Finntroll

Finntroll is a folk metal band from Helsinki, Finland, active since 1997 and associated with black metal and metal. The group is signed to Spinefarm Records and is known for combining black metal and death metal with humppa, a Finnish style of folk music. Its lyrics are mainly in Swedish, a choice made by original vocalist Jan “Katla” Jämsen, who is part of Finland’s Swedish-speaking minority and felt the language suited the band’s troll-based image.

Formation and early line-up

The band forms in 1997 with Jämsen on vocals and Teemu “Somnium” Raimoranta on guitar. In 1998, Samuli “Skrymer” Ponsimaa joins on guitar, Samu “Beast Dominator” Ruotsalainen on drums, Henri “Trollhorn” Sorvali on keyboards and Sami “Tundra” Uusitalo on bass, creating the first stable line-up. That year the band releases its first demo, Rivfader.

Albums, EPs and changes in line-up

Finntroll’s first studio album, Midnattens widunder, appears in 1999, followed by Jaktens tid in 2001. The latter includes yoiking by Jonne Järvelä, later known for his work with Korpiklaani. After that release, Jämsen stops live performance because of a viral tumour affecting his vocal cords, although he continues to write lyrics. His final vocal recordings appear on the acoustic-oriented EP Visor om slutet, recorded in a forest cabin near Helsinki and shared with new vocalist Tapio Wilska, who had previously been active in Sethian and Lyijykomppania.

Raimoranta dies in Helsinki in 2003 shortly before the release of Visor om slutet. Mikael Karlbom later joins as replacement guitarist. In 2004 the band releases the song “Trollhammaren” before the album Nattfödd, and Sorvali stops touring, with session players covering live duties. Aleksi “Virta” Virta joins as an official second keyboardist in 2005. Wilska leaves in 2006 and is replaced by Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns, who becomes the full-time vocalist.

Ur jordens djup follows in 2007 and features stronger keyboard work alongside melodic guitar parts; Jämsen continues contributing lyrics, and the final track includes an acoustic hidden piece titled “Trollvisan”. Nifelvind is released in 2010, with “Solsagan” issued as a music video beforehand. Blodsvept appears in 2013, and drummer Ruotsalainen leaves the band the following year, with Heikki “Mörkö” Saari taking over. The live album Natten med de Levande Finntroll is also released in 2014. The band’s seventh studio album, Vredesvävd, is released in 2020.

Lyrical themes and identity

Finntroll’s songs generally revolve around fictional stories about a troll king called Rivfader and conflicts between trolls and Christian figures. A repeated motif features two priests, Aamund and Kettil, who recur in several early songs describing their encounters with trolls led by Rivfader. The name Finntroll is said to come from a Finnish legend about Swedish priests meeting a wild man called a Finn-troll.

Members

Members associated with the group include Jan Jämsen, Tomi Ullgrén, Teemu Raimoranta, Samu Ruotsalainen, Samuli Ponsimaa, Henri Sorvali, Sami Uusitalo, Tapio Wilska, Mikael Karlbom, Mathias Lillmåns, Aleksi Virta and Heikki Saari.