Biography

The band had its inception in 2011 when Øyvind Voldmo Larsen (guitars) and Ketil Ronold (keyboards) met the remarkable drummer Frank Nordeng Røe. Shortly they were joined by the voice talent Ole Aleksander Wagenius. For the debut album, bass was recorded by the special guest Andreas Blomqvist from Seventh Wonder. In 2013 the band found the current bass player, Miguel Pereira. Prog Magazine wrote:"[Withem's sound can be defined as] a more compact Symphony X with vocals from heaven and basslines from hell" Playing in ProgPower USA 2014 was one of the highlights of the live shows that promoted The Point of You throughout 2013/14. Withem also played shows with Dream Theater, Pagan’s Mind, Circus Maximus and Seventh Wonder, always with an extremely positive reception. On February 2016 Withem announced the partnership with Frontiers Records to release the sophomore album – The Unforgiving Road. The new album, scheduled to come out June 3rd, takes the band in a journey across both familiar and new territories. Melody and solid composition still take the front seat while each instrument shines on its own way. The Unforgiving Road is packed with bombastic riffs and powerful choruses while still leaving room for the softer side that fans have been asking for. The unique vocal range of Ole Aleksander Wagenius grants the much-needed distinctive touch to stand out in the progressive metal scene.