Interview
Deutsche VersionInterview mit Kalmah (26.04.2006)
HH: Hi Antti. Your new record - The Black Waltz - is out now for some weeks. What about the feedback you got? Are you satisfied with the reviews and with the finished product?
Antti: Yes, the whole package is perfect. The feedback has been amazing!
HH: Comparing The Black Waltz to earlier records one can see a slight difference in your style. You sound much darker, bleaker and angrier than ever. Did you do these changes on purpose or did it just happen?
Antti: I guess it just happened. Though this time we searched more brutal guitar sound and this makes the album darker and heavier. Also changing the vocal style was a good move. It brings much anger to the overall sound and all in all fits in perfectly. But at the end the evolution has been natural. We had three years from the previous album and this time we could concentrate to The Black Waltz with no hurry.
HH: Please describe your music with just one word.
Antti: Swampmetal.
HH: Your music has often been compared to bands like Eternal Tears Of Sorrow or Children Of Bodom. Do you take this as kind of a compliment or is this just irritating?
Antti: I think both of the bands are great, I've played with Eternal Teaors Of Sorrow as well on A Virgin And A Whore. So I take it as a compliment, even though the comparison is a bit far reached. People want to categorize, so there is nothing I can do about it.
HH: The vocals on The Black Waltz are much deeper and more voluminous than on your other records. Why did you change your style in singing?
Antti: Actually it is a return to the roots. As Ancestor during 1991 - 1998 we used deep growls on every demo. There was only spicy touch of higher screams. The reason for change was kind of natural. We did a two song demos two years ago and tried the old vocal style and it sounded great. So we changed it.
HH: Once again the swamp lord is facing the front cover. Is he just kind of a mascot or is there a deeper meaning?
Antti: He is our spiritual guide. The master of North Finland's nature.
HH: How do you produce a new song? What happens until it is being recorded?
Antti: First of all almost in 90% of the cases I have a riff or melody. Then I start to build the song and when it is in some kind of package I bring it to the rehearsal where we arrange it together with the band. This time Marco did three songs which were rather ready from the first listening. So basically everything is written on guitar first.
HH: How important are the vocals for your songs and what is The Black Waltz all about? Do you have a lyrical concept for your records or is every song telling its own story?
Antti: Every song has an own story. For me the music matters most but it is not fulfilled if there are no vocals. Vocals and lyrics give the song a soul. For Pekka, who does all the lyrics, the lyrics are main thing. Basically they tell about his life and experiences.
HH: This year a finish band is going to shock some people in the pop business as Lordi is heading for the European Song Contest. What do you think about this and would you ever participate in such a show?
Antti: I guess we have to be more popular to do it and our music might just slightly be too hard for such "clown" contests. The songs in general at that contest suck bad time. For Lordi it is a great way to get people aware of the band. I do hope they succeed even though the song is rather simple in vein of Alice Cooper and I don't like it.
HH: What is the most important thing in music for you?
Antti: I like just to play and get my artistic thoughts out. Nowadays it is great that the fans like the music same way I do.
HH: Unfortunately you have not played many shows in Germany up to now. Are there any plans concerning live shows in this year yet?
Antti: We have gig at Tuska here in Finland and we are going to play in Scotlands Ragnarok as well. I do hope we manage to be in German festivals as well but at this point there are no negotiations about one.
HH: How do you relax and keep fit on tour? Is there a secret recipe you would like to tell us?
Antti: Actually we haven't been on tour, so I don't know how the bands that tour half a year can pull it out. If you are six months drunk it might work...
HH: What can we expect from Kalmah in the future? Where do you think the band will be in about five years?
Antti: I guess in five years we have done at least two albums and maybe gained bigger success. All in all it is great to do albums and as long as we like it we will continue.
HH: If someone would ask you to do a metal version of the Kalevala, what would be your answer? What about the result, what would it be like?
Antti: Heh. I believe it would be a long show or album. I guess if we put it in a show it would have some theatre with actors and the band in between and the whole show would last three hours. There is of course connection to Kalmah especially in part where Väinämöinen sings Joukahainen to swamp.
HH: If you would have to compare The Black Waltz with a movie, which one would you choose and why?
Antti: This is a tricky one. I guess it would be Fight Club. There are lots of songs about fighting with the inner demons.
HH: Thank you for answering these questions. The last words are yours.
Antti: Thank you! I hope you like the new album!
JR