1999 has born KARELIA with a deep wish to bring something new to a saturated heavy-metal scene : in this aim Lionel VEST (guitars/ keyboards) and Matthieu KLEIBER (guitars/ vocals) tried to implement a metal band including classic musicals… but quickly realized that the concrete working of such a structure was much complicated.

Then, in order to keep a symphonic side in their music, they had no choice but to use some classical samples complemented with electronic drums and bass. Bertrand MAILLOT (Keyboards) joined the band, bringing many good points as a composer. Sebastien FELLMANN, took in charge the lead guitar.

This line up released a maxi single (recorded and mastered in the Lionel VEST"s home studio). The band was pleased to notice that, in spite of these poor means… and certain blunders… some people found in that a kind of new trend, as KARELIA music could not be strictly assimilated to an other metal band. 400 copies of the maxi single were sold… and some people are still trying to buy it as the band do not want to produce more copies !

Live concerts (with DYSLESIA notably) and contacts with production companies put forward the need to play with a "real" rhythmic section. Then KARELIA enlisted in summer 2001 three gifted and practised musicals coming from a heavy metal band called JERICAN : Loïc JENN (drums), Erwan MORICE (guitars) and Claude GASPARINI (bass).

Lionel VEST and Sebastien FELLMANN left the band.
Matthieu KLEIBER and Bertrand MAILLOT, the music composers of KARELIA, are warily keeping all the same the original spirit of that melodies.
Thanks to the relative success of the former line-up, KARELIA signed up an edition contract with STUDIOS BLUE BIRD in the beginning of year 2002, concerning five albums in the next five years. The band now benefit from great production means and the assistance of chorists from various orchestras. In that way, KARELIA is following the ambitious aim to release a quality music full of symphonic influences which could surprise all the metal fans… So, keep a watch on the new KARELIA maxi single