Viikate

Viikate ("Scythe" in English) is a Finnish heavy metal band from Kouvola, formed in 1996. The band is known for its melancholic lyrics,^[1] drawing inspiration from Finnish romance movies of the 1950s and Finnish singers of the era, including Reino Helismaa. Their style has been variously described as "Helismaa-metal", "wire metal", and "death schlagers".

The band began with Kaarle and Simeoni Viikate who remained the only members until 2001, when Arvo and Ervo joined. Viikate's most well-known hits are "Pohjoista viljaa" (Northern Crops), "Ei enkeleitä" (No Angels) and "Viina, Terva & Hauta" (Booze, Tar & The Grave). Kaarle and Simeoni got the idea of starting the band when watching Lyijykomppania's last concert.

• Kaarle Viikate (Kalle Virtanen) – vocals, guitar
• Simeoni Viikate (Simo Kairistola) – drums
• Arvo Viikate (Ari Taiminen) – guitar, vocals
• Ervo Viikate (Erkka Koskinen) – bass guitar, vocals

^[2]

• Noutajan valssi (Waltz of The Grim Reaper) (2000)
• Vuoden synkin juhla (The darkest party of the year) (2001)
• Kaajärven rannat (Beaches of The Kaa Lake) (2002)
• Surut pois ja kukka rintaan (Worries away and a flower to the chest) (2003)
• Unholan urut (The Organ Of Oblivion) (2005)
• Marraskuun lauluja I (November songs I) (2007)
• Marraskuun lauluja II (November Songs II) (2007)
• Kuu kaakon yllä (The Moon Over South-East)(2009)
• Petäjäveräjät (Pine Gates) (2012)
• Kymijoen lautturit (Ferrymen Of Kymijoki) (2013)
• Panosvyö (Bandoleer) (2014)
• XII – Kouvostomolli (XII – Kouvosto-Minor) (2016)
• Kuu Kaakon Yllä 10 Vuotta (The Moon Over South-East 10 Years) (2019)
• Rillumarei! (2020)
• Askel (Step) (2023)

• Vaiennut soitto (transl. 'Silenced Playing') (1998)
• Roudasta Rospuuttoon (transl. 'From Frost to Rasputitsa') (1999)
• Alakulotettuja tunnelmia (transl. 'Depressified Feelings') (2000)
• Valkea ja kuulas (transl. 'White and Translucent') (2001)
• Kevyesti keskellä päivää (transl. 'Lightly Amidst the Day') (2002)
• Iltatähden rusko (transl. 'Afterglow of the Evening Star') (2003)
• Kuolleen miehen kupletti (transl. 'Dead Man's Couplet') (2004)
• Kesävainaja (transl. 'Summercorpse') (2009)
• Linna Espanjassa (transl. 'Castle in Spain') (2010)

• Odotus (transl. 'The Wait') (2001)
• Piinaava hiljaisuus (transl. 'The Agonizing Silence') (1997, 2002) (record / remastered)
• Ei ole ketään kelle soittaa (transl. 'There's No One to Call') (2002)
• Nuori mies nimetön (transl. 'A Nameless Young Man') (2002)
• Kaunis kotkan käsi (transl. 'The Beautiful Hand of the Eagle') (2003)
• Leimu (transl. 'Flame') (2003)
• Pohjoista viljaa (transl. 'Northern Crops') (2005)
• Tie (transl. 'The Road') (2005)
• Vesi jota pelkäät (transl. 'The Water You're Afraid Of') (2005)
• Ah, ahtaita aikoja (transl. 'Ah, Tight Times')(2006)
• Ei enkeleitä (transl. 'No Angels') (2007)
• Me olemme myöhäiset (transl. 'We Are the Late') (2007)
• Orret (transl. 'The Roosts') (2007)
• Viina, terva ja hauta (transl. 'Booze, Tar and the Grave') (2009)
• Kuu kaakon yllä (transl. 'The Moon Above South-East') (2009)
• Hautajaissydän (transl. 'The Funeral Heart') featuring Topi Sorsakoski (2010)
• Sysiässä (transl. 'In the Autumn') (2012)
• Adventti (kappale) (transl. 'Advent Song') featuring Kotiteollisuus (2012)
• Oi pimeys (transl. 'O Darkness') (2013)
• Tervaskanto (transl. 'Tar Stump') (2013)
• Pelastus (transl. 'Salvation') (2015)
• Synkkä ventti (transl. 'Dark Blackjack') (2017)
• Tuulenhuuhtomat (transl. 'Windbreakers') (2018)
• Huomenta humalaiset (transl. 'Good Morning, Drunkards') (2020)
• Varjorastaat (transl. 'The Shadow Thrushes') (2020)
• Kavaljeeri (transl. 'Cavalier') (2022)
• Vapauden sillan alla (transl. 'Under the Freedom Bridge') (2022)
• Omakuva (karvalakki päässä) (transl. 'Self-Portrait, Wearing Hat') (2022)
• Älä pelkää pimeää (transl. 'Don't Fear the Dark') (2023)
• Kuin aaveet (transl. 'Like Ghosts') (2023)

• Official website
• Viikate at AllMusic
• Viikate discography at Discogs