Kasperi Heikkinen

Kasperi Heikkinen
Kasperi Heikkinen
	Heikkinen performin with Gamma Ray in 2024
Background information
Born	4 August 1980 (age 44); Kajaani, Finland
Genres	Symphonic power metal, heavy metal
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Guitar
Years active	2002–present

Kasperi Heikkinen (born 1980) is a Finnish guitarist who is best known as a member of symphonic power metal band Amberian Dawn.^[1] He played in the band from early 2007 until late 2012. He is also the guitarist for Finnish metal bands Merging Flare and Guardians of Mankind,^[1] which is a Gamma Ray tribute band.^[2] Heikkinen performed with German metal band U.D.O. from 2013 until 2017.^[1]^[3] He currently resides in Helsinki.^[1]^[4]

As a touring musician, Heikkinen has played on part of the German power metal band Gamma Ray's Majestic tour in 2006 following an injury to Henjo Richter.^[5] On their most recent to the Metal-tour, Heikkinen replaced Henjo Richter once again for shows scheduled in Germany and Czech Republic in March 2010. He also shared stage with his fellow axemen Hansen and Richter making "a three guitar special" for the encore numbers at the Nosturi club in Helsinki, Finland on 29 March 2010.

In 2015, Heikkinen was brought into a new symphonic metal band called Beast in Black by fellow Finnish guitarist Anton Kabanen. Beast in Black released their debut album in November 2017 by the metal label Nuclear Blast.

Discography

Heikkinen and Heidi Parviainen with Amberian Dawn in 2009

With Merging Flare

Reverence, Disentertainment (2011)
Beyond The Blackhole/Under The Fire, Split-EP (Guardians of Mankind / Merging Flare), Imperiumi Records (2007)
Hell to Pay, Promo-EP (2005)
S/T, Promo-EP (2003)

With Amberian Dawn

Circus Black, Spinefarm (2012)
End of Eden, Spinefarm (2010)
The Clouds of Northland Thunder, Suomen Musiikki (2009)
River of Tuoni, Suomen Musiikki (2008)

With Elenium

Them Used Gods, Self Financed EP (2002)
For Giving For Getting, Rage of Achilles (2003)
Caught in Wheel, Kampas Records (2007)

With U.D.O.

Steelhammer, AFM Records (2013)
Decadent, AFM Records (2015)

With Beast in Black

Berserker, Nuclear Blast (2017)^[6]
From Hell with Love, Nuclear Blast (2019)^[7]
Dark Connection, Nuclear Blast (2021)^[8]

Other

Conquest: The Harvest, self-financed (2011)
Heavy Metal Perse: "Eripura", Dethrone Music (2006), guest guitar solo on track #4 "Pahaksi Parkittu Lalli"
Heavy Metal Perse / Guardians of Mankind: Legenda Taikamiekasta/Kuninkaidenlaakso, Split-EP, Imperiumi Records (2004)
Omnium Gatherum: "Spirits And August Light", Rage of Achilles (2002), guest guitar solo on track #3 "The Perfumed Garden"
Dark Sarah: "Attack of Orym", Riena Productions (2023), guest guitar solo on track #3 "Invincible" and track #7 "Delirium"

Equipment

Heikkinen is on the artist roster of Ibanez^[9] guitars and uses the following models:

Ibanez Jem77FP
Ibanez Jem77BRMR
Ibanez Jem77VBK
Ibanez Jem777LNG
Ibanez UV777PBK
Ibanez UV7PWH
Ibanez UV777GR
Ibanez UV77MC
Ibanez PGM100RE
Ibanez RGT320QRBB
Ibanez Rocket Roll (Flying V)

Heikkinen uses Mesa/Boogie amplification exclusively.

Mesa/Boogie TriAxis Preamp
Mesa/Boogie 2:50 Amp
Mesa/Boogie Rectifier 4x12 cabinet

Effects and accessories

TC Electronics G-Major multi-effect processor

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Kasperi Heikkinen Interview". Guitarhoo!. Guitarhoo.com. 16 December 2013. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
^ "News on Blabbermouth". Archived from the original on 6 June 2011.
^ "Guitarist KASPERI HEIKKINEN Quits U.D.O. And DIRKSCHNEIDER". Blabbermouth.net. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
^ "Kasperi Heikkinen on Metal from Finland". 29 March 2018.
^ "Gamma Ray in Helsinki 2006". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011.
^ "BEAST IN BLACK – Nuclear Blast USA".
^ "BEAST IN BLACK – from hell with love".
^ "BEAST IN BLACK – Dark Connection".
^ "Ibanez Artist Roster". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012.

External links

[guitarhoo-1] "Kasperi Heikkinen Interview". Guitarhoo!. Guitarhoo.com. 16 December 2013. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2014.

[Tribute-2] "News on Blabbermouth". Archived from the original on 6 June 2011.

[3] "Guitarist KASPERI HEIKKINEN Quits U.D.O. And DIRKSCHNEIDER". Blabbermouth.net. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.

[Biography-4] "Kasperi Heikkinen on Metal from Finland". 29 March 2018.

[Gamma_Ray-5] "Gamma Ray in Helsinki 2006". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011.

[6] "BEAST IN BLACK – Nuclear Blast USA".

[7] "BEAST IN BLACK – from hell with love".

[8] "BEAST IN BLACK – Dark Connection".

[Ibanez-9] "Ibanez Artist Roster". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012.

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v t e Amberian Dawn
Capri Virkkunen Tuomas Seppälä Emil Pohjalainen Jukka Hoffren Joonas Pykala-aho
Studio albums	River of Tuoni The Clouds of Northland Thunder End of Eden Circus Black Re-Evolution Magic Forest Innuendo
Singles	"Arctica"

v t e U.D.O.
Udo Dirkschneider Andrey Smirnov Dee Dammers Peter Baltes Sven Dirkschneider Dieter Rubach Frank Rittel Thomas Franke Mathias Dieth Andy Susemihl Peter Szigeti Thomas Smuszynski Stefan Schwarzmann Wolfgang "Wolla" Böhm Frank Fricke Fitty Wienhold Jürgen Graf Stefan Kaufmann Lorenzo Milani Igor Gianola Francesco Jovino Kasperi Heikkinen Bill Hudson Tilen Hudrap
Studio albums	Animal House (1987) Mean Machine (1989) Faceless World (1990) Timebomb (1991) Solid (1997) No Limits (1998) Holy (1999) Man and Machine (2002) Thunderball (2004) Mission No. X (2005) Mastercutor (2007) Dominator (2009) Rev-Raptor (2011) Steelhammer (2013) Decadent (2015) Steelfactory (2018) We Are One (2020) Game Over (2021) Touchdown (2023)
Related	Discography Members Accept Sinner