The Finnish band Poets of the Fall was created by two musician friends from Helsinki. Rock singer Marco Saaresto and jazz guitarist Olli Tukiainen. In 2002, the guys were already working together, but dreamed of a serious musical project.
How it all began? Line-up of Poets Of The Fall
At this time, at the request of a computer game screenwriter, friends wrote the song Late Goodbay. It served as the backdrop for the popular game.
This ballad drew the attention of producer Markus Kaarlonen, who was delighted with her. Joining friends as a keyboardist, Markus became a successful addition to the band Poets Of The Fall.
So, three opposites worked together very harmoniously in the new project. In the house of Kaarlonen, the guys built their own studio, in which they began to work. The very first recordings were a "cocktail" of pop-rock, metal and industrial.
But at the heart of the creativity of the group Poets Of The Fall has always been the principle of melody. The main "whale" on which everything was based.
The band's first big hit
A few months after the computer ballad, the band recorded the EP Lift. The track in 2004, together with Late Goodbay, became a member of all Finnish charts. From the very beginning of their work, the team wished to personally supervise their activities. For this reason, she registered her own label Insomniac.
The label's lack of promotion did not prevent the group's debut CD Sings of Life, which went on sale in early 2005, from taking the 1st position in the Finnish charts and staying there for over a year!
And in April, the album was awarded the "platinum" status. In August the disc was re-released in Scandinavia, it was so popular.
Group titles
Starting from 2006, the group simply “bathed” in all sorts of titles and awards, and the Carnival of Rust video clip received the status of “Best Music Video of 2006”. Soon the disc with the same name became the "Best Album of Finland", as well as the "Best Rock Album".
Among others, Carnival of Rust included hits: Maybe Tomorrow Is a Better Day, Sorry Go Round, Locking Up the Sun. Poets of the Fall won the EMMA award for Best New Band.
Tours and the release of a new album
At the same time, the group developed a stormy touring activity. In order not to hire outside musicians every time, the band took the guitarist Jaska Mäkinen, who took part in concerts. Jari Salminen (drums) and Jani Snellman (bass) soon joined.
2008 was marked by the release of the new single The Ultimate Fling, which took 2nd position in the Finnish charts. A video clip was edited for this composition, consisting of fragments of the band's performances, filmed by "fans", cut and joined together.
The next (third) disc of Poets of the Fall was released in March, it was called Revolution Roulette and was recorded in a professional studio. Fast and sonorous compositions were harmoniously combined with melodic and sincere ones.
In just 15 days, the album has already gone gold. In support of this album, the musicians went on a long tour, including to America, where they performed for the first time.
Period since 2010
In the fall of 2009, the guys released a disc that collected their most successful compositions.
At the end of the tour, the musicians again turned to recording melodies for video games. In 2010, three such compositions were prepared: War, Children of the Elder God and The Poet and the Muse. By the way, Poets of the Fall also participated in the video game, performing their songs.
Another album, Twilight Theater, released in 2010, included a new song, Dreaming Wide Awake, which was not an overwhelming success. Above the 18th position, this single did not take.
But in general, the album became the leader of the Finnish chart and a week later had the title of "gold", and in the fall it was officially re-released in Europe.
In early 2011, the musicians decided to release two vinyl records, Sings of Life. In the spring, a DVD compilation was released, which included the favorite songs of the Poets of the Fall group, all its video clips and two new items: No End, No Beginning and Can You Hear Me.
In early 2012, the band announced the recording of a new album, Temple of Thought, which included the single Cradled In Love. A video clip appeared soon after. The album reached number 3 on the charts.
Poets of the Fall today
Two more albums were recorded in 2014 and 2016: Jealous Gods and Clearview, and the last one, dated 2018, is called Ultraviolet.
It includes 10 songs, including: Moments Before the Storm, Angel, The Sweet Escape. Until the end of 2019, Poets of the Fall actively toured Europe and the United States.
The team in Finland is called the "icon of lyrical rock". The country is rich in talented rock performers, it has given the world musicians of world renown. But even against the background of such "abundance", the group is mega-popular in their homeland and in Europe. The American listener knows her well too.
In the CIS, the musicians appeared only once - as part of the last big tour, but managed to take part on Russian television in the Evening Urgant show.
The biography of the Finnish rock band Poets of the Fall is rather calm, but their songs make the hearts of young people beat faster in many countries. And this means that the guys are not in vain doing their job.
