Villieläin
Encyclopedia
Villieläin were a symphonic
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...

 / power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...

 band from Tampere
Tampere
Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city in any of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of , growing to approximately 300,000 people in the conurbation and over 340,000 in the metropolitan area. Tampere is the third most-populous municipality in...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

. They formed in 2006 and released a demo the same year. Three years later, on August 19, 2009 they released their first studio album named Julma Satu
Julma Satu
Julma Satu is the debut album of the Finnish power metal band Villieläin. It was released on 19 August 2009 on the Universal Music Group label...

, which means Cruel Fairytale.

Biography

The band was formed in 2006 by Emilia Rantasalo, Jani Hölli, Timo Niemistö, Janne Juutinen and Dimitri Martinov. The name of the band means Wild Animal. The group's lyrics centre around the idea of ”He who makes a beast of himself, gets rid of the pain of being a man” . Their music is inspired by the original gloomy fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm
Brothers Grimm
The Brothers Grimm , Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm , were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, and authors who collected folklore and published several collections of it as Grimm's Fairy Tales, which became very popular...

 and their lyrics also contain references to these stories. They incorporate female coloratura
Coloratura
Coloratura has several meanings. The word is originally from Italian, literally meaning "coloring", and derives from the Latin word colorare . When used in English, the term specifically refers to elaborate melody, particularly in vocal music and especially in operatic singing of the 18th and...

 vocals, heavy metal riffs and industrial sounding keyboards into their songs and are progressively gaining more fame through internet forums and promotional videos. They toured regularly but were not signed to a record label until 2008, when they were swept up by Universal Music
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...

. Another change was made in 2008. Janne Juutinen was replaced by Mikael Hakamies as the band's drummer.

Their first single Kaiverrettu Hiekkaan has been widely played on Finnish mainstream radio stations and is a download only release. It featured on the Soundi 2009 compilation album. Their second single, Voittamatton was released on May 12, 2009 and entered the Finnish top 20 singles charts at position 12, on the week beginning at August 2, 2009
. The third single Kuoleman Suudelma, was released in August 2009. They sound similar to bands like Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...

, Elis
Elis
Elis, or Eleia is an ancient district that corresponds with the modern Elis peripheral unit...

, Lunatica
Lunatica
Lunatica is a symphonic metal band from band that was formed in Suhr, Switzerland. Lunatica was formed in the winter of 1998. The band consists of Andrea Dätwyler , Sandro D’Incau , Emilio Barrantes , Alex Seiberl , and Ronny Wolf...

 and Visions of Atlantis
Visions of Atlantis
Visions of Atlantis is a symphonic power metal band from Styria, Austria, founded in 2000. The original line-up consisted of Werner Fiedler , Mike Koren , Christian Stani , Chris Kamper , Nicole Bogner and Thomas Caser...

.

Julma Satu

The band's debut album, Julma Satu
Julma Satu
Julma Satu is the debut album of the Finnish power metal band Villieläin. It was released on 19 August 2009 on the Universal Music Group label...

is a mixture of heavy power metal, industrial sounds and acoustic influences. It was released on August 19, 2009 and reached position 27 on the Finnish top 40 album charts, where it stayed for one week. Many Finnish musicians have been involved in the songwriting and production of the album, including Manzana vocalist Piritta "Lumous" Vartola, Entwine drummer Aksu Hanttu
Aksu Hanttu
Aksu Hanttu is a musician, record producer and sound engineer from Lahti, Finland. He plays drums in the metal band Entwine and vocals and drums in the group Tuoni. Hanttu is also involved with Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, which has worked with artists such as Nightwish, Reflexion, Soulrelic and...

 and former Soulrelic
Soulrelic
Soulrelic were a Gothic melodic metal band from Finland who formed in 2003. The band decided to separate in 2007. They were signed to Spinefarm Records. They are also known as Kurakello, but the reason for this is unknown outside of the band...

 vocalist Raymond Pohjola.

The album Julma Satu can be described as a concept album. The lyrics of the tracks on the album are epic stories which are a part of the main tale. The plot tells of missing humanity, love, revenge, anger and death. In the sleevenotes the story of the characters that the band members portray is described. They appear in their own fairy tale. A mystic shaman has gathered outcasts to avenge the evils that humanity did to them when they had the feelings of a human beings. It tells of a time, where people only find feelings and emotions of the past, it as though there is no future and that the world is standing still.

Eurovision

Villieläin was one of the 30 entries taking part in SMS voting which ran from 1st till 15 October 2009. Only three performers proceeded to the live selection phase.
Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Finland participated at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 held in Bærum, Oslo, Norway. YLE hold a national final, Euroviisut 2010, to select the 2010 Finnish entry.-Euroviisut 2010:...

 The band were entry 30 and entered the song Ei Minua (Not Me) for selection as a song choice for Finland in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...

 which will be held in Oslo, Norway. The song received a large number of votes and thus finished in the top 10 of the web voting. However, since it did not finish in the top three, the band were knocked out of the running and so will not progress to the live semi-finals of Euroviisut 2010. The band have no plans to release Ei Minua as a single or to include it on any future album releases at the moment.

Criticism

Villieläin have been criticised for creating music that doesn't take itself seriously. They have been described as a cheap Nightwish copy and a "low cost version of Spinal Tap". Petri Klemetti remarked that although putting fairy tale style lyrics to the sounds of metal is an original idea, it doesn't work because the music is too terrifying for children, but yet too childish for adults, therefore it does not appeal to any specific target audience. The overall mixing of "Julma Satu" has been criticised as being "bland, dull, tasteless and colourless", although Aksu Hanttu has been commended for his involvement.

However others are of the view that the overall production of the album is "a fresh extract of sounds previously demonstrated by Poisonblack" and an example of "fantastic modern heavy rock."

Current Line-up

  • Emilia "Nemilia" Rantasalo - Vocals (Mystic Opera)
  • Jani "Jay" Hölli - Keyboards, (Snakegod, Soulrelic
    Soulrelic
    Soulrelic were a Gothic melodic metal band from Finland who formed in 2003. The band decided to separate in 2007. They were signed to Spinefarm Records. They are also known as Kurakello, but the reason for this is unknown outside of the band...

    )
  • Timo "Tinke" Niemistö - Guitar (Anthriel)
  • Dimitri "Dimmu" Martinov - Bass (Two Witches
    Two Witches
    Two Witches is a Gothic rock band from Finland, formed in 1987. As several other late 80's bands , Two Witches started basing main part of their apparences and lyrics to the vampire imagenery...

    )
  • Mikael "Miguel" Hakamies - Drums (Snakegod) (since 2008)

Former members

  • Janne Juutinen (2006–2008) - Drums.
  • Kirsi Hanelle Siren (2007–2008)- Backing Vocals.

Guest musicians

  • Capri - Backing Vocals
  • Aksu Hanttu
    Aksu Hanttu
    Aksu Hanttu is a musician, record producer and sound engineer from Lahti, Finland. He plays drums in the metal band Entwine and vocals and drums in the group Tuoni. Hanttu is also involved with Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, which has worked with artists such as Nightwish, Reflexion, Soulrelic and...

     (Entwine
    Entwine
    Entwine is a Finnish gothic metal band.-Biography:Entwine was originally assembled as a death metal band in 1995 by guitarist and vocalist Tom Mikkola, drummer Aksu Hanttu and bassist Taipale. In 1997 they decided to change Entwine's musical style to gothic metal. Rhythm guitarist and vocalist Panu...

    ) - Backing Vocals
  • Jaakko Teittinen - Growls on Voittamaton
  • Mika Tauriainen
    Mika Tauriainen
    Mika Tauriainen is a Finnish vocalist. He is currently a member of gothic metal band Entwine and ex-vocalist of atmospheric rock band ShamRain.-Discography:With Entwine* Painstained...

    (Entwine
    Entwine
    Entwine is a Finnish gothic metal band.-Biography:Entwine was originally assembled as a death metal band in 1995 by guitarist and vocalist Tom Mikkola, drummer Aksu Hanttu and bassist Taipale. In 1997 they decided to change Entwine's musical style to gothic metal. Rhythm guitarist and vocalist Panu...

    , ShamRain
    ShamRain
    ShamRain is a Finnish band which plays slow, dreamlike music, also categorized as atmospheric rock. They were established in 2000 by Janne Jukarainen and Matti Reinola.-Discography:*Isolation *Goodbye to All That *Deeper Into The Night...

    ) - Male Vocals on Kuoleman Suudelma
  • Janne Juutinen (Masterstroke) - Drums
  • Petri Alanko - Flute

Songwriters/Collaborators

  • Piritta "Lumous" Vartola (Manzana)
  • Aksu Hanttu
    Aksu Hanttu
    Aksu Hanttu is a musician, record producer and sound engineer from Lahti, Finland. He plays drums in the metal band Entwine and vocals and drums in the group Tuoni. Hanttu is also involved with Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, which has worked with artists such as Nightwish, Reflexion, Soulrelic and...

     (Entwine)
  • Tommy Suomala (Soulrelic)
  • Raymond Pohjola (Soulrelic)
  • Anna-Eerika Guzejev (Dean)
  • Petri Alanko.

Demos and Singles

  • Demo (2006)
  • Kaiverrettu Hiekkaan (Engraved in Sand) (2008) - single
  • Voittamaton (2009) - single
  • Kuoleman Suudelma (2009) - single
  • Ei Minua (2009) - unreleased commercially.

Band biographies

  • EMILIA RANTASALO (Nemilia) is the vocalist in Villieläin. She is a coloratura soprano and can sing both classical and more traditional metal styles. She is very versatile. She was a founding member of the band Mystic Opera, but left shortly after joining. Before venturing into the Finnish Power Metal scene, she took part in amateur operatic productions and still performs solo, videos of which can be seen on video streaming site Youtube
    YouTube
    YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....

    .

  • DIMITRI MARTINOV (Dimmu) (born on December 20, 1977) is the bassist in the Finnish band Villieläin. He is a big fan of Harley Davidson Motorcycles. He spends a lot of his free time playing various games on the internet. Martinov currently lives in Tampere, Finland. He played in many bands, a couple to mention are Downfall
    Downfall (band)
    Downfall was a ska and punk band from the Bay Area formed by Tim Armstrong, Matt Freeman, Dave Mello, Pat Mello, and Jason Hammon following the break-up of Operation Ivy in 1989 and pre-dating Armstrong's and Freeman's wider recognition in Rancid...

     until 2007 and before that Two Witches
    Two Witches
    Two Witches is a Gothic rock band from Finland, formed in 1987. As several other late 80's bands , Two Witches started basing main part of their apparences and lyrics to the vampire imagenery...

    . He was also a session member in Negative. He uses the aliases: Don Cantarelli, Mr. Black and Dimmu.

  • MIKAEL HAKAMIES (Miguel) (born on October 29, 1983) is the drummer in Villieläin. He lives in Tampere, Finland. His hobbies include listening to music and playing Football Manager
    Football Manager
    Football Manager is a series of football management simulation games developed by Sports Interactive and published by Sega. The game began its life in 1992 as Championship Manager; however, following the break-up of their partnership with original publishers Eidos Interactive, Sports Interactive...

    . His favourite music and influences are: Pantera
    Pantera
    Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...

    , Judas Priest
    Judas Priest
    Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...

    , The Beatles
    The Beatles
    The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...

    , Pink Floyd
    Pink Floyd
    Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...

    , Bill Laswell
    Bill Laswell
    Bill Laswell is an American bassist, producer and record label owner....

     and Black Label Society
    Black Label Society
    Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums released since formation of the band.-Formation and Sonic Brew :...

    . His favourite films are Smoke, This Is Spinal Tap
    This Is Spinal Tap
    This Is Spinal Tap is an American 1984 rock musical mockumentary directed by Rob Reiner about the fictional heavy metal band Spinal Tap...

     and American History X
    American History X
    American History X is a 1998 American drama film directed by Tony Kaye and starring Edward Norton and Edward Furlong. It was distributed by New Line Cinema....

    . He is greatly interested in World War II history. He is largely involved with promoting the band online and keeping the fans informed of the latest news and events concerning Villieläin. He regularly posts on the band's international forum and various online based fan-clubs.

  • TIMO NIEMISTÖ (Tinke) currently plays guitar in Villieläin and Elias Viljanen & Evil Spirit. He was the guitarist in Soulrelic
    Soulrelic
    Soulrelic were a Gothic melodic metal band from Finland who formed in 2003. The band decided to separate in 2007. They were signed to Spinefarm Records. They are also known as Kurakello, but the reason for this is unknown outside of the band...

     from 2006 to 2007. In addition to this he is also the Brainchild and Guitarist/Vocalist of the progressive metal band Anthriel and features in the Hard Rock covers band X-Tacy. He has also been a guest musician for Dreamtale
    Dreamtale
    -Biography:Dreamtale was founded by guitarist Rami Keränen in the early months of 1999. Keränen also served as the band's vocalist until 2002. The band first gathered fame by playing as Sinergy's supporting act in Finland, and their second demo, Refuge from Reality, sold out on the day of its...

     and Cosmic Spell. He came from a musical family and began to play the piano at an early age. In 1984 he started to learn the guitar. He also played drums for a while and experiemented with classical music. However, he found rock music more satisfying and so now only plays the classical genre in his spare time. He is a big fan of italian food and the Star Wars
    Star Wars
    Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...

     films. His favourite Actors are Nicolas Cage
    Nicolas Cage
    Nicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and...

     and Susan Sarandon
    Susan Sarandon
    Susan Sarandon is an American actress. She has worked in films and television since 1969, and won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking. She had also been nominated for the award for four films before that and has received other recognition for her...

     and songs Through the Looking Glass by Symphony X
    Symphony X
    Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey.Founded in 1994 by guitarist Michael Romeo, their albums The Divine Wings of Tragedy and V: The New Mythology Suite have given the band considerable attention within the progressive metal community...

     and High Hopes by Pink Floyd
    Pink Floyd
    Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...

    . Timo uses: Ibanez
    Ibanez
    is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...

     guitars, A Digitech preamp/effect processor, Marshall
    Marshall Amplification
    Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...

     power amps and Marshall cabinets. His influences are Deep Purple
    Deep Purple
    Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...

    , Pink Floyd
    Pink Floyd
    Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...

    , Tony Macalpine
    Tony MacAlpine
    Tony Jeff MacAlpine is an American guitarist and keyboardist. Having released ten studio albums over a career spanning more than two decades, he is best known as an instrumental solo guitarist, although he has worked with many different bands and musicians in the form of guest appearances and...

     and Michael Romeo
    Michael Romeo
    Since 2005, Romeo has taken advantage of a new custom model, Caparison Dellinger II - Michael Romeo Custom, which he used to record the Symphony X album Paradise Lost...

    .

  • JANI HÖLLI (born on July 16) plays keyboards in Villieläin and Snakegod and was a member of Soulrelic
    Soulrelic
    Soulrelic were a Gothic melodic metal band from Finland who formed in 2003. The band decided to separate in 2007. They were signed to Spinefarm Records. They are also known as Kurakello, but the reason for this is unknown outside of the band...

     from 2003 to 2007. He is featured on a tribute album to Led Zeppelin
    Led Zeppelin
    Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...

     frontman, Robert Plant
    Robert Plant
    Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...

     called "Plant Waves: A Robert Plant Tribute" where he covered the song "Anniversary" as a part of the group 'Arto Laine and Snakegod'. Jani began to play the piano and studied under the Finnish musician Timo Kahilainen
    Timo Kahilainen
    Timo Eero Kahilainen is a Finnish actor best known as one of the four original members of the Kummeli comedy crew, along with Heikki Silvennoinen, Heikki Hela and Heikki Vihinen. Kahilainen is best known for portraying the many short but energetic characters of the Kummeli character gallery.He is...

    . This inspired him to play keyboards. He has been active for around fifteen years in which he has gathered an extensive list of musical accomplishment and prominence. He has also played in many cover bands and tribute acts. He often features on the releases of popular Finnish artists of which the most well known is the drummer of the rock band Hanoi Rocks
    Hanoi Rocks
    Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985 after the death of their drummer, Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley...

    , Lacu Lahtinen. Jani is a member of his solo effort, Technical Justice. Other artists include: Timo Rautiainen
    Timo Rautiainen
    Timo Aulis Rautiainen is a Finnish heavy metal singer, guitarist and songwriter. He is best known as the singer and songwriter of Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus. He has also sung in the bands Lyijykomppania and Aku Ankkuli.His occupation is a teacher, which is quite uncommon for heavy metal...

    , Timo Koltipelto, Olli Lindholm, Ville Leinonen and Pelle Miljoona. His influences are rock artists from the 1980s, in particular Deep Purple
    Deep Purple
    Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...

    , Europe
    Europe
    Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

     and Whitesnake
    Whitesnake
    Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...

    , but also by the artists such as HIM, Elton John
    Elton John
    Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...

     and Jerry Lee Lewis
    Jerry Lee Lewis
    Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...

    . He has used the following keyboards during live performances: Korg
    Korg
    is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...

     Triton Pro, Roland VK-7, Roland
    Roland
    Roland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...

     A-33, Yamaha
    Yamaha
    Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...

    DX-7.
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