The Details: One of the shows that I look forward to each and every Metal year that goes by is the Paganfest America Tour because it brings to the stage an interesting grouping of acts that one will not normally easily see on these shores. Headlining this go round will be Finland’s Ensiferum and they’ll be joined by Tyr (Faroe Islands), Heidevolk (Netherlands), Trollfest (Norway) and Hellsott (USA). I can hardly contain the excitement. That being said, I am proud to announce that in loyal allegiance with the folks at Livenation, that the House of PiercingMetal shall be putting some true warriors into this battle worthy show. Read on how to participate my legions.
When and Where: Sunday April 21st at The Gramercy Theatre (127 East 23rd Street, NYC)
To Participate: About a month ago I did a contest for the Soilwork show and asked the readers to build me the “Ultimate Gothenburg” style Metal band and since that angle worked so well, I am mixing it up a little bit and saying in order to enter this contest to please build me the “Ultimate Pagan Metal” band. Now you have a lot of room with this because not only do we get conventional vocals, guitars, bass and drums but also keyboards, violins, pipes and other interesting instruments. I will be selecting a few of the most interesting submissions so put your clever hat on or sharpen your broadsword in this case and let me have it. Mind you only living musicians can be used and I will want you to tell me why this lineup works best. I’ll be letting the victorious know right below their submission. Remember to enter your full real name and an email address in the comment form so we can properly reach you but don’t put them in the comment itself out of privacy concerns. It also never hurts to subscribe to the comments for the duration of the contest.
Restrictions: While all PiercingMetal.com contests are open to our regional site readers, we do look at new responders first in order to give everyone a fair shot at enjoying a show on the provider and us. Of course we still encourage all to respond because you never know just how many tickets we are offering. Anonymous or Guest submissions while approved are not eligible.
Official Links:
Ensiferum: http://www.ensiferum.com/
Tyr: https://www.facebook.com/tyrband
Heidevolk: http://www.heidevolk.com/
Trollfest: http://www.trollfest.com/
Helsott: http://helsott.com/
Gramercy Theatre: http://www.thegramercytheatre.com
For the last few years this kind of Metal has been among my favorite and there are so many amazing bands to choose from in their mix. This show’s main bands have quite a few releases so I’ve embedded a healthy amount for you to investigate and purchase. All of this will make the invasion of enemy lands a righteous symphony of glory for your armies.
Vocals -vreath(finntroll) guitar-kay (eluvitie) bass-sami hinka(ensiferuim) violin- oli(turisas) accordion- netta skog (ex turisas) drums – fredrick ( amon amarth)
My Ultimate Pagan Band would be:
-Jari Mäenpää: Vocals and Guitar
Who wouldn’t choose Jari, former member of the amazing Ensiferum and current member of my favorite band (who I was lucky enough to see in NY and Boston) Wintersun. Not only is Jari’s melodic rifts and amazing guitar solos one of a kind, he is personally one of the best vocalist and lyricist.
-Tuomas Rounakari from Korpiklaani who plays the violin because what kind of ultimate band doesn’t have a violin player.
-Ville Sorvali from Moonsorrow on bass and his cousin Henri “Trollhorn” Sorvali also from Moonsorrow, together the two will create amazing folk rifts influenced by melodic black metal.
-Samu “Beast Dominator” who plays the drums for Finntroll.
-Patrick Kistler on the bagpipes from Eluveitie.
I think this would be the ultimate Pagan band!
Fantastic selections Valentina and enough for the win of one of our tickets to the Paganfest this Sunday. Please stay tuned to the comments for the details on how to claim your ticket.
Pagan Supergroup:
Vocals: Tapio Wilska (ex-Finntroll)
Guitars: Petri Lindroos (Ensiferum)
Guitars: Ivo Henzi (Eluveitie)
Bass: Jukka Koskinen (Wintersun)
Drums: Kai Hahto (Wintersun)
Synth: Henri Sorvali (Moonsorrow)
A folk melodic DM experience.
Vocalist: Arkadius Antonik – Suidakra – Intense harsh vocals
are sexy
Drummer: Fredrik Andersson – Amon Amarth – When has he ever
let anyone down?
Violinist: Olli – Turisas – High energy violinist and famous
for his violin solos.
Bagpipe: Lauri -Metsatoll + flutes – Bagpipe and flute
player, two for the price of one!
Keyboardist: Emmi Silvennoinen – Ensiferum – Amazing when she
windmills while she plays!
Hurdy Gurdy: Anna Murphy -Eluviete– An epic band needs a
hurdy gurdy and how many women do you know that can play one?
Bass: Jarkko Aaltonen – Korpiklaani – This guys plays
all natural, doesn’t even bother wearing shoes, that’s how pagan he is.
Guitar: “Skrymer” – Finntroll – Hes hot. Gotta keep the ladies happy!
Wow that is a lineup I want to see in concert and hear a recording of so congratulations Alyssa you have won a ticket for the Paganfest America show on Sunday. Please stay tuned to the comments for details on how to claim your ticket.
Vocalist: Tomi Joutsen – Amorphis
The guy has the one of the best clean voices and growls in the industry.
Lead Guitar: Mark Jansen – Epica, After Forever
He’s got serious talent and the charisma to back it up
Rhythm Guitar: Olavi Mikkonen
Listen to his stuff in Death in Fire. In fact, listen to ANYTHING in Amon Amarth and he’s an automatic great addition.
Keyboards: (I honestly had a tough time with this one) Henri Sorvali – Moonsorrow, Finntroll
No matter what band he’s in, he adds an unmistakable atmosphere that enhances the music without being overpowering.
Bagpipes and Flutes: Sevan Kirder – Ex-Eluveitie, Red Shamrock
His presence in Eluveitie is still missed, but his work in his current band is enough to make me wanna folk dance everywhere.
Violin: Meri Tadic – Eluveitie
Lovely and humble, she is as skilled with her instrument as she is at windmilling. Haha.
Bass and backing vocals: Sami Hinka – Ensiferum
The guy is amazing at what he does! Plus he plays without a pick and that’s something I appreciate in a bassist.
Drummer: Merlin Sutter – Eluveitie
Another card taken from my favorite band, and probably one of my main influences as far as percussion goes.
Forgot to mention Olavi Mikkonen is from Amon Amarth. Haha, My apologies.
Knjaz Varggoth (Nokturnal Mortum)
– Vocals
Jari Maenpaa (Wintersun)
– Guitar
Ville Sorlavi (Moonsorrow)
– Bass
Beast Dominator (Finntroll)
– Drums
Inia Dinia (Negura Bunget)
– Keyboards
Tuomas Rounakari (Korpiklaani)
– Violin
Varulven (Metsatoll)
– Estonian Bagpipes
Ultimate Pagan Metal band. Folk metal with a touch of black metal but pure epicness from different countries… All I would have needed was Quorthon but he isn’t alive… RIV
Ray Luna n.ylunatic@hotmail.com
Interesting Ray. Very interesting and simply put this has allowed you to win one of our tickets for the Sunday Paganfest. This will be a good one. Stay tuned to the comments for the full details on how to claim your ticket.
Vocalist- Vratyas Vakyas (Falkenbach) – Great Harsh and Anthemic Clean Vocals
Guitar – Jari Maenpaa (Ensiferum, Wintersum) – Versatility (Guitar, Harsh and Clean Vocals)
Guitar – Skyrmer (Finntroll) – Mixes Up the Triumphed Riffs with the “Grimmer” Riffs
Bass – Sami Hinkka (Ensiferum) – Plays More than Just Basic Bass Lines Plus He Has Great Clean Vocals
Drums – Kai Hahto (Wintersun) – He Isn’t Afraid to Play Blast Beats Which Gives Him Diversity Amongst his Peers
Keyboards – Trollhorn (Finntroll, Moonsorrow)- His Sound Is Atmospheric; 1 Second You Feel Like You Are Drinking Mead With Your Friends and Then You Feel Like You Are Alone In a Dark Forest
This Right Hear Would Make a Great Folk Metal Band with a Touch of Back to Spice It Up With Its Dark Atmosphere
Yowza this sounds like a killer band for sure. Someone take all of these submissions and lets get some recording going. With that in mind congratulations Arthur as you have won one of our tickets to Paganfest this Sunday. Stay tuned to the comments for the full details on how to claim your ticket.
Contest closed so please no more submissions. Congratulations to all of our winners. On the day of show, please bring proper identification to the Gramercy Theatre box office and ask for the Livenation guest list. Should you encounter any difficulty, ask for an onsite manager and reference that this contest was done in cooperation with Livenation Marketing and PiercingMetal.com; I’ll be at this one as well, let’s raise the swords high for Metal!!!!