|
Hi,
first off I just want to congratulate you on your new album. To
new fans could your please fill us in on the history behind it
all?
Antti - Thank
you. All started when Mr Hänninen, our lead guitarist, made me a
proposition to found a death/black metal band. I agreed and we
made a demo. At some point Mr Anttila, our keyboardist and Mr
Huttunen, the drummer, joined the band. Guys made some
compositions and I took care of the lyrical side. We recorded
drums in Watercastle studios and everything else in various
locations across Finland. When we had our production ready we
hooked up with IntroMental and they started promoting us to
labels. At some point Massacre Records wanted to start negotiating
with us about releasing our album and after a while we had a deal.
How
has your new album been received by the media?
Antti - Well,
the critics seems to hate the album, ha-ha. One reason why they
don’t like it is that the sound is not so polished. On the other
hand media has taken us quite good.
I
know artists don¹t like to put a label on their music - but a
spaceship from outer space has just landed in your backyard, and
is demanding an answer - so how would you describe your music to
an alien from another galaxy?
Antti - I
would say we are a death metal band.
If
your music was an emotion, which one would it be?
Antti - Hatred
with some lust of revenge mixed into it.
Who
and what inspires you when you write a song? Walk us through the
creation of a song?
Antti - I
think our inspiration comes from making the songs. To lyrics I
usually get my inspiration from composition or some thing that
bothers me. Usually Teemu H or Teemu A makes a composition and
after some tuning I usually write the lyrics. Then we do some fine
tuning and record vocals to it. If it doesn’t please we do some
more sculpturing until we are pleased. At some point it gets to
some album.
Which subjects do your
lyrics refer to, and who writes them?
And
what inspires you when you write your lyrics?
Antti - Usually
our lyrics tend to hide some message in them or the message is
quite easy to see. Lyrics often handle subjects like religion.
Sometimes lyrics tell some story etc. I am the one who usually
writes them, of course other guys may write too.
Who
has produced and mixed the album? Are you pleased with the result?
Antti - We
produced our debut our selves and Teemu H mixed it. Yes we are
pleased to it.
Who
has done the artwork? And how important do you feel it is to have
a great cover?
Antti - Artwork
is made by Mr Marko Somero. Album cover usually gives the idea
behind the music but in our case we gave Mr Somero almost total
artistic freedom concerning the cover. It’s quite important to
have a good cover for the album ‘cause if one has not it affects
the fact that how you are taken among the crowd.
Do
you have any touring plans?
Antti
- We
would be clad to get on a tour but there’s always the question
of costs etc. Hopefully we tour soon in the future.
Let’s
speculate – you have been granted a free slot on a tour of your
own choice – who would be your ideal touring partners?
Antti - Maybe
something like Cradle of Filth and Old Man’s Child.
How
do you feel about the co-operation with your label?
Antti - It’s
been great. We’re happy that we are dealing with Massacre Records.
The
internet is a very important source for many metal fans – how do
you use the internet and how important is it for you and other
bands?
Antti - We
use the Internet all the time when dealing with co-op partners and
the media. Today the Internet is really important tool for anyone
who works in the industry and for fans too when thinking the
Internet as an information source.
And
how do you feel about the metal scene in general at the moment?
Antti - Metal
scene is living its best times now, at least in Finland. Generally
thinking it could be better not that it isn’t good. But hey
there’s always something to complain, ha-ha.
Which song do you consider
to be the best one you have ever written?
Antti - I
think our best song right now is the song titled "Burn in
Depths". But we should not forget that there’s something
maybe better coming on our next album.
Name
an album, person or event that has had a huge influence on your
life … and why?
Antti – “Dimmu
Borgir – Mourning Palace”. It’s just so damn good album
still after a decade. It had a great impact into the scene in
Finland
and to everyone at that time.
Which
kind of music do you listen to at home?
Antti - Almost
everything except pop list hits and some light music like polka
and humbug etc. I usually listen some classical music or death
& black metal or some other metal. Sometimes I listen some
lighter rock etc. It depends of what mood I am.
Vinyl
has had a small comeback lately – do you still prefer “the old
sound” or are you a CD/DVD kind of guy?
Antti - Old
vinyls are the best. They have a certain magic over them. But I
have to confess that I own more CDs than vinyl’s.
Last
question - do you have any famous last words for our readers?
Antti - Last
words, I didn’t know that I’m dying yet, hahaha. Hear us and
fear us and have a great rest of the year. |
