Turisas

Infobox musical artist
Name = Turisas


Img_capt = Turisas performing in Aberdeen, Scotland 2008. Image by D. Crombie
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Background = group_or_band
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Origin = Hämeenlinna, Finland
Instrument =
Genre = Folk metal Viking metal
Years_active = 1997 - present
Label = Century Media
URL = [http://www.turisas.com/ www.turisas.com]
Current_members = Mathias Nygård Jussi Wickström Tude Lehtonen Hannes Horma Olli Vänskä Janne Mäkinen
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Turisas are a Finnish viking metal band from Hämeenlinna. They were founded in 1997 by Mathias Nygård and Jussi Wickström and named after an ancient Finnish god of war.

Turisas combine elements of folk metal and power metal, with perhaps some influences of symphonic metal as well. The album title "Battle Metal" has given rise to the term "battle metal" being used as a description of folk metal (used mainly by "Metal Hammer" magazine and its readers) but it is not a canonical metal subgenre. The label Viking metal is perhaps more fitting, as there are mild similarities to bands such as Amon Amarth and Finntroll.

On October 28 2005, the guitarist Georg Laakso was badly injured in a car accident and due to the extent of his spinal cord 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, keyboard player 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.

In January 2008 accordion player Janne "Lisko" Mäkinen 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. [ [http://www.komodorock.com/latest-news/latest-news/turisas-release-making-of-rasputin-video-200802264481/ Komodo Rock | Turisas Release Making Of Rasputin Video ] ]

Turisas were part of the US Paganfest tour in 2008, which was headlined by Ensiferum and also included Týr and Eluveitie.

Discography

Albums

* "Battle Metal" (2004)
* "The Varangian Way" (2007)

ingles

* "To Holmgard and Beyond" (2007)
* "Rasputin" (2007)

Demos

* "Taiston Tie - The Battle Path" Demo (1998)
* "Unnamed Promo" (1999)
* "The Heart of Turisas" Demo (2001)

Videography

Line-up

*Mathias "Warlord" Nygård - Vocals & percussion
*Jussi Wickström - guitars
*Hannes "Hanu" Horma - Bass
*Tuomas "Tude" Lehtonen - drums & Percussion
*Olli Vänskä - Violin
*Netta Skog - Accordion

Live session musicians

* Netta Skog - Accordion (Early 2008; now a permanent member)

Former members

*Antti Ventola - Keyboards
*Georg Laakso - Guitar
*Ari Kärkkäinen - Guitar
*Sami Aarnio - Bass
*Tino Ahola - Bass
*Mikko Törmikoski - Bass

Former live session musicians

*Riku Ylitalo - Accordion & Keyboards
*Wincef Boncamper - Accordion
*Antti Laurila - Accordion

External links

* [http://www.turisas.com Official Website]
* [http://www.centurymedia.de Century Media Records]
* [http://www.myspace.com/turisasofficial Turisas on Myspace] (Music samples available)
* [http://www.djpdjp.nl/news.php?extend.794 Interview with Turisas at ME Metalhour]
* [http://www.shutterblast.net/articles.php?read=2008-04-30%2000:00:00 TOUR REPORT of the Turisas/Norther European Tour, March 2008 @ ShutterBLAST.net]
* [http://www.shutterblast.net/galleries/?kat=Live%20photos&band=Turisas Extensive Turisas PHOTO GALLERIES incl. Euro Tour and Summer Festivals @ ShutterBLAST.net]
* [http://www.shutterblast.net/articles.php?read=2008-09-27%2000:00:00 Turisas TOUR DIARY updated by Olli Vänskä on the Euro Tour together with Dragonforce @ ShutterBLAST.net]

Footnotes