Turisas
Encyclopedia
Turisas is a Finnish
folk metal
band from Hämeenlinna
. It was founded in 1997 by Mathias Nygård
and Jussi Wickström
and named after an ancient Finnish God of war
.
Turisas is a folk metal
band, incorporating elements of power metal
and symphonic metal
along with frequent harsh vocals. Turisas is known to play most of their solos on electric violin, as opposed to traditional guitar solos. The album title Battle Metal has given rise to the term "battle metal" being used as a description of Turisas' genre (used mainly by Metal Hammer
magazine and its readers) but it is not yet recognised as a canonical metal subgenre.
injuries, on July 12, 2006 issued a statement of his permanent resignation from the band on the official website. Nevertheless, the band continued to work on their second album, titled The Varangian Way
, which was released in early 2007. Jussi Wickström recorded all guitars on the album.
Mathias Nygård revealed in the January 2007 edition of Terrorizer magazine that the touring musicians Hannes Horma, Olli Vänskä, Janne Mäkinen and Antti Laurila had been added to the band as full-time members, taking them up to an 8-piece act. It later turned out that of the two accordion players, only Mäkinen had become an official member. Laurila is no longer a touring musician for the band. On February 19, 2007, keyboardist Antti Ventola posted a message on the Turisas discussion forum announcing that he and the band had parted ways. This was later confirmed by the rest of the band. Mathias Nygård performed the keyboards on The Varangian Way
and Turisas are presently using backing tracks to replicate them on stage.
disappeared mysteriously in Amsterdam
. For the upcoming tour dates in spring 2008 Turisas announced Netta Skog as a step-in accordionist. She had already helped the band on the European tour in October–November 2007. Netta was soon after added to the band on a full-time base.
After a string of festivals
in the Summer of 2008, in September the band started a long tour through the United States
and Europe
in support of DragonForce
. This tour ended in March 2009, and the band then took part in a new European tour with Cradle of Filth
and Moonspell
, dubbed the "Filthfest Tour 2009", in April and May 2009. The band played at Wacken Open Air
in early August 2009 and also played at Bloodstock Open Air
in Mid August 2009. The band took time off at the end of 2009 to make a new album and then planned to return as fully-fledged band no longer supporting others. In 2010 the band concentrated on finishing the recordings of the upcoming third album. Still, the band did a short tour in Asia
and Australia
in May 2010, including headline concerts in Sydney
and Melbourne
, two gigs in China
, a gig in Shanghai World Expo 2010
and a gig in Japan
.
, was revealed on November 11, 2010: the album was released through Century Media on February 28 in Europe
and March 8 in North America
. New song called The March of the Varangian Guard was performed at the band's Finnish gigs in October 2010 On 17 December 2010, the title track "Stand Up And Fight" was released as a free download on the band's website.
The band have been announced to take part in tours in Mexico/ North America/ Canada with Cradle of Filth
, the other supporting bands being Nachtmystium
and Daniel Lioneye beginning at the end of January 2011 and in Europe with Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
on March–April 2011. They will also be touring England with Crimfall as the supporting band, the shows will also include local support bands at select dates.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
folk metal
Folk metal
Folk metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. As the name suggests, the genre is a fusion of heavy metal with traditional folk music...
band from Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna is a city and municipality of about inhabitants in the heart of the historical province of Häme in the south of Finland and is the birthplace of composer Jean Sibelius. Today, it belongs to the region of Tavastia Proper, and until 2010 it was the residence city for the Governor of the...
. It was founded in 1997 by Mathias Nygård
Mathias Nygård
Mathias Nygård, also known as his stage name Warlord Nygård, is one of the founders of Finnish Viking metal/folk metal band Turisas, along with Jussi Wickström, in 1997. He is the main vocalist of the band, but also deals with programming and playing keyboards/orchestral elements when performing in...
and Jussi Wickström
Jussi Wickström
Jussi Wickström , is a heavy metal guitarist. He formed the Finnish Viking/Folk metal band Turisas, along with 'Warlord' Mathias Nygård, in 1997. He is the band's only guitarist, and has performed bass guitar, acoustic guitar and double bass on their albums.-Discography:-External links:**]...
and named after an ancient Finnish God of war
Iku-Turso
Iku-Turso is a malevolent sea monster in the Finnish mythology. Nowadays Meritursas means octopus in Finnish, named after Iku-Turso, but originally tursas is an old name for walrus while the more common term is mursu. However, it is more common to see the word Iku-Turso is a malevolent sea...
.
Turisas is a folk metal
Folk metal
Folk metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. As the name suggests, the genre is a fusion of heavy metal with traditional folk music...
band, incorporating elements of power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
and symphonic metal
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
along with frequent harsh vocals. Turisas is known to play most of their solos on electric violin, as opposed to traditional guitar solos. The album title Battle Metal has given rise to the term "battle metal" being used as a description of Turisas' genre (used mainly by Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
magazine and its readers) but it is not yet recognised as a canonical metal subgenre.
2004-2007 Battle Metal
On October 28, 2005, guitarist Georg Laakso was badly injured in a car accident and due to the extent of his spinal cordSpinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
injuries, on July 12, 2006 issued a statement of his permanent resignation from the band on the official website. Nevertheless, the band continued to work on their second album, titled The Varangian Way
The Varangian Way
The Varangian Way is the second full-length album from Finnish folk metal band, Turisas and was released in 2007. It is a concept album that tells the story of a group of Scandinavians traveling the river routes of medieval Russia, through Ladoga, Novgorod and Kiev, down to the Byzantine Empire.A...
, which was released in early 2007. Jussi Wickström recorded all guitars on the album.
Mathias Nygård revealed in the January 2007 edition of Terrorizer magazine that the touring musicians Hannes Horma, Olli Vänskä, Janne Mäkinen and Antti Laurila had been added to the band as full-time members, taking them up to an 8-piece act. It later turned out that of the two accordion players, only Mäkinen had become an official member. Laurila is no longer a touring musician for the band. On February 19, 2007, keyboardist Antti Ventola posted a message on the Turisas discussion forum announcing that he and the band had parted ways. This was later confirmed by the rest of the band. Mathias Nygård performed the keyboards on The Varangian Way
The Varangian Way
The Varangian Way is the second full-length album from Finnish folk metal band, Turisas and was released in 2007. It is a concept album that tells the story of a group of Scandinavians traveling the river routes of medieval Russia, through Ladoga, Novgorod and Kiev, down to the Byzantine Empire.A...
and Turisas are presently using backing tracks to replicate them on stage.
2007-2010 The Varangian Way
In January 2008, accordion player Janne "Lisko" MäkinenJanne Mäkinen
Janne "Lisko" Mäkinen is a former accordion player in the Finnish Viking metal band Turisas.While on tour in The Netherlands in January 2008, during the last day of their stay, a few of the band members decided to quickly tour Amsterdam. All of the band members returned safely and on time to the...
disappeared mysteriously in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. For the upcoming tour dates in spring 2008 Turisas announced Netta Skog as a step-in accordionist. She had already helped the band on the European tour in October–November 2007. Netta was soon after added to the band on a full-time base.
After a string of festivals
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
in the Summer of 2008, in September the band started a long tour through the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in support of DragonForce
DragonForce
DragonForce are an English power metal band from London. Formed in 1999, the group is known for its long and fast guitar solos, fantasy-based lyrics, and electronic sounds in their music to add to their retro video game-influenced sound. Guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman are the only two...
. This tour ended in March 2009, and the band then took part in a new European tour with Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
and Moonspell
Moonspell
Moonspell is a Portuguese gothic metal band from Brandoa, Lisbon. Formed in 1992, the group released their first EP Under the Moonspell in 1994, a year before the release of their first album Wolfheart...
, dubbed the "Filthfest Tour 2009", in April and May 2009. The band played at Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
in early August 2009 and also played at Bloodstock Open Air
Bloodstock Open Air
Bloodstock Open Air is a heavy metal festival held annually at Catton Hall in Walton-upon-Trent, England, since 2005. Previous line-ups have included bands such as Opeth , Children of Bodom , Nightwish , Cradle of Filth , Testament , Arch Enemy , Europe and Twisted Sister .Originally on one stage...
in Mid August 2009. The band took time off at the end of 2009 to make a new album and then planned to return as fully-fledged band no longer supporting others. In 2010 the band concentrated on finishing the recordings of the upcoming third album. Still, the band did a short tour in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in May 2010, including headline concerts in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, two gigs in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, a gig in Shanghai World Expo 2010
Expo 2010
Expo 2010, officially Expo 2010 Shanghai China was held on both banks of the Huangpu River in the city of Shanghai, China, from May 1 to October 31, 2010. It was a major World Expo in the tradition of international fairs and expositions, the first since 1992...
and a gig in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
2011- Stand Up And Fight
As of March 2010, Turisas announced they are in the studio working on their new album; since then, the band has documented the recording process in a series of studio diary videos on YouTube. The title for the upcoming album, Stand Up and FightStand Up and Fight (album)
Stand Up and Fight is the third album by the Finnish symphonic / folk metal band Turisas, released worldwide on February 23, 2011 through Century Media as a single disc jewelcase and two disc digibook...
, was revealed on November 11, 2010: the album was released through Century Media on February 28 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and March 8 in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. New song called The March of the Varangian Guard was performed at the band's Finnish gigs in October 2010 On 17 December 2010, the title track "Stand Up And Fight" was released as a free download on the band's website.
The band have been announced to take part in tours in Mexico/ North America/ Canada with Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
, the other supporting bands being Nachtmystium
Nachtmystium
Nachtmystium is an American psychedelic black metal band formed by Blake Judd, formerly known as Azentrius, and Pat McCormick. The band's name is derived from the German word Nacht meaning "night", and the made-up term mystium which resembles the Latin adjective mysticum...
and Daniel Lioneye beginning at the end of January 2011 and in Europe with Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter is a Weimar, Germany based heavy metal band signed to Nuclear Blast in Europe and The End Records in North America...
on March–April 2011. They will also be touring England with Crimfall as the supporting band, the shows will also include local support bands at select dates.
Albums
- Battle Metal (2004)
- The Varangian WayThe Varangian WayThe Varangian Way is the second full-length album from Finnish folk metal band, Turisas and was released in 2007. It is a concept album that tells the story of a group of Scandinavians traveling the river routes of medieval Russia, through Ladoga, Novgorod and Kiev, down to the Byzantine Empire.A...
(2007) - Stand Up and FightStand Up and Fight (album)Stand Up and Fight is the third album by the Finnish symphonic / folk metal band Turisas, released worldwide on February 23, 2011 through Century Media as a single disc jewelcase and two disc digibook...
(2011)
Singles
- "To Holmgard and BeyondTo Holmgard and Beyond"To Holmgard and Beyond" is the first single of the Finnish Viking metal band Turisas. It was released on May 16, 2007 by Century Media in Finland exclusively.-Track listing:# "To Holmgard and Beyond" # "A Portage to the Unknown"...
" (2007) - "Rasputin" (2007)
- "Supernaut" (2010)
Demos
- Taiston Tie - The Battle Path (1998)
- Unnamed Promo (1999)
- The Heart of Turisas (2001)
Videography
| Video | Album | Length | Year | Copyright |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Metal | Battle Metal | 4:23 | 2008 | Century Media |
| Rasputin | The Varangian Way | 3:56 | 2007 | Century Media |
| Stand Up And Fight | Stand Up And Fight | 5:28 | 2011 | Century Media |
Current members
- Mathias "Warlord" NygårdMathias NygårdMathias Nygård, also known as his stage name Warlord Nygård, is one of the founders of Finnish Viking metal/folk metal band Turisas, along with Jussi Wickström, in 1997. He is the main vocalist of the band, but also deals with programming and playing keyboards/orchestral elements when performing in...
– vocalSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
s, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
(since 1997) - Jussi WickströmJussi WickströmJussi Wickström , is a heavy metal guitarist. He formed the Finnish Viking/Folk metal band Turisas, along with 'Warlord' Mathias Nygård, in 1997. He is the band's only guitarist, and has performed bass guitar, acoustic guitar and double bass on their albums.-Discography:-External links:**]...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(since 1997) - Jukka-Pekka Miettinen - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(since 2011) - Tuomas "Tude" LehtonenTude LehtonenTuomas "Tude" Lehtonen , is the drummer of the Folk metal band Turisas. He lives in Hämeenlinna, Finland.-Discography:-External links:*] profile]*...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion (since 1997) - Olli VänskäOlli VänskäOlli Vänskä is the violinist of Folk metal band Turisas. He lives in Helsinki. Vänskä first appeared on the debut album Battle Metal as a session musician and played as a touring band member until 2007, when he was officially added to the line-up...
– violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
(since 2007) - Robert EngstrandRobert EngstrandKarl Robert Oscar "Bob" Engstrand is a keyboard player currently living in Helsinki, Finland.In 1999, Robert graduated from Malmö Academy of Music and has since then toured/recorded with bands/artists such as:...
- keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(since 2011)
Former members
- Janne MäkinenJanne MäkinenJanne "Lisko" Mäkinen is a former accordion player in the Finnish Viking metal band Turisas.While on tour in The Netherlands in January 2008, during the last day of their stay, a few of the band members decided to quickly tour Amsterdam. All of the band members returned safely and on time to the...
– accordion (2007–2008) - Antti Ventola – keyboard (1997–2007)
- Georg Laakso – guitar (ex-CadacrossCadacrossCadacross was a Finnish heavy metal band formed in 1997. They went through a major line-up change after their debut album So Pale Is the Light. Georg Laakso, guitarist and vocalist, was the only remaining member from the previous lineup...
) (1999–2006) - Ari Kärkkäinen – guitar (1997–1999)
- Sami Aarnio – bass guitar
- Tino Ahola – bass guitar
- Mikko Törmikoski – bass guitar (until 2004)
- Hannes "Hanu" HormaHannes HormaHannes "Hanu" Horma was the bass guitarist of the folk metal band Turisas. He lives in Hämeenlinna, Finland. Hanu appeared on Turisas' debut album Battle Metal as a backing vocalist - he was known to them as his own band used the same practice studio...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2007–2011) - Netta Skog – accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
(2007–2011)
Former live session musicians
- Riku Ylitalo – accordion, keyboards
- Wincef Boncamper – accordion
- Antti Laurila – accordion