Teräsbetoni

09/07/2014

 

Finnish-singing band Teräsbetoni, translating as Reinforced Concrete, features Jarkko Ahola (lead vocals, bass), Arto Järvinen(Guitar, Vocals), Viljo Rantanen (guitar) and Jari Kuokkanen (Drums), all of whom regularly take to the stage clad in black leather with a touch of steel.

 

Their lyrics are all designed to evoke images of a land of heavy metal, Metallivaltio (The Metal Republic) where majestic stallions, nostrils flaring and eyes ablaze are mounted by righteous warriors who ride off valiantly and fight victoriously on the battlefields of medieval times.

 

With their performances and songs the band urge listeners to celebrate life to its fullest, remain true to your beliefs and have faith in your inner strength to triumph over anything. The songs below are taken from the band’s fourth album, Maailma tarvitsee sankareita (The world needs heroes).

 

The songs below are taken from the band’s fourth album, Maailma tarvitsee sankareita (The world needs heroes), to give an example of the band’s sound.

 

 

Myrsky nousee

Translation: The storm rises

The beginning of the album has a very uplifting message to it, for listeners to join their power to the bands as they begin their epic journey into metal music delight. It starts gently then rises up to the rafters with some powerful vocals from the beginning.

 

Metalliolut

Translation: Metal Beer

This is the song you listen to while eating your fill of meat and wine and reminiscing with your friends about the last time you ate your fill of meat and wine. It’s definitely one of the more fun songs as it almost sounds like a drinking song for a Friday night on the town.

 

Maailma tarvitsee sankareita

Translation: The world needs heroes

The title song for this album, it’s actually really inspiring. It speaks of heroes needing to step up from anywhere whenever the world’s in need to battle evil. Even without understanding the lyrics themselves the tone races through like a pulse.

 

Jumalten usva

Translation: Mist of the Gods

Another one for the heroes, this one talks of getting fired up by the warriors of ages past. It’s got an excellent guitar solo in this one and definitely adds spice to the whole album.

 

Mies

Translation: Man

A heavier, almost darker sound from the beginning with guitar riffs to make you melt. This one talks about what makes a man. Including the urge to always aim for glory, be forgiving and always fight for truth.

 

Tunnemme sinut

Translation: We know you

Begins more like an epic adventure than the previous two with almost operatic vocals. It asks the heroes if they can be true heroes when called upon, or would they slink away into the shadows.

 

Uudestisyntynyt

Translation: Reborn

One of the more haunting songs, this one speaks about making a choice to move on with dark emotions or whether to forgive and forget past wrongs and continue down a different path to the one you’ve walked thus far.

 

Thanatos

This one has a grungier sound than any of the other songs thus far, it talks about Thanatos being the seductive voice that leads people to make bad choices. The screaming chorus is definitely a good thing though I can assure you.

 

Konstantinopoli

Translation: Constantinople

This is easily my favourite one of the album, it has a wonderful metal sound to it and talks about taking the hard road where the wolves howl to do your manly duty.

 

Eteenpäin

Translation: Forward

This is the best song to listen to if you need inspiration for something, urging you to keep moving forwards and never look back.

 

Gloria

The final song ends the album in the way an epic saga would be expected to. The hero has fallen in glorious battle and now faces his fate in the afterlife, while back on Earth he is remembered for his mighty deeds.

 

The band has so far produced four albums, Metallitotuus, Vaadimme Metallia (we demand metal), Myrskyntuoja (Stormbringer) and Maailma tarvitsee sankareita. They played for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 and won the public's vote with the song Missä Miehet Ratsastaa (Where All The Men Ride Forth), from their then newly released Myrskyntuoja album and proceeded to represent Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Serbia.

 

In 2011, after the release of their fourth album, the band announced that they would be taking a break from band activity. They insisted that this was not a break up and played a show in July 2013 in Turku, Finland.