Metsatöll

folk metal

Metsatöll, an Estonian folk metal band, was formed in 1999 in Tallinn by Markus Teeäär (vocals), Silver “Factor” Rattasepp (drums) and Andrus Tins (bass), playing epic heavy metal with a great influence from ancient Estonian folklore. The debut album called Terast mis hangund me hinge (Steel Frozen in Our Souls) was released at that time. In 2000, a good friend Lauri Varulven Õunapuu joined the band. Until then, he had observed the activities of the band with a broad smile and had, from time to time, joined them on stage. Varulven had self-taught himself a number of ancient Estonian folk instruments and together they realised that metal and old Estonian folk fit together perfectly. Since then, the music of Metsatöll has interwined more and more with old Estonian runo-singing and traditional melodies. In 2000, their bass virtuoso Andrus left the band due to personal reasons. However, he was replaced with a new bass player, Raivo KuriRaivo Piirsalu, in just a couple of months. In 2002, Metsatöll contributed to the Estonian music scene with their newest effort, Hundi Loomine, for which a video was also shot (directed by Liina Paakspuu). Hundi Loomine received numerous exceptionally positive reviews and commentaries in the local media, there was talk of the true mind of the Estonians, the destruction of the negative effects of the English language and the rebirth of folklore through contemporary means and people. In the beginning of 2004, Factor dedicated himself ...