Midnight Sun

Sweden's Midnight Sun issued four albums from 1997 to 2001 that captured the commercial edge of European power metal, incorporating touches of American hard rock and occasional AOR leanings. Persistent member instability ultimately ended the band well before it could expand its reach past Scandinavia. Norwegian-born singer Pete Sandberg formed the group in 1996 alongside guitarist Chris Palm, bassist Jonas Reingold, and drummer Anders Theander. Despite repeated personnel shifts, the musicians delivered their first three albums in rapid succession. The founding lineup recorded 1997's Another World, after which 1998's Above & Beyond featured journeyman drummer Hempo Hilden and 1999's Nemesis introduced guitarist Magnus Karlsson plus percussionist Jaime Salazar. Karlsson and Salazar remained with Reingold for 2001's Metal Machine, yet vocalist Pete Sandberg exited before that album, a loss the band could not overcome; even capable replacement Jacob Samuels could not prevent the eventual split. All involved later worked with other established acts, notably Sandberg, who joined German supergroup Primal Fear.