Album review: Revenge Hunter (2010)

Revenge Hunter was the debut album of SD with the finalized lineup of Mirka in the bass, Kathleen in the keys, twins in the guitars, Slavy in the drums and after long persuasion and some failed previous singers, Empress as the singer. The demos were sung by the songwriter, who is a decent singer, but has quite bad stage fright. Empress finally gave in and agreed to try if she can pull it off. Did she ever!

Red Moon Rises

-The opening track, rather eerie and haunting song, Kath and Empress sure showed to what their combined voices are made for. It's rather mellow for an opening song, but after all, this was the first one and this felt like one of the best and worst ideas for the debut. Do something different and try to you know, pop from the mainstream. 

Pay the Price

-One of those songs that had a lot of bitterness written into it, it wasn't hit material, so they left it out on gigs often. It was the least liked song, at least judging by the fans' voting.
Hunted Wishes to be the Hunter

-Oh yes, this one. Guitars had equally big role in this as did the meaning of the lyrics that Empress sang. The song is a literal shredfest.
Broken by Obsession

-Anybody would go crazy in the situation this song describes. It sure was interesting. The static is a bit too worn in the songs with the mainstream music, but it's not actually that bad.
Symphony of Mistakes

-Another rather interesting piece, giving Kath a window to showcase her insane keyboard skills, which she promptly did. Empress had to toss her voice up and down quite hard, but this has been in first half of the setlist and she has no issues whatsoever.
Revenge Hunter

-The title song is this low in the list, but it is worth waiting for. Slavy proves why she was a singer before she was a drummer, those screams would make Marco Hietala jealous.
My Home That Burns (instr)

-The songwriter tossed up a name and a general theme, Kath and Anje worked from that point on and made a song that really does remind a listener of a person watching their much hated home burn.
Dead Existence

-Heavy song with heavy theme. A cry of someone so deep in the clutches of depression it's not even remotely funny.
DeathWish

-One of the fan faves, just powermetal at it's finest (or worst), heavy beat and versatile vocals. The beast has been unleashed with this one, it is a beast of a song too.
Slain Goddess of the Sun

-This one is cruel, but the band likes it. One of our most sold posters has this as an image. Selene, the Titaness of the Moon has killed Amaterasu, the Goddess of the Sun. It's Greek Mythology versus Japanese Mythology and sure as hell an interesting story. 

*Moon is Cold (music video only)

-It was an entry to a video contest and the band surprised the crew and followers by not choosing this to be on the actual album, but went with Pay the Price, which was a bit similar in structure, but MiC had more potential. 

-Katrina (drumtech&blog moderator)

Wow, our bad

Sorry for the long radio silence. Well, silence mostly. Been busy with normal lives and some random gigs here and there, parties and such....

Don't call them poor excuses, they are legit excuses!
<- that is you all right now.




New album is in the works, so that is positive news. D is working with us less and less though, but Anje and Kath, who is nearly impossible to keep away from the keyboards, are working on something new and Anje's husband is also trying to meddle with the songs, I have no idea how that goes...



Also, the admin's computer was redone so that took a chunk of time and some pics are... somewhere. The old blog and band diary entries will appear sooner or later, you are not forgotten, you know! The albums are already listed and the tracklists are coming as soon as admin gets time.

Welp, I guess that is all I have for now, working late never feels great, so left to be seen how this goes...
-Mirka, over and out.

Pic dump: Band in a party!

No, still no tour pics, because there simply are none that survived! Here's a pic dump from that one time our good friend Nayami was as a DJ in Selenia. We weren't... that sober, which can be probs deducted from the quality...

The Blondies and  Photobummer

I hate you bitches... -Slavy

Somebody wanted a pic of me, apparently,
and it wasn't Sera this time ^^
 I think that was Janita... Or Frankie.
I don't remember exactly... -Anje

Janita's fab shoes. How do you walk with those?! -Sera

Oh hey, it's Slavy's ass! -Sera
Well, only a gf can love that ass... -Anje
Fans, meet the twins... -Slavy (whose commentary was removed due to it's raunchy nature -Kathleen)
Edit: HEY! -Slavy

Nayami played the CaramellDansen and some O-Zone. We kinda... lost it. 

Mikayla and Anjeylica ^^

Slavica and Serafina ^^

Plus a Janita Photobomb! I'm boiling from just looking at that warm jumper... -Katrina

Is there a guitarist joke going on? -Slavy

You're just jealous, you suck at dancing! -Sera

Was this when Janita fell flat on her back with those sneaker heels? -Anje

Boy, I do give too much info in that dress
and NOBODY told me! -Mikke

It's just good fanservice! -Slavy

Healthy as a horse, huh?

Mom on the loose!

Xmas party in the Da Hood!

Near where most of us live is a rather big hall that is apparently built in the honor of Princess Noelle of Selenia, so it's in Christmas decor the whole year round. We arranged a party there and invited some neighbors and such, not all could make it, the band guitar tech was nowhere to be found (probs in Canadian wilderness) and only Empress was able to drag her family to the event. You get first glimpses of little Max!

That fire place was amazing! You can tell it hasn't been that much used, there was very little soot, but oh boy it warmed! -Sera

People dropped off presents there early, I had to be the courier, but hey, it's only once a year. So far the guest list was short, but we did have a nice Christmas Eve.
In Finland, the 24th is the actual party day, there's Santa's hot line with lots of classic cartoons and stuff for the kids in the morning, a tradition I hear. The Snowman is almost mandatory every year. At least that is what our songwriter thinks. Then there's Joulurauhan Julistus, Declaration of Christmas Peace around noon-ish. Then the whole of Finland sorta... shuts down, people calm down. By now the trees are brought in and porridge made, church later on and candles to the graves. Presents in the evening, some more annual Christmas shows, eating and drinking until they can't function and then they go to bed. The next day, Christmas Day is usually reserved for visiting friends or family, some visit grandparents or very good friends.
As 3/4 Russian this has always been peculiar tradition for me, since my parents didn't incorporate dad's Finnish roots into my childhood or in our lives when I was a kid. All these traditions I've learned from our songwriter and few other selected friends, who have lived their childhood in Finland. It was still rather... Orthodox and Russian traditions even when we lived in Lappeenranta, so at school I had quite many hardships. -Mirka.

Always first to arrive, The Twins, but considering the place is right next to theirs... -Kath

It was rather cold day, but we just ran in... -Anje, who ran in heels.

I hate skirts... I want shorts! Pants! Jeans! Cargos! -Sera the Drama Master

I'm not even gonna... We made most of the food, since we are rather good cooks and my husband was kind enough to take our kids to his parents'. Sera was left alone too, so we hijacked our apartment back from our dad and wrecked havoc in the kitchen. Our kitchen and bathroom are getting renovated anyway, so the mess is quite ok. -Anje

Our beloved keyboardists! Mikayla Nylander and Kathleen Harding-Turner.

Classy as ever. -Mikke

That tattoo covering make up works like a charm, btw. -Kath

One of our admins and our drum tech,
Katrina Yelenka (who has met a flat iron)
and her little sister, Nina Yelenka. 

Aaaaaand as usual, Vicky and Slavy, joined at the hip. -Sera

Well, whacha can do... -Slavy

That was surprisingly mellow response from you -Sera

I don't always rise to your bait. -Slavy.

Proud of you for that. -Kath

What a feast <3

I think Mikke took this one, it's so blurry, but that was helluva feast. -Slavy

I didn't take this, Janita (our temping guitar tech) took it. -Mikayla

Twins really cooked up a storm, sure we all did our part. We are rather used to spending Christmas with the former hockey team of ours. And now the band, since the team has dispersed, literally scattered to the wind. We all miss those parties we threw at the HQ. Coach had grey hairs from all the running around in sugars -Mirka

Mirka and Katrina got presents!

As did Janita and Ana ^^

Preparing for Christmas Party!

 Ha, Anje the Master Chef 1/2 has been at it again. -Sera

As if you weren't helping. You were, so that makes you the other half. -Anje

You complete me! -Sera

...your boyfriend reads thsi blog! -Anje

Sera, frickin' serious!? -Anje

Well, purple is your color. With every other color too. -Sera

Your aim is shit. Really. -Anje.

 OH! Those were HEAVENLY! -Sera

You're a troll. -Anje

We should get you an insta account... -Sera

Never. It's shit. -Anje

 I TOLD YOU NOT TO TAKE A PICTURE AND NOT TO POST IT! -Anje

You said it, I'm a troll XD -Sera

REVENGE! -Anje

Oh I was in pain! -Sera

 Why you had to... -Anje

Calm down, bitches! -Slavy

I'm calm. -Anje

XDXDXDXD -Sera

Joke's on the Russians

We've been laughing asses off, all four of us here, Mirka and Ana, here's some Finnish humor for you. Don't tune in to the Russian, focus on the Finnish.

I can't stop laughing! -Sera

Edit 15:30:

Goddamn you bitches! -Mirka

I think I'm gonna strain my ear trying NOT to hear all the bullshit Russian XD -Empress

That is hilarious. You should see Ana's face! I need to translate this to my family, they are gonna crack up. -Mirka

That sounds just like me when I try to talk in Finnish! -Empress.

Party Pics! Mirka in spotlight! Q/A

Awkward. That's all I have to say about these pics and all.

Many have asked about my last name, Kovalchuk. It's from my mom, she's Ilya Kovalchuk's aunt, so yes, he is my cousin, actually.

Uh, I think I can bench press or lift more than you do, if you feel the need to boast about it. Don't start with me.

I have no idea what's officially my vocal range, but it's low, as quite a number of Russian women have.

Another bloke dying of love? Sorry, I've been engaged since I was 17, so nope, not interested.

Yes, I am a member of Mensa. So is my mom.

I don't have an official profession, but I'd consider myself musician first, mechanic second.

What red hair -oh, you mean, oh. They are hair extensions, my hair is so dark it would take too much to bleach and then dye it. My mom tried and it didn't work on her, so I won't even try.

They all call me captain because I was the captain of the hockey team we were in (sans Kath) while we were in our teens. Those years were probably the best of my life, I got to do what I truly loved. Not that I don't love music, I do, but hockey... for me it was like air.