Frozen Factory is
Stephen Baker – Writer and Lead Singer
Tomi Hassinen – Writer, Engineer, Producer, Keyboardist and Bassist
Plus the amazing
Zsolt Szilagyi – Lead Guitar
Johnny Koivumäki – Rhythm Guitar
Marianne Heikkinen – Drums
Eetu ‘Eddie X’ Pesu – (also) Drums
So, what kind of music experience can you expect?
First of all, hi, and thanks for joining us! We’re Frozen Factory, a rock band from Southern Finland that’s largely driven by two songwriters, Stephen Baker and Tomi Hassinen, who are joined by a love for music that captures the imagination. We value meaningful lyrics and vivid soundscapes, and if you feel the same, you’re in the right place!
Frozen Factory’s thoughtful songs mix ingredients from alt-rock, prog and metal, often nodding at big influences like Pink Floyd, Iron Maiden, Alice in Chains and Depeche Mode. Despite this, the music carries a fresh quality and rich diversity that creates an entirely new experience, standing out from the noise of copycats and recycled formulas.
Biography
Frozen Factory started spontaneously in December 2018 with four guys and no real plan. Over two studio days they created a self-titled 3-track record. Bassist Tomi Hassinen and then drummer Eetu Pesu felt sure the band had a future, however, their guest musicians, guitarist Asa Nyman and singer Ozzy Slant, couldn’t continue. Tomi’s advert for a new singer immediately caught the attention of British vocalist Stephen Baker. After meeting Tomi for tea, Stephen wrote the lyrics for ‘The Truth is So Dead’ and recorded a promising demo.
Stephen and Tomi were perfectly in sync, quickly forging a new deeper sound for Frozen Factory. Soon, the band’s debut album, themed around humanity’s painful struggles, was written. Mici Ehnqvist, a long-time friend of Tomi’s, was enlisted for lead guitar. The band spent the rest of 2019 recording ‘Planted Feet’ and performed their first live show at Vernissa in Vantaa, Finland. The gig was filmed in full and it’s available to watch here. ‘Planted Feet’ was released on 12th June 2020.
Eetu parted ways in 2020 due to living far away, yet remains part of the family, coming back occasionally for live performances. The band’s now regular drummer, Marianne Heikkinen, was spotted on social media and asked to bring her skills on board. Marianne joined in July, swiftly performing live and recording new material. In May 2021, the band released ‘The First Liquidation EP’, an 8-track record that clocks in under 30 minutes. Frozen Factory consider it to be a short experimental piece rather than an album, marking a shift into more emotional themes – and providing a bridge to the second album.
In late 2021, Johnny Koivumäki joined on rhythm guitar, creating the wall of guitars the band dreamed of. After a series of new singles in 2022, Frozen Factory dropped their second full-length album ‘Of Pearls & Perils’ on Friday the 23rd of September. With 12 tracks further exploring the band’s thematic full-album experience, it earned a some rave reviews and high-profile radio play.
As 2022 drew to a close, Tomi and Stephen fired up their song writing engines again, hungry to forge a new set of material. In January 2023, Frozen Factory parted ways with Mici, allowing him to focus on other important things in life. The band enlisted the help of Zsolt Szilagyi, a former bandmate of Stephen’s, and quickly solidified his relationship with the band.
In Spring 2023, Tomi and Stephen redefined the face of Frozen Factory, now considering it a duo with special creative ties to Zsolt, Marianne, Johnny and returning drummer, Eetu. Expect new music from Summer 2023 and much more to come from Frozen Factory!