Negative

Emerging from Finland toward the end of the 1990s, Negative took shape as a glam rock group whose sound reflected the style of Guns N' Roses, Mötley Crüe, and Hanoi Rocks. Performing their material in English, the musicians began as a three-piece in 1997 and staged their inaugural concert the following year. After inking a contract with Gbfam Records in 2002, they issued their first album, War of Love, shortly thereafter. The record earned gold certification at home and later secured distribution throughout Scandinavia along with additional territories in Europe and Asia. Negative reentered the charts in 2004 with the follow-up full-length Sweet & Deceitful. Extensive touring occupied the subsequent two years, after which the six musicians—Jonne Aaron on vocals, Larry Love on guitar, Sir Christus on guitar, Antti Anatomy on bass, Jay Slammer on drums, and Snack on keyboards—delivered their third album, Anorectic, in 2006 and met with strong acclaim. Further road work in 2007 culminated in the group receiving the Best Finnish Act honor at the MTV Video Music Awards. The year 2008 proved equally active: the double-DVD retrospective In the Eye of the Hurricane appeared first, followed in May by the fourth studio album, Karma Killer. Prior to entering the studio, however, founding guitarist Sir Christus parted ways with the band; a close associate was enlisted to handle live duties, yet the official configuration remained a five-piece.