{{Short description|Finnish heavy metal band}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Viikate | image = Viikate - Ilosaarirock 2016 - 01 (cropped).jpg | caption = Viikate at Ilosaarirock 2016 | landscape=yes | background = group_or_band | origin = Kouvola, Finland | genre = {{hlist|Heavy metal|folk rock|rautalanka}} | years_active = 1996–present | label = Ranka Recordings | website = {{URL|viikate.com}} | current_members = Kaarle Viikate<br />Simeoni Viikate<br />Arvo Viikate<br />Ervo Viikate }}
'''Viikate''' ("Scythe" in English) is a Finnish heavy metal band from Kouvola, formed in 1996. The band is known for its melancholic lyrics,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://viikate.com/laulut/ | title=Sanat – Viikate }}</ref> drawing inspiration from Finnish romance movies of the 1950s and Finnish singers of the era, including Reino Helismaa. Their style has been variously described as "Helismaa-metal", "wire metal", and "death schlagers".
The band began with Kaarle and Simeoni Viikate who remained the only members until 2001, when Arvo and Ervo joined. Viikate's most well-known hits are "Pohjoista viljaa" (Northern Crops), "Ei enkeleitä" (No Angels) and "Viina, Terva & Hauta" (Booze, Tar & The Grave). Kaarle and Simeoni got the idea of starting the band when watching Lyijykomppania's last concert.
== Members == thumb|Viikate in 2013 * Kaarle Viikate (Kalle Virtanen) – vocals, guitar * Simeoni Viikate (Simo Kairistola) – drums * Arvo Viikate (Ari Taiminen) – guitar, vocals * Ervo Viikate (Erkka Koskinen) – bass guitar, vocals
== Discography == <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/383796-Viikate|title=Viikate | Discogs |website=Discogs }}</ref> === Albums === * Noutajan valssi ''(Waltz of The Grim Reaper)'' (2000) * Vuoden synkin juhla ''(The darkest party of the year)'' (2001) * ''Kaajärven rannat'' ''(Beaches of The Kaa Lake)'' (2002) * Surut pois ja kukka rintaan ''(Worries away and a flower to the chest)'' (2003) * Unholan urut ''(The Organ Of Oblivion)'' (2005) * Marraskuun lauluja I ''(November songs I)'' (2007) * Marraskuun lauluja II ''(November Songs II)'' (2007) * Kuu kaakon yllä ''(The Moon Over South-East)''(2009) * Petäjäveräjät ''(Pine Gates)'' (2012) * Kymijoen lautturit ''(Ferrymen Of Kymijoki)'' (2013) * Panosvyö ''(Bandoleer)'' (2014) * XII – Kouvostomolli ''(XII – Kouvosto-Minor)'' (2016) * Kuu Kaakon Yllä 10 Vuotta ''(The Moon Over South-East 10 Years)'' (2019) * ''Rillumarei!'' (2020) * Askel ''(Step)'' (2023)
=== EPs === * ''Vaiennut soitto'' <small>(transl. 'Silenced Playing')</small> (1998) * ''Roudasta Rospuuttoon'' <small>(transl. 'From Frost to Rasputitsa')</small> (1999) * ''Alakulotettuja tunnelmia'' <small>(transl. 'Depressified Feelings')</small> (2000) * ''Valkea ja kuulas'' <small>(transl. 'White and Translucent')</small> (2001) * ''Kevyesti keskellä päivää'' <small>(transl. 'Lightly Amidst the Day')</small> (2002) * ''Iltatähden rusko'' <small>(transl. 'Afterglow of the Evening Star')</small> (2003) * ''Kuolleen miehen kupletti'' <small>(transl. 'Dead Man's Couplet')</small> (2004) * ''Kesävainaja'' <small>(transl. 'Summercorpse')</small> (2009) * ''Linna Espanjassa'' <small>(transl. 'Castle in Spain')</small> (2010)
=== Singles === * ''Odotus'' <small>(transl. 'The Wait')</small> (2001) * ''Piinaava hiljaisuus'' <small>(transl. 'The Agonizing Silence')</small> (1997, 2002) (record / remastered) * ''Ei ole ketään kelle soittaa'' <small>(transl. 'There's No One to Call')</small> (2002) * ''Nuori mies nimetön'' <small>(transl. 'A Nameless Young Man')</small> (2002) * ''Kaunis kotkan käsi'' <small>(transl. 'The Beautiful Hand of the Eagle')</small> (2003) * ''Leimu'' <small>(transl. 'Flame')</small> (2003) * ''Pohjoista viljaa'' <small>(transl. 'Northern Crops')</small> (2005) * ''Tie'' <small>(transl. 'The Road')</small> (2005) * ''Vesi jota pelkäät'' <small>(transl. 'The Water You're Afraid Of')</small> (2005) * ''Ah, ahtaita aikoja'' <small>(transl. 'Ah, Tight Times')</small>(2006) * ''Ei enkeleitä'' <small>(transl. 'No Angels')</small> (2007) * ''Me olemme myöhäiset'' <small>(transl. 'We Are the Late')</small> (2007) * ''Orret'' <small>(transl. 'The Roosts')</small> (2007) * ''Viina, terva ja hauta'' <small>(transl. 'Booze, Tar and the Grave')</small> (2009) * ''Kuu kaakon yllä'' <small>(transl. 'The Moon Above South-East')</small> (2009) * ''Hautajaissydän'' <small>(transl. 'The Funeral Heart')</small> featuring Topi Sorsakoski (2010) * ''Sysiässä'' <small>(transl. 'In the Autumn')</small> (2012) * ''Adventti (kappale)'' <small>(transl. 'Advent Song')</small> featuring Kotiteollisuus (2012) * ''Oi pimeys'' <small>(transl. 'O Darkness')</small> (2013) * ''Tervaskanto'' <small>(transl. 'Tar Stump')</small> (2013) * ''Pelastus'' <small>(transl. 'Salvation')</small> (2015) * ''Synkkä ventti'' <small>(transl. 'Dark Blackjack')</small> (2017) * ''Tuulenhuuhtomat'' <small>(transl. 'Windbreakers')</small> (2018) * ''Huomenta humalaiset'' <small>(transl. 'Good Morning, Drunkards')</small> (2020) * ''Varjorastaat'' <small>(transl. 'The Shadow Thrushes')</small> (2020) * ''Kavaljeeri'' <small>(transl. 'Cavalier')</small> (2022) * ''Vapauden sillan alla'' <small>(transl. 'Under the Freedom Bridge')</small> (2022) * ''Omakuva (karvalakki päässä)'' <small>(transl. 'Self-Portrait, Wearing Hat')</small> (2022) * ''Älä pelkää pimeää'' <small>(transl. 'Don't Fear the Dark')</small> (2023) * ''Kuin aaveet'' <small>(transl. 'Like Ghosts')</small> (2023)
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commonscat}} * {{official website|http://www.viikate.com/}} *{{allmusic}} *{{discogs artist}}
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Category:1996 establishments in Finland Category:Finnish heavy metal musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1996 Category:Finnish musical quartets