Wintersun - Winter Madness Trivia Quiz

Answer: Helsinki, Finland

'Wintersun' was formed in Helsinki, Finland, and is described by Jari Mäenpää (the founding member) as "Extreme Majestic Technical Epic Melodic Metal" (http://www.getreadytorock.com/pure_metal/wintersun_interview.htm).

The other towns are also famous for spawning many other great Black and Death Metal bands. For example, Oslo is the home of 'Dimmu Borgir,' a symphonic black metal band, Espoo's the home of the furious 'Children of Bodom,' and Stockholm's the home of the ever-evolving 'Opeth.'

Answer: 'Ensiferum' and 'ArthemesiA'

Jari Mäenpää was a former member of both 'Ensiferum' and 'ArthemesiA.' However he left 'Ensiferum' when his recording time for 'Wintersun' clashed with an 'Ensiferum' tour, forcing him to choose one over the other. Jari states that the split was amicable.

'Katatonia' and 'Bloodbath' are the former bands of Mikael Akerfeldt of 'Opeth.' The former is a doom metal band from Stockholm, and the latter, also from Stockholm, is classified more as death metal.

'Cannibal Corpse' is an American death metal band, who actually had a cameo as a club band in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

Answer: Jari Mäenpää and Kai Hahto.

Jari Mäenpää and Kay Hahto (formerly of 'Rotten Sound') were the only two musicians to participate in the recording of 'Wintersun's' first album, 'Wintersun.'

Dani Filth is a member of the mainstream black metal band, 'Cradle of Filth.' While Mikael Akerfeldt is the lead singer of the band 'Opeth.'

Answer: Time

'Time' was originally slated for release in August of 2007. However, due to several delays in the recording process, the release date was moved back until 2008. 'Wintersun' was released on the 13th of September, 2004.

'Cultura' is the second album of the Gibraltan metal band, 'Breed 77.' It was released in May of 2004 and melds flamenco roots into a hard rock/metal atmosphere.

'Trivium' is a thrash band from Orlando, Florida. They have released several albums, including the widely acclaimed 'Ascendancy.'

Answer: Live & Raw

The bootleg was entitled 'Live & Raw,' and raw it was! The first two tracks were recorded using Handy Cam Sound. The Special Tour Edition of 'Wintersun' was released on the 25th of September, 2006.

'Life at Last' was a bootleg released in 1980, of Black Sabbath's 'Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath' tour in 1973. This caused the band to release an official live album entitled, you guessed it, 'Live Evil.'

'Life After Death' is the title of 'Iron Maiden's' incredible live album from their 'World Slavery Tour' promoting the album 'Powerslave.' It was record live in Hammersmith. If you haven't heard it, well, I suggest you go out and get it.

Now!

Why are you still reading this?!

Run! . . . RUN!

Answer: Germany's Summer Breeze Open Air, 2005.

'Wintersun' played 'Live & Raw' at the Summer Breeze Open Air concert in Dinkelsbühl, Bavaria (a state of Germany).

The Monsters of Rock festival formerly took place in Donington, England, until 1997. In 2006 there was a comeback festival featuring the likes of 'Deep Purple,' 'Queensryche' and 'Alice Cooper.'

Ozzfest began in 1996, and tours all over the United States of America. In 2005, the infamous 'Iron Maiden' egging incident occurred, in which Sharon Osbourne hired people to egg the members of 'Iron Maiden.' Make of it what you will.

The Download Festival began in 2003 and also takes place in Donington. Several well-known bands played in 2005, including 'Black Sabbath' and 'System of a Down.'

Answer: Jari Mäenpää, Kai Hahto, Jukka Koskinen, and Teemu Mäntysaari

'Wintersun' went on stage as Jari Mäenpää on vocals and guitar, Kai "The Grinder" Hahto on drums, Jukka Koskinen on bass, and Teemu Mäntysaari also on guitar.

Oliver Fokin originally toured with 'Wintersun,' however had to leave due to other commitments. On 4.10.2004, Jari had this to say about the matter: "Unfortunately Oliver has decided that he can´t continue in Wintersun as a guitarist, because his time is filled with other activities/jobs." (http://www.wintermadness.net/)

Johan DeFarfalla played bass for 'Opeth' on their first two albums, 'Orchid' and 'Morningrise.'

Kristian Wahlin, typically referred to as Necrolord, was responsible for the awesome artwork of the album 'Wintersun.' He has done artwork for bands such as 'Emperor' and 'Ensiferum.' The artwork fits the mood of this album perfectly.

Answer: Jari Mäenpää

Jari Mäenpää was responsible for producing the album. In addition to producing it, Jari also laid down all the vocals, bass, keyboards, synths, AND wrote ALL the tracks for the album.

Rick Rubin is a legend among the producers of the world, producing for such artists as 'Audioslave,' 'Metallica,' 'System of a Down,' 'Johnny Cash,' 'AC/DC' and the "Red Hot Chili Peppers,' just to name a few.

Martin Birch is equally as famous, producing some incredible albums for many critically acclaimed bands, including 'Rainbow,' 'Iron Maiden,' 'Deep Purple,' and 'Black Sabbath.'

Kevin Shirley is yet another big-name producer, producing for such bands as 'Silverchair' and 'Cold Chisel.' More recently he's worked with 'HIM,' 'Slayer' and 'Iron Maiden,' including their newest album, 'A Matter of Life and Death.'

Answer: A man face-down in the snow.

Kristian Wahlin, aka Necrolord, as mentioned earlier, did the striking artwork. Although Jari has stated that he came up with the concept, Kristian certainly did it justice. Jari gives a quick synopsis of what he thinks it represents: "The man fallen into the snow could represent "death", "despair" and the light between the trees could represent "home", "destination", "birth/healing". So maybe you could call the painting "Death and the Healing" ;)" (http://www.getreadytorock.com/pure_metal/wintersun_interview.htm).

The nude girl adorns the controversial cover of 'Scorpions' album 'Virgin Killer.' Her privates were covered by a crack of glass. They were forced to release a second album cover, which merely showed the members of the band.

The completely black cover is, of course, a reference to 'Metallica's' black album. One of the most iconic metal albums covers of all time.

The closed fist gripping a rainbow is a description of the cover of 'Rainbow Rising,' an album by, you guessed it, 'Rainbow.' Ken Kelly was responsible for this painting, truly a work of art in itself, adorning an equally fantastic album.

Answer: Beyond the Dark Sun

According to Jari, 'Beyond the Dark Sun' was recorded over the 4th and 5th of July, 2004. The track 'Beautiful Death' was apparently written after Jari underwent hospitalisation due to tuberculosis. "I got tuberculosis from the army that was discovered later on - actually too late. It got really bad and I needed to have an operation where they removed a part of my lung. I was hospitalized for months and it was a really dark time of my life. Actually, that is what the song "Beautiful Death" is about." (http://www.metaleater.com/interviews-wintersun12292004.php)

Jari wrote all of his tracks from 1995 onwards to 2003.
""Beautiful Death" and "Battle Against Time" were therapeutic to write, because they deal with the negative sides of my life and it was good to get those feelings on paper and into music. "Death And The Healing", "Sleeping Stars" and "Sadness And Hate" are very old songs that still live on, so they have sentimental value." (http://www.metaleater.com/interviews-wintersun12292004.php).

I hope you enjoyed this quiz, and if you hadn't heard of 'Wintersun,' well, now you have. So do yourself a favor, go check out their work, and some of the albums of the other bands in here!