Viletale

Viletale formed in Finland in 2000, started by guitarist Jari Mäenpää. The early lineup included vocalist Sami Vapaavuori, bassist Marko Tarvonen, and drummer Jari Sundström. They put out their first album Theia in 2003, followed by Starlit Lake in 2005.

Their 2007 album Arise, O Guardian gave the band its name to one of their better-known songs. Keyboardist Kari Kankaanpää joined around that time. They kept releasing records through the 2010s, including World Beyond, The Enigma Enigma, Fate Of Norns, and Voiceless.

Viletale's music mixes symphonic arrangements with melodic death metal. Tracks like Celestial Rapture and Chant Of The Mountain show their style, orchestral layers over heavy guitars and drums. They've stayed a Finnish metal band with that particular blend, working through lineup stability and the usual challenges of building an audience.