Magenta

Not to be confused with the Welsh band formed in the early 2000s, <a href="spotify:artist:5PrHo0ZickFbYyEbzcre3p">Magenta</a> is a Norwegian electro-goth rock project founded in 1995 by future husband-and-wife Vilde Lockert (voice) and Anders Odden, guitar, programming, and voice -- formerly with death metal pioneers <a href="spotify:artist:3jXKuyWNGa8hUPsnrblyl7">Cadaver</a>), with frequent support from Daniel Hill (guitar, backing vocals), and assorted guest musicians over the years. Beginning with 1997's "Secret Sky" single, <a href="spotify:artist:5PrHo0ZickFbYyEbzcre3p">Magenta</a> began racking up both radio spins and critical accolades in their homeland; and with their subsequent EP of the same name, they quickly made inroads into Germany -- initially due to its controversial art (depicting a Barbie doll throwing a "sieg heil"-like salute), until the music itself took hold. Encouraged by this enthusiastic response, <a href="spotify:artist:5PrHo0ZickFbYyEbzcre3p">Magenta</a> released their debut album, Periode, a year later, then played shows in several European nations before shooting a video for "Secret Sky" in New York City. Their next album, Little Girl Lost, was unveiled in 2002, and <a href="spotify:artist:5PrHo0ZickFbYyEbzcre3p">Magenta</a> collaborated with musical goblin <a href="spotify:artist:4jlxvaggBp7wVV02U6YYRQ">Mortiis</a> on the video for first single, All Over, before embarking on their most extensive tour yet, culminating in a performance at the 2003 Arvika Festival. The band went on hiatus for the next few years, while both Lockert and Odden kept busy with parallel projects (including a new <a href="spotify:artist:3jXKuyWNGa8hUPsnrblyl7">Cadaver</a> album, a tour with the legendary <a href="spotify:artist:4ZISAmHmQUDCpv8xydqeKG">Celtic Frost</a>, and organizing the yearly Inferno Festival in Oslo). In late 2008, they reconvened to release Art and Accidents. After releasing a series of digital EPs performed entirely in Norwegian (Magenta Aus Norwegen), the band recorded a somber comeback LP, Songs for the Dead, which was released in 2015 on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Cleopatra+Records%22">Cleopatra Records</a> and inspired by the death of <a href="spotify:artist:1DXylZlWbVvlckNqwvjTEt">Ministry</a>'s <a href="spotify:artist:2j1Als7VJx1EHT5ruHLAS3">Mike Scaccia</a>. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, Rovi