Never an album meant so much!!! I’m talking about this one, that was released via AFM Records, on the 22nd October 2021, specially the song “Hit The Night", that talks about what most of us feel, but don’t know how to express those feelings.
Metal Imperium had the opportunity to chat with Pete Ahonen (guitarist), that explains how they discovered Luca Sturniolo (vocals), the lyrics, the new members, the 80’s and more. Luca explained the meaning of the the song.
Hope the power of the night heals you and enjoy the reading!!!
M.I. - Hi there, guys. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions. How are you and what have you been up to nowadays?
Hello and thank you very much for the interview. Well, all is ok here and basically I've been composing new music, besides being with my family, etc.
M.I. - “Arsonist Of The Soul” is the name of the new album that was released via AFM Records on the 22nd October 2021 and you bring some fresh news, especially the line-up change. The band returs with a new voice, Luca Sturniolo, that replaced Nitte Valo (ex-Battle Beast), who had been in the band, since 2015. It turns out to be quite a discovery. How did you discover him and in what ways do you think he brought magic to the music and the lyrics that you wrote?
We met Luca back in 2014, when we were doing a gig in Pietarsaari (little city in Finland) and he was doing a gig in the same venue. We talked a lot in the backstage afterwards and we were having a lot of fun talking. As Nitte's "era" was ending, I remembered Luca, contacted him immediately and asked if he was interested to join and luckily he was His amazing voice and personality definitively brought the energy levels up again!
M.I. - Jarkko Poussu (bass, ex-member of Finnish thrash pioneers A.R.G.), Tuomas Jaatinen (drums) and Matti Halonen (keyboards) are also the new members. Do you think that this new line-up was what was missing to create an unique sound on this record? How did you combine your musical personalities, to make it happen?
I think it's always the musicians that make the album sound how it sounds, no matter who wrote the songs. These guys are top notch players, as well as very cool as people too. So very easy to work with them. And they are my good friends also.
M.I. - This record is clearly a bit heavier than the previous one (“The Blaze”) and we can still hear the thing that makes this band so characteristic: the ballads. What can you tell us about the creative process of the album? Why did you decide to make that change?
As always, I just write songs without thinking too much ahead. Just to keep the "flow" as natural as possible. On this record, I wrote 11 and Pekka came up with 2 tracks. I composed all the vocal-melodies and I wrote lyrics to 5 songs and we did the rest with Luca together, So, he was very much involved on making the album. As said, I don't think that much what type of music I will compose and I try to keep everything flowing very naturally But I let you in on a little secret: on the next album, there is a great power ballad.
M.I. - It’s also a pleasant journey for the fans who miss the early 2000’s Power Metal sound. How did it feel to revisit that classic era? What has happened twenty years ago, that you think is still useful, musically and lyrically speaking?
These are "hard" questions for me, because as I said, I really don't think about the songs that much when I'm writing them To me the songs sound like BP songs, but I've seen on many reviews, etc., that people are talking how the album sounds like the early 2000 Power Metal....But yeah! It's no secret that I also love Power Metal To me, Power Metal started with Helloween's Walls Of Jericho album back in the 80's and maybe the 2000 was somehow the "awakening" of some people to Power Metal, but to me, it started way way back.
M.I. - You have also an influence from the 80’s and it can be heard on the title-track. What bands inspired you for that sound?
Well, I grew up with Accept, Running Wild, Bon Jovi, Europe, Queensryche, Helloween, Yngwie Malmsteen, Judas Priest, Dio, Iron Maiden etc. So, there lie my "roots"
M.I. - "Arsonist Of The Soul" is one of the best albums concerning its style. What were the main inspirations for the themes and how did you write the lyrics? Were these ones harder than “The Blaze”? Tell us more about the concept behind them, please.
Well, thank you for the nice words! We are very proud of the album My lyrics are from the things I see, hear and experience and Luca's are mostly from History, from Egypt, etc. So, lots of variety, but I think they blend in well.
M.I. - You have a track in Latin: “Persona Non Grata”! Who is this person and what’s the meaning behind it? Are we the “persona” you are talking about, aren’t we grateful enough?
It is about people who are very negative etc., in general. Not any specific person.
M.I. - There are two contrasts: “Hit The Night" is a song for the people who hate their job and make it for a living and the night regenerates their soul and “Will I Rise With The Sun”. Care to explain them, please?
I let Luca explain these Here are his words.....
“Will I rise” is inspired by the Egyptian book of the death, found in pharaoh Seti the first's tomb. The dead pharaoh, after having challenged himself through the doors of hell with no fear, finds himself in front of Osiris, who judges him by the weight of his heart. The pharaoh turns into a god, only when his heart is lighter than a feather. Otherwise he's devoured by a terrible monster.
The night is normally the moment when people go out to have fun, escaping from the average life, the “cage” where they are prisoned, doing most of the times a job they don't like to make out their living. So: “Hit the night Regenerate your soul till the morning light.”
M.I. - Which bands/artists have you been listening to and do you recommend?
I'm a huge CD / Vinyl collector. So, I listen to a LOT of music, new and old. To be honest, nowadays I've been listening mostly to our bands’ new stuff, creating melodies and making lyrics I do recommend to check our bands Stargazery and Ghost Machinery, as well as my new band Fire Action, which I just joined as a singer .
M.I. - Do you have any plans to do a tour next year? Which countries will you visit?
Plans yes, but do they come true... time will tell, hopefully! We are very eager to play live! We would like to visit as many countries as we can Portugal, we want to be in Portugal!
M.I. - Thanks once again for your time. Any final words for Portugal, your fans and our readers?
Thank you very much for this cool interview! To our fans in Portugal, we salute you and thank you for the support! Please, check out our new album and spread the word. And feel free to comment on our Facebook pages.
For Portuguese version, click here
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Questions by Raquel Miranda
