Ajattara is the sound of primordial nightmare. Attempting to describe their third album "Tyhjyys" (Finnish for 'emptiness') in less abstract terms, one could always mention it is predominantly mid-tempo, riff-heavy black metal with distant, astral synths. Yet that is just a lame scratch on the surface when dealing with such a true enigma as Ajattara undoubtedly are.

Ajattara started in the year 1996. As those fortunate enough to have heard the obscure demos the main man Ruoja (guitar, vocals) created in his lone cabin in the woods during late nineties know, the Ajattara sound has been decidedly constant. The line-up was finally completed with Malakias I (drums) and Atoni (bass) in preparation for the recording of the first album "Itse" ('self´). The album made a remarkable impact on the public with its brutal, yet crystal-clear sound and the sheer strength of the material itself. The album certainly deserved the rave reviews it got.

Special heed must be given to Ajattara's lyrics, remarkable for being cliché-free and poetic, yet disturbing and haunting as only a bad dream arising from deep dank soil of the local woodlands can be. Blood-feud, murder, moons rising crimson... to begin with. As with those who partake of the flesh of gods, the listeners of Ajattara will never be quite the same again.

The release of "Itse" also brought Ajattara out as a live-band, complete with additional three live-session musicians for maximum impact. Many successful shows later it was time for their sophomore album "Kuolema" ("death"), deadly as its name suggests and a logical follow-up to "Itse". The cold, barren earth bid all welcome to its embrace - with no goodbyes and no fancy headstones. This was black metal Finnish style, with an oppressive aura that is not just façade. Depraved but genius. You just know they can't help it. Classic stuff all through. Enter album number three. "Tyhjyys" sees Malakias I complete his service and retreat to the shadows again, with a veteran of many music styles, Malakias III replacing him. Ajattara goes on from strength to strength. While the harvest may be rotten, their scythe is sharper than ever. Let us draw some blood, then.

Year 2006, when Ajattara is celebrating their decade of reign, it is time to release Ajattara's fourth album Äpäre.

Band members

• Ruoja (Pasi Koskinen) - Vocals / Guitars
• Atoni (Toni Laroma) - Bass
• Malakias III (Atte Sarkima) - Drums
• Irstas (Kalle Sundström) - Synthesizers
• Samuel Lempo (Tomi Koivusaari) - Guitars

Additional members

• Ismonster (Ismo Liljelund) - Guitars

Past members

• Malakias (Pekka Sauvolainen) - Drums
• Malakias II (Jan Rechberger) - Drums
• Akir Kalmo (Aki Räty) - Synth
• Ikkala (Jarmo Ikala) - Synth

Discography

• Itse CD (2001) (Self)
• Kuolema CD (2003) (Death)
• Ilon Juhla CDS (2003) (Feast of Joy)
• Tyhjyys CD (2004) (Emptiness)
• Joulu Single 2005 CDS' (2005) (Chrismas Single 2005)
• Äpäre CD (2006) (Bastard)

2001: A Space Odyssey. ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Related genres

• black metal
• death metal
• doom metal

Black metal is a musical genre which emerged in the early 1980s predating the great expansion of heavy metal extreme genres. ... Death metal is a type of heavy metal music (with prominent thrash metal influences) that emerged in the United States (especially Florida and California), Europe (especially the United Kingdom and Sweden) and Canada in the late 1980s and early 1990s. ... Doom metal is a form of heavy metal that emerged as a recognised subgenre in the mid-1980s. ...

External link

• Ajattara's official website
• Ajattara Lyrics