Chad Bowar: How has the band's sound evolved from Ur Jordens Djup to Nifelvind?
Skrymer: Obviously we´ve joined a flying circus somewhere in time, whilst wearing pointy ears. Otherwise, we've gone more (screwed) up. More everything, and then some, you see. We, as an organism tend to spread and evolve.
Was your songwriting or recording process any different than usual?
Apart from the usual fighting, fast food and craploads of video games, it didn´t change at all. No one could remember his parts at the studio, mixing was done with beer cans and the spirit of Tom Waits was omnipresent. Also, John Balance spoke to us via a broken transistor radio every now and then. Groovy!
How did you decide to sign with Century Media Records?
After pondering between the decision whether to use a red or a blue pen, we decided to pick up the brown one. Century Media reminds me of Centurions, which bring us to the Romans. And the Roman Empire just was so goddamn cool, don't you think?
How was the video shoot for "Solsagen," and what is the storyline?
The storyline is an old man dressed up as a little girl, heavily made up to look like a real female. Later he is being molested by actors who represent us in the band. The video shoot was otherwise fun, but a stunt man caused us some trouble by lighting the backstage on fire with a bottle of whiskey. We could have drank that whiskey.
What inspired the artwork for the CD cover?
Our former CD covers, drugs, absinthe and werewolves. Find the hidden werewolf and win the prize!
What are your expectations for the CD, considering the state of the music industry and that you are now on a different label?
Our expectations will be that it is plastic, shaped like a disc and contains audio you can play back later in a device called a CD player. Hopefully this audio will be our newest offering, and hopefully people will be a bit more traumatized when the disc ends its spin.
Will there be a Finntroll DVD released soon?
It depends on the definition of “soon.” Wikipedia puts it as “The future is a time period commonly understood to contain all events that have yet to occur.” As our crystal balls are crashed and snorted (Tundra imagined the stuff to be crystal meth, so you should have seen his nose later) we cannot unfortunately predict the yet to happen. But I hope there will be a Finntroll DVD out in mid-2010.
You're coming to the U.S. to tour in April. What have your past U.S. tour experiences been like, and what are you most looking forward to when you come back?
Big steaks, KFC, Budweiser and Super Bowl. Super highways, coast to coast…easy to get anywhere, really. On the transcontinental overload, just slide behind the wheel and relax. Now how does THAT feel? And when we come back, I´m pretty sure we´re mostly looking at the bus ceiling.
What's the craziest thing that's happened to you on the road?
It involves coca…..uhm, cola and then some rubber chickens mixed with Mexican transvestites and tar. Needless to say, it was in Texas. Cheers to Miranda, Barry and Mae, we had fun. Call me, honey!
What's the coolest place you've been able to visit while on tour?
Iceland, no doubt. Routa got his piss freezing on an iron pipe, which was hilarious.
How did you get started in music?
I didn't start with music, the music started me. I´m just a mere tool in this world of crazy sonic gods.
My father was a professional musician, which probably had something to do with the fact that I was whacking the piano to play melodies I had heard before I could even reach it or see the keys.
What was your first band, and what type of music did they play?
I formed my first real band in 1990, which was called Battery. Surprisingly, it was thrash metal and we rehearsed at my parents' garage. After struggling with line up problems and non like-minded people I started stuff on my own which probably had a huge impact on my methods of doing music later.
How did you come to join Finntroll?
I wanted to buy their demo, but instead I was asked to play with the band. I had just got introduced to Somnium, and knew Beast for a couple of years. After agreeing to play in the band, I met the other guys at the first rehearsal ever. Tundra was actually supposed to be Demonos Sova from Barathrum, but luckily Sova couldn´t make it.
What have been the highest and lowest points during your time in the band?
The highest point was probably on the border of Portugal in 2004, and pretty much the lowest point the day after. Waking up with red stained underpants without any idea where the red stuff came from got me pretty upset, and puking, too. Later I found out the red stuff was candle wax, though. Just ask the Katatonia guys, they know more about it!
Who are some fellow guitarists you admire?
Frank Zappa, Steve Bartek and Janne Perttilä.
Who are the top 5 Finnish metal bands of all time?
Beherit, Rytmihäiriö, Impaled Nazarene, Unholy and Sotajumala.
Anything else you'd like to mention or promote?
"If a Troll falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make an album?"
