The Spirit of Ukko

The Spirit of Ukko is the debut full-length studio album by the Finnish heavy metal band Kiuas, released on May 4, 2005 by Spinefarm Records. "Ukko" in Finnish mythology is the greatest of the pagan gods and is a Finnish male name. The Japanese version features a bonus song eponymously titled from the Winter in June EP. The third quarter piece of the song, "Across the Snows" is sung in Finnish.

The Spirit of Ukko
Studio album by Kiuas
Released	May 4, 2005
Recorded	April - December 2004, Studio Tauko
Genre	Power metal, thrash metal, progressive metal
Length	47:05
Label	Spinefarm
Producer	Kiuas and Yki Buckbee
Kiuas chronology
Winter in June (2004) The Spirit of Ukko (2005) Reformation (2006)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Metal Storm	9.6/10[1]
Vampire Magazine	(favorable)[2]

Track listing

1. "The Spirit of Ukko" − 5:52
2. "On Winds of Death We Ride" − 4:20
3. "No More Sleep for Me" − 4:06
4. "Warrior Soul" − 5:48
5. "Until We Reach the Shore" − 4:27
6. "Across the Snows" − 5:59
7. "Thorns of a Black Rose" − 4:49
8. "And the North Star Cried" − 6:59
9. "Winter in June" − 4:24 (Japanese bonus track)

Credits

Band members

• Ilja Jalkanen − vocals
• Mikko Salovaara − guitars
• Markku Näreneva − drums
• Atte Tanskanen − keyboards
• Teemu Tuominen − bass

Guest musicians

• Strings on "And the North Star Cried" arranged by Mikko Salovaara and performed by the Arctic string quartet:
• Karo Tiuraniemi − violin
• Laura Airola − violin
• Suvi Oskala − viola
• Essi Toivonen − cello

Production and other

• All music and lyrics written by Mikko Salovaara, except "No More Sleep for Me" by Ilja Jalkanen.
• Mixed by Nino Laurenne at Sonic Pump Studios.
• Strings recorded at The Helsinki Pop&Jazz Conservatory by Juuso Kujala.
• Mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios.
• Cover concept and photography by Harri Halme/Shadow Mechanics.
• Cover illustrations and logos by Janne "ToxicAngel" Pitkänen.
• Cover layout by Janne/Spinefarm.

References

1. http://www.metalstorm.ee/pub/review.php?review_id=3700
2. http://www.vampire-magazine.com/article.php?aid=37857