Äio is a release from Estonian

folk metal Folk metal is a fusion genre of heavy metal music and traditional folk music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. It is characterised by the widespread use of folk instruments and, to a lesser extent, traditional singing styles (for exampl ...

band

Metsatöll Metsatöll (from – 'forest' and ''töll'' – 'four-legged being', used in Western Estonia as an euphemism for "wolf" or "werewolf") is an Estonian heavy metal band formed in 1999. The band has been influenced by many musical groups along ...

, released worldwide in 2010 on

Spinefarm Records Spinefarm Records is a Finnish independent record label focusing mainly on heavy metal artists. It is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. History Spinefarm Records was originally founded in 1990 by Riku Pääkkönen as a mail-order distrib ...

. It features heavy use of traditional instruments such as the , , , and , in addition to the typical metal band instrumentation (electric guitars, bass, drums, etc.)

Reception

In the May 2010 issue of Terrorizer magazine, writer James Hoare spoke with vocalist/piper Lauri "Varulven". Lauri is quoted as saying "No other countries have such good researchers of traditional culture and

folklore Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging ...

than among oppressed peoples." Hoare also went on to praise the release, giving special note to the

choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which ...

; the Estonian National Male Choir participated on the track "Ema hääl kutsub".

Track listing

Personnel

Metsatöll

*Markus: vocals,

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

s, *Lauri "Varulven": vocals, acoustic guitars,

flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

s, , , , mouth harp *Kuriraivo: bass, bass

mandolin A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of 8 ...

, shrieks, screaming *Atso:

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

percussion A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Exc ...

, vocals

Additional Musicians

*The Estonian National Male Choir is: Mati Valdaru, Jaan Krivel, Lembit Tolga, Arvo Aun, Erkki Targo, Olev Koit, Rene Keldo, Margus Vaht, Meelis Hainsoo, Mait Männik, Peeter Hillep, Olari Viikholm, Andres Alamaa, Rasmus Erismaa, Geir Luht and Aare Kruusimäe *Choir Arranged By Tauno Aints & Conducted By Andrus Siimon

Production

*Produced by Metsatöll *Recorded and engineered by Mikko Karmila (drums) and Kristo Kotkas (vocals, guitars, bass, choir) *Mixed by Mikko Karmila *Mastered by Mika Jussila

External links

Recording & Personnel Information on Metsatoll's website, in English
Retrieved 7/04/2010

Retrieved 07/04/2010 {{DEFAULTSORT:Aio 2010 albums Spinefarm Records albums