Finsterforst

The band was formed at the end of the year 2004 by Tobias Weinreich, Sebastian "AlleyJazz" Scherrer, Simon Schillinger and Marco Schomas. Because the line-up was not complete, the group decided to focus on songwriting.

Since the band felt it needed a real accordion-player, Johannes Joseph joined the line-up in the spring of 2005, followed by rhythm guitarist David Schuldis in October the same year.

In spite of missing a drummer, the band booked Iguana Studios in Buchheim, Baden-Württemberg, and, at the end of December 2005, three songs were recorded with the help of a drum machine. The songs were released as the Wiege der Finsternis EP in March 2006.

In October 2006, drummer Cornelius "Wombo" Heck joined the line-up, enabling the band to prepare for live shows.

In February and March 2007, the band re-entered Iguana Studios to record its début album, Weltenkraft, which was released in July through World Chaos Productions.

The band's second album, ...zum Tode hin was recorded in July 2008 at Iguana Studios and was released through the German label Einheit Produktionen on 27 February 2009.

At the end of November 2009, the band announced the departure of Schomas, and that it was searching for a new singer, a position which was filled by Oliver Berlin in 2010.

In May 2010, the band released Urwerk, a two-disc re-release of its first EP (with a bonus track) and its début album.

On 28 September 2012, it was confirmed that the band had signed a new record deal with the Austrian record label Napalm Records.(28 September 2012). [http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=180062 "Finsterforst signs with Napalm Records"]. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 7 February 2013. On 26 November 2012, the album Rastlos was released worldwide to positive reviews and it received various "album of the month" awards. For 2014, there was an announcement for a European Tour called "Trolls in the Forest bring Kaos over Europe", together with Trollfest and Cryptic Forest.{{Cite web|url=https://metalshockfinland.com/2014/01/19/finsterforst-to-tour-with-trollfest-and-cryptic-forest/|title=FINSTERFORST To Tour With TROLLFEST And CRYPTIC FOREST|website=Metalshockfinland.com|date=19 January 2014|accessdate=10 October 2020}}

In early 2015 Finsterforst released their new studio album Mach Dich Frei. It was released on 23 January in Germany/Austria/Switzerland, 30 January in the rest of Europe and on 10 February in North America.{{Cite web|url=http://www.metalcallout.com/videos/mach-dich-frei-with-finsterforst.html|title="Mach Dich Frei" with Finsterforst|website=Metalcallout.com|accessdate=10 October 2020}} Also in 2015, vocalist and accordionist Johannes Joseph left the band.

In 2016, they released #YØLØ, which they refer to as an EP although they recognise some would call it an album.{{cite web |last1=Podzuweit |first1=Eberhard |title=Finsterforst Über Fußball, Vorbilder und die schwierige Suche nach einem Akkordeonspieler – Olli im Interview mit metal.de |url=https://www.metal.de/interviews/finsterforst-im-interview-zu-yolo-194731/ |website=Metal.de |access-date=27 January 2021 |language=German |date=13 October 2016}}

On 2 August 2019, they released the album Zerfall. It has only five songs, ranging from 8 to 36 minutes – the latter being their longest track to date, "Ecce Homo". A lyric video for a shortened version of it was released in July 2019.{{cite web |last1=Michels |first1=Alexandra |title=FINSTERFORST – 'Ecce Homo'-Lyric-Video ist online |url=https://rockhard.de/artikel/finsterforst-ecce-homo-lyric-video-ist-online_461142.html |website=Rock Hard |publisher=Rock Hard Verlags- und Handels- GmbH |access-date=27 January 2021 |language=German |date=10 July 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Gieseler |first1=Björn |title=Finsterforst – Der "Zerfall" ist nah |url=https://www.metal.de/news/finsterforst-zerfallen-376085/ |website=Metal.de |access-date=27 January 2021 |language=German |date=13 May 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Gratzke |first1=Lisa |title=Finsterforst ZERFALL |url=https://www.metal-hammer.de/reviews/finsterforst-zerfall/ |website=Metal Hammer (Germany) |access-date=27 January 2021 |language=German |date=2 August 2019}}

File:2014 WGT 208 Finsterforst.jpg

• Simon Schillinger – guitars (lead, rhythm, acoustic), keyboards, orchestrations, programming, vocals (choirs) (2004–present)
• Tobias Weinreich – bass (2004–present)
• Sebastian "AlleyJazz" Scherrer – keyboards (2004–present)
• David Schuldis – guitars (rhythm), bagpipes (2005–present)
• Cornelius "Wombo" Heck – drums, vocals (choirs) (2006–present)
• Oliver Berlin – lead and choir vocals (2010–present)

Former

• Marco Schomas – lead vocals, acoustic guitar (2004–2009)
• Johannes Joseph – accordion, vocals (lead, choirs) (2005–2015)

Timeline

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bar:Sebastian text:"Sebastian Scherrer"

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• Wiege der Finsternis (2005)

Source:{{Cite web|url=https://finsterforst.bandcamp.com/album/y-l|title=#YØLØ, by Finsterforst|website=Finsterforst.bandcamp.com|accessdate=10 October 2020}}

The effort is intended to be a humorous approach to the pagan metal genre and its title is the name of a Nordic deity that vocalist Oliver Berlin envisioned. The EP has four covers of songs originally by Miley Cyrus, Michael Jackson, K.I.Z and Die Kassierer.

Most songs discuss drinking, but some cover other topics, such as "Auf die Zwölf", which is about football. A video was shot for the latter, featuring vocalist Robse from Equilibrium.

{{tracklist

| total_length = 40:23

| extra_column = Translation

| title1 = Bottle Gods

| length1 = 3:56

| extra1 =

| title2 = Auf die Zwölf

| length2 = 3:57

| extra2 = On the Twelve

| title3 = #YØLØ

| length3 = 4:38

| extra3 =

| title4 = Hangover

| length4 = 5:19

| extra4 =

| title5 = Wrecking Ball

| note5 = Miley Cyrus cover

| length5 = 3:30

| extra5 =

| title6 = Beat It

| note6 = Michael Jackson cover

| length6 = 4:37

| extra6 =

| title7 = Der durch die Scheibeboxxxer

| length7 = 3:41

| extra7 =

| title8 = Flasche leer

| length8 = 1:30

| extra8 = Empty Bottle

| title9 = Das schlimmste ist, wenn das Bier alle ist

| length9 = 3:40

| extra9 = The Worst Thing Is, When the Beer Is Gone

| title10 = The Wild Rover

| length10 = 5:35

| extra 10 =

}}

• Weltenkraft (2007)
• ...zum Tode hin (2009)

...zum Tode hin track listing

{{tracklist

| total_length = 70:36

| extra_column = Translation

| title1 = Urquell

| length1 = 11:45

| extra1 = Fountainhead

| title2 = Das große Erwachen

| length2 = 12:14

| extra2 = The Great Awakening

| title3 = Seines Glückes Schmied

| length3 = 11:24

| extra3 = Blacksmith of his fortune

| title4 = Sturmes Ernte

| length4 = 13:36

| extra4 = Harvest of the Storm

| title5 = Untergang

| length5 = 21:37

| extra5 = Downfall

}}

• Rastlos (2012)

Rastlos track listing

{{tracklist

| total_length = 75:16

| extra_column = Translation

| title1 = Nichts als Asche

| length1 = 13:19

| extra1 = Nothing but Ash

| title2 = Fremd

| length2 = 12:21

| extra2 = Foreign/Strange

| title3 = Am Scheideweg

| length3 = 1:28

| extra3 = At a Crossroad

| title4 = Stirbt zuletzt

| length4 = 10:19

| extra4 = Die at Last

| title5 = Ein Lichtschein

| length5 = 13:40

| extra5 = A Flare

| title6 = Rast

| length6 = 1:59

| extra6 = Rest

| title7 = Flammenrausch

| length7 = 22:10

| extra7 = Inebriation of Flames

}}

• Mach Dich Frei (2015)

Mach Dich Frei track listing

{{tracklist

| total_length = 73:53

| extra_column = Translation

| title1 = Abfahrt

| length1 = 0:58

| extra1 = Departure

| title2 = Schicksals End'

| length2 = 14:48

| extra2 = Fate's End

| title3 = Zeit für Hass

| length3 = 9:43

| extra3 = Time for Hatred

| title4 = Im Auge des Sturms

| length4 = 1:38

| extra4 = In the Eye of the Storm

| title5 = Mach dich frei!

| length5 = 7:49

| extra5 = Set Yourself Free

| title6 = Mann gegen Mensch

| length6 = 9:32

| extra6 = Man vs. Mankind

| title7 = Reize zum...

| length7 = 5:32

| extra7 = Journey to the...

| title8 = Finsterforst

| length8 = 23:53

| extra8 = Dark Forest

}}

• Zerfall (2019)

• Urwerk (2010)

In the beginning, in 2003, the band was only a one-man project by composer Simon Schillinger. A couple of songs came to life, but the project was later put "on ice" because Schillinger's writing focus was resting on his other band Finsterforst at the time.{{Cite web|url=http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/musicians/interview-simon.htm|title=Metal-Temple.com :: Interview – Simon Schillinger (Cryptic Forest) (Interview)|website=Metal-temple.com|accessdate=10 October 2020}} Although Cryptic Forest was officially not active, from time to time he wrote some music unrelated to Finsterforst and shared it with a couple of his friends, who should later encourage him to found a band and to record a short EP. The EP called Dawn of the eclipse was released in 2011, which can be seen as the band's official founding. In August 2013, the debut album Ystyr was released on the German label Einheit Produktionen and a European Tour together with Trollfest and Finsterforst was announced for 2014.

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Dawn of the eclipse (2011; extended play)
• Ystyr (2013)

{{div col end}}

{{portal|Biography|Germany}}

• List of folk-metal bands
• List of Napalm Records artists
• Music of Germany

{{clear}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/band.php?band_id=3759&bandname=Finsterforst "Finterforst"]. Metal Storm. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
• [http://www.metalreviews.com/reviews/detail.php3?id=7902 "Finterforst{{spaced ndash}} Rastlos"]. Metalreviews.com. Retrieved 7 February 2012.

{{Commons category|Finsterforst}}

• {{Official|finsterforst.de}}
• {{allMusic|id=mn0001069157|label=Finsterforst}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2004 establishments in Germany

Category:German folk metal musical groups

Category:Musical groups established in 2004

Category:Musical groups from Baden-Württemberg

Category:Napalm Records artists