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Ajattara is a five-piece black metal band from Helsinki, Finland. They formed in 1996 and are still active. They are signed to Spinefarm Records and have released six albums, their most recent being Noitumaa, which was released in early 2009.

Overview

Brief history

Ajattara formed in 1996 as a side project of Amorphis singer Pasi Koskinen.^[1] Their first release was a demo tape entitled Helvetissä On Syntisen Taivas which was released in 1998. The band then signed to Spikefarm Records and went on to release three albums - Itse in 2001, Kuolema in 2003 and Tyhjyys. These albums were met with largely good reviews. Ajattara then went onto release a "Christmas Single" in the Novembers of 2004 and 2005, which is a tradition they have done for the last three years. They were entitled Ilon Juhla (2004) and Joulu (2005). The band then went onto release another album in 2006, entitled Äpäre, which was met with similar reviews as their last three albums. The band continued with the Christmas single tradition of 2004 and 2005 by releasing a single entitled Sika in 2006.

At the end of 2006 Ajattara's long time group broke up, when Pasi Koskinen made neo-Nazi salutes and other related political statements during a concert. Ajattara then reformated with a new line up some time during 2007. The band entered the studio on June 1, 2007 to begin recording on the album Kalmanto which was released in September 5, 2007. However, this album was not met with such good reviews as Ajattara's other albums, as some critics said the album sounded chaotic and forced.

Musical style

Ajattara combine elements of black metal that play a style of black metal not dissimilar to Celtic Frost and to a lesser extent Samael. The combined use of synthesisers and heavy guitar sounds give Ajattara a distinct "grimey" sound. The lyrical themes of Ajattara usually deal with death, evil and paganism.

Members

Current members

• Ruoja (Pasi Koskinen) - vocals, guitar, keyboards
• Kalmos (Vesa Wahlroos) - guitar, backing vocals (2007-)
• Tohtori Kuolio (Juha Harju) - bass, backing vocals (2007-)
• Raajat (Janne Immonen) - keyboards (2007-)
• Malakias IV (Tonmi Lillman) - drums (2007-)

Former members

• Samuel Lempo (Tomi Koivusaari) - guitar
• Ismonster (Ismo Liljelund) - guitar
• Akir Kalmo (Aki Räty) - keyboards
• Ikkala (Jarmo Ikala) - keyboards
• Orpo (Pekka Kasari) - drums
• Atoni (Toni Laroma) - bass (1996-2007)
• Malakias I (Pekka Sauvolainen) - drums (1996-2003)
• Malakias II (Jan Rechberger) - drums (2003-2004)
• Malakias III (Atte Sarkima) - drums (2004-2007)
• Irstas (Kalle Sundström) - keyboards (2004-2007)

Discography

Albums

• Itse (2001)
• Kuolema (2003)
• Tyhjyys (2004)
• Äpäre (2006)
• Kalmanto (2007)
• Noitumaa (2009)

Demos

• Helvetissä On Syntisen Taivas (1998)

Singles

• Ilon Juhla (2004)
• Joulu (2005)
• Sika (2006)
• Tulppaani (2007)

References

External links

• Ajattara's official website
• Ajattara's page on Spinefarm Records
• Ajattara's page on MySpace
• Ajattara's page on the Encyclopedia Metallum
• Ajattara's page at Last.fm
• Ajattara at Metal From Finland