History

Loch Vostok rose out of the collapse of progressive metal band Mayadome in 2001. After 10 years drummer Teddy Möller was tired of the cheeze and decided to start something more meaty - Loch Vostok was born. Three core members, Mayadome founder Teddy Möller, keyboardist Sebastian Okupski and bass player Erik Grandin set about formulating a new act. Möller would switch from his erstwhile role as a drummer to that of lead vocalist/guitarist and with the incorporation of former El Presidente guitarist Niklas Kupper alongside ex-Imperial Domain drummer Alvaro Svanerö the band was complete. However, Grandin was to relocate to the USA and so former Mellow Poetry guitarist Tomas "Tym" Jonsson stepped in to fill the bass vacancy.

Utilizing producer Daniel Bergstrand, Loch Vostok cut a self-financed album 'Dark Logic' entirely based upon infamous serial killers such as Henry Lee Lucas, Andreij Tzjikatilo and Ed Gein. 'Dark Logic' was released as a promo version first during 2002. The first label to pick up the album for distribution would be the Russian concern CD-Maximum. Shortly after the Russian release, Portugese label Magnetism Records contracted Loch Vostok, and released 'Dark Logic' worldwide August 1st 2004.

Sebastian Okupski decided to focus on his cover band and Loch Vostok quickly got another keyboardist, Andreas Lindahl from fellow Swedish metal act Platitude, on board. He played some live shows and recorded the new album with Loch Vostok but then decided to leave. However, Loch Vostok are a real band, not just another project, so they had every intention of finding a real full time member, who was also willing to take part in the whole songwriting process. Anima Morte keyboardist/composer Fredrik Klingwall had been a friend of the band for quite a while and was asked to join Loch Vostok, which he gladly accepted.

In early 2006, the band signed with Swedish record label Escapi Music for the worldwide release of 'Destruction Time again!' - their second and more mature disc. After the fantastic reviews started coming in, the band went on tour with King Diamond and Secret Sphere all around Scandinavia for 2 weeks in April 2006, followed by another tour in Denmark with Pyramaze in June same year.

During 2007 and 2008 the band played a lot of shows in Scandinavia (including a show on-board the Tattoo Boat - a tattoo convention/festival on a cruise ship between Sweden and Finland), as well as working really hard on their third full-length album, 'Reveal no Secrets'. By early 2009 the album was ready; produced, recorded, mixed and edited by the band themselves and mastered by Lawrence Mackrory at Great Scot! Audio. After the collapse of Escapi Music a new worldwide deal was signed with US based label Nightmare Records.

Several shows in 2009 around Scandinavia, including Sweden Rock Festival, saw the band mature even more, with a new drummer (Lawrence Dinamarca replacing Alvaro) and bassist (Jimmy Mattsson replacing Tym), Loch Vostok was stronger than ever before. While writing the songs for the new album, Möller and band found themselves heading into a stronger and more fulfilling direction than any of the prior releases, yet still maintaining the classic Loch Vostok sound.

The music is perhaps easiest to compare with the avantgardism of Cynic, the progressiveness of Dream Theater, the black metalish assault of Emperor, the thrash metal of Forbidden, the cult personality of Voivod, the sheer power of Agent Steel and the melodic death metal of Soilwork.

Then a tour with Therion and Leprous followed - 29 shows in 33 days, all over Europe. Just before, and during the tour, Intromental Management searched for a HOME, not just another record company; enter ViciSolum Productions.

Loch Vostok's fourth album, 'Dystopium', came out in September 27th, 2011, through ViciSolum Productions. The album was once again recorded by the band themselves at Blueflame Production, and mastered by Lawrence Mackrory at Great Scot! Audio.

'V - The Doctrine Decoded' came out on October 4th, 2012, via ViciSolum Productions. Touring with Leprous, Örkenkjött and Persefone, busy years followed. Kids, house fires, death, bankruptcies and such. No hitting the breaks though. Just writing, writing and writing.

'From These Waters', which was released on March 27th, 2015, was the hardest thing to put together, loss of parents, studio and lack of time. Still, it turned out amazing and got Loch Vostok the highest review-scores in many magazines. Touring with Persefone and One Hour Hell plus very successful festivals and one-offs.

Home, regrouping, settling down, focusing, writing the best possible album they could ever write, getting all that loss, stress, sorrow and chaos out of the system, enter 'Strife'. It was mixed by David Castillo and mastered by Jens Bogren, and will be out via ViciSolum Productions on November 24th, 2017.

(source: Loch Vostok, September 2011,; Vicisolum Productions, October 2017)