March 1997. Alcohol, rehearsal room and two men, respectively known as Somnium and Katla. While usually bands are formed on purpose, the birth of Finntroll was more like series of unfortunate events: thus, enter traditional Finnish hoedown- music, “humppa”, mixed with folky black metal. Since those drunken first chords, the concept of Finntroll was born.
A year later the two gentlemen recorded their first demo, entitled as “Rivfader”. This obscure tape circled within the underground scene with astonishing success and eventually, drifted into the hands of Spikefarm records who were more than interested in giving the Trolls a record deal. Very soon, accompanying musicians stepped in. Drummer B.Dominator (Barathrum), another guitarist Skrymer, keyboardist Trollhorn (Moonsorrow) and bassist Tundra were now officially part of the Trollish Horde, and in summer 1999 they started to mold their first album, “Midnattens Windunder”- “The Horrors of Midnight”.
After the release of the first album in autumn 1999, Finntroll spent most of their time composing new music, but on stage as well. The band toured across Finland and even made their first appearance abroad at Party- San Open Air festival, Germany. More alcohol was consumed and in april 2001 the band excitedly travelled to record their second album, “Jaktens Tid”, (“The Time of the Hunt”) at Walltone studios again. The album got great reviews all over the world and was praised by countless of people, taking the 20th place in the Finnish album charts by storm, surprising both the band and the label.
THE DEATH OF A THOUSAND
Finntroll performed countless of gigs in different countries and festivals, thousands of albums were sold and things were looking really good. Until spring 2002, when the trouble started. Katla began to have problems with his vocal cords, and lost his voice more and more often, and the band had to cancel many live appearances and even one tour because of that. He went through surgical and medicinal treatment, but nothing helped- it seemed that the Chief Troll had lost his voice once and for all. After a hard decision, he decided to step away from the frontman´s seat at late 2002 and let the new singer, Wilska, to take care of the duties. As a farewell, Katla participated on the album “Visor om Slutet” (“Songs of the End”), which was an acoustic/ experimental EP the band recorded by themselves at a cottage in a forest in february 2003.
But little was the band knowing about farewells, as the biggest was yet to come. Just a couple of weeks after finishing the recordings of “Visor om Slutet”, Somnium fell down from a bridge and was later that night taken to the Halls of Rivfader. Not being far away from splitting up, the band took a small break to carefully inspect the past and the future- and after brief thinking and discussing they realized that quitting would be an insult to not only Somnium´s wishes but also what they all had musically achieved together, and decided to continue despite of everything they had faced during these two years of misfortune. Somnium´s legacy was continued by the new guitarist Routa, a long- time friend and a trusty step- in guitarist from before, and the band hit their first European tour by supporting Katatonia.
THE REVENGE AND HOW IT IS PREPARED
Autumn 2003. There is no way you can stop a Troll when he´s pissed enough. And this troll was: hungry for a retribution, blood tasting in it´s mouth, ready to rip and slaughter… and laugh on the top of the carnage. The band enters Sundi Coop (ex- Walltone) studios again to record the newest audial katharsis called “Nattfödd” (“Night- born”). In the process, they also record material for the upcoming EP, “Trollhammaren” (“The Trollhammer”). New material is more furious yet catchy and punky than ever, and shows people that these Trolls refuse not to be controlled by any fate given, but will rage further on, no matter what they face. And the audience sees it is for good: the album proves to be a success and the band hits the road again to tour Europe and even USA. Sold- out shows and festival headliner- slots aren´t just weird curiosities anymore, and the band keeps promoting itself across the world with extremely good results.
In the beginning of the year 2006 Anno Bastardi, almost two years have passed since the release of “Nattfödd”. After countless gigs and promotion, the band really feels to start composing new material for the next album. Unfortunately, they feel that it has to be done without Wilska, and decide to let him go due to personal, yet publicly unnamed reasons. The band is once again without a permanent vocalist, and starts looking for a new one. And suddenly, fate steps in and his name is Vreth. Being known from such bands as Twilight Moon and Chthonian, he takes the position by such a fury it´s only possible to a native Troll, and leaves a bloody aftertaste to the audience´s mouth. The band feels more whole than for a long time, and starts eagerly to write new material.
THE AFTERTASTE…AND HOW IT WILL BE CONSUMED
In september 2006, the band entered Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki to record their newest offering, entitled as “Ur Jordens Djup”, “From the Depths of the Earth”. The new material is more varied, more crushing and better than ever, and there is no doubt that it is the best Finntroll album to date. In the ten years of it´s existence, Finntroll has grown from a band that people laughed at into a band which sells tens of thousands of albums, tours sold- out venues across Europe, co- headlines Wacken Open Air and has zillions of imitators……but we all know that with this certain musical and lyrical approach, there can be only one predecessor, and that is FINNTROLL.
So, hide your daughters, kegs of rum and men of God, for the Trolls from up North are coming to you!
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Put together the first music video for one of the songs, that being for the song "Eel Marsh House", which is based on the movie "The Woman In Black". Wasn't sure to name it that instead of 'Eel Marsh..." ...Eel Marsh House being where the woman in black 'lived', and now haunts it. Though, she seems to haunt the general area of the village as well as the House. If anyone catches her gaze, looks into her eyes....a child will die, usually from the family of the person unfortunate to look at her. As you see what happens to the story's main character at the end.
Hope you like it, that's about all for now, Cheers! Rob
