Interviews

Hello Maike! How are you doing today?

I’m fine thank you. We are going to Helsinki tomorrow to play a gig, so we have over 600 km to travel. Got to get up very early in the morning, but I’m here with you…that’s ok. I live some kind of nightlife anyway.

So, how many beers have been consumed so far today?

None. I’m waiting tomorrow…then I guess 20 or something.

Your new album has been released, why the change to a more Rock style?
For us it’s all about Rock’n’Roll. You born, you rock and then you fuckin’ die!

How are the reviews looking, is everyone happy?
Of course not. Some love and some hate…that’s how it goes in this business.

Can you tell us a bit about the album in general, lyrical theme, recordings etc. etc.?
Taneli Jarva got the concept for this album, so it’s basically wild women, booze and gambling and it’s also old traditional American tattoo concept too. Recordings were great. We did this album in Suomenlinna, Finland which is an isle nearby Helsinki. Great studio. Very atmospheric place in seaside and we played everything live basically. No overdubs and that kind of shit. We wanted to find that raw and heavy live sound of THE BLACK LEAGUE.

I liked your previous albums more, but I appreciate what your doing. Is the destination course set, will you be rocking forever?
We will rock forever, but we can do absolutely anything we want to. We feel great with this album and it’s what we want nowadays. Hard Rocking and ass-kicking and no bull-shitting with anything.

What’s the catch with the song “Cold Women & Warm Beer”, shouldn’t it be the other way around (Warm Women & Cold Beer) he he?

It should, but sometimes the things go like this…

By the way, who are the women singing at the end?
THEE ULTRA BIMBOOS. It’s Finnish Rock’n’Roll band. Lovely girls!

The artwork is also very different, who came up with the idea of doing a more raw cover artwork?
Mr. Jarva.

What are the inspirational sources behind the songs included on “Man’s Ruin Revisited”? I gather you wanted to do some kind of tribute to bands like AC/DC and MOTÖRHEAD?

You got that right!

Which leads me to the cover track “Hot Wheels”, can you tell me a bit about THE HURRIGANES, what made you choose this track?

HURRIGANES was the most famous Rock’n’Roll band in Finland in the 70’s. Great band with lots of balls in their fine music. This track sounded suitable for us and so we did it after few beers of course.

 Any other old Finnish Rock bands that have inspired you?

PEER GUNT and MELROSE.

Taneli has changed his vocals a little, a conscious decision?

Yeah. The man is unbelievable.

Do you know why there’s no “The Everlasting” song on the new album, I really liked those songs.

I can tell you that “Better Angels” was called “The Everlasting” at first. Although Taneli changed the lyrics, but there will be “The Everlasting” someday.

I happen to really like “Mad Ol’Country” and “Ain’t No Friend O’ Mine”, tracks that you have written or co written. Did you have other songs that didn’t make it to the tracklisting?

Yeah, I wrote those songs and Taneli did the lyrics. There were some songs more, but they were not suitable for this album.

A question that’s been bugging me for a long time. Why did it take so long to complete “Ichor”?
Because we worked in three different studios and did tons of overdubs and the songs were not so “easy”.

Ok. What do you think about “Ichor” and “Utopia A.D.” today? Are you still proud of those works?
We are proud. Although the quality of sound is better in this new album.

The guitar playing was definitely a lot more fun on those releases (IMO), do you and Alex practice a lot?

Alexi does, but I’m so old (37) I don’t mind it anymore. I prefer drinking beer. As I told you before we really played all the guitar parts live now and no fuckin’ tricks with computers.