The Black League was a heavy metal band from Finland. They were formed in 1998 by

Taneli Jarva Taneli Jarva is a Finnish musician born in Oulu, Northern Finland. He was the vocalist and bass player of the heavy metal band Sentenced from 1991 until leaving the group in 1995, citing creative differences. In 1998, Jarva formed The Black ...

, three years after his departure from Finnish metal band

Sentenced Sentenced was a Finnish gothic metal band that played melodic death metal in their early years. The band formed in 1989 in the town of Muhos and broke up in 2005. History Early years (1988–1991) Sentenced started in 1988 as Deformity and c ...

. The Black League's first two full-lengths carry on the spirit from Taneli's work with his former band, seasoning their metal with elements of traditional rock 'n' roll. On their third release, ''Man's Ruin Revisited'', these influences take an even more prominent role in their sound. In October 2014, Taneli Jarva pronounced of his decision to call the band the quits due to "lack of personal inspiration".

Band members

– lead vocals (1998–2014) * Maike Valanne – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1998–2014) * Heavy Hiltunen – lead guitar (2005–2014) * Ilkka Tanska – bass (2005–2014) * Rale Tiiainen – drums (2005–2014)

Previous members

* Alexi Ranta – lead guitar (1998–2005) * Mikko Laurila (a.k.a. Florida) – bass (1998–2005) * Kimmo Luttinen (a.k.a. Sir Luttinen) – drums (1998–2005)

Session members

* Lene Leinonen – bass (live 2004)

Discography

Demos

*''Demo 98'' (1998)

Singles

*''

Cold Women & Warm Beer The Black League was a heavy metal band from Finland. They were formed in 1998 by Taneli Jarva, three years after his departure from Finnish metal band Sentenced. The Black League's first two full-lengths carry on the spirit from Taneli's work ...

'' (2003)

EPs

*''

Doomsday Sun The Black League was a heavy metal band from Finland. They were formed in 1998 by Taneli Jarva, three years after his departure from Finnish metal band Sentenced. The Black League's first two full-lengths carry on the spirit from Taneli's work ...

'' (2001)

Albums

* '' Ichor'' (2000) * ''

Utopia A.D. ''Utopia A.D.'' is The Black League's second full-length album, released in 2001 by Spinefarm Records Spinefarm Records is a Finnish independent record label focusing mainly on heavy metal artists. It is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. ...

'' (2001) * ''

Man's Ruin Revisited ''Man's Ruin Revisited'' is The Black League's third full-length album, released in 2004 by Spinefarm Records. Track listing #"Old World Monkey" (Jarva et al.) - 3:17 #"Alive & Dead" (Luttinen, Jarva et al.) - 3:17 #"Cold Women and Warm Beer ...

'' (2004) * ''A Place Called Bad'' (2005) * ''Ghost Brothel'' (2009)

Videography

* ''Winter Winds Sing'' (2000) * ''Rex Talionis'' (2002) * ''Same Ol' Fuckery'' (2005) * ''The Pusher'' (2007) * ''The Beast Is a Riddle'' (2009)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Black League, The 1998 establishments in Finland Finnish heavy metal musical groups Musical groups established in 1998 Musical quintets