CRIMFALL
By Falber Teles • May 17th, 2009 • Category: Interviews
SOURCEWEBZINE – How has the album been received in your homeland where no doubt many similar bands are competing for attention?
Jakke Viitala (G) – Some reviewers here in Finland have given superb feedback in magazines and sites. So it seems that we have been able to convince the listeners… at least a bit. But as we do have lots of metal bands here in Finland, we still have to fight to lift ourselves above the mass. But I hope that if we work hard enough, the listeners will eventually find us.
SOURCEWEBZINE – How did the recording process this time around go for “As The Path Unfolds”?
Jakke Viitala (G) – The whole “making of the album”- period was very long and tiring period. I had started to compose the material in early 2008 the album was mixed 9 months after that. During that time, all the songs were rearranged 4-5 times before we even entered the studio. That was a good call, since we did not have to struggle with the arrangements later on. In 2 months all the instruments/vocals were recorded and we started long mixing journey. Since we were behind the schedule, the studio (Adamantium Studios) was already booked for some other bands and the final mixing was done more or less at home. Original plan was to master the album as well, but as we had spent too much time listening to the tracks we decided to have a pair of fresh ears. So we went to Finnvox Studios and asked Mika Jussila to do it for us.
SOURCEWEBZINE – Will there be any guest appearances on the new album ?
Jakke Viitala (G) – I think so… But only if they will add some value to the music. As we have now full-time bass player and drummer in Crimfall, the guest musicians have to fill some other slots.
SOURCEWEBZINE – Can you introduce us to your band members and tell us whether we should know them from other bands or projects. Do they have other activities at this moment in time?
Jakke Viitala (G) – Crimfall has now days 5 members total. We have two singers: Mikko Häkkinen (who is doing the lyrics and screaming our black metal parts) and Helena Haaparanta who is responsible of our melodic vocals. Mikko has made albums for Twilight Ophera and Thyestean Feast and Draugnim, which is currently active as well. Helena is known from her previous band called Tacere. But at the moment in addition to Crimfall, she does only some random jazz gigs. Then we have Janne Jukarainen in the drums, who was also playing in the album. Janne is known from Naildown and Hanging Garden. Only change to our line-up compared to the studio sessions happened in bass. As our session member Henri Sorvali is too tied up with Moonsorrow and Finntroll, we replaced him with Miska Sipiläinen.
SOURCEWEBZINE – With only three of you as a full time band how do perform live shows? Do the albums session members help out or do you get whoever you can to help out when needed?
Jakke Viitala (G) – As I mentioned in the previous answer, we do have now enough people to play live… And actually we have already done that… hopefully we will have more than one festival show coming this summer.
SOURCEWEBZINE – What are some of the more non-traditional instruments you use on “As The Path Unfolds”?
Jakke Viitala (G) – Personally I consider drums, bass and electric guitars more non-traditional instruments, than for example violin, cello, accordion, bongos, pan flute, bagpipe and mouth harp which all were used in the album.
SOURCEWEBZINE – What originally sparked your interest in Norse mythology and Viking history? Is it something you grew up with?
Jakke Viitala (G) – Being interested in Nordic mythology and history has something to do with my roots. I have been interested in knowing my background and the path that eventually lead our culture to this point. I’m also interested in other old cultures such as Rome and Greece, but it would feel a bit unnatural to do music about the stuff you are not grown in. You need to have these things running in your blood. You know.
SOURCEWEBZINE – How does Norse mythology differ from Finnish mythology?
Jakke Viitala (G) – Even for me the cultures in Nordic countries are similar, our mythology and gods are very different with Norse. When they have Thor and his palls, our national saga is Kalevala (which by the way was one source of inspiration for Tolkien). Off course there are similarities, like how the gods and other characters have strong connection with nature, but otherwise I’m not that good expert to say if there are other similarities as well.
SOURCEWEBZINE – Take us through your typical day.
Jakke Viitala (G) – Typical day… hmm… I wake up and jump on my bicycle and ride 15km to our office. There I sit down in our messy and smelly room with Mr. Henri Sorvali, doing music and sound fx for games… Composing, meeting, composing, lunch, more composing. After 8 hours, I ride back, shower, some snacks and go to my on home studio for composing some stuff for Crimfall, (or if I’m lazy playing some games). And when I have been composing Crimfall until 01:00, next thing to do is appease my wife for not being present. That’s my “glamorous” life in a nutshell.
SOURCEWEBZINE – Is there anything else you’d like to mention?
Jakke Viitala (G) – Have a great summer and remember to behave your selves!
Falber Teles
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