The story of DEAD KOSMONAUT began in the late nineties. Born out of the urge to play Heavy Metal, influenced by the timeless music of, primarily, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Candlemass. A key factor was to not limit the creative process but to embrace the ethics of the early pioneers of Hard Rock. Using all the elements of soft and heavy, hard hitting and progressive, but always with a melodic sense.
Unable to form a band with such focus at the time, Mattias Reinholdsson began to write and demo material on his own. By 2006 he decided to record some of the songs for the demo “W.O.C.”.
Playing on the recording beside Mattias was drummer Henrik Johansson, with whom Mattias had played with in progressive rock band Book of Hours. Performing guitar solos was Fredrik Folkare (Unleashed, Hellbutcher, Firespawn) and Pär Fransson (ex-Soulbreach). The four where no strangers to each other, as they had played Iron Maiden covers under the name of Strangers in a Strange Band. (Trivia alert! The first vocalist for that band was (soon to be) H.E.A.T. vocalist Kenny Leckremo.)
The idea to put out an album began to brew and recordings took place. But Mattias was unsure about his vocal abilities. To find a vocalist, able to handle such material, proved to be very hard. For the longest of time it seemed like Mattias, against his better judgement, would have to be the singer for the project. So, with that in mind he reached out to (then) Epicus Doomicus Metallicus vocalist Johan Langqvist to make a guest appearance on one of the songs (Grey Hole). Johan is today, again, the singer of Candlemass.
Still not hearing a lead vocalist in his own vocal takes, label boss, TPLs Micke Persson, suggested he should listen to mutual friend Pelle Gustafsson of Nifelheim fame. Mattias had no idea that Pelle, with whom he had been acquainted since the nineties, could sing “proper classic Metal vocals”. But literally within minutes of listening to Pelles vocals from a Mercy tribute, he phoned him up to ask him the question: can you sing on the album?
With more than ten years in the making, and with not one, but two, name changes (from Astrakaan to Domkraft to Dead Kosmonaut) the album “Expect nothing” was finally put out on TPL records in 2017. The project consisted of, beside the aforementioned, guitar player Per Broddesson (ex-Year of the Goat, ex-Wolverine), double bass player John Shamus Gaffney (Sinister Realm) and drummer Fredrich Rönnholm. Making a coherent album of the recordings was Fredrik Folkare, co-producing along with Mattias as well as taking care of mixing duties.
With the album in the bag, the band had their live debut the same year at Sweden’s Muskelrock festival with the line-up of: Pelle Gustafsson (vocals), Mattias Reinholdsson (bass), Fredrik Folkare (guitar), Per Broddesson (guitar), Henrik Johansson (drums)
In 2019, German label High Roller reached out with a business proposal. It was decided to put out the EP “Rekviem” as a first release. The EP consisted of songs of old and new. Beside some of the “usual suspects”, the drumming talents of Daniel Moilanen (Katatonia) graced the recording. Playing the cello for title track was Grand Magus bass player Mats “Fox” Skinner.
“Rekviem” was soon to be followed by full-length album “Gravitas” in 2020. Another patchwork of recordings but made with the core of the live setting of the band, along with a few drum tracks performed by Daniel Moilanen and Fredrich Rönnholm. Performing church organ on the song that named the band, was organist Mats G. Eriksson. Before the recording was finalized Broddesson made it clear he would not continue his involvement. In came Pär Fransson to finish the job and to play live with Dead Kosmonaut. While working simultaneously on the writing and recording for “Rekviem” and ”Gravitas”, Mattias took help from John Shamus Gaffney, as a lyricist, to complete some of the songs. A co-operation that has continued since.
Literally days after the record was released in January of 2020, the world took a hault as the Covid pandemic shut everything down. Despite great reviews, but no gigs, the timing could not have been any worse.
Time was moving on, and filled with ideas, Mattias reached out to his band mates, not only to start off recording new songs, but also for them to contribute with material. It was high time to form a proper band. The concept of time, memory and hindsight was chosen for the lyrical themes of the songs. Unfortunately, due to personal obstacles facing some of the members, the recordings progressed slowly. Before the finalization of the recording, guitar player Pär Fransson was forced to bow out. Enter Peter Hallgren (Sorcerer) to complete the line up and save the day.
The chosen partner for this new chapter of the band was Norwegian label Edged Circle Productions.
