1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Korpsesoturi was formed originally Autumn 2014 by me and our former guitarist Pecca to go back from the modern style of metal to the roots - old school death metal with some flavors from the other genres where especially my backround has always been since early 90's. First drummer who also played in Vainaja was joined later that year but due to his other projects he left after a six months or so. 2015 we had a punch of different drummers which was challenging 'cause with every new drummer you needed to start from the beginning. Finally Autumn 2016 we managed to find Oskari who joined the band and since that he has been bringing a lot to our music by his unique style. Oskari is very into blast beats and that's really the thing for us also. Unfortunately Pecca decided to leave the band after the summer 2017 and luckily we found Mikko to replace him. To be honest - orginally the idea was to play as a trio and that's still the idea so no need for more band members at this stage.
2.How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the ep?
Well we knew already that we were aiming to old school death metal with it's good aspects of sound also. So it took a while to find someone who understood what we were looking for. The sound is raw but at the same time a bit soft - as the sounds we're pretty much during the 90's. Modern death metal sounds are nice but as thousands of studios are making the same in your face loud sounds - that's not what Korpsesoturi sounds at its best.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
Lyrics are expressing in a way the dark seasons of Finland with some flavors coming from the traditional old religious beliefs. There's also short stories about evilness and aggressions of humans. Mainly we're doing our path in old school waters - no politics, no statement todays issues, nothing which would offend anyone. The finnish language was chosen due to the fact that I realized during the first Vainaja bands album that finnish is actually very very multi stational language. It's actually beautiful language and we can play with the pronauncing and meanings of particula words if we like. Much more variable and more death than english in a way.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Korpsesoturi'?
Well orginally we got an idea to name the band based on a horror splatter movie "Zombie Lake" and there was a punch of different suggestions. Korpse is kind of a mix of english and finnish - in Finland we say it's finglish - and it means straightly Corpse. Soturi means warrior. The name is actually very nice indeed 'cause it is pretty easy for non finnish native to say it also. In finnish it sounds a bit like a joke but on the other hand strange names are rememberable.
5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
There has been only one show - or should I say gig - so far. In Finland death metal is not trendish anymore so there's a lack of gig organizators as also there's not so many bars anymore to play. The feedback from the last and only gig was very good and our stage presence is energetic. Long death metal backround is one thing when playing live but in the end we love our own music and the vibes which it gives when playing loud in a stage. Making such music is creating feelings which kick your balls into your throat and this is what we're trying to express in live acts.
6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Yes indeed. We're been in contact with several managements and organisers but so far we haven't done any deals. We're open to play anywhere anytime as long traveling costs are covered. There has been discussions to play live in Germany, UK and USA but so far we're still waiting. We hope that we will get some gigs for next summer and spread our death to all of you!
7.So far the band has worked with 'Caco-Daemon Records' and 'Death In pieces Records', are you happy with the support these labels have given you so far?
Yes indeed. Caco-Daemon was a strange thing in the first place when Andreas contacted me and told me how he writes the band name with real blood into the c-cassetes, hahaha! This is old school or what! We made the deal and it has been a success. There's also a Japan edition coming out next year by Caco-Daemon. Caco-Daemon promotion has also spread our name quite a bit around the world.
Death in Pieces records is another story. Victor contacted us and he wanted to release the ep via his label. We said yes and he also asked that if there would be a full lenght he would be interested also - unfortunately I made a pre-agreement already last winter with an underground label (located in USA) so at this point we stick to the ep. But I gotta say that Victor is a good old school man but he also knows the tricks of promoting. He has done outstanding work with us and to us - bringing Korpsesoturi to a new level. We're more than happy.
8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of doom and death metal?
Well the feedback has been outstanding. There's a lot of "older" old school metal fans but happy to see that also some younger generation has found Korpsesoturi. Doom genre people don't like us so much but death metal scene accepts us quite nicely. But what ever the feedback is or will be - in the end we're doing whatever feels right! No compromises. There has also been crazy fuckers who would like to do some sacrificing with us - well thanx for asking but we stick to the musical side for now.
9.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?
At the moment all of our members are only focusing in Korpsesoturi. This is good and gives us a lot of time and full effort for the band itself. I personally am part of doom-death band Vainaja but it is having a longer period of time without anything going on due to band member personal reasons. Gotta say that Korpsesoturi is a band which actually rules our days quite a bit. Messages are coming and going around the clock and a lot of ideas are brought on the table almost every week.
10.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Full lenght album will be recorded this winter. The album should be ready in Spring 2018. Talking about the music then - well as described earlier Mikko has brought something new to the band. Korpsesoturi old school things are still in but Mikko has brought some very heavy riffing in. There's a few new songs which will be recorded for the album and gotta say - the low tempo with ultra heavy riffs works fucking awesome! This is something new but we're not forgetting ultra fast blast beats - that's for sure! I think we will stay in the musical area as before but offcourse we have and we will grow among the music we write.
11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
All band members are having metal backround but there's various differencies in taste. Variations are from hard rock to dark gloomy death metal including melodic black metal for example.
I personally got involved in early death metal late 80's and since that I've been listening to different bands. My favorites are Gorefest, Brutality and Benediction from the early days - well Deicide for sure also. I'm also a huge Machine Head and Pantera fun since early 90's - not forgetting the black metal bands like Gorgoroth. Nowadays there's a lot of good bands but it's difficult to say a few only. So maybe a listener can hear some of the mentioned bands in our music too.
12.What are some of your non musical interests?
Smoking a cigar and having some good smokie whiskey makes me feel good. I've also bred dogs for a long time and older american cars are one of my main interests.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Korpsesoturi will carry on and spread its own darkness. We're open for suggestions regarding to live acts and we love to play live! We respect our fans and that's how it should be. Horns up brothers!
