Aathma (Persefone album)

Persefone
Persefone performing at Turock Open Air 2015
Background information
Origin	Andorra
Genres	Progressive metal, melodic death metal, symphonic metal, neoclassical metal
Years active	2001–present
Labels	ViciSolum Productions
Website	http://www.persefone.com
Members	Marc Martins Pia Jordi Gorgues Mateu Carlos Lozano Quintanilla Miguel Espinosa Ortiz Toni Mestre Coy
Past members	Aleix Dorca Xavi Pérez Marc Mas Marti

Persefone is an Andorran progressive death metal band formed in October 2001. The band's name is derived from Persephone, a figure in Greek Mythology.

Persefone was founded in early 2001 in the small nation of Andorra; founding members are Carlos Lozano Quintanilla, Jordi Gorgues Mateu, Toni Mestre Coy, and Xavi Pérez. In 2002 they were joined by Miguel Espinosa Ortiz.

The first song they composed was "Niflheim (The Eyes That Hold The Edge)". The song suggested what the band wanted: melody, complexity and aggression, and it was influenced from other melodic death metal bands such as Arch Enemy, In Flames, and Dark Tranquillity. A demo was soon recorded, and the concept of the album took shape: the five soul illnesses combined with the transition from life to death. A 6-track demo became an LP with the help of Claus Jensen and Intromental Management; Truth Inside the Shades was recorded at Orion Studios and mastered by Peter in de Betou for Taylor Maid Productions.

Some gigs were scheduled, but Pérez left the band, and was replaced by Aleix Dorca Josa, producer of the band, who joined it to perform drums. Also, Marc Marti became the lead singer, taking over for Quintanilla. After this, Truth Inside the Shades was released worldwide through Soundholic Records (Japan), Cd-Maximum (Russia and Baltic States), and Adipocere Records (Europe and United States).

The next album, a longer concept album, relates the story of Persephone, the Greek goddess for which the band was named. In August 2006, Core was released in Japan through Soundholic Records. In 2007, a year after its Japanese release, Persefone signed a deal with Greek label Burning Star Records, and in August the album was released worldwide.

In 2010, the band released its new, Japanese-influenced album Shin-Ken and in March 2010 they supported Obituary in a tour.

Persefone's fourth record, Spiritual Migration, was released in 2013. On August 5, 2014, the band announced that drummer Marc Mas had left the band on good terms.