FINNTROLL at the Opera House (735 Queen East), Tuesday (February 22), 7 pm. $28.50. RT, TM. See listing.
Finnish metalist Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns has discovered the perfect homesickness cure while on tour: completely surround yourself with no one but other Finnish metalists.
For the second straight year, his folk-metal hybrid Finntroll are leading the Finnish Metal Tour across North and South America. Judging by the singer’s groggy voice late in the afternoon, the Finn caravan is keeping Lillmåns plenty entertained.
“Yeah, it was a fun night as usual,” he croaks. “It’s nice to have all these Finnish friends with us all the time.”
The bands all salute the same blue-and-white cross, but Finntroll stand apart with their diverse, almost unclassifiable sound. Their new album, Nifelvind (Century Media), blends elements of pastoral folk, including flutes and fiddles, over pounding guitar riffage.
“We take inspiration from everywhere,” Lillmåns says. “Our last albums have been more like ethno albums. There’s Scandinavian folk, folk from Bali or from the East. It’s about freedom to do whatever you want, and we’re going to keep doing it.”
Despite the fun Lillmåns is having with his countrymen, the geographically expansive itinerary is giving him reason to grumble.
“You need sandals and sunglasses in one place and long johns and boots in another. It’s plus 30? in South America and minus 30? in Saskatchewan.”
