GMA Interview Interrogation: Whispered (Finland)

It's not uncommon for a metal band to fall into a sub-genre that is totally unique, not only in terms of lyrical content or sound, but by the sub-genre name itself. So when Finland's Whispered announced details for their forthcoming album "Metsutan - Songs Of The Void", the slight-head turn became imminent after the first word. Why is a Finnish Metal band using a Japanese word in their album title? Turns out they're a 'Samurai Metal' band, well musically they're Melodic Death / Power Metal tinged with Eastern 'Oriental' Folk music influences, but we prefer the new genre tag as a way to describe them.

They might be fashioning blades, experts at martial arts, or masters at kanji calligraphy, but they're not resistant to our interrogation methods. Sadly no sake came between us or the band....

Vocalist / guitarist Jouni Valjakka and guitarist Mikko Mattila entered the interrogation chamber.

"I can't really say what defines "Samurai Metal". Maybe just the lyrics? I dunno. Since our new stage wardrobe, we should maybe be called Kabuki Kombat Metal!"

Whispered has been going now for 12 years, what challenges have you had to overcome and how does it feel to be releasing album #3 'Metsutan - Songs of the Void'?


Jouni:
          "Well thinking of the history of us (the band), we've had the usual. Finding a committed line-up, making the best out of our thematics, getting enough cash to go on etc., Particularly with this album we run into some minor technical problems, some choir sessions were really hard to compile, and I had the pleasure and pain of programming most of the orchestrations and Japanese instruments for the first time. Among the usual, programming a huge orchestra and making the  ethnic instruments sound as organic as possible besides the band was quite a challenge for me."


Mikko:

          "Hey! It feels really awesome to be finally releasing our new album. It's been in the making for so long and finally we can get "rid of it". There's been a lot of challenges even with this album. You just don't make this kind of music by going to the studio, hit record and bang away a few tunes. Although we sometimes wish we could do that."


Could you please explain your choice of lyric topic, namely why and how did you come around to singing about Samurai's, Bushido and Japanese Legends? Do you hope your designed sub-genre 'Samurai Metal' will catch on?


Jouni:

          "Well I have been into Japanese culture and especially aesthetics for a really long time. When I was young I really felt the urge to create something unique and this kind of style felt really natural choice for me. Japanese culture has an endless inspiration for me and for a time now, the lyrics have had a bit more personal touch in them too. Meaning that thinking about struggles, opportunities and values of life, the way of the warrior can and should be represented in those too. 

         I don't care much for genres and at the beginning when we were called "Samurai Metal" I wasn't too excited, but nowadays when I'm not so angsty-teenager-elitist anymore I think it's a really cool sounding genre. I can't really say what defines "Samurai Metal". Maybe just the lyrics? I dunno. Since our new stage wardrobe, we should maybe be called Kabuki Kombat Metal!"


Because Metal music has endless ways it can transform, do you think that bands could create any style of metal they want, or are there limitations? Should it be a natural process rather than looking for new styles to do, just because they don't exist?


Jouni:

          "There are no limits and there never should be. When you're creating something you just gotta let everything go and not restrain yourself in any way. Of course someone might not like your modern-fusion-rap-progressive-extreme-swedish-folk-influenced-nomad-metal, but that's their problem. Not yours."


Mikko:

          "I think there's really no limitations whatsoever. If you come up with something unique that sounds really cool then just go for it. It's always good to search for a new angle on things musically, but it definitely shouldn't be forced. If it's forced it's bound to sound fake. For example Folk Metal is still a rather new style and when it got popular many new bands started to copy the originators. So now there's like a million Korpiklaani / Ensiferum etc. copies around. In a way we are doing it ourselves too, but you should always draw influences from many different sources and try to blend them to a unique mix of your own."


What instruments do you use to incorporate the Eastern Folk (Oriental) influences? Do you think this is a relatively new concept?


Jouni:

          "Well we use mostly the most common Japanese folk instruments like koto, shamisen and shakuhachi and some Chinese folk instruments too. Most of them are programmed, but we've used some real woodwinds earlier and now we have real shamisen played on the CD. Using these kind of instruments in rock music is not in anyway a new idea, but using them with rather fast, brutal and melodic metal is something quite fresh I think. At least I can proudly say that no-one in Finland has never done this before!"

Regarding your new album 'Metsutan - Songs of the Void', what song is your favourite and could you give us a short but concise explanation behind the song titles?


Jouni:

          "I can't say what's my favourite yet but I really like the song "Tsukiakari". It''s mostly a bit slower than the others and I think we really got a nice atmosphere in it. "Tsukiakari" means moonlight and it tells of a servant who kills himself in order to change his powerful master's evil ways. I read a story about the concept years ago and the idea really stuck with me."


Mikko:

          "I think my favourite song of all Whispered tracks is "Bloodred Shores of Enoshima". It is an epic journey, the most symphonic track we've ever done and the story can be realized as a kabuki play with 5 acts. It's also a very challenging track to play and in that regard just how I like it!"


Surely if and when you tour Japan (unless you have already?), they will admire you for this choice of metal? Do you have any fans out in Japan? Will you release your album out there?


Jouni:

          "Our gig in Japan had a really nice reception and we had extremely fun to interact with the fans there. I hope we have a chance to release Metsutan in Japan too!"


Mikko:

          "We played one showcase gig in Japan in 2013 and yes, it seems we have fans there. We were really not sure if they would think that we're too weird coming from Finland wearing hakamas and kumadori face-paint. But the audience response was unbelievable when we played in Tokyo, although a bit surprised at the beginning of the show. "Shogunate Macabre" was later released there and hopefully Metsutan too at some point. I'm actually very much looking forward to getting to record some bonus tracks for a possible future Japan release. It's always great fun to make some game music covers or something along the lines."


As 'Metsutan - Songs of the Void' is out in a months time, will there be a tour across the EU, possibly the UK, or just across Finland? Where have you toured before?


Mikko:

          "We get asked this a lot and unfortunately the answer is still the same: we are very open to opportunities to play anywhere outside Finland, but at the moment there's nothing concrete in the planning. Organizers, promoters, really anybody that can help us change the situation please contact us ASAP or be devoured by Gozuryu!"


Jouni:

"What he said".


Because Eurovision is taking place in May, have you ever considered entering the competition? What was your reaction when Lordi won Eurovision? Surely this has to be monumental not only for Finland, but for the Finnish Metal scene (as well as metal generally)?


Jouni:

          "Eurovision would be fun to attend, since I think I'd get some sick pleasure making as "pop" song as possible. Then we'd of course need clean vocals too, since the masses aren't ready for a full-blown samurai mayhem! Or are they? I was sooo happy when Lordi won! For a one night the whole Finland was celebrating the return of Hard Rock and Metal! Of course tomorrow we all went back to work and to listening to some more Kanye West."


Mikko:

          "I remember being in a bar, watching Lordi win Eurovision and thinking how can this be.. is this real life? Of course it was awesome and I'm so happy they won with a song that wasn't directly composed as a "Eurovision song". You know like the pop format "demands" or so it seems they think. Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät should have won too last year!"


Finally have you got any hello's or thank you's you wish to send out?

Jouni:

          "Thank you for the good questions! Keep your blades up high and be sure to get the new album to your hands 20.05.2016 ! Hail Gojira!"


Mikko:

          "Thank you for the interview! Kanpai and hail Gozuryu!"


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