Check out Ari Koivunen. He won Finland's equivalent of American Idol. He sang iron maiden, sonata arctica, scorpions and amorphis on the show! You can see the vids on youtube. And before you dismiss him as a pop act, listen to his release fuel for the fire.
CHILDREN OF BODOM, KOTIPELTO Members To Guest On Finnish 'Idols' Winner's Debut CD - Apr. 30, 2007 The winner of the Finnish national TV talent competition "Idols", 22-year-old heavy metal singer Ari Koivunen, has announced the lineup of his band. Joining the vocalist will be the following musicians;
Erkka Korhonen (RASKAS JOULU, CHEAT CODE) - Guitar
Vili Ollila (TUNNELVISION, RASKAS JOULU, CHEAT CODE) - Keyboards
Luca Gargano (CHEAT CODE) - Guitar
Erkki Silvennoinen (AMORAL, CHEAT CODE) - Bass
Mauro Gargano (CHEAT CODE) - Drums
Koivunen is currently in the studio with producers Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE) and Pasi Heikkilä (45 DEGREE WOMAN) working on his debut CD. Among the metal luminaries who have contributed material to the album are Timo Tolkki (STRATOVARIUS), Tomi Putaansuu (a.k.a. Mr. Lordi; LORDI), Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT), Janne Joutsenniemi (SUBURBAN TRIBE), Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA) and Jarkko Ahola (TERÄSBETONI).
The following musicians are expected to appear on the CD:
Tuomas Wäinölä (KOTIPELTO, NYLON BEAT) - Guitar
Mikko Kosonen (MAIJA VILKKUMAA) - Guitar
Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE) - Guitar
Mirka Rantanen (THUNDERSTONE) - Drums
Mikko Kaakkuriniemi (KOTIPELTO) - Drums
Pasi Heikkilä (45 DEGREE WOMAN) - Bass
Janne Wirman (CHILDREN OF BODOM) - Keyboards
Kimmo Valtanen of SonyBMG told Helsingin Sanomat that the label recognized Ari's potential early on in the competition and that the company would have made an album with Ari even if he hadn't won the contest.
Ari is from Lahti, the Finnish town that has given birth to such metal acts as PROFANE OMEN, BEFORE THE DAWN and ENTWINE. One of his hobbies is "Hevikaraoke" (Finnish "heavy metal" karaoke); in 2005 he won the Finnish karaoke championships. Among his favorite bands are IRON MAIDEN, RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, DIO, PROFANE OMEN and HELLOWEEN.
Watch Ari Koivunen's "Idols" performances:
* IRON MAIDEN - "The Evil That Men Do": Video
* DEEP PURPLE - "Perfect Strangers": Video
* WHITESNAKE - "Here I Go Again": Video
* STRATOVARIUS - "Hunting High And Low": Video
* LED ZEPPELIN - "Rock and Roll": Video
* SCORPIONS "Still Loving You": Video
* SOUNDGARDEN - "Black Hole Sun": Video
* SONATA ARCTICA - "Full Moon": Video
I've listened to the cd, and it's pretty amazing for someone so young. A great debut, with great backing musicians. His voice is very unique in delivery, so think dickinson, tate, bach with a finnish accent. And the list of guests is impressive.
CHILDREN OF BODOM, KOTIPELTO Members To Guest On Finnish 'Idols' Winner's Debut CD - Apr. 30, 2007 The winner of the Finnish national TV talent competition "Idols", 22-year-old heavy metal singer Ari Koivunen, has announced the lineup of his band. Joining the vocalist will be the following musicians;
Erkka Korhonen (RASKAS JOULU, CHEAT CODE) - Guitar
Vili Ollila (TUNNELVISION, RASKAS JOULU, CHEAT CODE) - Keyboards
Luca Gargano (CHEAT CODE) - Guitar
Erkki Silvennoinen (AMORAL, CHEAT CODE) - Bass
Mauro Gargano (CHEAT CODE) - Drums
Koivunen is currently in the studio with producers Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE) and Pasi Heikkilä (45 DEGREE WOMAN) working on his debut CD. Among the metal luminaries who have contributed material to the album are Timo Tolkki (STRATOVARIUS), Tomi Putaansuu (a.k.a. Mr. Lordi; LORDI), Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT), Janne Joutsenniemi (SUBURBAN TRIBE), Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA) and Jarkko Ahola (TERÄSBETONI).
The following musicians are expected to appear on the CD:
Tuomas Wäinölä (KOTIPELTO, NYLON BEAT) - Guitar
Mikko Kosonen (MAIJA VILKKUMAA) - Guitar
Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE) - Guitar
Mirka Rantanen (THUNDERSTONE) - Drums
Mikko Kaakkuriniemi (KOTIPELTO) - Drums
Pasi Heikkilä (45 DEGREE WOMAN) - Bass
Janne Wirman (CHILDREN OF BODOM) - Keyboards
Kimmo Valtanen of SonyBMG told Helsingin Sanomat that the label recognized Ari's potential early on in the competition and that the company would have made an album with Ari even if he hadn't won the contest.
Ari is from Lahti, the Finnish town that has given birth to such metal acts as PROFANE OMEN, BEFORE THE DAWN and ENTWINE. One of his hobbies is "Hevikaraoke" (Finnish "heavy metal" karaoke); in 2005 he won the Finnish karaoke championships. Among his favorite bands are IRON MAIDEN, RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, DIO, PROFANE OMEN and HELLOWEEN.
Watch Ari Koivunen's "Idols" performances:
* IRON MAIDEN - "The Evil That Men Do": Video
* DEEP PURPLE - "Perfect Strangers": Video
* WHITESNAKE - "Here I Go Again": Video
* STRATOVARIUS - "Hunting High And Low": Video
* LED ZEPPELIN - "Rock and Roll": Video
* SCORPIONS "Still Loving You": Video
* SOUNDGARDEN - "Black Hole Sun": Video
* SONATA ARCTICA - "Full Moon": Video
I've listened to the cd, and it's pretty amazing for someone so young. A great debut, with great backing musicians. His voice is very unique in delivery, so think dickinson, tate, bach with a finnish accent. And the list of guests is impressive.
