Finntroll - Interview

Originally published by Demonic-Nights.at (Now at http://www.facebook.com/demonicnights#!/demonicnights) on February 12th 2010

Author: Dawak

Finntroll scheinen ihre Frischzellenkur abgeschlossen zu haben. Auf ihre Humppa-Wurzeln haben sie zwar nicht vollständig vergessen, widmen sich aber längst verstärkt Black Metal und wollen auf "Nifelvind" sogar ein wenig Peter Gabriel verewigt wissen. Gitarrist Skrymer weiß, wie es zu dieser ungewöhnlichen Mischung gekommen ist.

Es wäre untertrieben zu sagen, dass euer letztes Album "Ur Jordens Djup"  verdammt gut gelaufen ist. Rückblickend, wie zufrieden bist du mit dieser Platte? Gibt es etwas daran, das du gerne ändern würdest?

Es war sehr stark, aber das neue Album ist um Welten besser. Natürlich (lacht)!

Wann war für euch die Zeit gekommen zurück ins Studio zu gehen und neue Songs aufzunehmen?

Als wir mit den alten Songs gelangweilt waren und neues Material brauchten (lacht). Wir wollten uns dieses Mal nicht so viel Zeit lassen wie für "Ur Jordens Djup". Nach dem Ende unserer letzten großen Tour haben wir angefangen zu schreiben.

Erneut habt ihr mit Mika Jussila gearbeitet. Was macht ihn zum richtigen Mann für Finntroll?

Da wir bislang auf allen Alben zusammengearbeitet haben, scheinen wir so etwas wie ein gemeinsames Verständnis für Musik bzw. für den Finntroll-Sound entwickelt zu haben. Wir haben sogar einen Song mit einem anderen Produzenten aufgenommen, aber mit dem Ergebnis nicht zufrieden. Mika weiß einfach, wie er mit der Orchestrierung umgehen muss.

Im Vorfeld der Veröffentlichung von "Nifelvind" gab es wilde Spekulationen über den Sound des neuen Albums. Unter anderem war von 80s-Pop die Rede. Wie passt das zu Finntroll?

Sehr gut (lacht). Unsere Geschmäcker sind sehr verschieden. Als wir uns nach der Vorproduktion die ersten Songs anhörten, fühlte ich mich stellenweise an Peter Gabriel erinnert. Nicht, dass an Peter Gabriel etwas falsch wäre (lacht).

Eigentlich ist es eine Journalistenkrankheit Vergleiche herzustellen. "Oh, Band A klingt wie Riff B aus Song C." – wie würdest du selbst den Sound von "Nifelvind" beschreiben?

Das ist schwer (überlegt lange). Wenn man Bandnamen zum Vergleich heranziehen möchte, dann klingt "Nifelvind" so, als ob Dismember, Emperor und Peter Gabriel miteinander Musik machen würden. Das würde es wohl am besten treffen.

Die Lyrics stammen einmal mehr vom längst ausgestiegenen Gründungsmitglied Katla. Warum ist er nach wie vor eurer Texteschreiber?

Für uns scheint er die natürlichste Wahl zu sein. Er hatte die Idee für das Finntroll-Konzept, er lebt in dieser Welt. Außerdem muss alles auf Schwedisch sein, was er perfekt beherrscht. Ich glaube nicht, dass ein anderer Interesse daran hätte. Auf einem Album war Katla nicht mit dabei – mit den Texten sind wir bis heute nicht zufrieden. Wir kümmern uns um die Musik, um die Arrangements und überlassen ihm die Lyrics.

Kannst du mir ein wenig über das Konzept des neuen Albums erzählen?

Es handelt sich um keine einzelne Geschichte, die sich durch das ganze Album zieht. Vielmehr sind es eine Reihe kleinerer Geschichten, die wiederrum Nacherzählungen und neue Versionen alter Sagen sind, allerdings in ihrer eigenen Welt spielen. Es ist also kein Konzeptalbum im herkömmlichen Sinn, sondern eine Sammlung von Geschichten einer speziellen Sagenwelt.

Das Artwork zu "Nifelvind" stammt – wie bereits bei den letzten Releases – von dir. Wenn du dich ans Design setzt, wie gehst vor? Hast du bereits das fertige Album vor dir, nur gewisse Titel oder gar gerademal eine wage Idee des Konzepts?

Dieses Mal habe ich fast gleichzeitig mit dem Songwriting bekommen, als wir die Ideen zusammentrugen, gemeinsam besprochen und mit Bier begossen hatten. Während die Songs langsam aber sicher Form annehmen, arbeite ich erste Entwürfe für das Artwork aus. Wenn dann tatsächlich die fertigen Songs da sind, steht auch das Artwork. Es soll die Musik begleiten, soll einen Rahmen bieten, während man das Album hört, soll zur Atmosphäre beitragen. Und so arbeiten wir erfolgreich seit Jahren (lacht).

Wie passt der Albumtitel "Nifelvind" in dieses Konzept aus Musik, Lyrics und Artwork?

Der Titel verbindet diese einzelnen Bestandteile. "Nifelvind" ist ein – wie soll ich das übersetzen? – vielleicht kein höllischer Wind, aber wohl ein Wind aus der Unterwelt. Vielleicht fasst dieser Begriff die Lyrics nicht voll und ganz zusammen, aber er schien am besten zu passen.

Rund um den Release eures neuen Albums werdet ihr euch der "Paganfest"-Tour anschließen. Wie seid ihr ein Teil dieses Packages geworden und was hältst du von der Idee dahinter?

Letztes Jahr waren wir Teil der "Heidenfest"-Tour und haben uns verdammt gut mit Eluveitie verstanden, die für uns wie Brüder sind. So macht eine weitere gemeinsame Tour natürlich doppelt Spaß und wir freuen uns darauf.

Wie ist es um das Package für die darauffolgende Nordamerika-Tour bestimmt?

Wir werden mit Moonsorrow, Swallow The Sun und Survivors Zero auf Tour gehen – vier finnische Bands in Amerika. Mit Moonsorrow wollten wir unbedingt touren, eigentlich in Europa, aber du musst wohl ein Visa für die Staaten beantragen, wenn du uns sehen willst (lacht).

Ich habe es fast befürchtet. Abschließend bitte ich dich um ein paar letzte Worte an unsere Leser und eure österreichischen Fans:

Kill them all, the Norse gods are coming!

Besser kann man ein Interview nicht beschließen. Danke für deine Zeit!

Videonkuvausraportti: Finntrollin matkassa Hämeenlinnassa

Published by YhteisHyvä, from December 8th 2009
Original link: http://www.yhteishyva.fi/viihde/haastattelut/videokuvausraportti_finntrolli/fi_FI/vidonkuvausraportti_fintrollin_matkassa_hameenlinnassa/

***

Yhteishyva.fi vieraili metallibändi Finntrollin videonkuvauksissa ja kuunteli helmikuun puolivälissä ilmestyvän Nifelvind-levyn ennakkoon. Lue bändi kuulumiset ja katso diashow kuvauksista jutun lopusta.

Helsinkiläinen Finntroll on noussut kansainväliseen suosioon eriskummallisella reseptillä: se roiskii raisua humppametallia ruotsiksi! Bändi on kiertänyt omalaatuisen fuusionsa ansiosta niin Euroopassa kuin USA:ssakin, ja sen levyjä on myyty pitkälle toistasataatuhatta.

Yhtyeen levy-yhtiö, saksalainen metallijätti Century Media Records, kutsui kymmenkunta lehdistön edustajaa seuraamaan bändin musiikkivideon kuvausta Hämeenlinnaan ja kuuntelemaan Nifelvind-albumin tuoreeltaan. Suurin osa toimittajista lennätettiin paikalle manner-Euroopasta. Yhteishyva.fi sai kunnian olla toinen kahdesta kotimaisesta kutsuvieraasta.

Kuvausryhmä Vasara Films oli rakentanut isohkon hallimaisen rakennuksen sisälle ”luolan”, jossa video kuvattiin.

Osa bändistä oli jo puettu riepumaisiin kangasrytkyihin ja maskeerattu maasta nousseiden metsänelävien näköisiksi. Kuvaukset olivat alkaneet paria tuntia aiemmin, ja videolla valon valtakuntaa symboloivan naisnäyttelijän osuudet oltiin saatu jo purkkiin.

Laulaja Vrethin osuuksien taltiointi alkoi paikalle päästyämme. Mies asettautui selälleen märkien lehtien päälle laitetulle makuualustalle ja ryhtyi toteuttamaan ohjaajan ohjeita. Ketään ei tuntunut haittaavan, että toimittajat räpsivät samalla kuvia ja sinkoilivat mielensä mukaan videokameran takana.

Pimeässä ja koleassa hallissa vallitsi rento tunnelma. Kun soittajilla oli taukoa, he antoivat haastatteluja – joko aamutossuissa tai paljain varpain!

Koska paikanpäällä ei saanut kattavaa kuvaa musiikkivideon sisällöstä, päätin kysyä asiasta Vrethiltä.

Mitä videolla tullaan näkemään?

Vreth: - Tällä hetkellä kuvataan lähikuvia hienoista ihoistamme ja huudoistamme.

- Videossa on ikään kuin kaksi eri maailmaa: valoisa maailma, jota me tuhoamme, ja meidän paskainen mutamaailmamme.

Videobiisin nimi on Solsagan, liittyvätkö kappaleen sanoitukset videon juoneen?

Vreth: - Ei ihan. Musta tuntuisi kornilta tehdä video, joka seuraa orjallisesti sitä, mistä laulat. Mutta molemmissa on samoja elementtejä mukana, kuten valo ja pimeys.

                   Visuaalisia peikkosäveliä

Videokuvauksissa leijonanosa ajasta kuluu yleensä odotteluun, ja aikataulut ovat liki aina myöhässä. Niin kävi nytkin. Filmiporukka ja bändi jäi viimeistelemään otoksiaan hallille, kun toimittajaporukka ja manageriporras ajoi Hämeenlinnan keskustaan syömään reilun tunnin myöhempään kuin oli suunniteltu.

Ennakkokuuntelun piti tapahtua Helsingin keskustassa sijatsevassa anniskeluravintolassa, mutta yhtyeen pr-henkilö päätti kuroa menetetyn ajan kiinni kuunteluttamalla levyn paluumatkalla tilataksissa! Kuski nakkasikin kiekon kelkkaan ja väänsi volume-namiskan kaakkoon.

Nifelvind vaikutti yhden pyöräytyksen perusteella Finntrollin monipuolisimmalta – ja kenties jopa parhaalta – levyltä. Siinä yhdistyivät sekä ensimmäisten albumeiden multainen, puolihumoristinen peikkosatumaailma että Ur Jordens Djupin (2007) selvästi synkempi black metal -kaahaus.

Niiden lisäksi säveltäjä Trollhorn on maalaillut tällä levyllä yhä laveammalla orkestraatiopaletilla, joka tuo mieleen hänen erään toisen bändinsä, Danny Elfmanin leffasoundtrackeille syvään kumartavan The Wickedin, albumit.

Nifelvind on tunnelmaltaan positiivinen ja erittäin visuaalinen. Kun sulkee silmänsä, sävelet muuttuvat mielikuviksi kostean mullan alla lymyävästä peikkovaltakunnasta.

Vreth, kuinka kuvailisit Nifelvindiä?

Vreth: - Se on vähän erilainen kuin muut levymme. Onhan tässä tietysti Finntroll-soundia, mutta myös enemmän metallia ja riffittelyä kuin ennen. Ja paljon akustisia instrumentaaliosioita.

Millaisia suunnitelmia teillä on keikkailun suhteen levyn tiimoilta?

Vreth: - Kun levy julkaistaan, lähdetään suoraan Paganfest-rundille, kierretään 24 päivää Euroopassa. Sen jälkeen ollaan pari viikkoa kotona ja mennään Jenkkeihin kuukaudeksi.

Entä Suomen-keikat, onko niitä luvassa?

Vreth: - On, mutta niistä ei vielä puhuta, heh.

Finntroll returns to Spain...

Published by Finntroll Spain Myspace, from November 13th 2009
Author:  Marina Mendive

Original link: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=482864169&blogId=518720065

After three years, the Finnish folk metal band, Finntroll, stepped on Spanish soil.  Finntroll MySpace Spain had the pleasure of interviewing Vreth and Skrymer a few minutes before their concert in the Madrid venue, Sala Caracol... 

(FM) Finntroll Myspace: Welcome, what happened? We heard someone missed a flight? 

(S) Skrymer: Yeah, the other guitarist missed a flight and all of our gear was lost. Luckily we got it now here...

(V) Vreth: We only had the hand luggage with us. Everything else was lost.

 FM: During the process of recording a new album, is there a part, a moment, which you like best?  Which is it? 

S: Actually, the whole process this time.

V: Yeah, but the stress was big.

S: Yeah.

V: We should have had like one more week.

S: But, really cool environment. Like, Three different studios, like one studio 2 guys were making children music, “can you guys come here and do backing vocals for this track,” and the other studio were doing like this old Finnish folk singer kinda dude, singing, and then there was like this one living room where we all drink coffee and smoke cigarettes. It was really, really nice environment.

V: Yep.

FM: So you helped with some backing vocals for children songs.

S: Yeah, and they did some for us too.

FM: What do you usually do to prepare for a show?

S: Joking and have a big group hug, no, [laughs] I don’t know, just sit around and wait for it to happen, write a set list, put the makeup and gear on, nothing very special.

FM: The first time you went on stage, did you have any stage fright? 

S: Still do.

FM: What do you do to avoid it?

S: Get drunk! [Laughs] Typical Finnish solution to problems, get drunk [Laughs], no, I don’t know, it’s kind of a cold feeling 5 minutes before going, then we actually go on stage and nothing.

V: I don’t think I actually have any stage fright anymore, when I was little, then I was really nervous. The first shows with Finntroll, then I was nervous.

FM: Vreth, how long have you been practicing growling?

V: Mid nineties, something like that.

S. Since his birth.

[They both laugh]

V: I was a very quiet child.

FM: What is your opinion on the fact that there are women like Angela Gossow from Arch Enemy that also practice growling?

V: I think it’s good that females do it also, because they have the same instrument that we have, so why not? Why would it all be male?

S: Once in Seattle this tiny little girl walked on stage and it was like [imitates growling sound] roar, and,

V: yeah, it was really angry.

S: it was like, fucking hell that’s scary. That tiny little fragile creature, that could create that sort of…, I don’t know, like he said, the same sentiment, so it doesn’t really matter. If it’s good it’s good, if it’s really bad it’s bad, it doesn’t really matter,

V: yeah, there is an equal amount of bad male singers as well as female singers. 

FM: What is the weirdest thing a fan has ever said or done to you or where is the weirdest place you’ve had to sign an autograph?

V: There was actually, a couple of years ago, this mother, she was probably around thirty something, and I thought she wanted an autograph, but no, no, no, she lifts up her little child and she wants an autograph. She had like a pink bag that she wanted me to sign. The girl was like 7 years old or something like that, she was a big fan and I got to sign her little pink purse.

FM: How much time do you usually require to learn a song?

S: Depends on the song.

V: Yeah, like you never learn some songs. We have really hard songs to play and we have easy songs to play.

S: Some may take 2 weeks to learn,

V: the other ones take 2 years…

S: It took like 9 years actually for me to learn, 8, sorry, [Vreth laughs] till I finally learned one thing from one song. 

FM: Can we know which one?

S: No, It’s like this, thanks to the other guitarist player on (Jaktens stage), who is a million times better guitarist than I am now, I kind of had to play his parts… it just didn’t happen. Finally, I learned after 8 years, so. It took me 8 years to get sort of close to the level [laughs]. 

FM: How long have you been playing the guitar?

S: I’ve been playing since 9; I’ve been practicing for [shrugs], well, actually, really practicing for like 4 or 5 years. It sounds weird, but yeah.

FM: If you had to do a balance about your entire career as a musician, what positive and what negative aspects would you highlight?

V: Well, the good side is to be able to travel around the world and play.

S: Play and see that people actually like what we’re doing.

V: Yeah, the negative side is probably the travelling.

S: yeah, waiting.

V: The airports and stuff.

S: That’s the glamour of rock and roll you get to wait a lot.

V: Stand in lines,

S: Looking like retard.

FM: What do you think about music festivals, do you prefer big venues or small venues?

S: small venues, definitely. Festivals are more like, party for the people. If I would really, really want to see a band, I would rather see them in a club. In a festival the sound is never really what you want it to be.

V: Yeah, and usually in a club people are there to see you, not to party, because in a festival there is like a week of partying, it’s just a plus if there is a good band.

FM: What do you think about today’s musical landscape?

[The rest of the group calls Skrymer and they talk in Finnish for a few minutes]

S: They just had a great idea for the album cover.

FM: Can we know?

S:  No, you’ll see.

S: (musical landscape) Honest opinion? It’s going to hell, it’s like there’s less and less real rock bands playing, more and more commercial bullshit. I don’t know, I’m really the worst person to ask that question. [Pauses] Now, it’s all so polished and nice and clean.

V: yeah, it’s lost the punk and the rebelness in some way.

S: Now days, there is more people that listen to Britney Spears than metal bands, the difference is a fucking haircut, but like I said, I’m really the worst person to ask that question.

FM:  Songs that make you dance:

S: hummm.

V: You mean in a club, now?

FM: For example, yes.

S: Janis Joplin, but you need, you know, a female to dance.

V: and the right setting, somehow. You know sometimes, we can go, like after a show to a club.

S: and groove out.

V: and be like: Oh, it’s Britney Spears let’s go dance.

S: Toxic.

V: Britney Spears Toxic.

S: that’s Max Martin so…

FM: Person that has inspired you:

S: [Looks at Mathias] Him. [They both laugh] I don’t know.

V: ugh, this is a hard one.

S: I don’t know I couldn’t name one; it’s like all this bunch of people for different reasons.

V: Different artists, different painters,

S: different musicians, different writers, different filmmakers,

V: ordinary people.

S: Just nice people.

FM: Where do you see yourselves in five years?

V: probably here.

S: yep, probably here, warming up some local band, I don’t know, or Los Angeles, driving fast cars, I don’t really know, I don’t even know where we’re going to be next week, well, I know actually, we’re going to be in Ukraine.

V: yep.

S: It’s kind of as far as I can tell. Hopefully playing.

FM: Earliest childhood memory:

S: I don’t know.

V: I cannot answer that one.

S: It goes the other way as well; I can hardly remember what happened last week so…

V: Probably running around some like summer cottage or something like that.

S: My grandma’s place.

FM: A book.

V:  a book? The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy.

S: Hyperion, Dan Simmons, Trilogy.

FM: A city.

V: My hometown.

S: A city? All the cities have some good qualities and some bad. [Pauses] San Francisco is mellow.

V: San Francisco is nice.

FM: A movie.

S: Holy crap [they laugh].

V: Actually, I saw a really good Norwegian movie a month ago, I really like, called Dead Snow, that’s a cool one.

S: I think Monty Python the Holy Grail.

FM: A color.

S: Blue.

V: Green.

S: Really dark blue.

V: Green, definitely.

FM: Favourite smell.

S: I don’t know, girlfriend, at the time, whatever that is, at particular moment girlfriend, I don’t know.

V: nice smells.

FM: Any word for your MySpace fans?

S: Thank you for supporting us.

V: Check out the new album.

ONE FROM THE ARCHIVES: FINNTROLL

Published in Terrorizer (online issue), from March 25th 2009

Original link:  http://www.terrorizer.com/content/one-archives-finntrol

EXCITED ABOUT OUR BRAND NEW SPANKING WEBSITE WE'VE DELVED DEEP IN THE ARCHIVES TO BRING YOU SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE INTERVIEWS OF THE PAST YEAR, SAVED FOR POSTERITY, ON THIS OUR SNAZZY NEW BLOG.

BARBARIAN WRATH: FINNTROLL - TERRORIZER ONLINE #18

It's cold, it's raining, the Terrorizer team are suffering from a post-deadline hangover after putting to bed an extremely winterized (say that word in your best Abbath impression for desired result) issue so what better to life our spirits than forcing the bearded wonder Paul Schwarz to re-live some of his backstage encounters at this summer's Bloodstock Open Air Festival. Already getting excited about the killer line up Bloodstock are planning for 2008 (Opeth, Moonsorrow, Swallow The Sun) this is just what we need to forget about the descent into below-zero temperatures and look forward to the glory days of summer once again. Terrorizer cornered humppa metal godfathers Finntroll backstage following a signing session, which included the autographing of bums and breasts. Guitarist Skrymer, vocalist Vreth and bassist Tundra decided that yes, they were drunk enough to do an impromptu Barbarian Wrath. Fed fresh-slaughtered random topics over a n ale or five by Schwarz and Tom Cleghorn, the trio explain the versatility of hammers in Finnish domestic life and offer their thoughts on that vital question that gnaws at us all - do pirates go to hell?


PIRATES

Tundra (bass): “Arrr!”
Skrymer (guitars): “Are there pirates in Hell?”
Tundra: “There must be parrots, at least.”
Skrymer: “No, not parrots. Pirates.”
Tundra: “But parrots are connected.”
Skrymer: “Yeah, they're connected to pirates.”
Vreth (vocals): “But what would they do in Hell?”
Aren't Vikings basically pirates - a better class of pirate, perhaps?
Skrymer: “No, they were just bloody peasants.”

HAMMERS

Vreth: “Good to beat your wife with.”
Skrymer: “Yeah. No breakfast? Hammers.”
Vreth: “Dinner half an hour late? Hammers.”
Skrymer: “'What do you mean I have to take that in my mouth?' Hammers.”
Tundra: “Rubbish sex? Hammers!” (thrusts a fist in the air as all three chuckle, unconcerned about whether the ironic deadpan of their delivery will carry over into the printed word...)

MUSHROOMS

Skrymer: “Pink colours. Long hands. Obscure fingers.”
Vreth: “Really good on things, psilocybin.”
Skrymer: “Yeah. Asphalt will turn to liquid.”
Vreth: “I was talking about them as food here!”
Skrymer: “So am I!”
Tundra: “I went and got some last night, actually.”
Skrymer: “You found mushrooms? Did you stuff your belly? We might be able to grow some mushrooms from what comes out.”
Vreth: “German toilets and ditches, those are good places to find mushrooms.”

COVER VERSIONS

Vreth: “You make your own, really different ones. That makes it okay.”
Tundra: “Pour a bit of blues on it, and it's going to be blue.”
Vreth: “Yeah...”
Skrymer: “Bluegrass, the music... Long from the back and short from the sides and short from the top. Redneck! Sorry...”
So you wouldn't do a Grateful Dead cover?
Skrymer: “We wouldn't?”
Well, would you?
Skrymer: “Why not?”
No reason. What would you do?
Skrymer: “'Friend Of The Devil Is A Friend Of Mine'. It's an obvious choice. We had a brilliant idea for a Carcass cover, with lots of horns. It would go like, 'Deet, do de do dee, do de do dee, do de do...'”
'Incarnated Solvent Abuse?'
Skrymer: “Yeah. But the medical names are way too long and really hard to remember. That's why we haven't done it.”

SLEEP

Skrymer: “I need rest...”
Tundra: “Too much sleep.”
Skrymer: “Oh please...”
Vreth: “We're not getting enough.”
Skrymer: “The two of us haven't really slept in two days.”
Vreth: “Yeah. I didn't get any sleep last night.”
Skrymer: “I slept on the floor of the taxi for like, thirty minutes.”
Vreth: “Sleep is overrated, it seems.”
Tundra: “But I find it hard to avoid sleep!”
Vreth: “Then don't eat the mushrooms!”

Tundra Interview from Livingformetal.com

Published in Livingformetal.com, from October 30th 2007

Interviewer: DeathRy

Original link: http://www.livingformetal.com/interviews/int.aspx?intID=50

Translated into ‘From The Depths Of The Earth,’ Ur Jordens Djup is a very befitting title for the fifth album from the Finnish sextet known as Fintroll. With new vocalist Vreth leading the way, metal’s favorite trolls have risen from their cavernous lair to unleash their unique brand of blackened folk/polka metal on the anxious ears of the masses. A decidedly darker and heavier affair than previous efforts, Ur Jordens Djup mixes an aggressive guitar attack with traditional melodies and hell-borne hummpa for a sound that is likely to incite mass alcohol consumption. As the band gears up for a lengthy tour that will see them land stateside later in the year, bassist Tundra takes time from his busy schedule to answer a few questions.   – Ryan Ogle

Before I heard Finntroll, if someone had told me that a band was combining folk and polka with metal, I would have asked what they were smoking. How did you create this sound and how do you manage to keep it fresh from album to album?

Tundra: We never tried to do or be anything specific. Especially in the beginning all the ideas behind songs were extremely spontaneous and main thing was to have good time. Still today when composing, if something feels forced or doesn’t feel right, it’s better to ditch the whole thing and try again tomorrow

The band went through a line up change last year. Can you tell me why your former singer, Tapio Wilska was removed from the band?

We’ve decided within the band not to talk about that matter in public. Sorry…

Where did you find newcomer Vreth?

 

He was found from the small town few hundred kilometers away from Helsinki by our first vocalist Katla. They were both studying that time while Vreth’s other band sometimes played a gig in a local bar. I would occasionally call Katla and few times expressed bands dissatisfaction with Wilska. When it was decided that his time in the band would be over, Katla introduced Vreth to us.

What does he bring into the band that Wilska didn’t?

Our new front man is honest about what he does and is extremely motivated to carry our band to where we want it to be. He’s equipped with great voice and musical skills.

Was it important to find someone whose native language was Swedish?

After all that fresh hate we got from the Swedish speaking people from raping their language on last record, it actually felt quite nice to have once again someone who understands what the lyrics are about. Of course itshows in stage presence too when the singer actually knows what he’s talking about.    

Let’s talk about the new album. Give me your personal thoughts on Ur Jordens Djup. What was your initial reaction the first time you heard the finished product?

As I worked as a second producer in the studio, I was quite surprised how chaotic and intimidating the whole package came up at first. We knew we had done great job with each song but still it felt a bit unbalanced and that there’s a bit too much things going on all the time. After we managed to set all the tracks in right order everything just suddenly clicked and we realized it’s by far the best record we had done. 

Since I’m too lazy to learn a Swedish, can you give me a general idea of what you wrote the album about? Is there any sort of running theme that connects the songs?

To be honest, I’m not that learned in Swedish either…haha. From what I’ve gathered they’re about certain spiritual initiation, journey and rite of passage. You have to ask more from Katla who wrote that stuff.

What did producer Nino Laurenne bring to the album in regards to not only the sound, but the direction of the music as well?

His job in the studio was to make the guitars and drums sound as they do on the record and about half of the mixing. All the songs have always been completely composed and produced, now even recorded by the band. There will never been enough space in the studio for a kind of ‘instructor from the outside.’

One of my favorite tracks on the Ur Jordens Djup is the 13-minute Kvalling. In the right environment, the wind sound effects are chilling. What inspired this song?

The intro track, “Gryning”, translates into ‘dawn’. “Kvällning”, means ‘nightfall’. I think the title just fits quite well to the mood of the song.

The reaction to the album has been overwhelming, even finding its way to a few European Top 100 charts. Did you expect such a positive response?

We actually did a bit better last time and naturally expected more after releasing this one. Of course it always still cheers up to see your crap being appreciated. 

What happened with the ill-fated Earthshaker Tour? Were you upset about the cancellation?

The whole story’s way too long to tell. Main thing is that Metallysee fucked everyone over so bad it’s unbelievable. They never paid the money we were supposed to get from the shows and never even cared to apologize. All the bands on tour were left somewhere in Germany without plane tickets when they finally called it quits and the tour manager went home. Were we upset? Yeah.

Tell me about the US tour you have planned for later this year. What do the fans over here have to look forward to when we come to a Finntroll show?

You can expect nothing less than around one and a half hours of laughter and slaughter, on stage and off. Our set list usually consists of old and new songs equally. 

Do you prefer playing the large, arena-sized stages you find at many of the festivals you play or do you like the intimacy of a smaller venue?

It doesn’t really matter to me. Even though it sometimes feels a bit awkward to play those huge ass festivals where you can’t really tell from 10 meter distance whether the first row is having a blast or sharpening their knives. 

The fusion of traditional music (folk, polka, etc.) and metal is fairly common in Europe, but you don’t hear much, if any, coming from the US or other countries. Why do you think this is?

Because we Europeans have thousands of years of history and tradition which are mainly celebrated by long haired geeks who seek approval by dressing themselves as elves and reading Edda. Then all a sudden, a few Italians decide to start grinding guitars and electric violins like their ancestors in Sweden did. I wish it were simpler than that.

The animated television series Metalocalypse has paid tribute to the band by naming a supermarket featured in the show after you. Are you a fan of the show?

I haven’t been in this business for 10 years for nothing it seems. That was the greatest tribute a band can get! Now that you mentioned it I finally have to check that stuff out.

Katla, Trollhorn and Tundra from Železnij Marš

Originally published by Železnij Marš (?), from March 23rd 2002

FINNTROLL в своих покоях обложились пивными батареями и непрерывно глушили сей напиток. Басист Tundra уже с трудом разговаривал, а пузатый клавишник Trollhorn развалился возле стола с банками. Таким образом они торопились подготовиться к выступлению.

На улице происходила давка. Толпа припёрла немереная. Среди неё были люди из Питера, Тулы и даже Запорожья. Места в гардеробе закончились. Само собой, весь бомонд тоже отметился. Большинство пришло на FINNTROLL. Их продукция молниеносно сметалась с прилавков.

Появление FINNTROLL на сцене вызвало бурю восторга. Начали они с открывающей последний альбом композиции. Удалой мотив неудержимо тянул в пляс. Несколько девок уселись на плечи и двигали задницами из стороны в сторону. Это не только отвлекало от сцены, но и закрывало обзор. После первой песни раздались радостные крики. Вокалист Katla сказал: "Мы привезли fucking metal в Россию". На второй песне он рьяно затряс башкой. Somnium и Tundra были в стильных кожаных прикидах с длинными юбками и стояли симметрично от вокалиста. Сам Katla щеголял в народной рубахе, обвязанной верёвкой. Он постоянно веселил публику – бегал по сцене, размахивал руками и корчил рожи. Угоревшие фэны стали прыгать со сцены. Их хватали охранники и оттаскивали к выходу. Но число желающих сигануть только увеличивалось. Медленное вступление к очередной песне напомнило "Эй, ухнем". Продолжилось это настоящим угаром с крутейшим соло. Девки а зале реально заплясали. Katla одобрил фанатский энтузиазм, сказал спасибо по-русски.

Ведьма под шумок чем-то занималась в гримёрке (сказала, что массировала барабанщика). Не знаю уж, что она там делала с Arkki, но только он в неописуемом возбуждении выбежал на сцену и нырнул в толпу. Приземлился неудачно – вернулся обратно весь скрюченный и долго отлёживался на лавке. Юбилейные люди жаловались, что звук не особо настроен. Оказалось, что в зале и на втором этаже возле пульта он совершенно разный. Так что мы забили место там. FINNTROLL начали уходить со сцены, но оказалось, что просто кончилось пиво. Вернувшись с ящиком бухла, они продолжили выступление. Ощущалась нехватка подтанцовки, хотя кроме вокалиста ещё клавишник успевал выделывать кренделя. В конце была исполнена песня "Jaktens Tid". Katla поблагодарил звукорежиссёра, публику и дико распахнул рот.

В гримёрке их взяли тёпленькими. Katla сидел в центре композиции с вытаращенными глазами и сам отвечал на все вопросы.

Корр.: Какие сейчас ощущения?

Katla: Просто охренительные. Клёвое шоу.

Корр.: В этом месяце у группы мелкий юбилей – 5 лет. Почему вы не вынесли на сцену торт со свечами?

Katla: Свечи слишком готические.

Корр.: Многие люди считают, что вашей группе не хватает подтанцовки. Не хотели бы вы завести пару горячих финских парней, чтобы они выплясывали фольклорные номера?

Trollhorn: А мы на что?

Katla: Мы сами горячие финские парни и дико танцуем, когда поём.

Корр.: У IMPALED NAZARENE есть песня "I Am The Killer Of Trolls".

Katla: Да, сегодня они её сыграют.

Корр.: А вы при её исполнении не собираетесь выбежать на сцену и устроить дебош?

Katla: Мы друзья и убивать друг друга не будем, наверное.

Корр.: Какое у вас отношение к различным попсовым группам, называющим себя троллями? Например, у нас в России есть группа МУМИЙ ТРОЛЛЬ.

Katla: Да, я знаю об этой группе. Но они же не такие толстые! Без жирной задницы нельзя быть троллями.

Корр.: У вас в репертуаре есть специальная песня про сауну. Чем вы там любите заниматься больше всего?

Katla: Трахаться, конечно.

Trollhorn: Ещё бухать и жрать сосиски.

Корр.: Как вы планируете оттянуться после концерта?

Katla: Пока не могу сказать. Надо будет развлечься. Русские девки – хорошо, только подваливают в основном малолетние.

Корр.: Tundra, в твоём досье написано, что ты предпочитаешь иметь секс раком и никак иначе. Почему ты не приемлешь другие позы? Может быть, стремишься быть ближе к природе?

Trollhorn: Tundra, иди выпей.

Tundra (с трудом ворочая языком): Да, я врубаюсь в животную содомию.

В завершение разговора состоялось вручение журнала. Tundra сразу же нащупал специальное приложение. Trollhorn воскликнул "Это же мой размер!", но Tundra нелепыми движениями (так как был сильно пьян) оторвал изделие и положил в карман.

Vreth from Dark City Magazine

Translation of the Finntroll article from a Russian magazine Dark City, issue May-June 2010:

Translated by Lotta.

Translator notes:
Mistakes in names and titles as in original.
Some notes:
*We have a not metal band called "Mummy troll", so maybe it was a throwed stone in their garden.
**Maxim Galkin (gosh..) and co it's a popular pop stars who are everywhere on TV and shows.
***DDT is a rock band, but it's strange association I think. No folk line, no mythical creatures in their lyrics at all.

Originally posted on the Finntroll Forum.

Since 17th February in their native Finland, to 22th February is already all over Europe, and on 9th March even in the United States of America.
So by this wide-range attack trolls have signalized release of their new album "Nifelvind". And this is not any Moomintrolls*, they don't look like hippos.
These are the most common, known to every schoolchild, Finnish trolls. Aren't you believe me? Look for it on Wikipedia for example... So, let's meet a new work of FINNTROLL band. 8th place in Finnish charts, by the way.

Every time get wonder how cool to be a metalhead in Helsinki, where is Ville Valo instead of Maxim Galkin**, Tarja Turunen instead of Alla Pugacheva, instead of band "Lubeh" is Lordi. Finntroll, perhaps, there on the rights of our DDT***... Here, even in Germany, where the position of heavy music is a little worse, new album of Finnish trolls reached already 31th place in charts. But let's start about everything in order...

Initially album must be called "Mot Skuggomas Vaerid", what can be translated into Russian like "On the road to world of the shadows".
But in terms of military tactics, new name "Hellish wind" is suitable for the next troll's attack much better.
Vreth, frontman of the band (real name is Mattias Lilmans), comments situation with title changing in the next way: "Nifelvind", in our opinion, is really suitable for that our fans are waiting for in music of new album." "From "Mot Skuggomas Vaerld" we have refused for the reason that this combination of sounds too hard, if you aren't Finn or Swede. We did not want that everyone called the new album simply "the new album." And it is in the best case ... "
New straight title in many ways reflects the trend that was appreciable on the previous album "Ur Jordens Djup" - Finntroll started to sound a bit furiously, extravagant... Darker. As if by chance started to return to their Black-metal roots.
"And not only this, - acknowledges frontman. - from one side, we really had a wish to do much more aggressive arrangement of material, but from the other one - we did not want to refuse from many typical stylistic elements of Finntroll. So that's how we reached those changes, which hovered around us in recent years. From the Black metal past through the troll-folk to the latest album - just the way that we have done and which is important for us. " Sounding of "Nifelwind" turned much more monolithic and menacing than the sound of his predecessors
So that's how, probably, should sound close-knit crazy crowd of armed to the teeth trolls who are crossing the edge of the forest. "We certainly did not run the full of fury in the forest, - argues vocalist of the band, - but we've tried to turn new tracks to be more straightforward and archaic. Cohesion? Trolls are very amicable people, you should know it.
Amicable trolls were not squeamish to use bizarre and strange folk elements, is as indispensable part of the album "Nifelvind", as the worried Finnish mentality. For example, "Galgasaeng" - is a completely acoustic work.
"Many of these folk elements emerge spontaneously, when we work together in the studio - says Vreth. - This really has something of the old sagas and legends, where men were seated together near the fire and played the music. Of course, folk motives are essential for our creativity and again play a big role within our latest release.
A significant role also has been given to the choir parts. If you had a creep because of song "Blodmarsch", then you, in general, know what it is talking about.
"The album in some degree bears some Voodoo atmosphere - continues frontman - and this intro, we just wanted to pass it to the fullest. All these shamanistic chants we perform ourselves. On "Nifelvind" we are more the narrators, and the music is designed to expel people from the land of trolls. And if people are frightened already having heard just the intro, so much the better. As for the stories, then, like the narrator of antiquity, we are dealing with eternal themes of human existence.
Elementary questions of our being, our roots and values of our existence. Lyrics aren't so gloomy as it can be assumed judging by the name of the album. There are many issues raised which worry humanity through its existence and will excite it for a long time. Nature. death, co-existence on this earth ... From the immemorial times these stories were told, and messages were hidden among the trolls and other dark creatures of the ancient sagas. I find this very wise and entertaining."

Unfortunately, Mattias grew up with his family just in a couple of hundred kilometers away from Helsinki, where these ancient tales of trolls do not have such a wide distribution as in the province.
Nevertheless, as any more or less interested in their roots young man, though he knew the folklore of his people: "Of course, I no matter what, being the child has already learned some stories that are instructive, but do not suffer from unnecessary moralizing ".
Very much in the work of group was predetermined by enchanted landscapes of Scandinavia in only which under these conditions may raise such stories about the cunning trolls, spirits of nature and the dark creatures.

Notice that frontman does not deny similar geographical backgrounds: "Here are no any questions! In southern Italy, of course, is simply meaningless to talk about forest trolls. But they have their own legends, which had absorbed the aesthetics of the region. When I stay with my family in north, I'm almost not see the sun in winter. And in summer, conversely, couldn't be dark. "
Most of the interviews in support of new album, frontman gave in January of this year, and that's why he could not recall when he last time saw the sun.
When the material is ready and will be released (it's about this magazine), in Moscow, hopefully, already will be prevail a sunny weather.
But if the exemplariness of the legend is valuable in itself, then because of weather is not many changes. So listening crazy songs and the dances of the dark forest creatures with a beer is possible at any time of a year!

Root of All Evil radio show Finntroll/Moonsorrow Interview

Root of All Evil radio show,
KFAI Twin Cities/Minneapolis, Minnesota
April 18, 2010

Transcription by Megz


Interviewer - SwordLord (promoter for the Minnesota show)

Interviewees - Routa, Vreth, Ville Sorvali

SwordLord: (to show host, Tim) Dude thank you so much for this amazing opportunity. For those of you who missed the Finnish Metal Tour 2010 tonight at Station 4, I'm sorry to inform you, that you may have missed one of the coolest shows I will ever produce for the rest of my life.

Host: Oh yeah, it was good stuff going on there tonight - it was nice!

SwordLord: After a thunderous opening by Rochester's own, Minos, we had Swallow the Sun and we had Moonsorrow and then to top it all off we had 90 minutes of the Finnish trolls, we had Finntroll. And speaking of which we have some of these very good gentlemen in the studio with us tonight. They've volunteered to take off some of their drinking time to come and talk to all of us, although they did not come to the studio unarmed. I think that there is probably more alcohol per capita in here tonight than at any other time in Root of All Evil history. So without further ado, why don't you gentlemen introduce yourselves to our listening audience.

Routa: Hey this is Routa from Finntroll, with the... iced tea, kinda... based stuff. (laughter)

Vreth: Yes and here we have Vreth, the singer of Finntroll.

Ville: And I'm Ville, from Moonsorrow, and...I haven't drank anything today. (all laugh)

Routa: You have a radio voice, by the way.

Ville: Yeeeesssss, I have a raaaaaadio voice. (more laughter)

SwordLord: Well gentlemen, number one, thank you very much for coming down. We play you a lot on this show, we admire you very much and the show was absolutely amazing. First of all, how is the US tour going for you guys? Turnouts good? Response good?

Routa : Oh yeah, yeah...turnouts has been pretty good, so far. Somewhere not so good, somewhere better, but...

Host: What did you think about tonight?

Routa: Tonight was fucking excellent.

Vreth: I love the audience tonight.

Host: Yeah...yeah everybody was there.

Vreth: Yep!

SwordLord: It was a great turnout!

Vreth: In the beginning of the tour there was not that much people. But at some point the rumor spread about a good show and a good tour....

Routa: At least after the Canadian shows it has been really good. (Vreth agreeing)

Ville: When did we not have that many people?

Vreth: The first two shows were quite...quite silent.

Ville: Right.

SwordLord: What...uh...how did this all come together? I mean...Finntroll's come through a bunch of times, but this was really unique to have a tour that was comprised of entirely Finnish...uh...Finnish bands. Is that something that your agency put together? Or is that something that you all sort of orchestrated and brought to the agent?

Routa: Actually it started with the thing, we were at our booking agent office and we had this huge list of bands that....you know, like...as possible support for us. And we were listening to them like *no* *no* *no* *no, fuck that* *no* *fuck that* *no* *no* and then the booking agent was like, well who do you like? *Well Moonsorrow would be nice, for example* cause you know, we are good friends with them and all of the band likes their music. And then like, at first it was supposed to be Insomnium on this tour, but that didn't happen, so we were like....um....and then our booking agent came up with this idea of the Finnish Metal Tour, and blahblahblah...and Swallow the Sun....of course!

SwordLord: I think it was a great package, I really did. And the funny thing is that Moonsorrow actually has been to Minnesota twice before on Heathen Crusade, and so we've actually seen you more than I think the rest of the country has, when Heathen Crusade was back in business.

Ville: Yeah, that's definitely true.

SwordLord: You actually gave a little shout out to that tonight on stage - you mentioned that.

Ville: Yeah, of course. Like, we started, like, invading North America from here, so it's special place.

SwordLord: Well we're very very happy to be that place!

Ville: And I have absolutely no idea how it happened in the first place, anyway.

SwordLord: Yeah, I guess that would be a question to ask the Heathen Crusade folks. But that's actually how I got turned on to you guys, was seeing you at Heathen Crusade, and started the madness from there. But, surely, on a tour like this you gotta have a story or two for us. Give us a good story from the tour.

Routa: Mattias you go first.

Vreth: nononono. (laughter) Well I don't really have any stories from this tour, except that...ohhhh....the amount of alcohol.

(all laugh)

Ville: Ok, I can get over with it as the first person, so you can invent your own stories...(all laughing)... because I actually did fell from a tree. (more laughing)

Vreth: Yeah, that's true, by the way.

Ville: We were in Worcester Massachusetts, and I had this idea after taking a few shots in the bar, that since I'm drunk like a monkey I should also act like a monkey and I try to climb a tree, and I failed.

(laughter)

Routa: And we actually tried to get to a hospital after that, but we were in Canada and it really didn't work out.

Vreth: He got a really nice concussion over there.

Ville: Yeah it lasted for two days.

Vreth: Yep. He fell like 12 feet and hit the back of his head.

SwordLord: What? Well I mean.... 12 feet... if you were up 12 feet I wouldn't call that a fail. Maybe a partial fail. At least you get an A for effort if you get up 12 feet...that's pretty good.

Vreth: We actually had some local fans to get him up in the tree.

Ville: Yeah they helped me, I couldn't reach the branch so I asked a local guy to please help me with this.

SwordLord: What about either of you two - anything you're gonna share or are you gonna make me tell the story from two years ago?

Routa: I would really love to tell the story about Berlin but I can't.

Vreth: nononono

Routa: That's out of the limits.

SwordLord: Well I've just gotta tell, from two years ago, when you guys played the Triple Rock, and you were with Warbringer. I just remember that you had gotten off the bus, Mathias, and you were just...you were looking miserable, you were really in a lot of pain.

Vreth: Yeah, I know...

SwordLord: So I went up to the tour manager and I said *is he ok, is there anything I can do for him?* And he says, the tour manager says to me *well, we were stranded in Wisconsin, the bus had broken down, and he....he ate a hot dog from the gas station grill.* And I said *oh you never do that* and he was like *well yeah, he knows that now.*

Routa: That hot dog was similar, if anyone watches Seinfeld series, where they've got the fucking movie theater and there's this one fucking hot dog over there - it was the same and he ordered that one. (Vreth laughing) *Can I have that one?*

Vreth: Yeah, that was horrible, because...you know, we had been stranded in middle of nowhere for 7 hours, nothing to eat on the bus, no. We had half an hour drive and we got the trailer fixed. For some reason I decided I wanted something warm and nice, and ...um... you know in Finland you can actually eat from the gas stations, you can eat those.

Routa: Yeah, yeah....most of the time it's pretty mellow stuff over there.

Vreth: I was puking for three days. I tell you.

Routa: Yeah but, I mean come on, didn't you watch what you fucking order?

Vreth: Yeah it was kinda green, yeah.

Routa: *Kind of*

(laughter)

SwordLord: Why don't we take a little break, and...what have you got on deck for us, Tim?

Host: Coming up next, I got *Kivenkantaja* from Moonsorrow (mispronounces title)

Ville: Kivenkantaja.

Vreth: That's a good song.

Host: Yes, I picked it myself. (laughter)

SwordLord: Play away sir.

Host: Here on the Root of All Evil.

*plays Moonsorrow - Kivenkantaja*

Host: Moonsorrow right here on the Root of All Evil show. KFAI Minneapolis....We've got the SwordLord down, he's got members of Moonsorrow and Finntroll down here taking a visit after their excellent show at Station 4 tonight. What's going on, man?

SwordLord: Oh man, now I just wanna see the show again after I hear that. Amazing stuff. I want to tackle a tough issue on the air, and just see how much trouble I can get into with everybody I know. Basically I don't think it's any secret to anybody who reads your lyrics that you are definitely of a different religious viewpoint than America, even though we're considered a quote/unquote *Christian nation*. And especially, the first thing that pops into my mind, is the Finntroll...is my personal favorite song Rivfader that deals with the Finnish troll that will liberate from Christianity. And even though I don't have a particular Moonsorrow song that's coming to mind, I'm sure you do. So I guess, briefly, why don't you talk about what the religious ideology of your bands are, and what it is like to tour in a nation that is predominately of a different viewpoint.

(throats clearing)

Ville: I cannot say that there would be a definite ideology behind the whole band.... When I am speaking of these tough issues, I can only speak on my behalf, anyway...but...I myself I am a pagan, I oppose Christianity, all the organized religions.... I like to have...uh.... a stronger respect for nature, for example, than these modern people have. I respect old traditions better than the modern....whatever. And....yeah...I get lost in it. I think I got lost in my cup, actually.

SwordLord: I think that covered the ground pretty well.

Routa: Yeah, but I mean....That's basically what...ok, of course I cannot talk everybody on the tour, on their behalf. But that's more or less...how Ville put it.... Organized religions are....not that well taken...with our point of view.

Vreth: You hear all these stories that we are against Christianity, but it's not only that. We are against Christianity because that's the thing you get in Finland, for example...the only religion that they actually try to....really force onto us, so of course we attack Christianity.

Ville: Yes, and by the way, you have a very loud voice. Because you are like, further from the mic than me and Routa, and you can still hear it on the same level.

(all laugh)

Vreth: That's true.

SwordLord: Have you.... If you had to name one song from your band that sort of encompassed your...your ideology, the perfect song, that speaks for you and the band, which would it be?

(silence)

Ville: That's tough question, like seriously. I could pick like, the song from our demo that's also remade on the new EP - Taistelu Pohjolasta, The Battle for North - which is like...very straightforward opposing Christianity, it kinda speaks for the whole band, but it's also a bit too aggressive for...for today, for us, because it's like...it was written over 10 years ago.

Routa: Beause you guys are getting mellooooow.

Ville: Yeah, we are getting mellow, we are getting old. We just like....you get older, you start thinking more of things and like...considering a wider perspective. So we are not that straightforward anymore. But it kinda speaks for the whole band anyway. Band was built on anti-Christianity. We are not black metal, but we are anti-Christian, anyway.

SwordLord: Sure. And the Finnish trolls?

Vreth: I would actually like to name one song of one of my other bands, on this - *You Will Not Lie To Me Christ* it's called - this thing with the lies and everything. That probably sums it all up.

Routa: I mean....with Finntroll it also started as like, anti-Christian thing, kinda... In a way. But it has moved in a ways that....like, you know....like...not just anti-Christian, but just you know, use your own brain basically thing. Like, what you feel good, is gonna be good with you....but not just like....fall into the lies of everyday life....

SwordLord: Sure.

Ville: I would also like to stress on this subject, that it's not only opposing religion, but I think the main idea behind both bands is also opposing modern society.

Routa: Yeah. Exactly.

Ville: All the consuming and everything. That takes away meaning from people's lives.

Routa: The basic concept is just - use your own fucking brain.

Vreth/Ville: Yeah.

Routa: *Darn* brain! (all laughing)

SwordLord: I was sitting right here and he said plucking....

Ville: Yeah, use your own plucking brain.

(laughter)

SwordLord: One thing that has always stood out to me, not only for Finntroll but also Moonsorrow, is the fact that you have not...you've always recorded in your native language and have not translated to English, whereas many of your counterparts - Sonata Arctica for example and whatnot, have. (Routa - they suck) Is there a particular reason for that, or do you just prefer to record in your native language and stay true to your roots - what's the reason behind that?

Ville: Yeah it's like...it is a strong part of the concept behind the band. We did our first demo in English anyway, but we changed to Finnish because we felt it fit the concept much better. It's part of the band. We are Finnish anyway, we are talking of subjects that are more or less Finnish, we are playing music that sounds Finnish, and English is not even spoken in our home country. So....I don't know, why should we do it.

SwordLord: And yet you speak it very well. (laughing) No, and that wasn't a jab, I mean that as a compliment. It's always amazing....What do you call a person who can speak three languages - trilingual, a person that can speak two languages - bilingual, a person that can only speak one language - American.

Ville: Yeah but, you should hear when I'm really drunk, because then I can speak like 17 languages.

(laughter)

SwordLord: Have any of you discovered any opposition on any of your US tours because of your content - your lyrical content.

Ville: Yes we have.

SwordLord: Really?

Ville: Not beause of the lyrical content, but on the last American tour we decided to make it like, just to test the ground a bit, we made one t-shirt design that had a viking ship coming to the shore of New York with the Statue of Liberty on fire with a Finnish flag planted at the place of the torch. We got some opposition because of that.

Host: Yeah, I can imagine.

SwordLord: I would give you 100 dollars for one of those shirts right now.

Ville: We don't have any because they sold out!

(laughter)

Vreth: I actually really appreciate... yes - there's something I really respect in this...

Ville: Yeah, it's....we never, like...we never thought we would be insulting the Americans or whatnot. We just wanted to make...like... a good fancy picture like, we're invading America with our own Finnish stuff. And somehow, we probably got crossed the border a bit, some Americans got pissed off.

SwordLord: What about the Finnish trolls?

Routa: No actually, we have to say that....there has been none.

Vreth: No, no problems with us. We haven't really done anything.

Routa: All of our graphics is anyway more or less like, shamanistic in a way. Samuli's.... uh, the other guitar.... SKRYMER's ...weird things of art....thing is so.... yeah, I'm going with my hands all over the studio...

(laughter)

Vreth: This is not the best time of the day to do an interview anymore. Because....as...uh... You may not...may not see... but there has been consumed a considerable amount of vodka during this interview.... actually, we are running out..

Ville: Yeah, we had one liter of this.... iced tea and now it's like....empty....which is kinda sad.

Routa: There is not gonna be any more plucking words...

Ville: I have to mention, on that last subject, actually. The misconceptions we've had.... many times during our career.... people are for some reason mistaking us for Nazis. We get these people, like last year in Kentucky there was this one well-trimmed white guy without a shirt, and he had like, a swastika tattooed on him and on his belly it said *weiss macht*, which is like *white power*. He came to us like *yeah, my brothers*....and all that kinda bullshit... I want to say to all those people we are not your brothers. Go *beep* yourselves.

Routa: Same thing with Finntroll, actually. Definitely... We have had those kind of things in the past as well, and whatever...

Vreth: Yup....and when you go to a show and they're gonna show....the sign of old Germany...you know...

Ville: The logo of Germany...

Routa: The *German logo* - it's a bad joke actually, it's kinda like a joke between the bands. Nobody will get that anyway... sorry...

Ville: Yeah we make those jokes...whatever...but it's like... I don't know why these people chose us. In the first place... Because we are like...we are national romantic, if you get the term right. And if you get the term wrong, then you can really easily see us as Nazis, which is nothing we have to do anything with.

Routa: Yeah but....we are not like we hate anybody over there...

Ville: Yeah we don't hate anyone... or everyone equally.

(laughter)

Routa: That's a better way to put it, yeah, definitely.

SwordLord: Well, guys, I want to just thank you for taking time out of your schedules to come down and talk to all of us, and talk to the Minnesota metal radio audience, it was a real, real honour and pleasure to have you here.

Routa: Oh, thank you so much.

SwordLord: Good luck on the tour, I hope it continues to go well for you. I guess in closing, the one thing that I really want to say is, I know - I haven't been in this business for very long, but I've been in it long enough - I know the American market is a tough nut to crack. I know you play to tiny little venues and not nearly as many people as you do overseas, but don't give up on us. We need this type of music. We love having you here and believe me - when you come we will be there to support you, and we can't wait until you come back again. Truly.

Vreth: That's really nice to hear, thank you very much. (thanks from the others too)

Host: I appreciate you coming down, and bringing your presence down here - it's very special to this radio show. And I'm gonna ask you a favour on top of that. I want to get a radio ID from all of you live right now, since we've got recording...so just say your name, the band you're in and *you're listening to the Root of All Evil show*. Anybody can start.

Vreth: What are we listening to?

Host: The Root of All Evil. (everybody practices saying *the root of all evil*)

Routa: Who's first?

Host: Anybody.

Vreth: He is first!

Routa: Hey this is Routa from Finntroll and you're listening to the Root of all Eviiiillllllah!

Vreth: Hello! This is Vrrrreth from Finntroll and the Root of All..... Evil rocks....

(laughter)

Host: Yes, and finally...

Ville: Yes...hello. This is Ville, from Moonsorrow. You're listening to Root of All Evil, the greatest metal show in Minnesota.

Host: Right on, man.

Routa? (not sure): You suck...

(all laughing)

Host: It was great having you guys down. We're gonna play some Finntroll, we've got Demonicon coming up next. Thank you SwordLord for showing up.

SwordLord: Thank you!

Host: We'll see you next week. You guys have a safe trip.

Vreth? (not sure): Will do...will do...

Host: And a good tour. Root of All Evil on KFAI...

*plays Blodmarsch, Solsagan, and I Trädens Sång*