TURISAS
Bloodstock Outdoor
Catton Hall Derbyshire
Imagine a time when warriors strode the earth. A time when battle-painted warrior-poets sang of battles and heady feats of heroism, myth intermingled with fact, and romantic notions of adventure on the high seas sparked the imagination. The time is now, because so-called battle metal maestros TURISAS – named after their homeland's ancient god of war – are bringing back the old -school. As in, 1,000 AD. “This comes from somewhere deep inside,” is the only way founder and chieftain songwriter Mathias 'Warlord' Nygård can describe both his music and the inspiration behind it. “We play around with history, there's fantasy imagery there, but I hate fantasy metal with all those dragons or whatever. There's no substance there. We actually believe in what we're doing.”
Be afraid. With festival appearances across the board – Wacken, Tuska, Bloodstock, Earthshaker, Party.San, , Nummirock, Summer Breeze, not forgetting an uproarious sold-out UK tour with compatriots Lordi – it was no surprise that readers of the UK's Metal Hammer magazine voted TURISAS 'Best New Band' in their 2006 Reader's Poll. It's because there's simply no one else like them. With 2004's debut 'Battle Metal', a thrilling folk-flecked tour de force, they already established themselves as a genre of one. They upped the ante with 'THE VARANGIAN WAY’ their most singularly ambitious album. Recorded at Sound Supreme Studio and mastered at Finnvox, this metal-clad 8-song battlecry is awash in epic themes, eastern-european folk, and an abiding belief in the almighty power of the riff. “We didn't do this the rock ‘n’ roll way,” adds Nygård . “The music was written around the story, to create a certain atmosphere and take you on this journey.” With stunning cover artwork by graphic artist, illustrator and designer John Coulthart (Cradle Of Filth; Hawkwind; poster and cover art for spoken word albums by writer Alan Moore ["Watchmen", "V for Vendetta"])
Since the release of ‘The Varangian Way’ Turisas played slots at Download (mainstage) Graspop, With Full Force, Rock Hard, Rock Am Ring & Rock Am Park festivals, played to sold out audiences across the UK on their own headlining tour, played with Iced Earth in Europe, destroyed venues across the US on their first jaunt across the water on the Paganfest and have now just completed a extensive UK tour with Dragonforce and soon head out again with the UK’s guitar maestros to lay waste to towns and cities across the US and Europe, not before releasing their debut DVD on 3rd November 2008 – ‘A Finnish Summer With Turisas’ where you can join them on their road trip, learn the secrets of sauna and other Finnish traditions on the nights when the sun never sets. Travel from festival to festival and go behind the scenes to find out what makes TURISAS a one-of-a-kind blend of music, traditions, fur, blood and fun. Check out the trailer at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6-CBJrRkFI
The brilliant new video for “Battle Metal 2008” has been launched as well. It is high time to finally have an official video-clip for this battle hymn which is also a tribute to the band’s dedicated fans (without whom there is obviously no such thing as a crowd favourite).
Join them on their quest, to Miklagard, and beyond!
Band Line Up:
Warlord Nygård – Vocals, orchestral programming and keyboards
Jussi Wickström – Guitar, acoustic guitar
Tude Lehtonen – Drums and percussion
Olli Vänskä – Acoustic and electric violin
Hannes Horma – Bass, backing vocals
Lisko – Accordion (studio)
Netta Skog – Accordion (Live)
Discography:
Battle Metal – CD 2004
The Varangian Way – CD 2007
The Varangian Way, The Directors Cut – CD 2008
A Finnish Summer With Turisas – DVD 2008
www.turisas.com
www.myspace.com/turisasofficial
www.thevarangianway.com
