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..From an early age already, drummer Rico Noijen followed his dream; to play in a band that plays music one can define as progressive music. After the implosion of one of his First bands Structure (Gothic Rock), he went searching for personnel to build this dream. His all-time partner in crime, keyboard player Roy Gommans (ex – Structure), was immediately impressed and enthusiastic about the idea. Together they form the foundation of the then newborn group EarthPulse. The searching continued, and, on guitar, Marc van Rooij was recruited. For a solid, roaring bass guitar sound they found Kay Bouten.
As you may know, one of the most important ingredients for a progband is an adequate vocalist. Unfortunately, for many bands it is hard to find the right man for the right spot. Many types of singers have tried to give EarthPulse a voice. There were vocalists with a more Seattle-sound vocal range, singers with a more 70 prog style timbre, many had taken the position of front man. None of them stayed for a long time.
In 2004 EarthPulse finally found a sustainable and stable line-up. The band achieved numerous live successes , among them the night before of the ProgPower festival in Baarlo and in the role of opening act for fellow progrockers Nightingale. These successes resulted into the recordings of ‘Grain Of Sand’ (2005), the first demo recorded by EarthPulse.
2007 was the year that Jeroen Geraedts, a student of former guitar player Marc van Rooij, made his debut in EarthPulse. The classic scenario of an apprentice eventually succeeding his master would become reality. The blues orientated van Rooij traded places with the more metal influenced Geraedts, and due to this change the sound of the band transformed from a slightly light hearted to a heavier, darker and deeper sound. In the eyes of Noijen and Gommans, of the masses of musicians auditioning, the only person right for this job was Geraedts.
All these ongoing changes in general don’t benefit a band. EarthPulse was no exception, the once so solid foundation was shaking over. To make things even worse bass player Bouten left EarthPulse after many years of dedicated service. Bass guitar players would come and go. Even the process of composing new songs grinded to a halt. In 2008 EarthPulse lost its voice, leaving the remaining three members now officially searching for a new singer. Desperation crept closer, no bass player, no singer, the EarthPulse star seemed doomed to fade out.
Meanwhile, the land covered in icy snow, musical winter was reigning. Finally there seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel when Spanish Abraham Casadevall rejoined with his old Structure- buddies, to take up the duty as bass guitar player. This strengthened founders Noijen and Gommans’ determination in their quest to search the person who could give EarthPulse a face again. This quest wasn’t an easy one, the vocalists came in large numbers, but none of them had the spirit to give EarthPulse the energy it so desperately needed.
March 2008, the search continued without results, and at that moment Gommans and Noijen almost gave in, an unexpected candidate reported in. The experimental vocalist/poet Daan Dekker tried an attempt to prove that he was the person that Noijen and Gommans where looking for so desperately. It was a time of seeking the balance between the avant-gardistic vocal style of Dekker and the heavy Progmetal sound of the band. Miraculously this combination proved to be a match, and after the live show with Day Six in the Splinter in Venlo EarthPulse was back on track.
The current sound of EarthPulse can be described as a mixture van of many influences. The heavier, more metal related pieces of music find their inspiration from bands like Dream Theater, Pagan’s Mind, Threshold, Fates Warning and so on. On the other hand, the easier and more experimental parts of the music offer spiritual redemption for the audience. Bands who can be compared to this part of EarthPulse are Pink Floyd, Genesis, Marillion, Riverside, Porcupine Tree, etc.
Stimulated by the positive reactions of the fans, the fresh line-up decided to enter the studio in October 2008 for the recordings of their debut, titled ‘The Rhythm of Eden’. The album was released the 6th of June 2009.
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