Sami Yli-Sirniö (born 10 April 1972) is a Finnish musician who is currently the lead guitarist of the German band Kreator and the Finnish metal bands Waltari and Barren Earth. He spent part of his life in Germany and thus has strong ties with the German metal scene. German Rock Hard magazine featured him in 2007 as a "forgotten guitar hero".
Career
While living in Germany, he served as a session musician for rock band In Rags, gothic act Tiamat, and thrash metal band Grip Inc. For both Tiamat and Grip Inc., he played sitar, his second favourite instrument. Yli-Sirniö is currently endorsed by Ibanez.[citation needed]
Waltari (1989–1995, 2001–present)
Yli-Sirniö originally joined experimental Finnish crossover legend Waltari in 1989. He left the band in 1995 to live in Germany, returning in 2001.[1] So far he has recorded eight studio albums with Waltari. Yli-Sirniö likes to explore other opportunities and has had many guest appearances with other bands.
Yli-Sirniö is the lead guitarist in the progressive death metal band Barren Earth, while not officially a supergroup, the band does consist of prominent members of other metal bands such as Jón Aldará of Hamferð, Janne Perttilä of Rytmihäiriö and Moonsorrow, Olli-Pekka "Oppu" Laine of Amorphis.