We look for metal in all places, and today we found it in Finland. The Finnish heavy metal band Battle Beast was born in 2008 with an initial line-up consisting of high school friends Anton Kabanen (guitarist), Juuso Soino (guitarist) , Pyry Vikki (drummer), and Nitte Valo (singer), who was replaced by Noora Louhimo in 2012. Eero Sipilä (bassist) and Janne Björkroth (keyboardist), joined the party shortly after.
Before even getting a record contract, Battle Beast had already won two major band competitions: Wacken Metal Battle 2010 (international) and Radio Rock Starba. The band’s first album, Steel, was released in 2011 in Finland and caught the attention of the international metal label Nuclear Blast, with whom they released their self-titled album, Battle Beast, in 2013 and is now releasing their their latest album, Unholy Savior, this year.
We sat down with Noora to talk about all this great fortune, upcoming tours, and everything else Battle Beast!
How are you?
Keeping busy with the new album coming up and getting ready for the Sabaton- tour. Can’t wait to get on the stage with my dear band members and meet all the fans.
Let’s cover the basics first. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
In the early days when the original band members Pyry (drummer), Juuso (guitar) and Anton (guitar, composer) started playing together they decided together of the name.
Noora LouhimoNoora, how did you meet the guys and decide to join the band?
Anton found me from YouTube singing Janis Joplin and asked the other members’ opinion to ask from me if I could join the band. Anton took the first contact by Facebook and first I thought this was just some stalker and a joke but when he called me the same day and explained the situation I joined the next day after listening to their music. I had heard Battle Beast on the radio before but didn’t know the name of the band at that time. My motto is “when opportunity is offered, you grab it and do your best out of it”.
How have you been received by the old fans?
At first I was crucified so to speak. On the other hand, some fans thought I was improvement for the band, but some didn’t believe in me at all. It’s been very growing experience and made me believe more in myself as a singer than ever before. If you can take bad comments as your fuel to practice more and develop yourself into better, then you are on the right path. Of course you have to know when take the critic seriously and when it is just someone trying to hurt you. But I really want to thank people who’ve been supporting me since the beginning but also the people who didn’t. What doesn’t kill, makes stronger and better.
You have a new album coming up, Unholy Savior, right? I have had the chance of listening to it already and I have to say it’s great! Can you give our readers a quick scoop about it?
Unholy savior includes various kind of songs: the Battle Beast kind of hard, balls-to-the-wall power metal, soft and sexy pop-ish song, and a couple ballads. And of course, a couple of bonus tracks that are influenced by 80’s music. I think this album is showing different aspects of Battle Beast and give more versatility in heavy metal genre.
Tell us about the recording. Was the process seamless or were there hiccups along the way?
It was challenging and to be true, I don’t like recording sessions when I have to do everything minutely without my own imagination. In the future this is definitely changing. While recording vocals it is very important to be relaxed and feel as creative as possible. It is also very important to interpret the songs the way I feel and not just follow the notes. I learned a lot about my voice during the recordings of the album “Battle Beast” and that made a bit easier recording Unholy savior. The most rewarding moment is getting on the stage and sing the songs to the people.
What do you believe has changed, music wise, in the band between for your first album, Steel and this new one?
There have been huge changes: such as the previous singer leaving the band after doing the first album, me joining the band and GOING straight to touring with the guys, and making the second album. After doing this third album, I think there is a lot more to give from each of us in this band and we will develop and praise that in the future. We will be doing music together as a band and show our talents in that department also.
Are you guys excited to go on tour for Unholy Savior?
Yes, very excited. We can’t wait to get on the road again and play our music and meet all the people during the tour.
BATTLE BEAST – Unholy Savior (Official Album Sampler)
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How does it feel being such a new band and already being such a big deal?
Feels good that people have noticed us and hope we get even further in the future. I love performing for people, as do the guys in this band. We are doing whatever it takes to continue playing our music to our fans and everyone who wants to listen. Playing music and the people who are listening to us are the most important things for us.
That’s your second album being released by Nuclear Blast, right?
Yes, and very happy about it! Nuclear Blast has treated us well and we wish this relationship continues that way.
I read on your website you guys are going on tour with Sabaton in 2015. Are you guys excited?
We are and hope our fans are too. It feels like a kid in a candy store when you know you’re going on a tour again. The experience of the interaction between a band and audience is something that you really have to come and experience yourself. It is the best feeling you can ever get, after sex! (laughs)
(Laughs) Where are you guys most excited to play next year/the rest of this year?
We are going to Greece for the first time on the Sabaton tour, so that very exciting: to meet our fans there and see how we are accepted there. Touring is always exciting and fun, you never know what will happen or who you will meet before and after the shows.
Sabaton is amazing band to tour with, no doubt. Who is your dream band to tour with?
I think we all (in the band) have our own dream bands, but I could say that none of us would say no to Iron Maiden. I love Bruce and the band! And he has been a very good role model in singing as an artist/performer. Also the drummer Nicko McBrain is awesome: love his style and performing. And of course their songs are just diamond.
Thank you for the interview. Good luck on your album release and on tour!
Thank you so much!
