Finntroll is a Finnish Folk Metal band. Their music can most concisely be described as blackened death polka but they often branch out to include elements of music of the classical, punk, carnival, ambient, acoustic, and bluegrass varieties. The band's lyrical themes are generally based around trolls living in the forest, eating people, hanging out with wolves and witches, and partying around ancient mushrooms.
Originally started by founding members Katla and Somnium as a joke at a drunken party, Finntroll became a full-fledged band with connections to many prominent bands in the Finnish metal scene. They've released a demo, six albums, and two EP's since forming in 1998.
Members:
Current:
- Mathias "Vreth" Lillmåns — Vocals (2006-present)
- Samuli "Skrymer" Ponsimaa — Guitar (1998-present)
- Mikael "Routa" Karlbom — Guitar (2003-present)
- Sami "Tundra" Uusitalo — Bass (1998-present)
- Samu "Beast Dominator" Ruotsalainen — Drums (1998-present)
- Henri "Trollhorn" Sorvali — Keyboards (1998-present) (See also Moonsorrow)
- Aleksi "Virta" Virta — Live keyboards (2005-present)
With:
- Jan "Katla" Jämsen - Lyrics (1997-2002 / 2006-present)
Former:
- Katla — Vocals (1997-2002)
- Teemu "Somnium" Raimoranta — Guitar (1997-2003) (R.I.P.)
- Tapio Wilska — Vocals (2002-2006)
Discography:
- "Rivfader" (1998) — demo
- Midnattens widunder (1999)
- Jaktens tid (2001)
- Visor Om Slutet (2003) — EP
- Trollhammaren (2004) — EP
- Nattfödd (2004)
- Ur Jordens Djup (2007)
- Nifelvind (2010)
- Blodsvept (2013)
- Vredesvävd (2020)
Tropes demonstrated by Finntroll
- All Trolls Are Different: These trolls are based on those most common in Scandinavian folklore: huge, fat, hairy, big-nosed creatures with pointy ears and magic powers. Skrymer, one of the guitarists, draws much of their album art, which has a clear John Bauer influence in his troll design. Sometimes they have antlers.
- Concept Album: All of them, possibly. Midnattens Widunder and Ur Jordens Djup definitely qualify.
- Concept Video: The band has four videos, with varying degrees of narrative:
- The video for "Nedgang" tells a vague story about a virgin being sacrificed. She reappears in the "Solsagan" video, but the video is mostly the band rolling around screaming in the dirt.
- The video for "Trollhammaren" crosses this with Performance Video: the band, dressed in fur and burlap and playing handmade instruments, is jamming at a wild (subterranean?) pub full of gruff-looking characters, some of whom are midgets. Very trollish, but not much to do with the lyrics.
- The video for "Under Bergets Rot" is completely animated, and tells the following story: An Author Avatar of Vreth (apparently) walks into a bar filled with various monsters and singing zombie-plants (not to mention a cartoon version of the band playing), and gets turned into a troll, which somehow makes him irresistible to women. Or whatever those things wearing skirts are supposed to be...
- Their most recent video, Haxbrygd, shows the trolls repairing an old car and driving off in it at the end. There are also shots of them playing their instruments (although neither Virta nor Trollhorn are playing the keyboard - Virta is playing the trumpet, Trollhorn the accordion).
- Darker and Edgier: Ever since Ur Jordens Djup, their music has become a lot more serious.
- Exactly What It Says on the Tin: Finntroll is, well, a Finnish band singing about, uhm, trolls.
- Genre Mashup: Finntroll are not afraid to add whatever occurs to them to their music. Their most recent release includes spooky theramin, Peter Gabriel-esque percussion, and a banjo-led ballad along with their usual accordions, kazoos, Misfits-style backup vocals, and occasional Wagnerian grandeur.
- Grim Up North: The trolls in the songs are coming down from the northern forests and mountains of Scandinavia to harass the people living in the southern regions.
- Heavy Mithril: Along with the obvious fantasy/folklore theme, Finntroll has some very epic, magical moments. Their (so-called) acoustic album which includes a few tracks that are largely symphonic.
- Knife-Throwing Act: The circus ringmaster character in the music video for Under Bergets Rot
does this at one point. - Mr. Fanservice: Have you seen Vreth? Not that the other members, like Skrymer and the late Somnium are/were that bad, either.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast - Rivfader, the king of trolls in their songs, translates from Swedish as "Rip-Father".
- Those Two Guys: The band has three songs relating to the hapless priests Aamund and Kjettl, who manage to get accosted by trolls repeatedly, to humorous effect.
- Villain Song: Arguably most of their catalog, which is about how much fun it is to be a troll, smash things, eat people, burn villages, etc.
