– Hello, thanks for taking your time. How are you holding up?

Tomi: Everything is good here. Although there was sad news at the beginning of the year, when Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom died.

– First off, what was the goal behind forming SATAN’S FALL? And how did you come up with the name? Is it MERCYFUL FATE-inspired? I can notice some MF influence in your music too.

Tomi: Originally, the idea was to play for our own pleasure at the rehearsal place and drink beer. But somehow we found ourselves in a situation where we found ourselves recording and releasing music as well as doing gigs. We called ourselves Satan’s Cross, but some Mexican black metal band grabbed the name for themselves before us. We then had to think of a new name that was not used by any other band. At least according to Metal Archives. However, the name is not directly associated with MF. Yes, we like to listen to Mercyful Fate, but I wouldn’t say it would be heard in our music. But of course it’s cool that people hear our music differently.

-Your debut album came out just last December, 5 years after forming the band, but during these years you’ve put out some short-length releases. How were those first steps like until you got to release your debut?

Tomi: I think they are important steps. I myself started practicing guitar more when we formed this band, so it’s also fun to compare those old releases to our debut album in that sense. Our gigs for four years were also based on that demo and EP, so they can’t be underestimated in any way. After all, there were problems and solutions before we got our first album released. For example, three members announced that they were leaving the band the same night we warmed up Primordial in Finland. We then got Lassi, Ville and Miika in the band. And things started rolling pretty nicely and here we are.

-How were those early recordings important for the future of the band?

Tomi: Like I said, those old songs were played live and our whole set was always up to them. They also suited the listeners so well that they sold out relatively quickly.

You also released the “Past of” compilation. Some people consider a compilation to be the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. Is this your case?

Tomi: Yes. When we signed with High Roller Records to release our debut album – we wanted to get the old releases on the same covers. All previous releases were sold out for a long time, so we did a service to those who didn’t have the opportunity to buy them. Now you can own them all on one CD. But the compilation album was also a good idea to introduce our band to new listeners who Found us through High Roller Records before we got our debut album out.

-What significance does it hold to you to have your first full-length out? Specially in these weird times that we are living.

Tomi: It’s great to get new music out for people to hear. In a way, working on the next album will also make it easier when we get good feedback on this first album and we’ll know how to avoid certain pitfalls that existed when the first album was being made. But it’s especially rewarding for us ourselves when we get to hold the record in our hands. Some light into this darkness called Corona.

-In fact many of the lyrics on “Final Day” deal with how the world is going to shit. Some people believed the pandemic would bring out the best of us humans. What do you think? What has happened and how self-centered we are has rather been a reaffirmaton of the fact that we are going to shit?

Tomi: Such a pandemic brings out the better in some people, but there are those other people as well. People are pretty self-centered. It feels like we’re going in a worse direction all the time. Apparently there is something “great” about living at the expense of the well-being and needs of others. Also man’s desire to destroy nature out of greed is also something completely incomprehensible.

-Is there any specifical event or experience that has inspired some of the lyrics?

Tomi: Basically, Miika channels his anger and frustration through the lyrics, but there are no special events there.

-What would be your ideal “Final Day” caused by? Nuclear armageddon? Zombie holocaust? Meteorite?

Tomi: Meteorite strike has always been my own favorite. It would be a historic moment to be alive and experiencing.

-You recorded the album by yourselves. What are the pros and cons of this?

Tomi: Pros: No one else knows what we should sound like ourselves. Therefore, we prefer to do it ourselves.

Cons: On the other hand, some world-class producer could take the band more forward.

– Musically we can find Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Speed Metal, some subtle Power Metal hintsIt feels to me more diverse than your previous releases. Where did this bigger variation blossom from? Has the songwriting process been any different?

Tomi: The changes in a lineup had the greatest impact on the composition work. For example, Lassi is the best lead guitarist in the world who knows how to do great stuff with a guitar and producing. Miika is a very good singer and he writes catchy choruses, but also great verses. Ville is also a clock-accurate drummer who manages his plot. Overall, a tough group with a desire to show more than before. However, the making of the songs has remained relatively similar. I mainly do the raw versions at home and then together we do the final arrangements at the rehearsal place. Joni and Lassi made one of their own songs for the record, “There Will be Blood» and «The Flamekeeper».

-All this about “Final Day” being said; how would you describe it in just 3 words?

Tomi: Heavy Fucking Metal

-And finally, what are now your near-future plans? It must suck to make plans to promote an album in these uncertain times.

Tomi: Preparing for the next album when nothing else can really be done. Of course, we hope to be able to tour this year now that the record came out.

– That’s all from our side, thanks again for your time. If you’d like to add some final words, feel free to do it.

Tomi: Thank you for the interview. I hope you readers will find us interesting band and see you at gigs in the future. Metal!

Tania Giménez

tania@queensofsteel.com

Deja una respuesta

Tu dirección de correo electrónico no será publicada.

Highslide for Wordpress Plugin