Estonian folk-metal band Metsatöll will be releasing three albums from their catalog digitally on November 5. The band will release the new single “Lööme Mesti” (“Together”) on November 19, which will appear on their upcoming album, due out in March. They will embark on a U.S. tour this fall, so there is plenty of activity in the Metsatöll universe this fall and through the end of 2013.
Albums Äio (2010), Ulg (2011) and Tuska (2012) will see digital release on November 5.
If you’re not familiar with this unique and difficult-to-classify band, which is a badge of honor and a nod to their genre-bending, flip-the-script style, here’s a brief history lesson.
Their humble beginnings are as such: On February 24, 1999, three men held a meeting at the borders of the Pääsküla bog (Tallinn suburbs), in the singer and guitar player Markus’ basement, one of whom could play a little bit of guitar, another who knew how to play a little bit of drums, and a third who had come up with a sufficiently ancient-sounding name that would be just right for a heavy metal band – “Metsatöll.”
The name “Metsatöll” is an ancient Estonian euphemism for wolf.
The thought soon turned into reality and over the next few days four or five songs were composed and a couple of months later, there was an entire album’s worth of material
The demo album Terast mis hangunud me hinge was released in the autumn of 1999. Soon afterwards, Lauri joined the band, bringing with him a second guitar, the torupill (bagpipes), kannels, zithers and flutes.
Metsatöll’s current line-up was finalized in 2004, when drummer Atso took up the place behind the kit. That same year, the band crushed all previous sales records for an Estonian metal artist and won Metsatöll the Best Metal Act 2005 award at the Estonian Music Awards ceremony. They have won the award five times in a row.
Metsatöll have toured the U.S. three times prior.
If you’ve not heard of the band yet, well, now is your chance to expand your sonic palette, as three albums are being issued digitally and they will be touring North American shores through mid-December.
TOUR DATES:
Finntroll, Blackguard and Metsatoll
11/4/2013 — West Springfield , VA — Empire
11/5/2013 — New York City, NY — Stage 48
11/6/2013 — Montreal QC — Club Soda
11/7/2013 — Quebec City — Imperial de Quebec
11/8/2013 — Ottawa, ON — Mavericks
11/9/2013 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium
11/10/2013 — Pittsburgh, PA — Altar Bar
11/11/2013 — Cleveland, OH — Agora Ballroom
11/12/2013 — London, ON — Rum Runners
11/13/2013 — Joliet, IL — Mojoes
11/14/2013 — Minneapolis, MN — Mill City Nights
11/15/2013 — Winnipeg , MB — The Zoo
11/16/2013 — Regina, SK — The Exchange
11/17/2013 — Calgary, AL — The Republik
11/18/2013 — Edmonton, AL — Pawn Shop
11/20/2013 — Vancouver, BC — Red Room
11/21/2013 — Seattle, WA — El Corazon
11/22/2013 — Portland, OR — Hawthorne Theatre
11/23/2013 — San Francisco, CA — Slim’s
11/24/2013 — Anaheim, CA — The Grove
11/26/2013 — Las Vegas, NV — LVCS
11/27/2013 — Tempe, AZ — Club Red
11/29/2013 — Salt Lake City, UT– In the Venue
11/30/2013 — Denver, CO– Bluebird Theater
12/1/2013 — Lawrence, KS — Granada
12/2/2013 — Dallas, TX — Trees
12/3/2013 — San Antonio, TX — Backstage Live
12/4/2013 — Houston, TX — Scout Bar
12/6/2013 — Tampa, FL — Orpheum
12/7/2013 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade
12/8/2013 — Louisville , KY — Diamond Pub and Billiards
12/9/2013 — Frederick, MD — Cafe 611
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