MESSIAH PARATROOPS

track-list:
Out of Reality
Rats in the Walls
Messiah Paratroops
Morbid Prayer
Repulsion
Bloodlust
Legions of Tomorrow
Murders of the Lake
Painful Sleep

mixed and mastered by Jari ‘Tupi’ Tuomainen

music by Jani Vartiainen
lyrics by Niku Oksala

music & lyrics by Sami Jämsen

Messiah Paratroops are:
Aku Oksala – vocals
Pete Airaksinen – guitars
Jani Vartiainen – guitars
Vilho Kananen – drums
Jari Bäck – bass

discography:

Finnish old school death metal band Messiah Paratroops, formed in 1989, has released their long-awaited debut album ‘Legions of Tomorrow’…
The album leaves no room for weakness.
It features 9 tracks where rapid blast beats, brutal guitar riffs, and furious vocals combine to drag the listener into a raw Death Metal experience.
The first shots of Messiah Paratroops were fired in 1989.
Aku and Niku joined the already existing band Necrophiliac.
“However, we found out that there was a band with the same name in Brazil, so a name change was necessary.”
The official launch of Messiah Paratroops was carried out by Aku Oksala (vocals), Niku Oksala (bass), Pekka Laasanen (drums), Janne Roima (guitar), and Mikko Vainikainen (guitar).
“At the time, our music was mostly thrash metal. In 1990, Mikko was replaced by Sami Jämsen on guitar, and in the same year, the first official demo ‘Extreme Pain’ was released. Before this, we had recorded ‘Rheumatoid’ (1989), ‘Children of the Corn’ (1990), and the song ‘Other Side’ in Studio Sound.”
Their first official gig was at Nuorisokeskus 44 in Kuopio in 1990, and after that, more gigs started coming in.
“One particularly memorable gig was in Sulkava, where we played with Nuxvomica, Astenia, and Alennusmyynti. The gig was unforgettable in many ways, even so that one of our guitarists wasn’t allowed to play because of intoxication. Nevertheless, we managed to finish the show successfully.”
The ‘Extreme Pain‘ demo sold well.
“With more experience gained from gigs and rehearsing in the trenches, we recorded the ‘Lost Soul Domain’ demo in 1991. It sold out quickly and was well received worldwide. This led to the release of ‘The Past’ EP through Seraphic Decay Records.”
Some copies of this rare release can still be found in various parts of the world.
Soon after, Pekka Laasanen left the band after a gig at Desperado Bar, and was replaced by Ilari Jäntti (Barathrum) on drums.
In 1992, with this new lineup, Messiah Paratroops recorded ‘The Other Gods‘ demo.
“We also performed at Neulamäki Rock and the recycling center alongside Impaled Nazarene, Barathrum, and Mystification.”
After a few years of performing and creating new material, the band recorded the ‘Jesus Christ Cyberseed‘ demo in 1994.
“This demo deviated slightly from our traditional death metal style, with lyrics focusing more on technology and sci-fi themes.”
After this, their war machines went silent for nearly two decades…
“In 2014, it was time to bring out the war arsenal again and start re-recording our old songs with the following lineup:
Sami Jämsen (guitar)
Janne Roima (guitar)
Tuomo Latvala (drums)
Niku Oksala (bass)
Aku Oksala (vocals)
We recorded ‘The Breeding’, ‘Cyberseed’, ‘Lost Soul Domain’, and ‘To Be Left High And Dry’, but these re-recorded versions were never released.”
This lineup performed two gigs:
the first at Old Farts Rock in Henry’s Pub, Kuopio (2014) and the second at Finnish Death Metal Maniacs Festival in Pori (2017).
War takes its toll, and in 2017, the lineup changed once again.
Sami, Janne, and Tuomo left the group, and the finns brought in:
Ville Vesterinen (guitar)
Antti Sinikangas (guitar)
Peachy (drums)
With Ville’s creative input, three new songs were written:
‘Evil Lives Among Us‘, ‘Madness Incarnate‘, ‘Murders of the Lake‘
Demo versions of these songs were recorded.
This lineup managed to play a few gigs before more changes occurred.
Ville left the group, and Jani Vartiainen took over on guitar.
More new songs started emerging with the debut album in mind.
“We even managed to get to the studio to record, but the momentum began to fade…”
Once again, it was time to open the tent flap and bring in new soldiers.
Pete Airaksinen jon guitar, Vilho Kananen on drums and Jari Bäck took over as the main bassist alongside Niku Oksala.
“With this lineup, new songs were written, and after years of effort, the recording of our debut album was finally completed at the end of 2023.”
Earlier on in 2025 Messiah Paratroops had released the singles ‘Painful Sleep‘ and ‘Out of Reality‘.
‘Out of Reality‘ is a raging death metal track that combines extreme speed with lyrics about extraterrestrial worlds.
This death sentence takes the listener deep into the unknown reaches of space.
Vocalist Aku Oksala comments on ‘Painful Sleep‘:
“‘Painful Sleep’ comes from our first official demo, ‘Extreme Pain’ (1991), and represents the most classic form of Messiah Paratroops. It hails from the time our band was named the best Finnish death/thrash metal band that have never released an album. Thirty-four years after ‘Extreme Pain’, it’s the perfect time to release a debut album filled with furious vocals, aggressive guitars, and double bass drums!”