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What would be a better way to start your Easter holidays than going to check out
Hateform`s brainblasting live experience at Henry`s Pub, Kuopio. Tuskasi had the
opportunity to have a small chat with Petri "Nysvär" Nyström, Joni "Jontte" Suodenjärvi
and Tuomas "Reisari" Vähämaa before their gig. As a very first question I wanted to ask
what Hateform actually is?
- Three years ago when we were setting up this band our very first obstacle was to think
up a name for it. We were trying to come up with some typical cool Heavy Metal name. The
first thing was that we picked up the word "Hate" and then started to build a name on
that. So the guys started to suggest ideas while I was looking on the internet if there
already was any band named like Hate-something. While the time passed by we`ve got some
feedback about the name. Hateform is a little bit too obvious and quite a boring name for
a Metal band, Jontte tells.
Even though Hateform is still a quite unknown band for masses, there is already a
healthy kind of ambition sprouting from the ground. It`s also very obvious that almost
every webzine and Finnish music magazines have praised Hateform`s demos.
- All thanks goes to the Internet. It has been really helpful for us while doing
promotion, Jontte and Reisari add.
The band has had lots of gigs already and the biggest thanks goes to Jontte and Tomy for
promoting and booking the band all over in Finland. This time also Reisari made
something up and he managed this evening`s Kuopio gig.
Though there are five guys playing in a band, most of songs are composed by Tomy, the
second guitarist.
- At least 90% of those song structures are made by Tomy. After hearing out the guitar
riffs we others start adding some spices to it and check how it works out. Things mostly
go like this, but we are a very balanced group. No one`s ego is popping out and trying to
take all honour by himself, tells Jontte.
Hateform has lots of things that highlight them from basical mass Metal. Lots of
progressive stuff and also very psychedelic guitar swinging parts. Was all this found by
accident or planned since the beginning?
- Well at least it was meant to be that this time we were trying to really make something
different compared to our other band experiments. Everyone just added something of his
own and that`s how our musical way was built, Reisari lightens up.
- Our first selftitled "Hateform" demo was a really Thrash Metal based blasting. Now on
our latest "Retaliate" demo we tried to bring up more tougher, challenging things in a
musical way. Our last band was much too technical and progressive, so it wasn`t that
friendly and simple material for listening. Somehow in this latest demo all is mixed up
so well into one piece, says Jontte.
In the Finnish Metal scene there is now a real survival of the fittest going on. Only
those bands can survive which have lots of talent and plans for the future. So how
things are going on in a camp Hateform?
- Well at least for now I think that there is no need to change anything in Hateform`s
way of doing things. I can tell about our newest songs that we`re not playing anymore
just plain Thrash Death as we used to. We have only released two demos for now, so we
have lots of work to do. Just need to go on for gigs and make people get to know us
better and try to keep this circus in movement. That`s our plan for now, Nysvär comments.
- Maybe we still should look for a bagpipe player, Reisari ponders sarcastically.
- I`ve to say that it`s really a great thing that somehow people found us, Jontte goes
on. There are nowadays so damn good Metal bands mushrooming everywhere - also just in
the Finnish scene, so it`s really hard to bring yourself out for the masses. Today it`s
like you won`t get signed by any record label, if you don`t do something really different
than other Metal bands. There are surely lots of the same kind of bands in musical way as
we are, but I think that somehow we`ve created our own sound, which works fine as it is
now. After 3 years of working we are here, but it`s really hard to say how Hateform is
doing after 5 years or such. Maybe everyone of us is living in a decline state or we`re
playing Fusion Jazz in some dark pub`s corner. At least for now this feels great so we`re
holding on to it.
While thinking about the future there is also need to think about going on tour to
foreign countries, especially because the band`s lyrical way is performed in English.
Seems like these guys aren`t afraid of being called for a trip abroad.
- Of course we would go, if everything was settled before the tour. Work, families and
such. Everyone of us is so wacko, that it wouldn`t be a problem for anyone of us to
visit some other countries and venues. We also have understanding families supporting us,
so there wouldn`t be any problem either.
- Also at first it would be important, that people first have the possibility to hear us.
It`s not that important to see us, if they`re listening to our music, Nysvär comments.
- And especially because we`re so dumb looking freaks! Like anyone would care about
seeing us, Jontte is laughing.
At some point also the question rose if there has been any interest from record
companies? At least for now there hasn`t been any particular to name.
- We`ve had conversations with a few companies, but there hasn`t been anything special
happening yet. Our hands aren't sweating yet about excitiment, because there is no reason
for it. But we surely hope that at some point we could have the possibility to record and
release our debut album - but that is just a vision for now on, Nysvär and Jontte
comment about the situation.
And how about plans for this year 2007? The situation about the debut album has only
been warmed up and of course there`s the need to do something else while waiting.
- We`re trying to push forward as much gigs as possible, because Hateform is at its best
live and on stage, just like a huge bomb. And besides that gigs are the best business
cards from us for the listener for now, so better use that advantage, Nysvär says.
The last question is what the guys think about today`s Finnish music scene? Is there
any hope laying somewhere besides themself?
- There are lots of great bands in Finland. Especially Metal and Alternative sides have
grown very strong in the past few years. Lots of those underground bands, which started
their doings something like 10 years ago have grown really strong. Also these new age
youngsters are really great. Young boys swing their guitars even better than their own
idols. There`re lots of great acts bubbling under the surface waiting for their time.
And one last word which the band wants to share with the Tuskasi readers:
- If you want to retaliate, play Hateform as loud as you can, and also drink some good
beer while doing it!
Ismo Korhonen
Tuskasi
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