Named for a warrior god in Finnish mythology, Turisas formed in 1997 as a heavy metal band whose music was a blend of power metal and Finnish folk music.Their first attempt at recording an album, 1998's Taiston Tie, never saw release due to the group's dissatisfaction with the results. In 2000, a demo, The Heart of Turisas, was distributed to fans and industry professionals, and Century Media signed the group to a recording contract in 2003. Turisas' first proper album, Battle Metal, was released in 2004, with the band supporting the album with appearances at a number of major European metal festivals. Their second album, The Varangian Way, was issued in 2007. ~ Mark Deming