"If I have to choose one favorite singer - that should be Nick Cave!"

AmorphisВ are great! And they got better and better with every next album! Even if it's not completely true, you can't deny that this new 'Skyforger' opus is amazing. And it is a good reason for us to talk to frontman - Tomi Joutsen.

an interview conducted by Vassil VarbanovВ 

I’M PRETTY AMAZED THAT YOU DID AN EVEN BETTER ALBUM THAN BEFORE. WHAT IS THE INSIDE EXPLANATION FOR THIS? WHAT WAS SO SPECIAL WHILE RECORDING IT?
I believe it is because we’ve been working with this team for five years. The same people are in the band. And I guess that’s the reason we sound better. This time actually, the guy who is mixing us live, he recorded this album. We had a great time and maybe you can hear it on the album.

WELL, PLEASE TELL ME - DO YOU HAVE ANY MEMORIES FROM THIS SHOW HERE IN SOFIA IN 2007?
I remember it was a show in an ice hall. It was a great one. And actually we had some great time with the Benediction guys after the show. I guess everyone was quite drunk. And after that we went to some rock club, so there’re only good memories from that show.

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WE HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK TO ESA A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO REGARDING THIS NEW ALBUM. NOW WE’RE TALKING WITH THE VOCALIST. THIS IS THE THIRD PART OF THE TRILOGY. DO YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE NOW? YOU SAID IT’S BEEN 5 YEARS, BUT DO YOU PREFER THIS NEW ALBUM TO THE TWO PREVIOUS ONES?
I guess I do, because we are playing better and everyone who has heard this album have said that we are sounding better and we play better nowadays. And maybe that’s one point from where we get our music in some way. But it is impossible to say if this is THE album or the best album. I am really satisfied with it and I really gave my best.

ON THIS SHORT MOVIE ON THE INTERNET YOU SAY THAT ‘MAJESTIC BEAST’ IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG. IS IT BECAUSE YOU DO MORE GROWLS THERE?
Yes, that’s the reason. I realy like doing growls. In the same time it is really not a long song so it is quite easy to listen. So I’m really looking forward to playing it live.

ARE YOU GOING TO PLAY IT LIVE?
Yes. We actually already did it a few weeks ago in Finland and it sounded really great.

BUT STILL IT HAS A VERY BIG MELODIC LINE… ESA TOLD US THAT YOU DO ALL THE VOCAL LINES WITH MARCO HIETALA FROM NIGHTWISH. TECHNICALLY, HOW DOES IT HAPPEN? YOU GO TO THE RESTROOM, GET IDEAS, THEN YOU RUN TO HIM SHARING IDEAS, OR WHAT?
Actually before we went to the studio I had some ideas about melodies, feelings, parts of the songs. The magic happens in the studio when we’re working together. We have different ideas. I’m really honored to work with Marco because he’s a great singer and he is very good with the guitar as well. He also has great ideas. And because he’s a singer he can show it right away. But a lot of things actually happen in the studio. So it is very interesting to see what happens every day.

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A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION – AMORPHIS ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD. BUT THE QUESTION IS TO WHAT EXTENT ARE YOU COMMITTED TO THIS BAND AND NOT TO YOUR PREVIOUS ONE - SINISTHRA? AND ACTUALY IS SINISTHRA STILL ALIVE?
Yes, It’s still alive, and actually we’re playing a show next Friday. Of course my heart lies with music in general. But Amorphis is number one for me right now and I try to give everything to Amorphis. When we’re not touring or recording I try to get involved more with Sinisthra. And we’re actually trying to find a label to release our next album. I always have had different bands. I have one where I play guitar and one where I play drums. I’m really into music. But now I put all my heart in Amorphis.

HOW GOOD ARE YOU AT PLAYING GUITARS?
To be honest, I suck!!! I can do some riffs, some ideas. But it is more like having a good time. I really love to play different instruments. But this is more like therapy to me.

IN TERMS OF VOCAL RECORDINGS FOR THIS NEW ALBUM – DID YOU RECORD ALL THE VOCALS, OR YOU HAD THE OTHER GUYS IN THE BAND HELPING YOU OR YOU HAD SOME OTHER GUYS, OR GIRLS, OR KIDS, HELPING YOU OUT?
We actually worked only with Marco Hietala. There were some guys who did the backing vocals. There were three guys. But no girls. We had girls on the previous albums, but only guys now.

CERTAIN PARTS OF THE TITLE TRACK SOUND LIKE A KID’S CHOIR, THAT’S WHY I’M ASKING. WHAT IS IT THEN?
No, that’s Marco Hietala and those guys. He sings very high. I can’t sing that high.

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WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE SINGER OF ALL TIME?
There are so many good singers out there. I like more emotions and I like dark voices. It doesn't have to be real technical shit. I'm not so much into power metal.

HA HA HA, I HEAR YOU - YOU DON’T LIKE NIGHTWISH…
I can listen to it and I respect the bands, but... So if I have to choose one singer - that should be Nick Cave..

rights Tangra Mega Rock