Vocalist Johanna DePierre, guitarists Kari Kainulainen and Ronnie Backlund, ba**ist Mikael Andersson, and drummer Robin Bergh formed Amaran in the spring of 2000, in Stockholm, Sweden. Contrasting a violent thrash/d**h metal base with DePierre's clear, operatic vocal style, the group's sound recalls both Finland's Nightwish and Holland's After Forever, yet it generally outdoes them both in terms of sheer aggression. A well-crafted 2001 demo quickly landed Amaran a deal from France's Listenable Records, and their debut album A World Depraved emerged in February 2002. Two years later, they returned with new ba**ist Ronnie Bergerstahl and their more mature second effort, Pristine in Bondage, which added three bonus cuts to its Japanese edition. ~ Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide