Raskasta Joulua
- MEMBERS:
- Erkka Korhonen - Guitars
- Vili Olilla - Keyboards
- Mirka Rantanen - Drums
- Erkki Silvennoinen - Bass
- Tuomas Wäinöla - Guitars
- Marco Hietala - Vocals
- JP Leppäluoto - Vocals
- Ari Koivunen - Vocals
- Antony Parviainen - Vocals
- Tommi Salmela - Vocals
- Pasi Rantanen - Vocals
- Kimmo Blom - Vocals
- Elize Ryd - Vocals
- Antti Railio - Vocals
- Ville Tuomi - Vocals
- Floor Jansen - Vocals
- Tony Kakko - Vocals
- Jarkko Ahola - Vocals
- Ilja Jalkanen - Vocals
- Tommy Karevik - Vocals
- Tarja Turunen - Vocals
BIOGRAPHY
Raskasta Joulua is a band from Finland who have recorded traditional Christmas carols and Christmas hits in a Heavy metal style. Raskasta Joulua is a term in Finnish which means “Heavy Christmas” in English. The concept was founded by guitarist Erkka Korhonen in 2004. “Raskasta Joulua” – albums and tours have featured appearances of many notable Finnish metal vocalists as Marco Hietala, Jarkko Ahola, Ari Koivunen, Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto and Tony Kakko.
The band’s first album, “Raskasta Joulua“, contained performances by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and was produced by T2 productions. The album was released in December 2004.
The second album was released on the Warner label in 2006 after a promotional 3-concert tour in December 2005 increased the popularity of the project. This led to increased sales of the subsequent releases. Raskasta Joulua have toured every year since 2005 and the 3 concert tour has become an annual tradition.
In 2013 the band changed their record label for the second time and signed to Spinefarm Records. They also released their second self-titled album, which achieved platinum status in Finland. In 2014, it was followed by two new albums, Raskasta Joulua 2 and Ragnarok Juletide, the latter of which is their first album recorded in the English Language. The other albums are in Finnish.
Discography
- Raskasta Joulua (Heavy Christmas) (T2 Productions, 2004)
- Raskaampaa Joulua (Heavier Christmas) (Warner, 2006)
- Raskasta Joulua (Heavy Christmas) (Spinefarm, 2013)
- Raskasta Joulua Kaksi (Heavy Christmas 2) (Spinefarm, 2014)
- Ragnarok Juletide (Spinefarm, 2014)
- Tulkoon Joulu – akustisesti (Spinefarm, 2015)
- Raskasta Joulua IV (Spinefarm, 2017)
VIDEOS
DISCOGRAPHY
Raskasta Joulua IV / 2017
1. Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot): “Joulun Sanoma”
2. Kimmo Blom (Dyecrest): “Joulumuisto”
3. Antony Parviainen (Machine Men): “Tähti Tähdistä Kirkkain”
4. Ville Tuomi (Suburban Tribe): “Sydämeeni Joulun Teen”
5. Ari Koivunen (Amoral): “Kun Joulu On”
6. JP Leppäluoto (Charon): “Jouluyö, Juhlayö”
7. Antti Railio (Celesty): “Antti Railio”
8. Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica) & Floor Jansen (Nightwish): “Oi Joulunajan Ihmiset”
9. Elize Ryd (Amaranthe): “Stjärnan I Min Hand”
10. Tommi “Tuple” Salmela (Tarot): “Kolmen Kuninkaan Marssi”
11. “Joulun Rauhaa”
12. Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot) & Tarja Turunen: “Ave Maria”
“Raskasta Joulua IV” is the seventh album of the project RASKASTA JOULUA and was released on November 17, 2017 by Spinefarm Records. It contains redesigned versions of Christmas songs performed by Finnish rock and metal musicians. The album has been certified gold.
Tulkoon Joulu - Akustisesti / 2015
1. JP Leppäluoto, Marco Hietala, Tony Kakko & Jarkko Ahola (Northern Kings): “Heinillä Härkien Kaukalon”
2. Antti Railio (Celesty), Tommi Salmela (Tarot), Kimmo Blom (Dyecrest): “Tulkoon Joulu”
3. Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica): “Pieni Rumpali”
4. Ville Tuomi (Suburban Tribe): “Konstan Joululaulu”
5. J. Ahola (Teräsbetoni): “Mielenrauhaa”
6. Ari Koivunen (Amoral): “Sylvian Joululaulu”
7. Antony Parviainen (Machine Men) – “Tähti, Tähdistä Kirkkain”
8. Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot), JP Leppäluoto (Charon), Tommi Salmela (Tarot) & Pasi Rantanen (Thunderstone): “Joulu, Juhla Parahin”
9. Pasi Rantanen (Thunderstone), Antti Railio (Celesty) & Kimmo Blom (Dyecrest): “Ensimmäinen Joulu”
10. Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot) & JP Leppäluoto (Charon): “Tonttu”
“Tulkoon Joulu – Akustisesti” is the sixth album of the project RASKASTA JOULUA and was released on November 6, 2015 by Spinefarm Records. It contains redesigned versions of Christmas songs performed by Finnish rock and metal musicians, unlike the previous albums, acoustically. By December 2016, the album had sold more than 12.000 copies, certifying gold.
The album debuted in the official Finnish chart at 8, and remained on the list for a total of 14 weeks.
Raskasta Joulua 2 / 2014
1. Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot): “Taika Joulun Pohjoisen”
2. Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot): “Jouluvaellus”
3. JP Leppäluoto (Charon): “Konstan Joululaulu”
4. Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica): “Ilouutinen”
5. Kimmo Blom (Dyecrest): “Kellot Kuulla Saa”
6. Elize Ryd (Amaranthe): “Himlen I Min Famn”
7. Antony Parviainen (Machine Men): “1939”
8. Pasi Rantanen (Thunderstone): “Ainaisten Lasten Joulu”
9. Antti Railio (Celesty): “Kristallikehto”
10. Tommi “Tuple” Salmela (Tarot): “Oi Jouluyö”
11. Ari Koivunen (Amoral): “Ensimmäinen Joulu”
12. Ville Tuomi (Suburban Tribe): “Petteri Punakuono”
13. “Joulu, Juhla Parahin”
“Raskasta Joulua 2” is the fifth album of the project RASKASTA JOULUA and was released on November 14, 2014 by Spinefarm Records. It contains redesigned versions of Christmas songs performed by Finnish rock and metal musicians. The album also included a DVD with a recording of the Kultuuritalo concert from the previous year. The album debuted at sixth place in the Finnish official charts and remained on the list for a total of seven weeks. By December 2016, the album had sold more than 20.000 copies, certifying platinum.
A music video was filmed for the song “Joulu, Juhla Parahin”, which features all the singers of the album.
Ragnarok Juletide / 2014
1. “We Celebrate at Christmastime”
2. Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot): “The First Noel”
3. Jarkko Ahola (Teräsbetoni) & JP Leppäluoto (Charon): “Here on the Hay”
4. JP Leppäluoto, Marco Hietala, Tony Kakko & Jarkko Ahola (Northern Kings): “Little Drummer Boy”
5. JP Leppäluoto (Charon): “The Elf”
6. Elize Ryd (Amaranthe) & Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica): “Christmas Is Here”
7. J. Ahola (Teräsbetoni): “Sylvia’s Song”
8. J. Ahola (Teräsbetoni):”White Christmas
9. Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica): “Home for Christmas”
10. Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot): “A Sparrow on a Christmas Morning”
11. “Christmas Has Come”
12. Elize Ryd (Amaranthe) & Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot): “Ave Maria”
“Ragnarok Juletide” is the fourth album of the project RASKASTA JOULUA and was released on November 7, 2014 by Spinefarm Records. It contains redesigned versions of Christmas songs performed by Finnish rock and metal musicians.
Is their first album recorded in the English Language. It was ranked 43rd in the Finnish album charts.
Raskasta Joulua / 2013
1. Antti Railio (Celesty): “Enkelikello”
2. Ville Tuomi (Suburban Tribe) & Kimmo Blom (Dyecrest): “Heinillä Härkien Kaukalon”
3. Jarkko Ahola (Teräsbetoni) & Pasi Rantanen (Thunderstone): “Mielenrauhaa”
4. JP Leppäluoto, Marco Hietala, Tony Kakko & Jarkko Ahola (Northern Kings): “Pieni Rumpali”
5. JP Leppäluoto (Charon): “Tonttu”
6. Ari Koivunen (Amoral): “Arkihuolesi Kaikki Heitä”
7. Elize Ryd (Amaranthe) & Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica): “Julen Är Här”
8. Antony Parviainen (Machine Men): “Sylvian Joululaulu”
9. Ville Tuomi (Suburban Tribe) & Ilja Jalkanen (Kiuas): Nisse-polkka
10. Jarkko Ahola (Teräsbetoni) & Pasi Rantanen (Thunderstone): “Valkea Joulu”
11. Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica): “Jouluksi Kotiin”
12. Tommi Salmela (Tarot) & Ilja Jalkanen (Kiuas): “Me Käymme Joulun Viettohon”
13. Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot): “Varpunen jouluaamuna”
14. “Tulkoon joulu“
“Raskasta Joulua” was released in November 1, 2013, by Spinefarm Records. It’s the third album of the RASKASTA JOULUA project, which features Finnish rock and metal musicians performing redesigned versions of Christmas songs. The album was produced by the founder and guitarist Erkka Korhonen.
By December 2016 the album had sold more than 42.000 copies, certifying double platinum. On the Finnish album charts, it was ranked fifth. Album release was followed by the Finnish tour, which was held for the ninth time in a row.
“Tulkoon Joulu”, composed by Pekka Simojo, features all the singers of the album and a music video was filmed for the song.
Raskaampaa Joulua / 2006
1. Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot): “Ensimmäinen Joulu”
2. J. Ahola (Teräsbetoni): “Ilouutinen”
3. Antony Parviainen (Machine Men): “Kun Joulu On”
4. J-P Leppäluoto (Charon): “Joululaulu”
5. J. Ahola (Teräsbetoni): “En Etsi Valtaa, Loistoa”
6. Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica): “Me Käymme Joulun Viettohon”
7. Ville Tuomi (Suburban Tribe): “Petteri Punakuono”
8. Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica): “Pieni Rumpali”
9. Ville Tuomi (Suburban Tribe): “Sydämeeni Joulun Teen”
10. Antony Parviainen (Machine Men): “Tähti Tähdistä Kirkkain”
11. JP Leppäluoto (Charon): “Tonttu”
12. Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot): “Ave Maria”
“Raskaampaa Joulua” (“Heavier Christmas”) is a collection of Christmas songs published by Warner Music in 2006. It’s the second album of the RASKASTA JOULUA project. As the title of the album also says, it contains heavier versions of the songs. By November 2016, the album had sold more than 16.000 copies, certifying gold.
The musicians playing on the album are Erkka Korhonen (guitars and backing vocals), Lauri Porra (bass), Vili Ollila (keyboards, programming), Anssi Nykänen (drums), Aleksi Parviainen (backing vocals), Anssi Växby (double bass), Peter Lerche (guitar) Esa Kotilainen (keyboards), Alexi Laiho (guitar) and Tero Kostermaa (keyboards, programming).
Raskasta Joulua / 2004
1. Taage Laiho (Kilpi): ”Oi Jouluyö”
2. Pasi Rantanen (Thunderstone): ”Valkea Joulu (White Christmas)”
3. Antony Parviainen (Machine Men): ”Heinillä Härkien”
4. Kimmo Blom (Dyecrest): ”Kuului Laulu Enkelten”
5. Sammy Salminen (Ancara): ”Jouluyö, Juhlayö”
6. Tanya Kemppainen (Lullacry): ”Maa On Niin Kaunis”
7. Antony Parviainen (Machine Men): ”Sylvian Joululaulu”
8. Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot): ”Enkeli Taivaan”
9. Ville Tuomi (Suburban Tribe): ”Nisse-Polkka”
10. Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot) : ”Varpunen Jouluaamuna”
11. Tipe Johnson (Leningrad Cowboys): ”Joulun Rauhaa (Merry Xmas)”
“Raskasta Joulua” (“Heavy Christmas”) is a collection of Christmas songs produced by T2 Productions in 2004. It is the first release of the same name project and has since been followed by several albums. By November 2016, the album had sold more than 18.000 copies, certifying gold.
Christmas carols have been adapted to “heavier” versions. The album contains performances by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and features renowned Finnish metal artists such as Marco Hietala and Machine Men‘s Antony Parviainen.
The musicians playing on the album are Erkka Korhonen (guitar, backing vocals, bass), Janne Parviainen (drums), Lauri Porra (bass), Kari Tornack (piano, synthesizer) and Tero Kostermaa (keyboards, programming).
REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS
Kuopiorock Festival, Kuopio Finland – July 25-27 2019
In the middle of June I was writing about the new summer festival in Kuopio, called Rock in the City, which was mostly orientated on Finnish rock and heavy rock/metal.
August 5, 2019 by Jussi HevanderInterview with Tommi Salmela (Tarot / Lazy Bonez / Raskasta Joulua)
We had the time to have a small interview with Tommi Salmela from Tarot, Raskasta Joulua and Lazy Bonez about several topics. Will we ever get the chance to see
September 10, 2018 by Daniel Ramos