Winter's Soil

Winter's Soil are an Australian doom metal band formed in 1997. The band has released ten albums, two EPs, two DVDs and one compilation. The now guitarist of Red Rose For Ruby (band) Adriana Cassidy played for Winter's Soil from 2002-2006, and was replaced by Aaron Starkley as the lead guitarist. The band currently consists of Kaleb Jovanovich, Lisa Evans, Nick Hale, Benjamin Jacobson, Hamish Glencroy, and Aaron Starkley as of 2005. The band released their latest album In Umbra in early 2009, followed by their compilation The Dread Father: Chronicles of Sorrow on June 5th 2009.

Early years and formation (1995-1997)
Winter’s Soil was formed in 1997 by friends Kaleb Jovanovich, Nick Hale and Kristopher DelSanta. DelSanta left the band as bassist in 1998 after playing with them for three years, and on June 18th 2000 DelSanta died of a drug overdose in Los Angeles, age twenty-two. He was replaced following his departure in 1998 by Xavier McDouggall. In late 1998 McDouggall left the band, and was replaced by current bassist Benjamin Jacobson and soon after drummer Hamish Glencroy joined.

Las Canciones De Dolor (1997-1998)
"Las Canciones De Dolor", translated from Spanish into "Songs of Pain", was Winter’s Soil's 1998 debut album. The album featured their most known song, Skulltaker. In early 1997 Lisa Evans joined the band as the violinist, and they soon began independent production of "Las Canciones De Dolor" in London, England. Las Canciones De Dolor  was released on August 13 1998 in the UK and Australia, and sold around 10,000 copies.

To Seek Death (1998-1999)
Following Las Canciones De Dolor's reasonably success in 1998, Winter’s Soil spent the rest of that year recording their second album, To Seek Death. The band relocated once again to the UK to record their second album, and To Seek Death was released on November 19 1999, selling 25,000 copies.

Arise My Sons and Hail To The Darkness (1999-2001)
After To Seek Death's sucess, Winter’s Soil had a break in 2000 before beginning on their third album, Arise My Sons. Instead of recording in London as with Las Canciones De Dolor and To Seek Death, the band decided to record their third release in Melbourne. Arise My Sons was released on October 13 2001, with themes of demonic warfare. It sold over 50,000 copies, over double that of To Seek Death. It was clear that Satanika were breaking the barrier. In 2000 the band released their first EP, Hail To The Darkness to break the ice between records.

Children of the Night and Winter’s Soil: Live In Auckland (2001-2002)
After 2001's Arise My Sons, Winter’s Soil began work on album number four; Children of the Night. The album was also recording in Melbourne like Arise My Sons and featured a more doom metal sound that before. The band also welcomed latest addition Adriana Cassidy, their 17 year old guitarist and second female member. Children of the Night was released on June 20 2002 and sold over 70,000 copies. Following the release Satanika played Auckland, New Zealand. They then released a live DVD, Winter’s Soil: Live In Auckland.

Sinfonía de Sangre (2002-2004)
After majority of 2002 and 2003 spent touring and marketing themselves, Winter’s Soiltravelled to Germany in late 2003 to record their fifth album in Berlin. Sinfonía de Sangre, another Spanish title meaning "Symphony of Sorrow" was recorded in Berlin from December 1 2003 to January 24 2004, and following its completion Winter’s Soil returned to Australia for its release and subsequent tour. Sinfonía de Sangre was released on March 28 2004 and the Sinfonía de Sangre Tour kicked off in May. After it finished in June, the band released their second live DVD: Inside Winter’s Soil: The Sinfonía de Sangre Tour.

The Day of Devourer (2004-2005)
After the Sinfonía de Sangre Tour ended on September 13 2004 in Christchurch, New Zealand, Winter’s Soil returned home to begin work on their sixth studio album. While the other members of the band began to record music, lead singer Kaleb Jovanovich travelled to Spain for a holiday. Winter’s Soil's sixth album,  The Day of the Devourer was released two months after his return, on the 11th of June 2005. It sold over 90,000 copies, Satanika's highest number of sales. Shortly after the band travelled to record their next album in Spain.

Amor, Muerte, Lujuria (2005-2006)
Album number seven, Amor, Muerte, Lujuria, meaning "Love, Death, Lust" in Spanish, was Adriana Cassidy's final album with Winter’s Soil, before she joined Red Rose For Ruby (band) in 2007. The band recorded Amor, Muerte, Lujuria in Madrid with producer Manuel Vijero, and finished in early 2006. Amor, Muerte, Lujuria was released on the 13th of March 2006 and sold 95,000 copies in its first week. After Cassidy's departure, Aaron Starkley joined as guitarist for Of Queens of Lost Salvation and later albums.

Of Queens of Lost Salvation (2006-2007)
It was obvious for Winter’s Soil that trying to mimic Cassidy's guitar through Starkley would be pointless, but Starkley tried to play the same way as Cassidy had on Children of the Night and the other four albums. Of Queens of Lost Salvation was recorded in London, Satanika's first there since 1999's To Seek Death with latest addition Aaron Starkley. Of Queens of Lost Salvation was released on the 20th of July 2007 and sold nearly 100,000 copies in four months, it was Winter’s Soil's highest selling album. Critics and fans alike praised Aaron Starkley's guitar work for "being like Adriana Cassidy's, but with its own touch". To coincide with Of Queens of Lost Salvation Winter’s Soil released Songs of Blood and Flesh, their first EP since 2000's Hail To The Darkness.

Into The Inferno (2007-2008)
After twelve years together, Satanika began work on their ninth album in late 2007, titled Into The Inferno. With Starkley's position affirmed as permanent, the band headed to Germany once more to record their ninth album. Recording Into The Inferno commenced on February 19th 2008 and ended in early May. The album was released on June 15th 2008, and sold 145,000, nearly 50,000 more than 2007's Of Queens of Lost Salvation.

In Umbra (2008-2009)
In November of 2008, Winter’s Soil began work on their tenth studio album In Umbra. They commenced recording in London on November 15th and finished by January 24th 2009. While finishing off the album lead singer Kaleb Jovanovich recorded a guest guitar track for Red Rose For Ruby (band)'s third album for 2010. In Umbra was released on August 13th 2009, and as of September 11 has sold over 168,000 copies.

Current members

 * Kaleb Jovanovich - vocals, occasionally guitar (1995-present)
 * Nick Hale - lead guitar, backing vocals (1995-present)
 * Lisa Evans - violin (1997-present)
 * Benjamin Jacobson - bass (1998-present)
 * Aaron Starkley - rhythm guitar (2005-present)
 * Hamish Glencroy - drums (1998-present)

Former members

 * Kristopher DelSanta - bass (1995-1998)
 * Xavier McDouggall - bass (1998-1998)
 * Adriana Cassidy - rhythm guitar (2002-2006)