OMNIUM GATHERUM Interview with Jukka

XM: What has the band been up to so far this year?
Jukka: We have been very busy indeed. After the release of the new album we have done a lot of promotion and gigs both in Finland and abroad. This is of course a natural thing because there would be no point of releasing a new album and then do nothing. There is also a lot of things happening the rest of the year. In summer time we are doing a lot of festivals in Finland and abroad and later in the autumn we’re going on a tour first in Finland and then in Europe. The tour in Finland is kinda like a warm up for the Europe. The tour in Europe is a big one, ‘The Neckbreakers ball with bands like Dark Tranquility.

XM: “New World Shadows” is your latest release, what was the recording process like this time around? Did you do anything differently?
Jukka: Yes we did. Before it was like that we booked a studio and went there and did the album and that was it. This time we did everything but the drums in our own rehearsing place. It was quite nice to do all the recordings in familiar premises namely our OG HQ. The rest of the album (mixing, mastering artwork etc.) was done like on our album before this (The Redshift).

XM: How has the response to the album been so far?
Jukka: It has been excellent. We got to the Finnish official album chart, took the fifth place. Also the critics and reviews have been very positive. The best part for my opinion still has been the reaction of our listeners. They have praised the album and they have been insane in the concerts, excellent crowds man.

XM: What can you tell me about the new record? How does it differ from your earlier releases, and can you trace your progression as a band from your early days up to this newest chapter in Omnium Gatherum’s history?
Jukka: Hmm, what can I tell… well I can say that it is our best album so far for sure. The continuity in the album has reached a new level. I do like our previous albums too, but this time the songs matched with each other so well that I was even surprised when I heard the album in a whole for the first time. Another difference between this album and the rest is that this time one man was responsible for the composing of the songs. Before there have been two composers. As a lyricist it is all the same to me because I do all the lyrics anyway. The progression of the band has been a long one. The band was formed in 1997 and the first five years it was more or less in its infant stage. After the release of the first album (‘Spirits and august light’) the band had its style more or less ready. Strange thing was that it did go through a weird transformation on the second album and the style became too progressive. The third album was mix of the old and the new and the fourth was a bit more like the first one which was good. Now the newest album has a lot of elements that we always want in our music. The first album is a lot like the new one. The difference is that the new album is way more mature and BETTER!!!

XM: Who was responsible for the concept and artwork of the latest album?
Jukka: Olli Lappalainen was responsible for the art work, actually he has done all the OG artwork in the past too. I myself am responsible for the concept of the album. As a lyricist and the vocalist I have to have all the strings in my hand that the concept doesn’t fly away in a wrong direction, if you know what I mean. This doesn’t mean that I am not open for discussion about the lyrical topics and the themes.

XM: How did you hook up with the Lifeforce Records and are you happy with what they’ve been doing for you so far?
Jukka: When our last deal ended we were offered different kind of deals and we compared them and opened some dialogues with couple labels. After a while it seemed that Lifeforce was the best way to go. This far it has been a good choice, because they have delivered that which they said they would. Of course you can’t say nothing sure for the future but I think they seem to be a good label.

XM: It seems like all of your albums are released on different labels, is that just your luck or is there a story behind the moves?
Jukka: There is no special story behind it. We have had some bad luck that is all and actually our previous label Candlelight Records released two albums, so the journeying through labels hasn’t been so hectic that it seems.

XM: Got any tall tales from touring? What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened?
Jukka: When you are on the road there are always strange things happening of course. It is hard to say which one is the most strange but usually it has to do something with something breaking up for awhile ( a person or a piece of equipment). We were touring with Insomnium and Swallow the sun and at some point we were driving in the mountains of Austria on our way to Slovenia and the bus was actually on fire! Thank God it was winter time otherwise…

XM: What are your impressions of the metal scenes in your hometown and in Finland as a whole?
Jukka: The metal scene in Finland is huge compared to the population. What do I think about the scene? The good thing about metal being popular is that there is a lot of competition so the bands have be really good to get anywhere from “the basement”. So the quality of the bands is good but the folk style that is now so popular is not quite my cup of tea. The same thing goes for my home city (Helsinki).

XM: Have you ever written any lyrics in Finnish and if not is that something you would consider doing perhaps on one of your next releases?
Jukka: When I was younger I did some lyrics in Finnish but I didn’t like it so much so for the metal bands, I don’t think I’m gonna do lyrics in Finnish. I do a lot of writing (poems etc.) in Finnish but they are not related with the metal music we make. Finnish is a beautiful language but for my opinion it it better for me to do the metal lyrics in English.

XM: If you could have been involved in the writing, recording or production process of any album which would it be and why?
Jukka: This is a difficult question. For me the interesting album to be involved would be something from the sixties, a Jimi Hendrix album maybe. The times back then were so “out there” so it would have been fun to see and participate in the recordings back then. From the metal scene I don’t know. The recordings of some Megadeth album would have been great also.

XM: With your lineup I see you have only you as the lone guitarist. Why one guitar instead of two? What is your take on the big debate between one guitar verses a band with two guitars such as the pros and cons?
Jukka: The thing is that we have always been a twin guitar band. On the new album the situation was that our former other guitarist Harri just left the band before the recordings. So it was up to Markus to play all the guitar parts. I don’t have any opinion about the one guitar vs. two guitar battle, to it is all the same. To some bands and some people this might be an issue to argue about. I think that if the band sounds good it doesn’t matter if it has one or five guitars. So for me there are no pros or cons in that issue.

XM: What is your favorite lyric of all time?
Jukka: This a fucking hard question! I really can’t give my absolute favorite lyrics because there are so many good lyrics. One of the best is definitely from Megadeth:
“Dawn breaks evenly today
On the truth and the lie
All rise, court's in session
We're hanging someone high
Justice means nothing today
Now that the courts are for sale
Pick a crime from the menu; pick a sentence and defend you
And pay up the down payment called bail
The system's for sale
Kick the chair, the rope's tight
Just like one quick wrench, the tooth is out
Friend or foe, I gotta hang em dead
Or they'll come back around
Kick it!
The court's wrong when it keeps track
Of victories and defeats
The press that never rest just waits
For somebody's soul they can eat
Justice means nothing today
Now that the jury's for sale
Guilty or not, the verdict's a lie
You're going to jail
The system has failed
Kick the chair, the rope's tight
Just like one quick wrench, the tooth is out
Friend or foe, ya gotta hang em dead
Or they'll come back

XM: Could you just briefly take us through the band’s plans for the 2011?
Jukka: A lot of touring of course as I said earlier in the interview. That is pretty much it.

XM: I would like to thank you on behalf of xplosivemetal.com for taking a few minutes to answer a few questions with us. Is there anything else that you would like to contribute to the interview?
Jukka: Thank YOU! And we apologize for this interview being so late!