Background information
Origin	Helsinki, Finland
Genre(s)	Melodic black metal Extreme power metal[1] Progressive metal[2] Folk Metal
Years active	2004 - Present
Label(s)	Nuclear Blast
Associated acts	Ensiferum
Website	www.wintermadness.net
Members
Jari Mäenpää Teemu Mäntysaari Jukka Koskinen Kai Hahto
Former members
Oliver Fokin[3]

Wintersun is a Finnish melodic black metal band with power metal influences, founded by ex-Ensiferum frontman, Jari Mäenpää. Image File history File links Wintersun. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... Helsinki (pronounced with the stress on the first syllable in Finnish — think Helsin Ki), or Helsingfors in Swedish, is the capital of Finland. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Melodic black metal is a sub-genre of black metal. ... DragonForce is a power metal band from London. ... Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music which blends the powerful, guitar-driven sound of metal with the complex compositional structures, odd time signatures, and intricate instrumental playing of progressive rock. ... Folk metal is a diverse collection of music, encompassing a wide variety of different styles and approaches. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For nuclear detonations, see nuclear explosion. ... Ensiferum (Latin ensÄ­fÄ•rum (neuter adjective) meaning sword bearing) is a Viking / Folk metal band from Helsinki, Finland. ... Jari Mäenpää, (born December 23, 1977 in Finland) is the founder of progressive metal band Wintersun in which he performs vocals and plays guitar. ... Teemu Mäntysaari is a guitarist for the Finnish bands Wintersun and Imperanon. ... Jukka Koskinen is the bassist for the Power Metal band Norther, and the Folk/Viking Metal band Wintersun. ... Kai Hahto is the drummer for the Folk/Viking Metal band Wintersun. ... Melodic black metal is a sub-genre of black metal. ... Power metal is a style of heavy metal music typically with the aim of evoking an epic feel, combining characteristics of traditional metal with thrash metal or speed metal, often within symphonic context. ... Ensiferum (Latin ensÄ­fÄ•rum (neuter adjective) meaning sword bearing) is a Viking / Folk metal band from Helsinki, Finland. ... Jari Mäenpää, (born December 23, 1977 in Finland) is the founder of progressive metal band Wintersun in which he performs vocals and plays guitar. ...

History

The first Wintersun album was supposed to be a side project of Ensiferum member Jari Mäenpää. However, the Ensiferum Europe tour was unfortunately scheduled for the same time with recordings of Wintersun. Mäenpää was forced to choose between his booked recording time for Wintersun and Ensiferum; he chose Wintersun and was forced to leave Ensiferum behind. Wintersun was produced solely by Jari Mäenpää himself, with only a session drummer (Kai Hahto) to perform the drums and percussion. Jari performed the vocals, bass, guitars and synth alone. On September 13, 2004 self-titled Wintersun album was released through Nuclear Blast Records. In popular music, a side-project is a project undertaken by one (or several) person already known for their involvement in another band. ... Ensiferum (Latin ensÄ­fÄ•rum (neuter adjective) meaning sword bearing) is a Viking / Folk metal band from Helsinki, Finland. ... Jari Mäenpää, (born December 23, 1977 in Finland) is the founder of progressive metal band Wintersun in which he performs vocals and plays guitar. ... Wintersun, released on September 13, 2004, is the first release and full-length album by the progressive metal[3] band Wintersun. ... Kai Hahto is the drummer for the Folk/Viking Metal band Wintersun. ... is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For nuclear detonations, see nuclear explosion. ...

According to their website, the band started to record their next full-length release entitled Time at Sonic Pump Studios in May of 2006. The mixing was meant to take place in the autumn of 2006, but had to be delayed until May 2007. In April 2007, a further delay has been announced, pushing the album's release date to 2008. Time is the second full-length album by the Finnish progressive metal[3] band Wintersun. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Band line-up

Current members

• Jari Mäenpää − vocals, guitar (studio keyboards, bass on Wintersun)
• Teemu Mäntysaari − guitar
• Jukka Koskinen − bass
• Kai Hahto − drums

Jari Mäenpää, (born December 23, 1977 in Finland) is the founder of progressive metal band Wintersun in which he performs vocals and plays guitar. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... An electric guitar is a type of guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into electrical current, which is then amplified. ... An electronic keyboard. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, popping or using a pick. ... Teemu Mäntysaari is a guitarist for the Finnish bands Wintersun and Imperanon. ... An electric guitar is a type of guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into electrical current, which is then amplified. ... Jukka Koskinen is the bassist for the Power Metal band Norther, and the Folk/Viking Metal band Wintersun. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, popping or using a pick. ... Kai Hahto is the drummer for the Folk/Viking Metal band Wintersun. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments arranged for convenience playing by a single drummer. ...

Former members

• Oliver Fokin − guitar^[3]

Discography

Demo albums

• Winter Madness (2004)

Winter Madness is the first demo release by the Finnish melodic death metal band Wintersun. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Studio albums

• Wintersun (2004)
• Time (2008)

Wintersun, released on September 13, 2004, is the first release and full-length album by the progressive metal[3] band Wintersun. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Time is the second full-length album by the Finnish progressive metal[3] band Wintersun. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Live albums

• Wintersun: Tour Edition (2006)

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Videography

• "Beyond the Dark Sun" - Wintersun (2004)
• Live at Summer Breeze 2005 - DVD (2005)

Beyond the Dark Sun is the first track on Wintersuns debut and self-titled album Wintersun. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official Wintersun website
• Record Label
• Official Wintersun MySpace page
• Listen to samples
• Wintersun: Tour Edition discography listed on the French Amazon page.
• Hungarian fanpage

References

1. ^ *http://metalstorm.ee/bands/band.php?band_id=425&bandname=Wintersun
2. ^ *http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2548
3. ^ ^{a b} *http://www.getreadytorock.com/pure_metal/wintersun_interview.htm