View source for Ajattara

{{Short description|Finnish black metal band}}
{{For|the evil female spirit|Ajatar}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Ajattara
| image           =
| caption         = Ajattara's current line-up
| alias           =
| origin          = [[Helsinki, Finland]]
| genre           = [[Black metal]]
| years_active    = 1996–2012, 2016-present
| label           = [[Spinefarm Records|Spinefarm]], Osasto-A
| website         = [http://www.ajattara.fi Official website]
| current_members = [[#Line-up|See below]]
}}
'''Ajattara''' is a [[sextet]] [[black metal]] band from [[Helsinki, Finland]] led by [[Pasi Koskinen]] (ex [[Amorphis]]). They formed in 1996, split up in 2012, and reformed in 2016. They were signed to [[Spinefarm Records]] and have released eight albums, their most recent being ''[[Lupaus]]'', which was released in May 2017.
==History==
Ajattara formed in 1996 as a [[side project]] of [[Amorphis]] singer [[Pasi Koskinen]].<ref name="Rivadavia">Rivadavia, Eduardo "[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p645293/biography|pure_url=yes}} Ajattara Biography]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation</ref> Their first release was a demo tape entitled ''Helvetissä on syntisen taivas'' which was released in 1998. The band then signed to [[Spinefarm Records|Spikefarm Records]] and went on to release three albums - ''[[Itse]]'' in 2001, ''[[Kuolema (album)|Kuolema]]'' in 2003 and ''[[Tyhjyys]]'' in 2004. These albums were met with largely good reviews.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} Ajattara released the Christmas singles "Ilon juhla" in November 2004 and "Joulu" in November 2005. The band then went on to release another album in 2006, entitled ''[[Äpäre]]'', which was met with similar reviews as their last three albums.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/ajattara.html|title = AJATTARA|date = 17 April 2006|accessdate = 16 October 2014|website = TARTAREAN DESIRE WEBZINE|publisher = |last = John|first = Juliane}}</ref> The band continued with the Christmas single tradition of 2004 and 2005 by releasing a single entitled ''Sika'' in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metalfromfinland.com/interviews/161 |title=Interview with Pasi Koskinen of Ajattara |date=March 2006 |accessdate=16 October 2014 |website=Metal Finland |last=Tolkki |first=Tero |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021225855/http://www.metalfromfinland.com/interviews/161 |archivedate=21 October 2014 }}</ref>
The band entered the studio on 1 June 2007 to begin recording on the album ''[[Kalmanto]]'' which was released on 5 September 2007. However, this album was not met with such good reviews as Ajattara's other albums, as some critics said the album sounded chaotic and forced.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.metal.tm/review/Ajattara_Murhat_777.html|title=CD Review: Ajattara - Murhat|last=K.|first=Enrico|date=12 February 2011|website=Metal.tm|publisher=|accessdate=16 October 2014}}</ref> In April 2009 Ajattara released their sixth album entitled ''[[Noitumaa]]'', this time being an all-acoustic album, which received clearly better reviews than the previous release.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://metalzine.synthasite.com/ajattara---noitumma-review.php |title=REVIEW: Noitumaa (Ajattara) |accessdate=2011-01-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716175717/http://metalzine.synthasite.com/ajattara---noitumma-review.php |archivedate=16 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=13743&lang=en|title=Lords of Metal ezine|publisher=}}</ref> In 2011 the band released their seventh studio album ''[[Murhat]]''.
The band made an announcement on its [[Facebook]] page on 15 April 2012 that it had split up for reasons unknown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/ajattara/posts/10150781499275190 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/68929965189/10150781499275190 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=AJATTARA - THE END - Facebook|website=[[Facebook]] |publisher=}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/ajattara/posts/10150781493320190 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/68929965189/10150781493320190 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=AJATTARA - AJATTARA lopetti olemasta!!!Painukaa vittuun... - Facebook|website=[[Facebook]] |publisher=}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
On 23 March 2016 the band made an announcement on their [[Facebook]] page that they will be playing at the Norwegian [[Blastfest]] in February 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ajattara/posts/10154828699165190 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/68929965189/10154828699165190 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=AJATTARA - There ya go...|website=[[Facebook]] |publisher=}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Shortly after, on 9 May 2016, Pasi Koskinen announced the reunion of the band, announcing further live dates including [[Nummirock]] 2016 in Finland and [[Satan's Convention]] 2017 in Germany.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ajattara/posts/10154945641865190|title=AJATTARA - ITSE RUOJA SURUNTUOJA is back.|website=[[Facebook]]|publisher=}}</ref>
In May 2017 the band released ''[[Lupaus]]'', their eighth studio album and first since their reformation.
==Musical style==
Ajattara combine elements of [[black metal]] to produce a style of black metal not dissimilar to [[Celtic Frost]], and to a lesser extent [[Samael (band)|Samael]]. The combined use of [[synthesisers]] and heavy guitar sounds give Ajattara a distinct sound. The lyrical themes of Ajattara usually deal with death, evil and [[paganism]].
==Line-up==
===Current members===
* [[Pasi Koskinen|Ruoja]] ― [[lead vocals]] (1996-2012, 2016-present) [[rhythm guitar]] (1996—2009); [[studio]] [[electric keyboards|keyboards]] (1996—2004)
* Kalmos (Vesa Wahlroos) ― [[lead guitar]], [[backing vocals]] (2006—2012, 2016—present)
* [[Juha Harju|Tohtori Kuolio]] ― [[bass guitar]], backing vocals (2007—2012, 2016—present)
* Raajat (Janne Immonen) ― keyboards, backing vocals (2007—2012, 2016—present)
* Tartunta (Mynni Luukkainen) ― rhythm guitar (2009—2012, 2016—present)
* Malakias 6,8 (Rainer Tuomikanto) ― [[drums]] (2011—2012, 2016—present)
===Session member===
*Lempo (Iiro Illman) ― [[electric guitar|guitar]] (2018-)
===Former members===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
====Guitar====
* Ismonster ([[Ismo Liljelund]]) - ?
* Samuel Lempo ([[Tomi Koivusaari]]) - (2005-2006)
====Bass====
* Atoni ([[Toni Laroma]]) - (1996-2007)
{{col-3}}
====Keyboards====
* Ikkala ([[Jarmo Ikala]]) - ?
* Akir Kalmo ([[Aki Räty]]) - ?
* Irstas ([[Kalle Sundström]]) - (2004-2007)
{{col-3}}
====Drums====
* Orpo ([[Pekka Kasari]]) - ?
* Malakias I ([[Pekka Sauvolainen]]) - (1996-2003)
* Malakias II ([[Jan Rechberger]]) - (2003-2004)
* Malakias III ([[Atte Sarkima]]) - (2004-2007)
* Malakias IV ([[Tonmi Lillman]]) - (2007–2011) † (died in 2012<ref name="Tonmi's death">{{cite web|title=Former TO/DIE/FOR And SINERGY Drummer TONMI LILLMAN Dead At 38 |url=http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=169787 |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |accessdate=15 February 2012 |date=15 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217211934/http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=169787 |archivedate=17 February 2012 }}</ref>)
{{col-end}}
=== Timeline ===
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea = left:175 bottom:100 top:0 right:15
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat  = mm/dd/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1996 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1996
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1996
Colors =
id:vocals      value:red      legend:Vocals
id:guitars     value:green    legend:Guitars
id:bass        value:blue     legend:Bass
id:drums       value:orange   legend:Drums
id:keyboards   value:purple   legend:Keyboards
id:lines       value:black    legend:Studio_Album
LineData =
at:03/23/2001 color:black layer:back
at:03/24/2003 color:black layer:back
at:10/13/2004 color:black layer:back
at:03/22/2006 color:black layer:back
at:09/05/2007 color:black layer:back
at:04/22/2009 color:black layer:back
at:02/02/2011 color:black layer:back
at:05/12/2017 color:black layer:back
BarData =
bar:Ruoja text:"Pasi 'Ruoja' Koskinen"
bar:Samuel text:"Tomi 'Samuel Lempo' Koivusaari"
bar:Kalmos text:"Vesa 'Kalmos' Wahlroos"
bar:Tartunta text:"Mynni 'Tartunta' Luukkainen"
bar:Atoni text:"Toni 'Atoni' Laroma"
bar:Kuolio text:"Juha 'Tohtori Kuolio' Harju"
bar:MalakiasI text:"Pekka 'Malakias I' Sauvolainen"
bar:MalakiasII text:"Jan 'Malakias II' Rechberger"
bar:MalakiasIII text:"Atte 'Malakias III' Sarkima"
bar:MalakiasIV text:"Tommi Kristian 'Malakias IV' Lillman"
bar:Malakias68 text:"Rainer 'Malakias 6,8' Tuomikanto"
bar:Irstas text:"Kalle 'Irstas' Sundström"
bar:Raajat text:"Janne 'Raajat' Immonen"
PlotData=
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)
bar:Ruoja       from:start till:04/15/2012 color:vocals
bar:Ruoja       from:05/09/2016 till:end color:vocals
bar:Ruoja       from:start till:07/01/2009 color:guitars width:3
bar:Samuel      from:10/01/2005 till:12/31/2006 color:guitars
bar:Kalmos      from:01/01/2007 till:04/15/2012 color:guitars
bar:Kalmos      from:05/09/2016 till:end color:guitars
bar:Tartunta    from:07/01/2009 till:04/15/2012 color:guitars
bar:Tartunta    from:05/09/2016 till:end color:guitars
bar:Atoni       from:start till:02/01/2007 color:bass
bar:Kuolio      from:02/01/2007 till:04/15/2012 color:bass
bar:Kuolio      from:05/09/2016 till:end color:bass
bar:MalakiasI   from:start till:05/01/2003 color:drums
bar:MalakiasII  from:05/01/2003 till:05/01/2004 color:drums
bar:MalakiasIII from:05/01/2004 till:02/01/2007 color:drums
bar:MalakiasIV  from:02/01/2007 till:04/01/2011 color:drums
bar:Malakias68  from:04/01/2011 till:04/15/2012 color:drums
bar:Malakias68  from:05/09/2016 till:end color:drums
bar:Irstas      from:05/01/2004 till:02/01/2007 color:keyboards
bar:Raajat      from:02/01/2007 till:04/15/2012 color:keyboards
bar:Raajat      from:05/09/2016 till:end color:keyboards
}}
==Discography==
'''Studio albums'''
* ''[[Itse]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Kuolema (album)|Kuolema]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Tyhjyys]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Äpäre]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Kalmanto]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Noitumaa]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Murhat]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Lupaus]]'' (2017)
'''Compilation albums'''
* ''Joululevy'' (2009)
'''Demo albums'''
* ''Helvetissä on syntisen taivas'' (1998)
'''Singles'''
* "Ilon juhla" (2004)
* "Joulu" (2005)
* "Sika" (2006)
* "Tulppaani" (2007)
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929192723/http://www.ajattara.fi/ Ajattara's official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071012110233/http://spinefarm.fi/showband.php?id=7 Ajattara's page on Spinefarm Records]
* [http://www.myspace.com/ajattara Ajattara's page on MySpace]
* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=2052 Ajattara's page on the Encyclopedia Metallum]
* [http://www.last.fm/music/Ajattara Ajattara's page at Last.fm]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081012063002/http://www.metalfromfinland.com/Ajattara Ajattara] at Metal From Finland
{{Ajattara}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ajattara}}
[[Category:Finnish black metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Finnish musical sextets]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Helsinki]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1996]]