Antti Hyyrynen talks with Talvi

Finland, the land of a thousand lakes, saunas, purely epic metal, and the birth place of Stam1na!

Stam1na has just released their new album, Nocebo, earlier this month will be touring across Finland. The band has been one of the most popular bands in the the underground scene, and has toured all across Finland. Der Metal Krieger had the opportunity of interviewing the front man and guitarist, Antti Hyyrynen, and talk with him about the release of the album. Here our exclusive interview with him:

Talvi: With us today we have Finnish metal band, Stam1na, front-man Antti Hyyrynen. Antti, thank you for your time with us.

Antti: No problemo, dude.

Talvi: So your new album, Nocebo, has just recently been released. How has it been recieved?

Antti: It’s been out now for almost three weeks, people are starting to “learn” the song pretty well. We’re touring Finland and there is no doubt that the crowd surely knows all our Nocebo songs by now. They love it!

Talvi: Do you feel that fans like Nocebo more than any previous albums, or feel the same?

Antti: As always, some people think our first album was THE album. But it is really variable thing, someone else is certain that Nocebo is the best heavy metal record sang in Finnish, ever.

Talvi: What makes this album different than your previous album, Viimeinen Atlantis?

Antti: Better production work, pre and post. The whole theme is different with the lyrics, this is an outbreake from the story-based consept we had on Atlantis. Better sounds, more things to listen to… This is much fatter album.

Talvi: Over the years, with the addition of new members, how has the band evolve?

Antti: We’ve gained more perspective with five guys better than three. More hair. With our bassist Kangasmäki we’re able to compose some fresh punk oriented riff metal, with our keyboardist Lähteenmäki we’re able to transcript our intuition based ideas to harmonies and proper melodies. We’re richer than before.

Talvi: Who were your inspirations or influences for you personally, and for Stam1na as a whole?

Antti: Personaly I dig the stuff that is put together with fresh ideas and balls. I mean that an album should be a big and sound unit, a package, including stuff that is put there only on purpose. Vinyl albums represent this, they are needed to be heard in one go. Also the visual stuff is important as hell! As a composer I look up to Mikael Åkerfeldt, Devin Towsend, Meshuggah, Stone, Slayer and such. Even Soilwork, the old stuff.

Talvi: Do these influences reflect in your music?

Antti: In a way surely. But I try to avoid that shit.

Talvi: Stam1na’s genre of metal is one that is highly debated by with fans. What would you say Stam1na’s genre is?

Antti: That’s a tricky one… When playing live we’re all about sports metal. You know, sweat and shit, motion and a blast of heavy shittin’. On our records we tend to build up these harmonies including metal riffs, pop melodies and even ambient noise. What genre Tool is? Put that together with Strapping Young Lad.

Talvi: Besides writing music and touring, what does the band like to do in their spare times on and off the road?

Antti: Off road we’re just doing our other intrests, working as a truck repairsman or a psycologist… Or a music video director. Or just relaxing and ensembling ideas. On the road it’s all different, we’re tied together so vast. Then it’s all work, humour and cigarettes.

Talvi: Are there any funny stories you have from the band’s spare time?

Antti: We like to collect rubber over-the-head masks. On this tour we have The Pig, The Hen, The Rooster, The Cow and The Gorilla. Last summer we had the mystical Ish Ish Man on stage everywhere… He was just one of us running around with this stupid rubber face and a hand held camera, trying to get people say “ISH ISH!!”. We collect all type of video material with no proper plan, then we edit something together… It’s all mystical.

Talvi: Along the lines of touring, Stam1na seems to tour mainly in Finland. Do you have any future plans of expanding over to North America and through out Europe?

Antti: Yes we have plans, but just right now I cannot tell you more. We have papers to sign, we have plans to be planted… But after we get our heist here in Finland over & done we’re kickin’ it abroad, at least I hope this so!

Talvi: Do you personally have a desire to eventually come over to America for a tour, maybe do a Sakara tour over here?

Antti: FUCK YEAH!

Talvi: Der Metal Krieger reaches out to fans all over America, to bring them epic metal bands from around the world. Do you have any words for Stam1na’s American fans?

Antti: We just want to be heard as wide as possible all around the globe. We are certain there are shit loads of boring metal acts touring the world and Stam1na could have a fresh touch with that. So we hope our monkey wrench is able to come and hit you in your heads. Myö tullaan sisään ja sit siemenet ulos!

Check out their new single Valtiaan Uudet Vaateet! This song kicks so much ass and the video has that Stamina charm we know and love:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bk7EjFDsIY]

Get your copy of Nocebo straight from Finland today! Visit RecordShopX.com