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Q: Hey
guy's congratulates with a record deal and debut-album, what is your
thoughts about this?
J: I'm really pleased that the album will be released now after 7 years of
working on pretty much the same songs. I can't wait to hear the audience’
reaction.
Q: Why did you choose Century Media as
your record company, and did you get inquiries from other companies?
J: We got contacts from other labels too although we didn't send the demo
more than just a few places. Century Media contacted us and said that they
were intrested and asked if we can send them more material. So the
negations started. Why did we choose CM... They gave us better deal than
others. CM is quite big label and they have good distribution facilities,
so the album is available in many countries. That was the one reason also.
Q: Where did the production of "Battle
Metal" take place? Was it any problems during the recording process?
J: Battle Metal was recorded in Sound Suite Studios in France with
producer Terje Refsnes.
Drums, percussion, choirs and moust of the additional instruments were
recorded in Steeltrack Studio in Finland.
There was all kinds of little problems. Maybe the biggest problem was
transfering the material recorded in Finland to Terje's system. Our system
and Terje's system had to be in synch because otherwise the timing would
have been completely messed up. So some technical problems with that, but
nothing impossible.
But otherwise everything went well. We all survived back to Finland alive
so I think we manged well, heheh..
W: One reeeaally strange problem we had started precisely on the minute we
drove up on Sound Suite’s garden. Terje told us the weather had been nice
and warm for weeks – which obviously made us feel happy since December
back in Finland is everything but warm and nice . Suddenly it was just as
if the sky had been torn open and it started raining cats and dogs, which
continued for days accompanied by heavy thunderstorms and lightnings. This
all resulted in huge floods in Southern France and specially the city of
Marseille where Sound Suite is located. A few days after we’d arrived, the
city of Marseille was declared a disaster area by french president Jaques
Chirac and all the international news channels were showing pictures of
houses, cars, streets... everything under water. It didn’t affect us that
much, we just had some problems with the electricity, and the internet
connection was cut for a week or so. The only big problem was that the
road to the shopping centre with tobbacco stores was under water for a few
days, and we had some seriously nevous people making music hahhahha...
Q: You have titled your debut-album "Battle
Metal", why did you choose this title?
J: The title fits with the music. It's simple and have several meanings.
It suits the music that we play
and was the starting point of the cover artwork, swords, axes, spears and
other weaponary used in battle.
Q: And is it any deeper meaning behind
your lyrics?
W: Personally I’m not a big fan of fantasy with dragons and shining
knights flying here and there and even if our music and lyrics might at
first sight look like pure fantasy I have to make a statement that it IS
NOT! Ok, most of the lyrics do deal with battle themes and the old days,
but to me that is more of a frame for the real content in the lyrics. A
few of the songs are pretty simple with no greater meaning at all, but
generally there’s always something more deep under. The main things come
from everyfay life, philosophical thoughts, history, politics whatever –
something that makes me think. My favourite is to play around with sarcasm
and self irony – specially against the romantic glorifiacation of war: On
the surface all may seem just like another heroic story, but usually I try
to make a twist in it so the real idea might be just the opposite.
Q: Who makes the music? Is it teamwork?
W: Most of the music is written by me, sometimes Antti and Jussi
contribute with ideas or riffs which might just suite a song I’ve been
working on. Sometimes their ideas make me come up with more ideas and I
build up a song based on those.
Q: What can your fans expect on "Battle
Metal"?
W: It’s a diverse album with good songs on it. Even the lenght (58min)
should be long enough for the money. To me it sounds unique and fresh,
something new in the pagan metal scene. We kind of did as we felt best
without listening to anybody or what they would think, and the result
became dareful, but still a kick ass album.
Q: What is your favorite songs on "Battle
Metal" and why?
J: If I have to pic one, I think it would be Rex Regi Rebellis. It's a
seven-minute song, bonbastic horns, folkish parts with percussions, and
much more.The lyrics are based on the Thirty Years War fought in Europe
1618-1648. The vocals are in Swedish, English and few words in Finnish too.
The Lyrics and music work perfectly together so maybe that would be my
choise.
W: R.R.R. is kind of my favourite child too. As Jussi mentioned, it’s
really diverse and the lyric theme and music fits together perfectly. On
the other hand, I like the opening feel in “Victoriae & Triumphi Dominus,
the brutality and pompousness in “As Torches Rise”, the simple and strong
melody in “Battle Metal”, the drive in “The Land of Hope and Glory”, the
punchyness in “The Messenger”, the folkish feel in “One More”, the
major-chord positiveness in “Midnight Sunrise”, the jolly choirs and
variety of “Among Ancestors”, the drunken spirit in “Sahti-Waari”, the
atmosphere in “Prologue for R.R.R.” and not to mention the melancholic and
epic folk-sound in “Katuman Kaiku”.
Q: I can see on your webpage that you
have played some gigs, what response have you got so far?
J: We have done few gigs in the past and the response has been very
positive. We try to add more intresting elements to our live shows as
additional musicians and some special stuff. Last time when we played live
we had 2 dancing girls, 2 bodypainted girls, Accordion, flute, ...So it
should be entertaining, hehheh.
Q: Will there be any tour linked to your
debut-album release?
W: There have been some talks on the issue, but nothing confirmed so far.
So maybe, maybe not..
It would be nice to do little European tour though.
Q: And now a question from all your fans
in norway..is there any chance to ever see you live here?
J: I hope so. I would like to play few gigs there. I have never been there
so it would be intresting to do few gigs and check out the local pubs, heh
W: I’ve been in Oslo once for a few days, but I’d like to travel around
the Norwegean countryside and small towns for a while. Of course it would
be great to play live in Norway. Det vore KEMPE GREIT!!!
I wish you good luck with the band and
music...
Thanks,
Warlord Nygård
Jussi Wickström |