CURSE UPON IRON is undoubtedly one of the better known works in Estonian choral music. Already in it’s original form, it contains all the primary characteristics of this particular project: shamanic chants, rhymes borrowed from Kalevala, the primeval power of runo-singing. To this we add some increasingly popular ethno-rockers and the 54 trained voices of the Grammy Awarded only full-time professional male choir in the world. The works of the world-renowned composer emeritus Veljo Tormis and those of Metsatöll are manipulated without prejudice by Tauno Aints, whose background is revealed by the names of his bands – Speculative Rokenroll Band and Genialisted. However, the young man also has a cum laude in the field of composition, so both sides of the music are treated equally and are fused into a whole. Metsatöll becomes grand choral music, Veljo Tormis turns into rock.

One summer night in 2006, history was made in Estonia, and with this CD and DVD you can enjoy it all again.

Metsatöll was founded in late 1990s, but of the original line-up only Markus has remained. The number of replaced band members is only equalled by the number of changes in the band’s style – the former heavy metal has turned into a coarse ethnic metal, the guitar riffs are now interlaced with the sounds of bagpipes and kanteles. It has been argued that Metsatöll is the lifebelt of Estonian national self-awareness. Through the efforts of Lauri Õunapuu, who has been organising voluntary folk-singing workshops for years, Metsatöll has been actively preserving the Estonian folk singing tradition among both the elderly and the young.

Full albums by Metsatöll:
“Terast mis hangund me hinge” (Steel Frozen In Our Souls, 1999), “Hiiekoda” (Sacred Grove, 2004), “Terast mis hangund me hinge 10218” (Steel Frozen In Our Souls 10218, 2005).

Markus Teeäär – vocal, guitar
Lauri Õunapuu – guitar, vocal, estonian bagpipe, kanteles, whistles
Raivo Piirsalu – bass, vocal
Marko Atso – drums, vocal
Guest: Vambola Krigul – percussion

Lauri plays the following traditional instruments in Metsatöll:

Seven-stringed kantele: the six-to-seven stringed kantele is one of the oldest traditional Estonian instruments. The seven-stringed kantele with bourdon strings was more prevalent in southern and southeastern Estonia. This instrument was crafted by Lauri Õunapuu in 2002.

Eleven-stringed electric kantele: crafted by Lauri Õunapuu in 2004 specifically for Metsatöll.

Folk-kantele: a type of kantele common in late 19th and early 20th century. Crafted by an unknown Võru craftsman in early 20th century.

Estonian torupill (bagpipe): a folk instrument which has been popular in Estonia for centuries, it was almost forgotten due to the appearance of accordions during the 19th century, but nowadays is again regarded with great esteem. The instrument has been crafted by the most famous of Estonian torupill-craftsmen, Ants Taul.

ESTONIAN NATIONAL MALE CHOIR (RAM) is currently the only full time professional male choir in the world. The choir was established in 1944 by Estonian choral legend Gustav Ernesaks. The large works RAM has sung most often are Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 13 “Babi Jar” (with the Detroit, Tampere and Jerusalem symphony orchestras and the LA Philharmonic), Sibelius’ Kullervo-Symphony (the Stockholm Royal SO, Minnesota SO, Tampere SO, Toulouse National SO, Hamburg City Orchestra and the LA Philharmonic), Cherubini’s Requiem and Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex. Paavo Järvi, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Ellerhein Girls’ Choir and Ants Soots, Estonian National Male Choir’s CD “Sibelius Cantatas” (Virgin Classics, 2003) won the Grammy 2004 award in category “Best Choral Performance”.

www.metsatoll.ee
www.veljotormis.com
www.elwood.ee
www.rockadillo.fi
records@rockadillo.fi

Julkaisu on virolaisen tuottajayhtiön Elwood Musicin ja Rockadillo Recordsin yhteishanke. Elwood julkaisi levyn Virossa nimellä Metsatöll / Eesti Rahvusmeeskoor: Raua needmine ja Rockadillo Records muualla maailmassa vastaavalla englanninkielisellä nimellä. Itse tuote on täsmälleen sama. Elwoodin johtaja Paul Pihlak perustelee Rockadillon valintaa yhteistyökumppaniksi näin: – Rockadillo on hieno esimerkki siitä, miten syrjäisessä pienessä maassa tuotetaan musiikkia mikä kiinnostaa, koskettaa ja tavoittaa ihmisiä ympäri maailman. On upeaa mahtua samaan veneeseen Rockadillon artistien kanssa. Uskon, että Rockadillolla on juuri oikeat kansainväliset kontaktit tälle projektille.

Metsatöll perustettiin 1990-luvun loppupuolella, mutta alkuperäisjäsenistä on mukana enää laulaja-kitaristi Markus Teeäär. Alunperin heavy metallibändinä aloittanut yhtye on ottanut ohjelmistoonsa eestiläiseen Kalevala-runomittaan ja vanhoihin luonnonuskontoihin perustuvia lauluja sekä Lauri Öunapuun mukanaan yhtyeeseen tuomia vanhoja perinnesoittimia kuten eestiläisen säkkipillin ja kanteleen. Bassossa on Raivo Piirsalu ja rummuissa Marko Atso. Metsatöllin musiikkia on kutsuttu etno-metalliksi, folk-metalliksi ja joskus myös pakanametalliksi. Bändin ensimmäinen albumi ilmestyi 1999 nimellä Terast mis hangund me hinge, ja sitä ovat seuranneet Hiiekoda (2004) ja Terast mis hangund me hinge 10218 (2005).

Metsatöll on tulossa esiintymään Helsinkiin 24.2. (Nosturi) ja 3.3. (Virgin Oil).

www.metsatoll.ee
www.veljotormis.com
www.elwood.ee
www.rockadillo.fi
records@rockadillo.fi

Lisätiedot, haastattelu- ja kuvapyynnöt ym: