BATTLE BEAST (Eng.)
– Hello, lots of thanks for answering our interview. How is everything going into the BATTLE BEAST’s camp right now?
Well, things are pretty busy all over. There’s a million things going on all of which require our attention. Every now and then it’s hard to fit in the band activities with your normal life, but I can’t complain. At least things are happening for us.
– You have just released your sophomore album, «Battle Beast». What are your expectations on it? And how is its feedback being so far?
Well, hopefully it will bring us a shitload of gigs and touring, but we try not to think the business side too much. We did the best album we possibly could have and we’re all ourselves happy with it. So far nearly all the reviews we’ve read have been extremely positive, so it seems people are really enjoying the album.
– For this new opus you’ve got a new singer, Noora. How has she fitted in?
Really well! It was really a struck of luck to find a singer with both the skills to deliver the music and a personality to fit in with the rest of the group The chemistry in the band is the best it’s ever been now that everyone is truly committed to work for the band.
– Personally I think it has a more aggressive tone than Nitte, but she can also be sweet and provide some really good high-pitched vocals. Were you specially looking for a certain kind of voice?
It actually came as a surprise even to us how versatile she is as a singer. I remember the first time I heard the vocal take for “Out of Control” – I couldn’t believe it was Noora! I had never heard her doing the kind of soft voice she does on the verse of that song.
– Musically I think keyboards on this new effort have gotten a bigger role. Is it actually like that or is it just my perception?
You’re probably right. The keyboards we’re actually meant to be more apparent on ‘Steel’ as well. but since we used an outsider producer, it was his choice to mix them lower. If you compare the songs on ‘Steel’ to how they sound on stage, you can tell a difference in how the keyboards are heard. Some metal purists seem to consider using keyboards to be a sin, but for us it’s not a problem. I feel keyboards are simply a way of adding new sounds and elements which “spice up” the music more personally.
– In fact I would even dare say this has broaden your horizons, as they have helped adding new elements as certain more symphonic parts along your usual epicness. Was this diversity something you were aiming for?
Yeah, absolutely. I feel many bands these days are, feraing the audience response, afraid to experiment so they only stick to only one kind of style. For us there are no limits: there are 13 tracks on our new album all of which are different.
– Anyway you still sound traditional, catchy and like BATLLE BEAST so, is it easy to keep loyal to your roots but, at the same time, trying new things?
I don’t see a problem there. We just do the kind of music we would enjoy listening ourselves, so it all goes very naturally. I think that in general, all this “true metal” or “traditional metal” stuff is just crap, and I’m not really into this retro-metal thingy that’s been going on. Music is supposed to live and evolve, and that’s what we aim to do with it.
– I could say you have been through an obvious improvement musically and in songwriters terms, but I specially noticed your classical influences are more obvious now, sometimes even having a really rockier vibe. Due to this, if you don’t mind, I would like you to tell us what have been some of the most influential bands for you, as this record sounds trully 80’s but with a modern touch as well.
There’s not a simple answer for this question. The songs on the new album are from a long period of time so you can’. All in all name just one or two influences, we aim to be influenced by all kinds of music we hear and enjoy, be it metal or not.
– It also gives the feeling you are now a more selfconfident band. Have you felt more comfortable with this second record?
Yes of course. ‘Steel’ was the first album any of had ever worked with, and making it was a lot about trial and error. Learning from experiences along with the two years have definitely given us more confidence as a band and a working unit.
– Anyway, could you say you are still shaping you own personality?
Isn’t everybody? Two years ago we were all different both as a band and private persons. Two years from now I recon it will be the same.
– If I’m not mistaken the own band has taken production, recording and mixing duties so, how did the whole process go? I guess it can sometimes be a double-edged sword.
Producing the album gave us sort of artistic freedom ourselves , but as you guessed it, also proved really exhausting. At the end of it Anton whi did lion’s share of the work was really strating to flip. Some of the things weren’t done in the best possible way, so next time around we’ll know what to do differently.
– All this about «Battle Beast» being said; how could you describe it in just 3 words?
Awesome. As. Fuck.
– And finally, what are youe near-future plans?
We’ll be doing some gigs in Finland during the summer and in Aurumn we’re going back to Europe to tour with Powerwolf. Later on we hope to announce way more
live dates and do a headlining tour the first chance we get.
– That’s all, thank you once more for answering our questions. If you want to add some final words; feel free to do it.
Well, if you don’t mind a little shameless self-promotion… Be sure to check out our new album, Trust me, it’s a winner! Cheers!
