Xysma
Encyclopedia
Xysma was a Finnish
band that was founded in 1988 in Naantali
, a small town near Turku
. The band split up in 1998.
and death metal
. The bands played at the legendary Turku underground center Panimo, and created a short-lived but intense scene. Soon after, the death metal/grindcore influence spread to the Helsinki
area, with bands such as Abhorrence
(which soon evolved into melodic death metal
classic Amorphis
).
Xysma's first demo, Swarming of the Maggots, was shared widely via tapetrading and became a cult classic (it was remastered and released on the 2004 Xysma compilation CD). Musically, the band were inspired by the early classics in the genre like Carcass
and Napalm Death
. With the following mini-albums, Above the Mind of Morbidity and Fata Morgana, the last one released in the United States through the infamous Seraphic Decay label, Xysma evolved towards less extreme metal.
, Sweden
, occasionally travelling to and playing in Stockholm, and visiting their colleagues from Entombed
and others. Xysma also recorded their first album, Yeah (1990), in Sweden, in the Sunlight Studios of producer Tomas Skogsberg.
Yeah mixed death metal and Black Sabbath
structures in a complex fashion. Their second album, First & Magical (1992), revealed more changes and more musical evolvement, featuring something akin to death'n'roll.
. Janitor no longer growled, as he sung in a clean style. The next album, Lotto (1996), was a full-blooded rock album with a very retro style; one of the tracks was featured later in Brian De Palma
's movie Snake Eyes
(1998). The band also released an EP called Singles, containing covers of classics sung in a schlager
style.
Xysma's fifth and final album, Girl on the Beach, was more or less a pop rock album, and tension between the members grew. Eventually the band decided to quit, and though they played occasional gigs since, there had been no talk of reunion.
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...
band that was founded in 1988 in Naantali
Naantali
Naantali is a city in south-western Finland, known as one of the most important tourist centres of the country. The municipality has a population of , and is located in the region of Finland Proper, west of Turku....
, a small town near Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
. The band split up in 1998.
Early stage
In the beginning Xysma played grindcoreGrindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
and death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
. The bands played at the legendary Turku underground center Panimo, and created a short-lived but intense scene. Soon after, the death metal/grindcore influence spread to the Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
area, with bands such as Abhorrence
Abhorrence
- History :Abhorrence was formed in early 1989, by guitarist Tomi Koivusaari and guitarist Kalle Mattsson, vocalist Jukka Kolehmainen, and bassist Jussi Ahlroth , as well as drummer Kimmo Heikkinen...
(which soon evolved into melodic death metal
Scandinavian death metal
Swedish death metal is a death metal music scene developed in Sweden. Many Swedish death metal bands are associated with the melodic death metal movement, thus giving Swedish death metal a different sound from other variations of death metal. Unlike American death metal groups, the first Swedish...
classic Amorphis
Amorphis
Amorphis is a Finnish heavy metal band started by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari, and Esa Holopainen in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums they evolved into playing other types of genres, which include heavy metal, progressive metal, and folk metal...
).
Xysma's first demo, Swarming of the Maggots, was shared widely via tapetrading and became a cult classic (it was remastered and released on the 2004 Xysma compilation CD). Musically, the band were inspired by the early classics in the genre like Carcass
Carcass (band)
Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, who formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons....
and Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
. With the following mini-albums, Above the Mind of Morbidity and Fata Morgana, the last one released in the United States through the infamous Seraphic Decay label, Xysma evolved towards less extreme metal.
First albums
Since Xysma was a part of the rise of Scandinavian death metal, they had close bonds to the scene in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, occasionally travelling to and playing in Stockholm, and visiting their colleagues from Entombed
Entombed (band)
Entombed is a Swedish death metal band which formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist. Though Entombed began their career as an early pioneer of Scandinavian death metal which initially differed itself from its American counterpart with its distinct guitar tone, by the early 1990s their sound had...
and others. Xysma also recorded their first album, Yeah (1990), in Sweden, in the Sunlight Studios of producer Tomas Skogsberg.
Yeah mixed death metal and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
structures in a complex fashion. Their second album, First & Magical (1992), revealed more changes and more musical evolvement, featuring something akin to death'n'roll.
Final albums
Xysma's third album, Deluxe (1993), was no longer a death metal album, not necessarily even a metal album. The songs were hard-paced, in the vein of HelmetHelmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
. Janitor no longer growled, as he sung in a clean style. The next album, Lotto (1996), was a full-blooded rock album with a very retro style; one of the tracks was featured later in Brian De Palma
Brian De Palma
Brian Russell De Palma is an American film director and writer. In a career spanning over 40 years, he is probably best known for his suspense and crime thriller films, including such box office successes as the horror film Carrie, Dressed to Kill, Scarface, The Untouchables, and Mission:...
's movie Snake Eyes
Snake eyes
In gambling, snake eyes is the outcome of rolling the dice in a game and getting only one pip on each die. The pair of pips resembles a pair of eyes, which is appended to the term 'snake' because of the long-standing association of this word with treachery and betrayal...
(1998). The band also released an EP called Singles, containing covers of classics sung in a schlager
Schlager
Schlager music is a style of popular music prevalent in Central and Northern Europe and the Balkans and also in France and Poland. In Portugal, it was adapted and became pimba music...
style.
Xysma's fifth and final album, Girl on the Beach, was more or less a pop rock album, and tension between the members grew. Eventually the band decided to quit, and though they played occasional gigs since, there had been no talk of reunion.
Death of Toni Stranius and Xysma's one-time reunion
Guitarist Toni Stranius (6-9-1972 – 7-7-2006), member of both Xysma and Disgrace, died in 2006 after an heart attack, in Ireland, where he lived. A memorial gig in his honour was held on 15 September 2006 in Bar Päiväkoti, Turku. All of Stranius' bands (including Disgrace, Xysma and Finnish rock band Kalsaripaita) played at the occasion, reuniting Xysma just for this special event.Final line-up
- Janitor Mustasch (Janitor Muurinen) - vocals
- Olivier Lawny (Olli Nurminen) - guitar
- Thee Stranius (Toni Stranius) - guitar
- Dr. Heavenly (Kalle Taivainen) - bass
- Marvellous Sidney Safe (Teppo Pulli) - drums
Discography
- Swarming of the Maggots (Demo, 1989)
- Above the Mind of Morbidity (Mini LP, 1990)
- Fata Morgana (7", 1990)
- Yeah (Album, 1991)
- First and Magical (Album, 1992)
- Deluxe (Album, 1993)
- Lotto (Album, 1996)
- Singles (EP, 1997)
- Girl on the Beach (Album, 1998)
- Xysma (2 cd compilation) (Compilation CD, 2004)
- Compilation consists of Xysma's demo recording, first two mini-albums, and first two studio albums