Text by Tuula Pesonen
J. AHOLA – RASKASTA JOULUA
The Raskasta Joulua (trans. Heavy Christmas) project provides an alternative to Christmas music performed in the traditional manner. When international and Finnish Christmas carols, transformed with a heavy metal touch, are performed by a group of Finland’s leading heavy metal vocalists and musicians, the effect can only be outstanding! Raskasta Joulua has increasingly gained popularity, expanded it’s format and become a tradition, attracting new fans with each passing year.
Please check out the Raskasta Joulua site (link on the FRONTPAGE) for additional information. Thanks!
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‘TIS THE CHRISTMAS SEASON OF 2008
The Christmas season of 2008 is fast approaching which means the Raskasta Joulua project is underway again. Exhibiting the Xmas spirit of giving, the guys have come up with some changes in respect to the shows’ musical content in order to keep things enticing for audiences.
Many have expressed the opinion that J. has the voice of an angel. Christmas is certainly the season for angels! Appropriately, J. will be spreading his Christmas cheer through the use of song, participating in the Turku, Eura, Tampere and Helsinki (Tavastia “S” & K-18) shows this year. Note: Unfortunately J. has inflamed vocal cords and will not be able to participate in the Turku and Eura shows. Antony Parviainen will be filling in (8.12.2008).
The vocalist line-up this year is comprised of: J. Ahola, Marco Hietala, Ilja Jalkanen, Tony Kakko, Ari Koivunen, JP Leppäluoto and Antony Parviainen. As a special treat, Luca Gargano will be participating in two shows this year.
1 NOVEMBER 2008
THE TRADITION CONTINUES IN 2007
The success of the Raskasta Joulua tour in 2006, along with the great support and enthusiasm of the audiences, unified the members of the project and as a result, everyone associated with it, was eager to tour again in 2007.
Marco Hietala (available for the Tavastia show only) and Tony Kakko had previous commitments and were unable to participate in the tour that year. Ari Koivunen (Idols winner 2007) was a welcomed new addition to the Raskasta Joulua team. The balance of the vocalist line-up was the same as in the previous year: J. Ahola, JP Leppäluoto, Antony Parviainen and Ville Tuomi. The tour expanded to 16 shows being performed in 14 cities around Finland.
THE RASKAAMPAA JOULUA ALBUM 2006
The success of both the first album and the tour in 2005 expedited the recording of a second album, Raskaampaa Joulua (trans. Heavier Christmas) in 2006. The album came close to breaking the gold status in the number of albums sold.
J. contributed to the album with two Finnish Christmas carols: En Etsi Valtaa Loistoa and Ilouutinen. In particular, Ilouutinen received a considerable amount of airtime on Finnish radio stations during the Xmas season of 2006.
The vocalists of the Christmas tour 2006 included: J. Ahola, Marco Hietala, Tony Kakko, JP Leppäluoto, Antony Parviainen and Ville Tuomi. The whole concept and tour was well received by the public and the guys performed heavy Xmas carols from both albums, to appreciative audiences, in 10 shows encompassing 9 cities.
RASKASTA JOULUA – FIRST ALBUM 2004
The Raskasta Joulua (trans. Heavy Christmas) project is the result of Erkka Korhonen’s creative inspiration to celebrate Christmas incorporating the sound of metal. The debut album, Raskasta Joulua, was named after the project and released for the 2004 Christmas market. The popularity of the album enabled a small pre-Xmas tour in 2005 featuring J. Ahola, Marco Hietala and Ville Tuomi as the vocalists.
JANUARY 2009
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