Artist: FINNTROLL
Album: JAKTENS TID (CD)

Release date: 2001
Media type: CD

A quite unique proposition in extreme Metal circles in that FINNTROLL base their lyrics upon the Trollish myths of Scandinavia and back it all up with Polka inspired "Schlager-Death" Metal. The band, taking their cue from the likes of "Humppa" pioneers ELAKELAISET, was forged in Helsinki by Katla (a.k.a. Jan Jamsen) and THY SERPENT and BARATHRUM guitarist Teemu Raimoranta (‘Somnium’) who, employing a drum machine, cut the January 1998 demo ‘Rivfader’.

According to legend, the FINNTROLL concept came to the pair in March 1997 upon waking from a drunken stupor induced by a marathon drinking binge. It would not only be the act’s revolutionary clash of tradition and amplification that set them apart, Finntroll also chose to sing exclusively in Swedish, apparently because this language was better to evoke the trollish spirit.

Later recruits were RAPTURE and ex-BARATHRUM drummer Samu Ruotsalainen (‘Beast Dominator’), AHTI and MOONSORROW’s Henri Urponpoika Sorvali ('Trollhorn') on keyboards, bassist Sami Uusitalo ('Tundra') and live guitarist Ormy. Guitarist Somnium also cites membership of IMPALED NAZARENE.

The November 1999 ‘Midnattens Widunder’ ("Monsters of midnight") album, probably the band’s harshest, recorded at Walltone Studios with Tuomo Valtonen acting as producer, was an exploratory affair, pitching the rawest Black Metal directly in opposition to medieval Finnish music. This oil and water formula strangely worked and being such an outrageous clash of styles naturally triggered much curiosity.

Samuli Ponsimaa took the revised stage name of Skrymer as during 2001 the band welcomed in Jonne Jдrrela of SHAMAN on vocals and guitar for touring in Scandinavia and Germany. The band had by this point carved out such a reputation that the second album, 'Jaktens Tid' ("Hunting season") delivered in May 2001, even made it into the Finnish national album charts at number 20. 'Jaktens Tid' featured a cover version of 'Varg Timmen' originally by HEDNINGARNA with extra embellishments provided by the Joik singing of Jonne Jarvela and banjo from Hanky Bannister. Tapio Wilska also donated "Latin mumblings". The record credits listed thirteen songs, although in reality 'Jaktens Tid' closed with a hidden 'Forsvinn Du Som Lyser'. German label Century Media would pick the band up for an American release of the record in September.

For gigs in Moscow alongside IMPALED NAZARENE the band was forced to participate minus the services of vocalist Katla, found to be suffering from a tumor on his vocal chords. He would be temporarily replaced for the Russian shows by Tapio Wilska, an esteemed veteran of SETHIAN, DARKWOODS MY BETROTHED, NATTVINDENS GRЕT and WIZZARD. Katla would be forced to bow out permanently in June of 2002, the singer taking longer to recuperate following surgery for a tumor in his vocal cords.

The band unveiled plans for an October headlining tour of mainland Europe topping a strong billing comprising BORKNAGAR, SUSPERIA, SUIDAKRA and WINDIR. By early December FINNTROLL had recruited vocalist Tapio Wilska as a permanent fixture, the new singer making his debut on the experimental acoustic album 'Visor Om Slutet' ("Songs for the end"). These tracks had been laid down over just seven days in the isolated Hastholmen log cabin deep in the forest outside Helsinki. The band united with KATATONIA for European touring throughout April and May.

FINNTROLL then suffered an enormous tragedy when Teemu 'Somnium' Raimoranta died on 16th March 2003 at the exceptionally young age of just 25. Apparently the guitarist suffered fatal injuries from a fall off Helsinki's Pitkasilta bridge onto ice below. Conjecture at first pointed toward an accident although later eye witness reports suggested the musician’s actions were voluntary. On the 25th, FINNTROLL, BARATHRUM, IMPALED NAZARENE and ENSIFERUM conducted a memorial concert to honour Raimoranta at Helsinki's Nosturi venue.

Tundra busied himself in a side venture, the Doom imbued project band THE MIST AND THE MORNING DEW in cahoots with an all star line-up comprising singer Veera Muhli of UNHOLY, THE SEVENTH PLANET pairing of rhythm guitarist Mikael Karlbom and drummer Henri Tuomi, SHAPE OF DESPAIR's guitarist Jarno Salomaa and the violin of Jaakko Lemmetty of SHAMAN repute.

FINNTROLL allied with Thrash veterans NASTY SAVAGE and SADUS for European mainland dates in December. Preceding a new album, 'Nattfodd' released in April of 2004 and produced by keyboard player Trollhorn, FINNTROLL issued the 'Trollhammaren' ("Trollhammer") EP in March. 'Nattfodd' ("Nightborn") was undoubtedly FINNTROLL's most expansive and eccentric work to date. Primarily a collection of drinking songs par excellence the calamitous affair involved accordions, sea shanties, the bashing of anvils, monastic choirs, didgeridoo and even seagulls, a horse whinny, an ominous raven squawk and an owl to introduce the uncharacteristically restrained closing track 'Routas Vaggvisa'.

A European headline tour throughout April had ENSIFERUM and THE WAKE as support. Swedish 'Spinetour' shows in September saw another package billing, this time with NORTHER and THE WAKE. To close out the year, the band would be announced as one of the main attractions at the annual 'X-Mass Fest' 2004 roving European festival dates in alliance with NAPALM DEATH, MARDUK, VADER, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and BELPHEGOR. Throughout March and April of 2005 the group undertook European touring packaged with GRAVEWORM and AMORAL. Installed on keyboards would be Aleksi Virta of IMPERANON.

FINNTROLL allied themselves with German Thrash Metal exponents SODOM for US touring in January 2006. However, on 29th January the group informed Tapio Wilska that he had been fired. The band was set to form up a European 'No Mercy' festival package for dates across Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Holland in April, ranked alongside CANNIBAL CORPSE, KATAKLYSM, GRIMFIST and LEGION OF THE DAMNED. However, unable to locate a new singer in time, the group withdrew. By early April it was learned that TWILIGHT MOON frontman Mathias Lillmеns, also having ties to CARNATICUM and DEGENERATE, had taken over the role.

The new look group entered Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki on September 25th to record fresh material. FINNTROLL supported veteran German thrashers SODOM on European dates in December. Concerts projected for May 2007 were announced as the 'Earthshaker' tour in union with MARDUK.

TRACKLIST:

1. Krig
2. Fodosagan
3. Slaget Vid Blodsalv
4. Skogens Hamnd
5. Jaktens Tid
6. Bakom Varje Fura
7. Kitteldags
8. Krigsmjod
9. Varg Timmen
10. Kyrkovisan
11. Den Hornkronte Konungen
12. Aldhissla
13. Tomhet Och Tystnad Harska
14. Forsvinn Du Som Lyser (Hidden track)

LINE-UP:

Mathias Lillmеns (vocals)
Skrymer (guitar)
Routa (guitar)
Tundra (bass)
Trollhorn (keyboards)
Beast Dominator (drums)