Sotajumala
Encyclopedia
Sotajumala is a Finnish death metal
band from Jyväskylä
, formed in 1998. The band has released two full-length albums, two mcds
, one single
and one split EP
(with Torture Killer
). They have played a lot of shows in their home country, including Tuska
, Jalometalli
, Nummirock, Lutakko Liekeissä and Pellavarock festivals. In Finland the band has also toured with Nile
, Misery Index
and Grave
as well as supported Obituary
, Napalm Death
and Vader
at one-off shows.
which eventually led to Woodcut Records signing the band. Guitarist Pete Lapio left the band shortly thereafter. Singer Harri Lastu also left the band in the late summer of 2002, due to personal issues and was soon replaced by '105' (Teijo Hakkola).
During fall 2002 the band entered Watercastle Studio to record four new songs which Woodcut released in early 2003 as Panssarikolonna
. Drummer Arttu Romo and guitarist Jyrki Häkkinen left the band shortly after the release and session drummer Timo Häkkinen was hired to play on the debut full-length album, which was to be recorded in the fall. Ex-guitarist Pete Lapio joined the band again during the summer.
Death Metal Finland
, the band's debut full-length was recorded in September 2003 at Sam's Workshop in Jyväskylä. After its release in March 2004 the band played a short Scandinavian tour with Rotten Sound
and Defleshed
with another session drummer, Sami Järvinen. In June 2003 the band played Nummirock festival with bands such as Morbid Angel
and Rotten Sound. More line-up changes occurred in August when Timo Häkkinen joined the band full time and singer Teijo Hakkola was fired. Mynni Luukkainen joined as session singer and the band was able to continue playing shows. In spring 2005 Sotajumala played in Estonia
and also did a three show mini-tour in Finland with Grave
.
Two new songs were recorded in July 2005 to be released as a split with Torture Killer
that October. After these sessions Mynni Luukkainen joined the band as a full-time member. The split CD entered the Finnish single charts at position 10. In August the band played at Jalometalli Metal Music Festival
in Oulu
.
Sotajumala entered studio once more in late summer 2007 to record their sophomore full-length, Teloitus which was released in October 2007. Teloitus entered the Finnish album charts at position 17. This was the band's last album for Woodcut Records.
To support Teloitus Sotajumala played many shows in Finland, including a four show mini-tour with Nile
and Deathchain
(December 2007), Finnish Metal Expo
(February 2008), Tuska Open Air Metal Festival
(June 2008), Pellavarock and Jalometalli Metal Music Festival
(August 2008) as well as numerous shows with local bands. They also supported Obituary
in August at Nosturi
.
As of December 2008 the band was writing material for a new full-length and announced that they will try not to play any shows before the album is completed. In Sotajumala's case this usually doesn't work as evident by their performance at Jalometalli Winterfest
in February supporting Napalm Death
already in February 2009. Their third full-length album Kuolemanpalvelus
was released on 26 May 2010.
/Florida style of Death Metal. Lyrical themes revolve around the military history of Finland and war stories in general. The band stresses, "Though the lyrics have their roots in war, they are not meant to provoke or create an image of fascist beliefs. So, Sotajumala does not take any stand with our lyrics to political or other ideologies."
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band from Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded...
, formed in 1998. The band has released two full-length albums, two mcds
Maxi single
A maxi single or maxi-single is a music single release with more than the usual two tracks of an a-side song and a b-side song.-The first maxi singles:...
, one single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
and one split EP
Split album
A split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...
(with Torture Killer
Torture Killer
Torture Killer is a Finnish death metal band from Turku, Finland, formed in 2002. The band consists of four members, Jari Laine , Tuomas Karppinen , Kim Torniainen , and Tuomo Latvala...
). They have played a lot of shows in their home country, including Tuska
Tuska Open Air Metal Festival
Tuska Open Air Metal Festival, shortly Tuska , is the largest music festival dedicated only to metal and related styles of music in the Nordic countries. The history of Tuska began in 1998 and it has grown larger every year. The location of the festival has been in Kaisaniemi park in the middle of...
, Jalometalli
Jalometalli Metal Music Festival
Jalometalli Metal Music Festival is a heavy metal festival held annually in Finland since 2002. The festival has mainly old school thrash metal and death and black metal bands.-2004:Held on August 20 and August 21 at Kuusisaari in Oulu.August 20:...
, Nummirock, Lutakko Liekeissä and Pellavarock festivals. In Finland the band has also toured with Nile
Nile (band)
Nile is an American death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian/Near Eastern mysticism, history, religion, and art, as well as stories by H. P. Lovecraft.- History :...
, Misery Index
Misery Index (band)
Misery Index is an American deathgrind band formed in 2001 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, by Jason Netherton on vocals and bass guitar, Mike Harrison on vocals and guitar, and Kevin Talley on drums. From 2006-2010, its line-up consisted of Netherton on vocals and bass guitar, Sparky Voyles...
and Grave
Grave (band)
Grave is a Swedish death metal band that formed in 1986 by vocalist and guitarist Ola Lindgren, who is their only constant member. The band had particular success in the early 1990s, and their first four albums, Into the Grave, You'll Never See..., Soulless and Hating Life, cemented their...
as well as supported Obituary
Obituary (band)
Obituary is an American death metal band formed in 1984 in Tampa, Florida under the name Executioner, then changed the name's spelling to Xecutioner, and later changed their name to Obituary in 1988. The band comprises vocalist John Tardy, drummer Donald Tardy, guitarists Trevor Peres and Ralph...
, Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
and Vader
Vader (band)
Vader is a Polish death metal band from Olsztyn, formed in 1983. According to Piotr Wiwczarek, the band's founding singer and guitar player, the band's name was inspired by Darth Vader from the Star Wars film series. Lyrical themes include stories by H. P. Lovecraft, WW2, horror and anti-christian...
at one-off shows.
History
Sotajumala was started by Tomi Otsala and Kosti Orbinski in 1998. In 2000 Arttu Romo, Pete Lapio, Jyrki Häkkinen and Harri Lastu joined the band, thus completing its first full line-up. In September 2001 the band recorded their first release entitled SotajumalaSotajumala MCD
The Sotajumala MCD was released by Sotajumala in 2001. Recorded and mixed by Tuomo Valtonen at Sundicoop studios. Artwork by A. Romo.-Track listing:#"Sotajumala"#"Pelkuri" #"105 Päivää"...
which eventually led to Woodcut Records signing the band. Guitarist Pete Lapio left the band shortly thereafter. Singer Harri Lastu also left the band in the late summer of 2002, due to personal issues and was soon replaced by '105' (Teijo Hakkola).
During fall 2002 the band entered Watercastle Studio to record four new songs which Woodcut released in early 2003 as Panssarikolonna
Panssarikolonna MCD
-Track listing:# Panssarikolonna # Sodan Kauhu # Nimettömäksi Jäänyt # Verimaa, Isänmaa...
. Drummer Arttu Romo and guitarist Jyrki Häkkinen left the band shortly after the release and session drummer Timo Häkkinen was hired to play on the debut full-length album, which was to be recorded in the fall. Ex-guitarist Pete Lapio joined the band again during the summer.
Death Metal Finland
Death Metal Finland
Death Metal Finland is the debut from Finnish death metal band Sotajumala. It was released on Woodcut Records in 2004. The songs are mostly written by the instrumentalists themselves , as vocalist 105 only figures into the songwriting on one track.-Track listing:*All Songs...
, the band's debut full-length was recorded in September 2003 at Sam's Workshop in Jyväskylä. After its release in March 2004 the band played a short Scandinavian tour with Rotten Sound
Rotten Sound
Rotten Sound is a grindcore band from Vaasa, Finland, formed in 1993. The band comprises vocalist Keijo Niinimaa, guitarist Mika Aalto, bassist Kristian Toivainen and drummer Sami Latva...
and Defleshed
Defleshed
Defleshed was a Swedish death/thrash metal band. The group was formed by Lars Lofven, formerly of Convulsion and Inanimate. They have released several albums on high-profile metal labels...
with another session drummer, Sami Järvinen. In June 2003 the band played Nummirock festival with bands such as Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked one Morbid Angel album in its “Top 40 greatest death metal albums”, with their 1989 debut Altars of Madness appearing at number 1...
and Rotten Sound. More line-up changes occurred in August when Timo Häkkinen joined the band full time and singer Teijo Hakkola was fired. Mynni Luukkainen joined as session singer and the band was able to continue playing shows. In spring 2005 Sotajumala played in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and also did a three show mini-tour in Finland with Grave
Grave (band)
Grave is a Swedish death metal band that formed in 1986 by vocalist and guitarist Ola Lindgren, who is their only constant member. The band had particular success in the early 1990s, and their first four albums, Into the Grave, You'll Never See..., Soulless and Hating Life, cemented their...
.
Two new songs were recorded in July 2005 to be released as a split with Torture Killer
Torture Killer
Torture Killer is a Finnish death metal band from Turku, Finland, formed in 2002. The band consists of four members, Jari Laine , Tuomas Karppinen , Kim Torniainen , and Tuomo Latvala...
that October. After these sessions Mynni Luukkainen joined the band as a full-time member. The split CD entered the Finnish single charts at position 10. In August the band played at Jalometalli Metal Music Festival
Jalometalli Metal Music Festival
Jalometalli Metal Music Festival is a heavy metal festival held annually in Finland since 2002. The festival has mainly old school thrash metal and death and black metal bands.-2004:Held on August 20 and August 21 at Kuusisaari in Oulu.August 20:...
in Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
.
Sotajumala entered studio once more in late summer 2007 to record their sophomore full-length, Teloitus which was released in October 2007. Teloitus entered the Finnish album charts at position 17. This was the band's last album for Woodcut Records.
To support Teloitus Sotajumala played many shows in Finland, including a four show mini-tour with Nile
Nile (band)
Nile is an American death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian/Near Eastern mysticism, history, religion, and art, as well as stories by H. P. Lovecraft.- History :...
and Deathchain
Deathchain
Deathchain is a metal band from Kuopio, Finland, which incorporates elements of death metal and thrash metal. The band is currently signed to Dynamic Arts Records and toured Europe with Candlemass and Destruction in late 2005....
(December 2007), Finnish Metal Expo
Finnish Metal Expo
Finnish Metal Expo is a heavy metal fair and festival held annually at Kaapelitehdas in Ruoholahti, Helsinki, Finland since 2005. The Finnish Metal Awards, different kind of clinics, interview sessions, signing sessions and competitions are also part of the happening.-2009...
(February 2008), Tuska Open Air Metal Festival
Tuska Open Air Metal Festival
Tuska Open Air Metal Festival, shortly Tuska , is the largest music festival dedicated only to metal and related styles of music in the Nordic countries. The history of Tuska began in 1998 and it has grown larger every year. The location of the festival has been in Kaisaniemi park in the middle of...
(June 2008), Pellavarock and Jalometalli Metal Music Festival
Jalometalli Metal Music Festival
Jalometalli Metal Music Festival is a heavy metal festival held annually in Finland since 2002. The festival has mainly old school thrash metal and death and black metal bands.-2004:Held on August 20 and August 21 at Kuusisaari in Oulu.August 20:...
(August 2008) as well as numerous shows with local bands. They also supported Obituary
Obituary (band)
Obituary is an American death metal band formed in 1984 in Tampa, Florida under the name Executioner, then changed the name's spelling to Xecutioner, and later changed their name to Obituary in 1988. The band comprises vocalist John Tardy, drummer Donald Tardy, guitarists Trevor Peres and Ralph...
in August at Nosturi
Nosturi
Nosturi is a culture and music hall and a nightclub in the Punavuori district of Helsinki, Finland. It is owned by the Association of Live Music ....
.
As of December 2008 the band was writing material for a new full-length and announced that they will try not to play any shows before the album is completed. In Sotajumala's case this usually doesn't work as evident by their performance at Jalometalli Winterfest
Jalometalli Winterfest
Jalometalli Winterfest is a heavy metal festival held annually in Finland. It was created in 2005 as an offshoot of Jalometalli Metal Music Festival.-2007:Held on February 24 at Club Teatria in Oulu.*Moonsorrow*MyGRAIN*Wrathage*Impish*Hebosagil...
in February supporting Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
already in February 2009. Their third full-length album Kuolemanpalvelus
Kuolemanpalvelus
-Personnel:*Mynni Luukkainen – vocals*Kosti Orbinski – guitar*Pete Lapio – guitar*Tomi Otsala – bass, backing vocals*Timo Häkkinen – drums...
was released on 26 May 2010.
Musical style
Musically, the band tends to lean toward the Cannibal CorpseCannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York. Formed in 1988, the band has released eleven studio albums, one box set, and one live album...
/Florida style of Death Metal. Lyrical themes revolve around the military history of Finland and war stories in general. The band stresses, "Though the lyrics have their roots in war, they are not meant to provoke or create an image of fascist beliefs. So, Sotajumala does not take any stand with our lyrics to political or other ideologies."
Members
Although the band went through a lot of line-up changes during 2002-2004, no changes have occurred since then.Current members
- Mynni Luukkainen - vocals
- Kosti Orbinski - guitar
- Pete Lapio - guitar
- Tomi Otsala - bass, backing vocals
- Timo Häkkinen - drums
Past members
- Harri Lastu - vocals (2000–2002)
- Arttu Romo - drums (2000–2002)
- Jyrki Häkkinen - guitar (2000–2002)
- Teijo "105" Hakkola (2002–2004)
Discography
- SotajumalaSotajumala MCDThe Sotajumala MCD was released by Sotajumala in 2001. Recorded and mixed by Tuomo Valtonen at Sundicoop studios. Artwork by A. Romo.-Track listing:#"Sotajumala"#"Pelkuri" #"105 Päivää"...
- 2002 mcd - PanssarikolonnaPanssarikolonna MCD-Track listing:# Panssarikolonna # Sodan Kauhu # Nimettömäksi Jäänyt # Verimaa, Isänmaa...
- 2003 mcd - Death Metal FinlandDeath Metal FinlandDeath Metal Finland is the debut from Finnish death metal band Sotajumala. It was released on Woodcut Records in 2004. The songs are mostly written by the instrumentalists themselves , as vocalist 105 only figures into the songwriting on one track.-Track listing:*All Songs...
- 2004 CD - Sotajumala / Torture Killer split - 2005 CD single and 7" vinyl
- Kuolinjulistus - 2007 CD single
- Teloitus - 2007 CD
- Death Metal Finland Special EditionDeath Metal FinlandDeath Metal Finland is the debut from Finnish death metal band Sotajumala. It was released on Woodcut Records in 2004. The songs are mostly written by the instrumentalists themselves , as vocalist 105 only figures into the songwriting on one track.-Track listing:*All Songs...
- 2008 double CD - KuolemanpalvelusKuolemanpalvelus-Personnel:*Mynni Luukkainen – vocals*Kosti Orbinski – guitar*Pete Lapio – guitar*Tomi Otsala – bass, backing vocals*Timo Häkkinen – drums...
- 2010