World

...

9. Psychic Entropy

Too much to reach for
Too much free time to think of it all
Too much to understand Such a limited time at hand

Information overflow creates mental stress
Unreachable goals, emotional mess
Impossible idols for uncritical people
As media paint an illusion of freedom

Torn asunder - focus fading as the thoughts are scattered
No time for slumber - counting the seconds to rest for a second
Life offered much but gave nothing at all
Depression reached me to seed its spawn

Escaping the rat race…
Escaping - life takes its toll
Escalating situation Walls cannot hold

Too much blood on sand
Too much sorrow to withstand
Too much at stake in the game
When the days all seem the same

Torn asunder - focus fading as the thoughts are scattered
No time for slumber - counting the seconds to rest for a second
Life offered much but gave nothing at all
Depression reached me to seed its spawn

Break for me now

Entropy!
Focus fading as the thoughts are scattered
Life offered much but gave nothing at all
Depression reached me to seed its spawn

10. Ashes of Morality

Pain is hidden, but the body is dying as the seconds pass
Well asleep - without a mind, on the lips a mere absent morphine-smile
Recovery strictly forbidden, closed cases will stop the flow of fortune
Right of release denied, the brain may die - your breath suffice

Capitalizing on misery - they don't want to find the cure
Capitalizing on misery - they don't need to find it
Capitalizing on misery - there is nothing sprouting from...
Capitalizing on misery - ashes of morality

Hospitalized forever - aimed for a casket, like a fruit to a basket
Morality down the drain - they keep your dose for as long as you stay
Who decides you fate? - this divine game to sustain the pain
Oh, praise the lord of sickness - let the patients suffer and the industry thrive

Capitalizing on misery - they don't want to find the cure
Capitalizing on misery - they don't need to find it
Capitalizing on misery - there is nothing sprouting from...
Capitalizing on misery - ashes of morality

I'd rather die when I live
Than be already dead
While I am alive

There may be a cure for all the plagues we've suffered – but there is no cure for greed
One can't count out the self-interested people who care not for their breed

11. Yliote

Kävellen nauraen pankkiin ilman elämän kolhuja
Taskussa vain omin silmin nähty maailma
Pyrkimys elää muille, eikä uskoa kehenkään
Ei kehenkään

Napanuorassa roikutaan kaikin voimin uskoen lohtuun
Kunnes ymmärrys täyttää, tahdon takaisin kohtuun
Eikä mikään voi muuttaa tämän tarinan juonta
Tiliotetta tarjotaan, viimeistä

Kaadumme, maadumme pois
(Rajat ylitetty, rimat alitettu, ihmisiän tarpeiksi suruvaliteltu)

Kun elämä saa meistä yliotteen – alisuorittaja, katoa, kaikkeuden kuormittaja

Kun elämä saa meistä yliotteen,
Se vie meidät takaisin alkuun
Kun elämä saa meistä yliotteen,
Se luo meidät takaisin kohtuun

Ruumis ulosotossa, henkinen saldokin nollassa
Riudun itsesäälissä lautturin jollassa,
Haaksirikko tulee tällä ristiretkellä
Sielun huolet huuhdellaan

Kaadumme, maadumme pois, kaadumme...

Kun elämä saa meistä yliotteen – alisuorittaja, katoa, kaikkeuden kuormittaja

Kun elämä saa meistä yliotteen
Se vie meidät takaisin alkuun
Kun elämä saa meistä yliotteen
Se luo meidät takaisin kohtuun

Tahtoi kaiken kansan nähtäväksi, ylimmäksi ystäväksi
Jalustalle nostetulle, velkarahoilla maksetulle
Ymmärryksen ytimessä, kuuden jalan syvyydessä
Sielu hauras ennalta nähtiin
Huutavan nimeään tähtiin

Käveli nauraen pankkiin ilman elämän kolhuja
Taskussa reikä josta kadotti maailman
Miten elää muille jos ei usko itseensäkään?

Sielu kuivui kasaan