Finntroll

Finnish metal sextet Finntroll describe their music, combining death metal with traditional Finnish folk melodies, as trollish hoedown metal. This bizarre fusion began in March of 1997 when founding members Somnium and Katla decided to add the detuned guitars and brutal vocals of black metal to Finnish folk melodies played in the humppa style (a form of polka). The two were later joined by drummer B. Dominator, guitarist Skrymer, keyboardist Trollhorn, and bassist Tundra, and released Midnattens Widunder on Spikefarm Records. Their follow-up, 2001's Jaktens Tid, moved deeper into the realm of ancient music and was a surprise success; it entered the Finnish charts at number 20 and was picked up for international distribution by Century Media. ~ Andy Hinds