"Bands like this need some love, because there are far too many bands (especially here in the United States) who go around claiming to be the most unique band out there and talk about how awesome they are. Usually they’re just a bunch of boners who think they sound a thousand times better than they actually do. AITTALA on the other hand, is a truly original band, and yet they appear to keep a pretty modest attitude about it. " - Metal Temple

 

"The band’s sound is difficult to pigeonhole because they incorporate a variety of styles. The common element in all the songs is the potent groove. On tracks like “Black Coffin” and “Afterthought” stoner/doom is at the forefront, while songs such as “Disowned” have a more traditional metal vibe. There are progressive influences on “How Much Longer,” while the closer “Debt” is a piano based ballad. Even with so many disparate styles, Aittala bring everything together into a cohesive whole." - Heavy Music Headquarters

 

 

For fans of Metallica, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Old School Metal

 

Label: Exitus Stratagem Records

 

Booking: booking@aittala.com

 

aittala.com | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | Twitter | Bandcamp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BAND

L-R : Gary 'Zeus' Smith - drums/vox, Eric Aittala - guitar/vox, Ali Lugo - bass

MUSIC

Discography

1993 - Selling Heaven EP
2009 - Bed of Thorns
2011 - Haunt Your Flesh
2014 - Effigy
2016 - American Nightmare
2019 - False Pretenses (ExSR Records - re-released 2023)
2021 - American Nightmare (Remastered - ExSR Records)
2022 - Live to Regret (ExSR Records)
2024 - Sick Puppet Show: Act I EP (ExSR Records) - release date TBD

 

BIO

The music of AITTALA (pronounced 'EYE-tah-la') crosses many metal genres; it’s hard to put it into just one category. The sound infuses elements of classic heavy metal, doom, progressive, power, thrash and hard rock with lyrics drawing inspiration from the darker side of the human condition. The AITTALA sound has been cited for being unique which is no easy feat in the metal genre.
The first version of AITTALA was formed in 1991 while Eric was living in Holland. With fellow American Tim on vocals and Dutch bandmates Ed (drums) and Jon (bass), the band became a staple of the Dutch metal scene.
With the release of the 3-song EP 'Selling Heaven' in summer of 1993, AITTALA opened for such bands as THE GATHERING and SADIST.
Unfortunately, as the demo started to create a buzz in the underground European metal scene, Eric had to return to the US and disbanded AITTALA.
In 2008, the time was right to resurrect AITTALA. From 2009 to 2019, AITTALA released 5 full-length albums: 'Bed of Thorns' (2009), 'Haunt Your Flesh' (2011), 'Effigy' (2014), 'American Nightmare' (2016) & 'False Pretenses' (2019).. Each album showcasing a natural progression of songwriting and lyrical content but retaining the core AITTALA sound and evolving it.
In 2022, AITTALA signed with Exitus Stratagem Records and released the band's sixth full-length album 'Live to Regret'. It was 11 songs that continued the songwriting evolution of heavier but catchy songs as well as sonically.
The current lineup of AITTALA consists of Gary 'Zeus' Smith (THE FIFTH, ex-MR BLACKWELL) on drums and Ali Lugo (ex-AGE OF DESPAIR) on bass. They continue to write, record and tour to bring AITTALA to the masses.

LIVE

Upcoming

Apr 13 | BrickYard Bar & Grill | Knoxville TN
May 4 | Castle Hoke | Raeford NC

Past Tours

2014 - Consuming Europe (10 day)
2017 - Infesting Europe (10 day) - Co-headlining

Mainstay of the NC music scene since 2011 supporting regional acts such as BREATHING THEORY, WRITTEN IN GRAY, MOTORJUNKIE, BORN AGAIN HEATHENS, BLACK WALL, BLACK RITUAL, EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT, DREAMKILLER, IKILLYA. LUST OF DECAY, AGAINST THEIR WILL

AITTALA has played live in:
Duluth GA
Columbus OH
Lake Worth FL
Orlando FL
Sanford FL
Asheville NC
Chapel Hill NC
Charlotte NC
Durham NC
Creedmoor NC
Greensboro NC
Hight Point NC
Raleigh NC
Wilmington NC
Winson Salem NC
Ladson SC
Lancaster SC
Charleston SC
Myrtle Beach SC
Bristol TN
Roanoke VA
Lewisbury WV
Innsbruck, Austria
Paris France
Aalen Germany
Berlin Germany
Cottbus Germany
Eisleben Germany
Glauchau Germany
Greifswald Germany
Hamburg Germany
Leipzig Germany
Renchen Germany
Rostock Germany
Sweissenfels Germany
Katowice Poland
Poznan Poland
Stargard Poland
Amsterdam Netherlands
Winschoten Netherlands
Zürich Switzerland