Jussi Lehtisalo (born 1972) is a Finnish musician. In 1991, he founded

Circle A circle is a shape consisting of all point (geometry), points in a plane (mathematics), plane that are at a given distance from a given point, the Centre (geometry), centre. The distance between any point of the circle and the centre is cal ...

, a prolific band drawing influences from heavy metal and

krautrock Krautrock (also called , German for ) is a broad genre of experimental rock that developed in Germany in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It originated among artists who blended elements of psychedelic rock, avant-garde composition, and electron ...

to develop a style of repetitive

experimental rock Experimental rock, also called avant-rock, is a subgenre of rock music that pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique or which experiments with the basic elements of the genre. Artists aim to liberate and innovate, wit ...

. He also runs a record label, Ektro Records, releasing his own music alongside left field rock and metal releases by artists such as

Faust Faust ( , ) is the protagonist of a classic German folklore, German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust (). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a deal with the Devil at a ...

and

Acid Mothers Temple Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O., commonly shortened to Acid Mothers Temple or AMT, is a Japanese rock music, rock band, the core of which formed in 1995. The band is led by guitarist Kawabata Makoto and early in their career feat ...

Biography

Circle

Still the main project for Lehtisalo's musical endeavours,

have released 40 albums since 1994. Throughout the band's ever-shifting line-up, Lehtisalo has been the only constant presence, and de facto leader. The current core line-up of the band – Mika Rättö, Janne Westerlund, Tomi Leppänen and Lehtisalo – is the longest consistent incarnation of the group, and although their output has slowed down since the mid-2000s, Lehtisalo has shown no sign that he plans to wind the band up.

Other projects

Lehtisalo is involved in a large number of projects outside of Circle, most notably

Pharaoh Overlord Pharaoh Overlord is an experimental rock (music), rock music band, initially featuring three members of the Finnish group Circle (Finnish band), Circle, Jussi Lehtisalo, Janne Westerlund and Tomi Leppänen. Originally begun as a vehicle to indulg ...

, originally the trio of Leppänen, Westerlund and Lehtisalo indulging in a passion for

stoner rock Stoner rock, also known as stoner metal or stoner doom, is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of doom metal with psychedelic rock and acid rock. The genre emerged during the early 1990s and was pioneered foremost by Kyuss and Sl ...

. He and Rättö have also released several albums as a duo ( Rättö ja Lehtisalo) and one as a trio with

Kauko Röyhkä Kauko Röyhkä, (born Jukka-Pekka Välimaa, 12 February 1959, Valkeakoski), is a Finnish Rock music, rock musician, author and screenwriter. Since the early 1980s he has been a popular rock artist in Finland known especially as a strong lyricist. ...

. The improvisation-based Ektroverde uses various electronic instrument, jazz drumming, and 1970s-style progressive rock riffs. Other bands are Iron Magazine, Oric, Dekathlon, Pakasteet, Sakset, Doktor Kettu, Steel Mammoth and Lehtisalofamily, which consists of Lehtisalo accompanied by his parents. Grumbling Fur, meanwhile, is a collaboration with Daniel O'Sullivan of Guapo and Alexander Tucker, amongst others. 2012 saw the debut release from Split Cranium, a collaboration with

Aaron Turner Aaron Turner (born November 5, 1977) is an American musician, singer, graphic artist, and founder of label Hydra Head Records. He is most widely known for his role as guitarist and vocalist for the post-metal bands Sumac (band), SUMAC and Isis ...

Isis Isis was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingdom () as one of the main characters of the Osiris myth, in which she resurrects her sla ...

Discography

Circle

'' See Circle discography''

Jussi Lehtisalo

* Jussi Lehtisalo: ''Dead'' (2019, Ruton Music) * Jussi Lehtisalo: ''Spectrum'' (2017, Ruton Music) * Jussi Lehtisalo: ''Maisteri'' (2015, Full Contact) * Jussi Lehtisalo: ''The Complete Solo Works'' (2013, Ektro) * Jussi Lehtisalo: ''Interludes for Prepared Beast'' (2012, Ektro) * Jussi Lehtisalo: ''Rotta'' (2010, Ektro)

Pharaoh Overlord

'' See Pharaoh Overlord discography''

Rättö ja Lehtisalo

'' See Rättö ja Lehtisalo discography''

Ektroverde

* Ektroverde, ''Pingvin'' (1998, Ektro Records CD) * Ektroverde, ''Futuro – A New Stance For Tomorrow'' (1998, Ektro Records CD) * Ektroverde, ''Arpeggio'' (1999, Bad Vugum CD) * Ektroverde, ''Harakkakuisti'' (2000, Ektro Records CD) * Ektroverde, ''Integral'' (2000, Snowdonia/Mizmaze CD) * Ektroverde, ''Ukkossalama'' (2003, Ektro Records CD)

Steel Mammoth

* Steel Mammoth, ''Atomic Mountain'' (2007, Ektro Records CD)Review of ''Atomic Mountain''
/ref> * Steel Mammoth, ''The Kingdom of the Golden Hammer'' (2008, Super Metsä CD) * Steel Mammoth, ''Nuclear Ritual'' (2009, Musapojat CD) * Steel Mammoth, ''Radiation Funeral'' (2011, Ektro Records LP) * Steel Mammoth, ''Nuclear Rebirth'' (2011, Full Contact Records LP)

Other projects

Albums

* Lehtisalofamily, ''Interplay'' (1997, Ektro Records CD) * Kirvasto, ''Täydellisiä Kysymyksiä, Täydellisiä Vastauksia'' (1998, Bad Vugum CD) * Eturivi, ''Ylhäisten Kastien Kelvottomat Jälkeläiset'' (2002, Verdura CD) * Rakhim, ''Rakhim'' (2006, Qbico LP) * Rakhim, ''Crimson Umbrella'' (2007, 20 Buck Spin CD) * Doktor Kettu, ''Soft Delirium'' (2009, Super Metsä CD) * Lusiferiinin Armosta, ''Nuolee'' (2009, Ektro Records CD) * Susi-Unto, ''Puheluja pimeältä puolelta'' (2010, Full Contact LP) * Grumbling Fur, ''Furrier'' (2011, Aurora Borealis CD) * Split Cranium, ''Split Cranium'' (2012, Hydra Head Records CD/LP) * Pakasteet with Charles Hayward: ''Molten Salt'' (2019, Full Contact LP) * Pakasteet ja Draama-Helmi: ''Tyhjä risteys'' (2019, Full Contact LP)

Singles

* Ektroverde, ''Mortalaattori'' (1996, Ektro Records CDEP) * Ektroverde, ''Music For Supermarket EP'' (1998, Bad Vugum CDEP) * Ektroverde, ''Svart/Orange'' (1999,

Fonal Records Fonal Records is an independent record label from Finland. It was initially founded in the mid-1990s by Sami Sänpäkkilä to release his recordings under his recording name Es. Sänpäkkilä initially ran the label from his childhood home in ...

7-inch) * Ektroverde/ Hinageshi Bondage, ''Varovaisesti Kotiin/Tänään Ruokalassa/Peltilehmä'' (1999, Verdura split 7-inch) * Eturivi, ''Lempilapset'' (1999, Verdura 7-inch) * Steel Mammoth, ''Nuclear Barbarians'' (2007, Ektro Records CDEP) * Motorspandex, ''Torment Star'' (2008, Full Contact 7-inch) * Arkhamin Kirjasto, ''Arkhamin Kirjasto'' (2010, Full Contact 7-inch)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lehtisalo, Jussi 1973 births Living people Finnish male musicians