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Please introduce the band to our readers. Jussi Ontero (drums & keyboards), Jukka Jokikokko (bass), Pekka Kolivuori (guitars) and me Pete Ahonen (vocals & guitars) The band started in 1999, but your new album ‘The Ignitor’ is only your fifth release. What is the reason for releasing just one album every 3 years? Well, we had some major legal issues with our label back in late 2003 and early 2004, not with LMP, but the Finnish label who initially licenced us to LMP. That incident costs us our deal with LMP. Also out of that frustration I formed another band, Ghost Machinery, and I was busy doing the promotion and gigs with them late 2004 to 2005. In 2006 we thought it was time to hunt a new deal with BP and very quickly we signed with Metal Heaven. They released 2 albums in 2007 and in 2009. Unfortunately the label wasn’t behind the band and did a very little advertising campaign if any etc. and in 2009 we decided it was best to leave and search another label to work with. Late 2009 through 2011 I was busy recording the 2nd Ghost Machinery album, which came in 2010, but also the debut album from the Stargazery, which has been released in 2011. And in between all this we were recording 'The Ignitor'. The album is out now for a few months, how is the response from the press and the fans? The response has been awesome again! Amazing reviews all over the world and lots of new fans! We are very happy about that! Now we just need the label’s input on this; lots of advertising and webbanners around! What is the biggest difference between the new album and your fourth album ‘Empyre’? Firstly it’s my vocals, the melody-lines are much higher in most of the songs. Secondly, more fast songs, more energetic, more epic! It is cliché, but 'The Ignitor' is definitively our best album! Why make a worser than before, right? What are the bands main influences? We all have our personal influences, but 80’s hardrock and metal in general…Accept, Mötley Crue, Iron Maiden, Metallica etc How important are the lyrics for Burning Point and what subjects pass by? Despite the opinions of the few reviewers, the lyrics have lots of meanings and they are very important to me! I’ve never wrote anything “from the top of my hat" Everyday life, what I see, read, hear or experience myself, those are my “building blocks”. The music sounds melodic, but due to the crunchy guitar work not wimpy. I that a choice the band makes, or does it just turn out this way. All we do comes very natural. We never make any plans of how this album should sound etc.
Which song or songs on the new album are your personal favourite(s) and why? Always a tough question, because I do love them all! Otherwise they wouldn’t be on the album. Does the band have a lot of gigs in, or outside of As for now, not so many unfortunately.. We have had some booking agencies that hasn’t booked any gigs. As we speak, we’re negotiating with a new booking agency, hopefully things brighten up! Can we expect a tour through It all depends on the album sales. If the sales are good, there might be…but if not, well..we all can understand that money makes the world go round. What do you want to tell our readers, but hasn’t been asked till now by an interviewer? Wow, this is totally a new question. Maybe that if you want to help us to play in your country, buy our albums and contact your local gig promoters to get in touch with us! There are so many power metal bands and releases, why should a metal fan check out your new album for certain? If you want huge choruses, awesome quality in soundwise aka great production, beautiful artwork, great musicianship, then we are your band!!! Check us out!!! Anything else you want to share with our readers? Thank you very much for your support and we hope you’ll love the new album! Hope to see you all in tour! | ||||
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Interviewed by Reinier de Vries | ||||
