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Hi, I'm Vreth from the Finntroll and you are watching KaaosTV.
Hello to all you KaaosTV viewers. Today we are at Vaasa in the bar Hullupullo -
with Vreth from a band called Finntroll. Hi and welcome to KaaosTV.
- Thank you and hello, hello. - How has Finntroll year started?
It's been pretty exciting. We are now on tour in Finland and this is our second gig today.
Basically this is first -
"Blodsvept" album tour in Finland, six gigs.
Before this we were on 70000 Tons of Metal cruise -
and after that in Mexico City with Swallow the Sun.
So it has been pretty exciting year already.
As you mentioned, you had a gig on this legendary cruise.
- How did the gig go? - It went very well.
When we were there for the first time we had very bad playing slots.
We played after 3 a.m. and -
and there was perhaps 25 people outdoors watching us and there was so freaking cold.
But at this time we had probably the best slots in the whole cruise.
We were opening act at pool deck stage -
around midnight and the whole deck was totally crowded.
That was nice. On last day our gig was inside -
at 8 p.m. and whole hall was full. Really good atmosphere.
So as a whole it went better than in the first time?
- If you compare the gigs? - Yes, yes, and the fact that our first time -
we performed like four in the morning at first day.
We were last band then. We played -
basically at the same time with the Amon Amarth.
They ended their gig when we had played about 30 minutes.
We were last band. It was...
First there was like 15 people, but in the end there were about 200.
But this time those both gigs were totally crowded.
How does playing on board differ from normal set you perform?
Did you have something different elements?
Not that much. You just need to -
remember where you are. Ship goes the way it goes -
and you may loose your balance, but audience notice that too. They know -
that band isn't drunk, it's just ships fault.
Basically anything can happen.
Basically. You can blame -
ship for many things.
Otherwise is just normal thing. Good PA and other equipments.
- All good. - Everything was okay?
Indeed and cruise itself was magnificent.
It was nice to go there during winter. There was 28 degrees Celsius, -
sun and cheap strong drinks.
Finnish guy can't complain.
I was just about to ask you what do you think about the whole concept?
Are there some cons in it?
About the idea to arrange huge metal party on board?
Well the thing that there isn't any backstage, -
you mosey -
among the customers and there is no where to hide.
Though it's also a good thing, because they come offer drinks in the bar -
so you don't need to buy your own mojitos.
I don't know. It's just...
We Finns are used to cruises and there is that cruise goings-on.
People think it's the biggest thing in the world, but to Finns it's not that big deal.
- We are used to cruises. - Yeah, when you've done all -
Close-up cruises and is that -
Spine cruise, Radio Rock cruise, Sweden Rock Cruise and all others.
It's not that different. Weather is the coolest thing and of course the ship is huge.
It was made in Turku, Finland.
But overall experience was good and you would probably recommend it -
to Finnish TV viewers?
Two thumps up. It's absolutely great.
Only thing is that it's very expensive.
- But experience is unforgettable? - Yes.
We had some Finnish friends there and they've used around 3 000 -
dollars to that cruise.
But it's...
When you sit in a jacuzzi, drink -
PiƱa Colada and watch Marduk gig, you can't complain.
- It's not that bad. - Yeah, life could be a lot worse.
As you mentioned, your new album Blodsvept have been out -
about a year.
Have you been satisfied -
to this album itself and to those possibilities what it has granted to you?
Yeah, the album... Oh dear...
Making the album was so long and painful process.
We really cried blood for -
to get it done. At some point we thought we can't get it done, -
because time was running out, -
babies were born during mixing session and all sort of things happened.
At some point we really though this will never work and we won't get it out in time -
and all schedules are ruined.
I'm really satisfied to this album.
Me, Trollhorn and Virta -
counted that we were 27 days in studio.
360 hours.
Well you haven't done much more than slept shortly and then back to business.
That's correct.
My wife at the time wasn't very happy to -
our schedules. I came home in the morning -
to sleep and then straight to the studio.
I ate few slices rye bread and then back to the business.
That wasn't normal life, but we finished it and it sounds good.
Now is spring and then comes summer and summer festivals.
There is quite many festivals all around Europe.
Which are your favorite festivals in Europe?
- In generally or this... - In generally.
Well, number one is "Brutal Assault". That is a really great festival.
There is so great music especially if you are a bit black metal fan.
Black / old school death metal fan.
The thing is, it's a really cheap -
festival. It's... Is it four days?
And it costs about 80 euros and there is all sort of music.
- It's cheap. - I've understood that a beer -
and food is cheap.
You'll get a hamburger and a beer for two euros.
Nothing more to add to that. Also the "Metalcamp" in Slovenia -
which is now called "Metaldays", -
that is also very nice.
It's on the beach and there is warm and fun.
All around the clock festival. In this year we go to Metaldays in Sicily.
Our first time to play in there.
I'm eagerly waiting to see what's going to happen in there.
If you could arrange a festival -
and let's say you would arrange a three day festival.
Now you should choose three headliners.
What headliners would you like to have to your festival and why?
Phew! This is always so hard question.
When you are in a band yourself you somehow -
have totally different perspective to bands. But I think -
it would be neat to listen something like Pink Floyd -
in some warm environment.
- That would be cool. - Pink Floyd is one, who else?
- There's two more. - That's right. What would be good one...
Perhaps my childhood favorite Scorpions would be nice have.
- I don't know... - Some black metal to final day?
Yeah, let's add Mayhem. That would be good set.
Mayhem finish up the festival on Sunday when everyone is tired.
Yeah, some blast beat on main stage to the end.
- I think that sounds a reckoned festival. - Me too.
- Pink Floyd and Mayhem in same festival. - That would be very good.
Come to see it!
Over the years your band have toured -
in many countries and different places.
Are there still places where you haven't been yet?
- Yes... - Places where you would like to play.
Well, we have still Africa.
Otherwise we've been everywhere.
I'd like to play more in Asia.
Few years ago we got Australia away from to do list.
That visit I waited avidly and we go there again.
What kind of reception did you get in Australia?
It was quite thrilling and reception varied.
In Perth we had -
quite a few people, about 150, but when we were in Sydney, or was it Melbourne, -
there were about 700-800 people.
We'll see on this next tour. Hopefully there will be more audience.
But now they have started to take bands to South Africa.
- So next to South Africa? - Yes indeed. It's just -
if you have only two gigs and trip to there takes like three days...
- Antarctic could be nice too. - Metallica has done that, so it's possible.
Indeed. One guy sent us e-mail -
and asked if we have gigs in Chile, us to visit... What was the name?
Queen Elisabeth or something, the town where he owns a bar.
He plays our music there nightly.
- So valid place for us. - Why not sometime in the future.
That's true. That would be something different.
- Yeah, and one should always have dreams. - Yeah, absolutely.
But other than that we've seen this globe -
quite thorough in recent years.
In this year, once again, will be released quite many new albums.
I personally look forward to At the Gates and The Haunted new albums.
Also Machine Head release new album. They go to studio in this weekend.
Do you expect yourself some new releases this year?
Let's say that... I listened so much -
music in last year on our tours so I don't...
Just today we talked about forthcoming Hatesphere album -
which will be released in this fall. That might be groovy. And does Triptykon release...
- Yes, I think they will release an album. - Yeah, that one I look forward to.
Their first LP was so awesome.
That one I look forward to. Perhaps something else too, but I can't remember now...
- It's hard to keep a record what come and when. - Yeah and because I don't -
listen that much metal at home.
- It doesn't inspire. - Probably not when you tour all the time.
You would like to listen something else or nothing. Only silence.
That's right. Some chat show playing on TV at the background.
- That will do? - Yes, something etheric in the background -
is enough every and then.
Many bands have licensed their own products -
during last year. In Flames got their own whiskey, -
The 69 Eyes published their own wine -
and Nightwish got their own "Reino" shoes and so on.
If you could licence some product under the name Finntroll, what would it be and why?
After "Ur Jordens Djup" album we did quite -
wild card, we did Finntroll wristwatch. It was pretty neat.
But now I think probably Finntroll moonshine -
could be nice. Tastes very bad. Fiery and somehow sickening.
- Is that the one? - Yeah, or sombrero, I don't know.
- Is that reflection of your band? - Exactly!
No, but something... I don't know.
Anyway, T-shirts are already a bit boring. Those wristwatches were great.
Those were something special that bands doesn't usually make.
It was rivet wrist strap with a watch. That was nice.
Thank you for the interview and good luck for tonights show and for the future.
Would you like to say something as a closure for KaaosTV viewers?
Stage is yours. You may take the microphone.
Thank you Finland. It's fun to be playing here again.
- We'll see on the road! - Thank you.