Ghost Brigade

Sunday June 22nd (Hellfest 2008 3rd day)

Last interview of the festival, we finished this interview to the delicate sound of people tearing down the interviews booths. For this one, its two for one’s price : Wille Naukkarinen who plays guitars, and Aleksi Munter on keyboards. Their first album, Guided by fire, is one of the best discover i’ve made last year, but let’s Wille introduce the band.

Fab: Could you introduce yourself for those who didn’t know you?
Wille Naukkarinen (Guitars)
Aleksi Munter (Keyboards)
Wille: GHOST BRIGADE is a band from Finland. That’s it (laughter). No, we’ve signed on Seasons Of Mist Records, which it is a French label. We have on album out called “Guided By Fire” that was released last year. And, yeah, that’s about it.

Fab: What’s the idea behind the great cover artwork?
Wille: It’s just a reflection of the name, of the title basically. I was the one who did it because I’m a graphic designer. It’s a good friend of ours, actually, the guy on the cover. A big fan of ours, he’s got a “Guided By Fire” tattoo on his back so he was the right guy for the job.

Fab: Even if I know you don’t like namedropping, as you can always compare yourself with another band, the voice sometimes, reminds me of Chuck Billy (lead singer of TESTAMENT) when singing the slower songs. What’s your opinion?
Wille: TESTAMENT? That’s weird.

Fab: Yeah, the way of singing on the slow parts, more than the voice itself.
Wille: Maybe so, I don’t know because I don’t listen to TESTAMENT.
Aleksi: I think he’s going to be delighted about this (laugher)
Wille: (laugher) But you’re actually the second one who’s saying this same thing because one of my good friends said the same thing. And I just basically laugh or whatever. Apparently it’s true. I’ve got to listen to some TESTAMENT to see if it’s true.

Fab: Again, just on the calmer parts of the songs (of TESTAMENT and GHOST BRIGADE).
Wille: Yea, yeah, that’s what he said also.

Fab: So, I’m not mad (laughter). What are your experiences, in terms of live performances?
Wille: Experiences? Hum…
Aleksi : We haven’t toured a lot but some gigs failed all the way. I think the second one was kind of a…well, we’ve played (laughter). But everything else has been really good.
Wille: We haven’t toured that much at all. We just played live, maybe like, twenty shows, altogether, with GHOST BRIGADE. But we all used to play or still play in other bands, so we have a lot of experience. We know how to play live (laughter).

Fab: I’m sure of that. Are you happy to be at the HELLFEST?
Wille: Yeah, so happy.
Aleksi : It’s pretty good.
Wille: Too many good bands actually. They should take like some off.
Aleksi: Actually, I wish I was here last year (looking at the poster of HELLFEST 2007) because that line-up is so good.

Fab: Is there a special explanation about the band’s name?
Wille: Well, this is kind of a weird story. It’s not weird but (laughter). I’m used, let’s put it that way (laughter). Before we had a name, we had the band together, and we didn’t have a name. One time, me and our bass player we were walking home from rehearsals, and he just, out of nowhere said that we should have the word “Ghost” in the name, because he just happens to like the word, for no reason. And I went home, and start playing with the word, you know, then I listen to a song called “Snow Brigade” from Danish pop band called MEW, and I took the brigade out of that. And I realized that it can of fits, it fits the mood of It’s a kind of name that sounds like our music sounds. I think it’s good.

Fab: How went the recording sessions of “Guided By Fire”?
Aleksi: We’ve recorded drums and some guitars in Helsinki. Most of the vocals were recorded in three days, home.
Wille: As well as keyboards, because I have Pro Tools at home so. But I have to say that it wasn’t easy to make this record. It was the hardest thing I‘ve ever…I’ve done a lot of records with my other bands, or old bands. We’re not together anymore. But it is easily the most difficult one to do. (Pointing Aleksi) For him it was really easy.
Aleksi: Yeah, I was sort of a session member because I’m playing for other bands too. It’s taking so much of my time I don’t know if I can come to gigs.so I did all the keyboards arrangements in a short period of time, in three weeks or so. With my other bands, some rehearsals (takes) half a year and I’m so much into the music that i can’t listen it.
But GHOST BRIGADE, when I first heard the album, I was so totally blown away. I listen to it for 3 months also. I’m so happy to be in a situation where I can listen to our album as a, some people will buy it from a shop. So, for me it was really nice recording this album.

Fab: A lot of press and fans are praising and saying good comments about GHOST BRIGADE, that it could the next big thing. What’s your reaction? (general laughter).
Wille: I mean you can say those things but it doesn’t mean that it will come true. Of course, that’s a good sign. It’s better than (to hear) those people saying that this band has no future (laughter), like “they sucks” (general laughter). But we’re in a good position right now. Time will tell.
Aleksi: We’ve done a good tour, and if we have a good second album then everything is possible, but you never know. Actually, I think we’re going to do a good second album.
Wille: We’ll do it. A GOOD second album. The third one is gonna suck (general laughter).

Fab: You were formed in 2005, and needed less than two years to sign with Seasons Of Mist. Your little secret for the bands who are dreaming of such an ascension?
Wille: Yes, for us, it was exceptionally quick I think. It was just like “hey, let’s form a band, then we do four songs, then record them, send the demo, get signed”. And that’s it. And they weren’t the only label, we had three or four. Compared to my old band, for example, it was really hard to get even signed. And all of a sudden, I’m in the situation where I have to choose. It’s a new things for all of us.
Aleksi: And Seasons Of Mist they are really into it.
Wille: And you know, they said, I don’t know if it’s true, I hope so, but they said they haven’t signed a demo band for years. They made some kind of decision there. Bands need to have something, they don’t have to be famous, but something.
Aleksi: We had one album already.
Wille: So basically, they took a huge risk because they signed a completely unknown band.
Aleksi: We couldn’t be happier actually.

Fab: Finland is a big country for the metal music. Do you put riffs into the babies feeding bottle up there?
Aleksi: We put nails (laughter), like rusted nails for babies.

Fab: People often compare you to CULT OF LUNA, OPETH or NEUROSIS. Do you agree with that, or what are your influences?
Wille: NEUROSIS? Yes, I’m a big fan of NEUROSIS. I think they are the kings of that specific style.
Aleksi: “Extreme soft metal” (general laughter).
Wille: No, seriously. They’re really really good. I like them a lot. But I don’t listen to OPETH for example, and I’m responsible for writing most of the songs. To me, it’s really weird getting such comparison.

Aleksi: I think that i would compare our music to BURST a Sweden band if you know it. I think their bass player is from NASUM (NDR Jesper Liverhöd).
Wille: And I’m not a big fan of CULT OF LUNA either, I like some of their songs but I’m not a big fan. But I can understand the comparisons, you know, I understand that people who listen to OPETH for example, could find us interesting. I can understand that. But they are not really (influences to us).
Aleksi: (cutting) I don’t think we sound like OPETH, but there is a similar kind of (vibe).

Fab: What do you think about the great return of “Old School” bands like TESTAMENT, HELLOWEEN, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES…? Is it a commercial purpose only, or just that people want to go back the “roots”?
Aleksi: If AT THE GATES is doing something, then it’s awesome (laughter). I don’t wanna say anything about the reasons why they’re doing this because you really have to know them in person. I know that I couldn’t stop playing. But it could be anything… For example, CARCASS, many people hasn’t seen them, the young people, so now they have a chance to see them. So I think it’s cool.
Wille: You know for example, AT THE GATES, I heard, I read somewhere they first split because, you know, it just wasn’t a happy split you know? Now they’re getting back together and, if I read it right, the reason was they wanted a good ending for it. First split was really like, they’re not friends and blablabla… so they wanted a good ending. If that’s the case, then I really really respect them.

Fab: I interviewed Tomas Lindberg this afternoon and he told me that it was only a reunion tour, not a real band reunion.
Wille: I just hope that they won’t do a tour and an album, I think it should be over. Let them do the shows and then, it would be like the perfect ending. I mean “Slaughter of the soul” is one of the best metal album ever, so.

Fab: Do you know any French metal bands?
Aleksi: GOJIRA rock!!
Wille: Yeah, GOJIRA.
Aleksi: Also SCARVE.

Wille: What else is from France, I have no idea, a lot of band from Season of Mist i guess. I don’t remember the names. I heard this one, a black metal thing…a side-project of one black metal guy, it’s called, euh…I heard it and I like it but…ALCEST.
Aleksi: There is a doom metal band called INBORN SUFFERING, i know the guitar player. Now that you mention black metal there’s MUTILATION also.
Wille: Deathspell Omega is from France too.

Fab: What are you plans for the next future?
Wille: Write some new songs and do a second album. That’s the plan.