Kasperi Heikkinen (born 1980) is a guitar player who is best known as a member of Finnish

symphonic power metal Symphonic metal is a cross-generic style designation for the symphonic subsets of heavy metal music subgenres. It is used to denote any metal band that makes use of symphonic or orchestral elements. The style features the heavy drums and guitar ...

band

Amberian Dawn Amberian Dawn is a Finnish symphonic power metal band, formed in 2006 by Tuomas Seppälä and Tommi Kuri. Their fifth album '' Re-Evolution'' (a re-recorded compilation with a new singer) was released on KHY Suomen Musiikki & Encore Music in sum ...

. He played in the band from early 2007 until late 2012. He is also the guitarist for Finnish metal bands Merging Flare and Guardians of Mankind, which is a

Gamma Ray A gamma ray, also known as gamma radiation (symbol γ or \gamma), is a penetrating form of electromagnetic radiation arising from the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei. It consists of the shortest wavelength electromagnetic waves, typically ...

tribute band. Heikkinen performed with German metal band

U.D.O. U.D.O. is a German heavy metal band founded by lead vocalist Udo Dirkschneider in 1987. History Following Udo Dirkschneider's departure from Accept in 1987, he formed his own band called U.D.O. He recruited guitarists Mathias Dieth and Peter ...

from 2013 until 2017. He currently resides in

Helsinki, Finland Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the capital, primate, and most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of Uusimaa in southern Finland, and has a population of . The city' ...

. As a touring musician, Heikkinen has played on part of the German

Power Metal Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in contra ...

band

's Majestic tour in 2006 following an injury to

Henjo Richter Henjo Oliver Richter, (born 24 November 1963 in Hamburg, West Germany) is a guitarist and keyboardist in Gamma Ray (band), Gamma Ray, the German power metal band formed by Kai Hansen. Biography Henjo is a self-taught musician and started playing ...

. On their most recent to the Metal-tour, Heikkinen replaced Henjo Richter once again for shows scheduled in Germany and Czech Republic in March 2010. He also shared stage with his fellow axemen Hansen and Richter making "a three guitar special" for the encore numbers at the Nosturi club in Helsinki, Finland on 29 March 2010. In 2015, Heikkinen was brought into a new symphonic metal band called Beast in Black by fellow Finnish guitar player Anton Kabanen. Beast in Black released their debut album in November 2017 by the metal label Nuclear Blast.

Discography

With Merging Flare

* ''Reverence'', Disentertainment (2011) * ''Beyond The Blackhole/Under The Fire'', Split-EP (Guardians of Mankind / Merging Flare), Imperiumi Records (2007) * ''Hell To Pay'', Promo-EP (2005) * ''S/T'', Promo-EP (2003)

With Amberian Dawn

* ''Circus Black'', Spinefarm (2012) * ''

End of Eden ''End of Eden'' is the third studio album by Amberian Dawn, and the first released on Spinefarm Records, previous albums having been released on KHY Suomen Musiikki. The album was released on 20 October 2010, but was preceded by its online single ...

'', Spinefarm (2010) * ''

The Clouds of Northland Thunder ''The Clouds of Northland Thunder'' is the second full-length studio album by Finnish symphonic power metal band Amberian Dawn. It was released 13 May 2009. Its single, "He Sleeps in a Grove", was the third Amberian Dawn song to have a music vid ...

'', Suomen Musiikki (2009) * ''

River of Tuoni ''River of Tuoni'' is the debut full-length studio album by Finnish symphonic power metal band Amberian Dawn. The songs "River of Tuoni" and "My Only Star" from the album were the first Amberian Dawn tracks to have a music video recorded, in Ma ...

'', Suomen Musiikki (2008)

With Elenium

* ''Them Used Gods'', Self Financed EP (2002) * ''For Giving For Getting'', Rage of Achilles (2003) * ''Caught in Wheel'', Kampas Records (2007)

With U.D.O.

* ''Steelhammer'', AFM Records (2013) * ''Decadent'', AFM Records (2015)

With Beast in Black

*''Berserker'', Nuclear Blast (2017) *''From Hell with Love'', Nuclear Blast (2019) *''Dark Connection'', Nuclear Blast (2021)

Other

* Conquest: ''The Harvest'', self-financed (2011) * Heavy Metal Perse: "Eripura", Dethrone Music (2006), guest guitar solo on track #4 "Pahaksi Parkittu Lalli" * Heavy Metal Perse / Guardians of Mankind: ''Legenda Taikamiekasta/Kuninkaidenlaakso'', Split-EP, Imperiumi Records (2004) * Omnium Gatherum: "Spirits And August Light", Rage of Achilles (2002), guest guitar solo on track #3 "The Perfumed Garden" * Dark Sarah: "Attack of Orym", Riena Productions (2023), guest guitar solo on track #3 "Invincible" and track #7 "Delirium"

Equipment

Kasperi Heikkinen is on the artist roster of

Ibanez is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as ...

guitars and uses the following models: * Ibanez Jem77FP * Ibanez Jem77BRMR * Ibanez Jem77VBK * Ibanez Jem777LNG * Ibanez UV777PBK * Ibanez UV7PWH * Ibanez UV777GR * Ibanez UV77MC * Ibanez PGM100RE * Ibanez RGT320QRBB * Ibanez Rocket Roll (Flying V) Heikkinen uses

Mesa/Boogie Mesa/Boogie (also known as Mesa Engineering) is an American company in Petaluma, California, that manufactures amplifiers and other accessories for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969. Mesa was started by Randall Smith as a sm ...

amplification exclusively. * Mesa/Boogie TriAxis Preamp * Mesa/Boogie 2:50 Amp * Mesa/Boogie Rectifier 4x12 cabinet Effects and accessories *

TC Electronics TC Electronic (sometimes stylized as t.c. electronic) is a Danish audio equipment company that designs and imports guitar effects, bass amplification, computer audio interfaces, audio plug-in software, live sound equalisers, studio and post-pr ...

G-Major multi-effect processor

References

External links

Kasperi Heikkinen's MyspaceAmberian Dawn Official WebsiteMerging Flare Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heikkinen, Kasperi Amberian Dawn members 1980 births Finnish guitarists Finnish heavy metal guitarists Finnish male guitarists Living people Rhythm guitarists U.D.O. members