Helsinki, Finland, serves as the origin and home base for rock band Poets of the Fall, which came together in 2003 around its central trio of Marko Saaresto on lead vocals and guitar, Olli Tukiainen on guitar, and Markus "Captain" Kaarlonen handling keyboards along with production duties. After constructing a dedicated studio, the group issued its first single, "Late Goodbye," in short order. January 2005 brought the band its initial domestic chart-topper when the debut album Signs of Life reached number one in Finland. Recognition followed at the next Emma Awards ceremony—the country's equivalent of the Grammys—with wins for Best Debut Album of the Year and Best Newcomer of the Year. Carnival of Rust arrived in April 2006 and likewise ascended to the summit of the national charts, where it briefly appeared alongside the still-strong-selling debut, ultimately achieving major commercial success. Beyond the recorded output's strong sales and critical praise, Poets of the Fall also fronted large-scale, well-attended tours. Expanding the lineup to deliver their music live, the band added Jani Snellman on bass, Jaska Makinen on guitar, and Jari Salminen on drums. Promotion of the second album took the Poets across seven countries, among them a visit to Asia. The year 2007 closed with the conclusion of touring and another round of industry honors. A new single, "The Ultimate Fling," surfaced in January 2008, followed in March by the album Revolution Roulette, which again claimed the top position on the Finnish charts. By April the musicians had resumed live work, with dates spanning Europe and Asia plus an inaugural American appearance in Los Angeles.
