Anthriel is a Progressive metal band from Finland, formed in 2004 . They released their debut album The Pathway last year (2010) via Lion Music. I discovered these guys only a few months back and was taken in after the first listen. Below an interview with Timo and the other guys of Anthriel.
TMR: Hello to you from ´The Metal Resource’ Holland, how are things going there in Finland?
Timo: Greetings Holland! Thanks for asking. Everything is fine here in Finland, tough we’ve been busy with new material that we are working on at the moment. Songs and album concept for the next album has been ready for a while, but this time we decided to rehearse the songs well in advance. There is going to be some tricky parts because we’re always trying to get the best out of the band and the songs.
TMR: Will you Introduce yourself and the band please ? (name and instrument)
Timo: Anthriel are: Simo Silvan-vocals, Timo Niemistö-guitars, Antti Hakulinen-keys, Klaus Wirzenius-bass and Jari Kuokkanen-drums.
TMR: Can you tell us something about the origin of ‘Anthriel’ please?
Timo: The “core” of Anthriel has always been Me(Timo), Antti and Jari. We have played together for years in several projects, all the way from school, cover and tribute bands to the wedding orchestras. Throughout the years and projects we kept searching for the right line up for Anthriel until we found “Klasu” (Klaus) and “Swaan” (Simo).
TMR: Are you guys full time musicians ? If not what kind of job or school do you do beside the band ?
Timo: We are all more or less making a living as a live musician. I have a day job as a musical instruments salesperson. Klasu is working as a bass guitar teacher along the House band host at the local music bar here at Tampere.
TMR: Is this your first band ? (for everyone personal)
Timo: The first band I was involved, was the school band. I played drums and Jari played bass guitar. My first “real” band (as a drummer) was a punk-band called “Tasohöylä”.
Simo: No, I have had a few bands of my own before I got the chance to join Anthriel.
Antti: I’ve been playing here and there but Anthriel is my first more serious band if i can use that word.
Klaus: No. I’ve had many bands before.
TMR: Why the name ‘Anthriel’ ? Is there a story behind it ?
Timo: We were looking the name that tells about our music. Anthriel music is a mix of a various of music styles. There is lot of highs and lows, headbanging and musical landscaping. According to angelic dictionary, Anthriel is a archangel of balance and harmony and for the restless souls like us, the band name works also at the therapeutic level. For example: Too much headbanging gives an audience a horrible neck ache and too much musical landscaping puts an audience to sleep. So it’s important to keep things in balance 😉
TMR: Who writes the music/lyrics in ‘Anthriel’ ? .. how do you get in the mood for writing music? And which bands/situations have influences you for writing music and lyrics ?
Timo: I usually bring the ideas to the rehearsal studio where everybody gives their opinion and “flavour”, if needed. Simo and I make the lyrics. Then we make a demo out of it and then an other and then an other… Usually the process from the idea to the complete song is long if you want your music to sound unique or at least good enough for yourself. In the metal genre the bar is set really high so of course you need to also rehearse a lot! The mood for writing comes usually in silence or in a situation where you are all alone with your thoughts. You need to step aside from the rapidly spinning world, take a deep breath and listen what your mind tries to tell.
TMR: How do you describe the music of ‘Anthriel’ the best ?
Timo: There has been many descriptions of our music in reviews. I usually talk about melodic metal but some reviewers want to use as much genres and sub-genres as possible to define our music. Of course it is easier for audience to make a decision to get familiar with a band or not. Anthriel music is a mixture of a neoclassical, progressive metal with acoustic and orchestral elements. On our music we concentrate on solid rhythm sections with a melodic vocal lines.
I also like to break that belief that chorus will have to be the most strongest, melodic and unforgettable part of a song. Especially in a popular music there is lot of songs where all the focus and energy is on the chorus part of the song and no one cares about what happens between the choruses. That is just a waste of music and once again, underestimating an audience. Also you can tell a lot with instrumental music, it gives more room for the imagination of an audience.
TMR: How does ‘Anthriel’ stands in life till events in the world, religion and politics and in which proportion stands that till your music and lyrics ?
Timo: We are not bringing our personal opinions about religion, and politics through our music.
Of course we all have do have our strong opinions and we talk about those issues but I think it is not the deepest meaning of Anthriel to tell to the people what they should do and how. It is rather vice versa; There is so much bad things happening across the world so I believe music should be like the escape gate from all of that. We were honored to participate to the Lion Musics Japan earthquake benefit album “Embrace The Sun” (released 17.6.2011) because if we can help someone with our music, that is the biggest prize you can get as a musician and composer.
TMR: For a lot of bands the lyrics are just a accidental circumstance, but for some bands they use them to communicate ! ..can you tell us how that is for ‘Anthriel’ ?
Timo: We don’t try to enlighten or educate the audience by any means with our music, I think everyone has a right to live their life as they want. If you want to mess up your life or if you rather feel the need to clarify things in your life, go for it. For me it is ok as long as you understand it is your choice and you only are responsible of your actions. I believe that metal audience is smart enough to separate the right and wrong and so I would feel it a little bit of disturbing to play the God here.
TMR: What is the message you want to bring with ‘Anthriel’ ?
Timo: Musically, we want to remind that good song is a good song, even after decade or two.
We are not interested of what is musically in fashion and it has been nice to get feedback from an audience that they feel the same. I think an audience is kind of overdosed about the fact that music business is getting embarrassing features as new stars are created fast and worn out even faster. The production crew is not interested about the career length of an artist or musical content of their product. Everything is calculated accurately in advance, things like how much face of an artist brings money. Yes I know, every ugly artist says that 😉 Of course we have to remember that in music business there are many genres and sub-genres. Lady Gaga has a little bit different age audience that we do, and the music business has change a lot in a last 10-20 years so we can’t accuse the younger audience of their different attitude towards today’s music business.
TMR: Is there a highlight you will always remember, since the beginning of ‘Anthriel’ ?
Timo: I will always remember the beginning to record of the first Anthriel album. I still lose my sleep at night because of that;) Basically we were going to our friends studio where were going to record drum tracks. Soon as we got drum set up ready our friend got a phone call. He was booked to the tour with famous Finnish band because their sound engineer has gotten sick. Our friend just said: “Ok Timo, now take a deep breath and sit in to the monitoring room chair right behind that mixer desk of a couple thousand knobs and faders. I have to go but I call you later on what you should do. Bye.” I wasn’t familiar with his recording software or equipment what so ever so it was quite stressful beginning for “The Pathway”. Luckily because of that event we decided to buy a decent equipment to record rest of the album by ourselves, in our rehearsal studio. Of course the progress was slow and frustrating because I had also learn to use all that stuff.
TMR: And the worst thing were ? (if there is one)
Timo: Whole recording process of “The Pathway” was a struggling with a cheap equipment and crashing computers but afterwards thinking I would not change a bit. These kind of adversities only strengthens your motivation about what you are doing and why.
TMR: Name some of your favorite bands to play with live (past and future) and tell us why ?
Timo: We have done couple shows with the Masterstroke that is also Finnish band from our hoods here at Tampere. We know these guys from the different kind of relations and we have mostly had fun before and after the show, usually after. In a future we of course tour with every band combination that is reasonable for the audience. Some great bands to tour with would be Seventh wonder or Adagio for example.
TMR: What is your favorite food and drink? for everyone personal (no idea why people always want to know that)
Timo: Pasta and beer.
Simo: Well probably a normal pepper stake and beer.
Antti: Anything that involves pasta, steaks and stew.
Klaus: Meatballs & smashed potatoes
TMR: First record you bought? (for everyone personal)
Timo: I think it was the Kiss “Asylum”. Still love that Eric Carr drum solo that kicks off the the first track “King of the Mountain”
Simo: If I remember correctly it was Deepest Purple, a Deep Purple collection album.
Antti: It’s so long time ago that i’m not certain, i think it was either Iron Maiden’s power slave or some Kiss vinyls.
Klaus: Iron Maiden-Number of the beast C-tape at the age of eight. Actually I was more fascinated of the album cover than the music back then, and it was much later when I got the hunch of the audio-part of that particular product.
TMR: What makes you laugh? (for everyone personal)
Timo: Jari has this weird ability to be the most quiet and same time the most funniest people on earth. He doesn’t say much but when he does, everyone laughs.
Simo: Brittish comedy and any truly stupid joke that I hear.
Antti: I like spontaneous humor and funny things in music makes me laugh. Flower Kings is great example of music that has hilariously made parts sometimes.
Klaus: Let’s say Antti Hakulinen for first, of course good jokes, playing well as well as playing bad (depending on the occasion). I think it would be easy to lose sight what you’re doing if you can’t laugh for yourself. For example you’re jamming at some afterparty, drank like thirty beers and get pissed off for yourself if you can’t play 100% flawlessly. That’s the kind of situation where it’s better to just laugh if you’re playing shit. =P
TMR: How do you prepare for a show? (for everyone personal)
Timo: Drinking a lot of water and warming up my fingers with chromatic/pentatonic scales. Weird, I just realized those are the two techniques I newer use…
Simo: Well usually I just sing some various melodies from the low register and try to get my body feel warm and relaxed.
Antti: It’s nothing special, i make sure that i’ve drank enough of water and that’s it really besides trying to relax.
Klaus: I prepare by warming up my fingers by doing a little jamming and running scales and stuff. Stretch my places a little bit, and most importantly NOT think of the night’s show but have couple of beers instead, so I wouldn’t get stressed about it and just be natural and and have a good mood.
TMR: Favorite movie(s)? (for everyone personal)
Timo: Star Wars – series, Green Mile for example.
Simo: The Village is one of my all time favourites.
Antti: The Godfather, Lord of the rings and star wars, but i have to say i don’t watch movies at all anymore.
Klaus: Hair-musical, The Machinist, Jackie Brown. To be short with the list.
TMR: What is the dumbest question you have ever been asked? (for everyone personal)
Simo: Well thats a bit hard one to answer cause I have been asked so many strange questions along my way that it is almost impossible to pen point any particular question.
Antti: Nothing comes up to my mind. I hardly believe in stupid questions.
Klaus: To understand wrong, being thoughtless, not know what one’s talking about or just naturally get messed up with you’re speech are all different things.
One example comes to my mind of the last way mentioned above when this one sound engineer dude asked me about two years ago that “When was it that your tour with John Bonham is going to start?”, and I was like “WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAID?!” But obviously it took me like three seconds to realize that ok, I’m going on tour with Graham Bonnet on August and Bonham and Bonnet, if thought quickly, they’re names similar enough to get mixed up and he was probably just thinking of too many things at the same time and accidentally said John Bonham.
-This other dumb thing happened when I was in a bar after a gig and some probably 18 year old girl came to talk to me and the conversation went pretty much like this:
Girl (smiles): Hi!
Me (smiling back): Hello, did you see the show?
Girl: Yeah. You seem like a really good guitar player!
Me: Well that’s actually a bass but thanks…
Girl: Do you make a living out of it?
Me: Yes.
Girl: I’ve heard that it’s really hard! Is it?
Me: Sometimes but if you know what you’re doing you’ll do fine. Being versatile and open minded are great benefits.
Then her friend comes there and she introduces us and goes.
Girl: This is my friend called this and that and this is the bass player of the band.
Me: I actually know your friend. His little brother is one of my younger students.
Girl: Whoo! Really?! I didn’t know that playing is the kind of thing you can teach! I just thought that all good players just practice a lot!
-You probably can figure out how freaked out I was about the reaction and what she said because it turned out in the continued conversation that she wasn’t joking. She just couldn’t get it and that wasn’t mishearing or misunderstanding. In addition I don’t think that she was drunk at all but apparently was just “a little” simpleminded.
TMR: Do you have a life philosophy? (for everyone personal)
Simo: Well the main thought that comes to mind is that life is short, so make the best of it while you are still around.
Antti: Basically yeah, it is to do what you want to do.
Klaus: Probably too long to explain without you felling a sleep during that. 😉
TMR: Are you visiting many gigs by yourself and what do you listen to these days? (for everyone personal)
Timo: Not so many gigs in a year. If there is something really interestíng going on I will check it out. I don’t listen much music during the day. Usually I dig a little bit deeper what comes to the finding new inspiring bands. Latest musical exploration was the Finnish folk/progressive band called Piirpauke.
Simo: Every now and then when there is something interesting happening on the stage. Usually if I want to listen some good music it is bands like Dream Theater, Tarot, Ayreon that come up to my mind.
Antti: I’m not visiting any gigs really. If something really interesting would show up i might get interested. Lately i’ve been listening to Prokofiev’s piano concertos, Spiral Architect, Rush and Pat Metheny.
Klaus: I’m quite lazy to go see concerts nowadays. It’s easier to go to local places but paying like 50-100 euros for a ticket and travel a long way off to see some national rockband in a stadion with eighty thousand people in cue at the gates is not for me anymore. Also I’m not the tallest or biggest guy in the world so to speak so I couldn’t see anything and got crushed in the frontline. When I was younger and enthusiastic to catch maybe only a glimpse of my hero I used to go there but not anymore. I like listen to records and see some good club gigs but there are exceptions of course. Concerts that I definitely didn’t wanna miss included Paul McCartney, Mr. Big, Wayne Shorter Quartet (with John Patitucci on bass) and Tommy Emmanuel, but then again many of the bands and artists that I like are dead or have quit touring so if Frank Zappa or Jaco Pastorius are spotted on a gig somewhere I’d be glad to be informed.
-Recently I’ve been interested of musicals and pop/country stuff. Sara Bareilles and Norah Jones albums have spent a lot of time in my cd player…
TMR: Tell us about the hardrock/metal scene in your area please?
Timo: Finland is the promised land of heavy metal and especially in here at Tampere, there is live rock music playing each night in clubs and music Bar’s. Everyone I know can play something with something and Finnish people love live music especially. Finnish people are really aware what is going on in music business and I would say music has a big role in a lives of a Finnish folks.
TMR: How do you think about downloading music from the Internet
Timo: Based on samples on the bands web site, It is easy to make decision to like it or not but I think if you like it you have to buy it. Personally I cant’ manage it how downloading of some artist work for free from the web can be legal. I thought home-computers were created to help people lives, not to destroy. Now it seems that mankind has created something so big that eventually no one dares to pull the plug out because people are so entranced about the great achievement of the mankind. Along the internet people has gotten pretty fast way to get, for example music, games and movies with two alternatives; honest and corrupted. Most terrifying thing is that with these two options given, in these industries the business has fallen in to the fraction of what it was before this great achievement of mankind.
TMR: What can you tell us about your debut album ‘The Pathway’? (such as the songs, recording-proces, artwork etc.)
Timo: The Pathway is the story of a man who finds himself grown against his former principles and philosophy of life. He decides to leave his past behind and begin a journey to find his own personal promised land and balance. As the path gets rough good and evil starts to battle in his mind where the reality and fantasy gets mixed. He puts the blame to the Gods for playing with his life and turning his adversities to the divine entertainment with consequences that ultimately lead to the discovery of perfect harmony from within his own soul. The Concept is based on a series of events in our lives, individually and as a band. Told as a timeless adult fairytale. You could say that it is a kind of biography of the rough road the band has gone through. Naturally “The Pathway” was the perfect title for the album. There is a pretty clear highlights in music and lyrics, for example some years ago I found myself stuck in to lousy day job that totally killed the energy and inspiration 24/7. Still every morning I just automatically dragged myself there to pay the rent and food , knowing that me and my musical ambition were wondering their separate ways. That is simply the story behind “Devil’s Lullaby”. After a five frustrated years I was experiencing the most beautiful sunrise and ”awakened” by that I gathered my courage and quit my job to try my wings as a musician. That is the story behind “Light Divine”. Each song has a story behind but we don’t want to chew it up too much on behalf of a listener or tell what kind of emotion an audience should get out of each song. I prefer to let the audience be an artist who paints the fantasy world around our music and dives into it. The artwork of The Pathway is made by famous Finnish cover art designer Jan Yrlund. He understood what we had in mind and we are totally satisfied with the result.
TMR: The album is released via ‘Lion Music’ , how did you get signed by them ?
Timo: We had a lot of interested offers along the way. We wanted to have label that was specialised on our type of music, had the experience and had strong distribution. We knew about Lion for long time and we also know personally some artists signed to them so we heard positive feedback. We knew the fact that Lion Music had announce not to sign any new bands at the time but they contacted us back and made an offer we couldn’t refuse.
TMR: And what about the (near) future, any plans ? (European tour maybe ?)
Timo: For now we only concentrate on the material of the next album. We are really exited of the new songs and the next album will be also theme album so there is much to do.
TMR: Guys thanks for your time and the interview, we wish ‘Anthriel’ all the best ……Is there anything you wanna say at last? (any final statement ?)
Timo: Thanks for your time Holland. We hope you all the best there at The Metal Resource.
Stay tuned for Anthriel
Weblinks: Website / Myspace / Facebook
The Pathway was a fantastic album! Amazing group of musicians! Can’t wait for the next one!