It was the 5th of December. A rather warm (for December), reticent evening was taking shape in Tallinn – uncharacteristically quiet even. It wasn’t a harbinger of things to come though, not for me at least, as in a few hours, Finnish melancholic metallers Ghost Brigade and their supporting cast would light up the stage over at rockclub Tapper, making sure some highly season-fitting dark music was heard that night. It’s not every day you get to actually meet one of your favorite bands, much less develop a conversation with them for a good thirty minutes. That’s exactly the kind of break I caught though, and what follows is what transpired during our chat. It should be noted that the interview was done at a great little Mexican bar called Ancho in Tallinn’s Old Town, and that everything but the time it took place was more or less improvised. That was the intention all along though, so instead of reading out aloud questions carefully constructed in the safety of home’s walls, what is transcribed here was originally a rather free-flowing, hey-i’d-like-to-learn-more-about-you-guys conversational interview with Wille Naukkarinen (guitars) and Veli-Matti Suihkonen (drums). Ghost Brigade’s new album IV – One With The Storm was released on the 7th of November, and was one of my highlights of the year (while also peaking as the Finnish metal album of the year in their local Inferno magazine, and ending up #4 on Finnish critics’ all-genre end of the year list). Check out the interview, check out the album, and check out the band. There’s some vigorous touring to be expected from Ghost Brigade, at least in Europe, in 2015, so keep your ears and eyes open.




Your show here in Tallinn starts in a few hours. It’s been a long time since you’ve been on the road. How are you feeling about getting back out there?

Wille: Excited, and a little bit scared. We’re playing a lot of new songs, so that’s always a new situation. It takes a few shows to get used to the idea that it is not the same old setlist, that half of the songs (on it) are new. But it’s exciting in a way.

Veli-Matti: Yeah it’s like a new start. We are looking forward to it!




You decided to start your tour in Tallinn. Besides the obvious, that Talbot (Estonian doom/sludge) are your friends in Estonia, why did you pick Tallinn to start your tour?

Wille: It was a coincidence really. It was supposed to start from Helsinki, but we wanted another show to play somewhere and this (Tallinn) just kind of happened. That’s why we’re here, but it’s cool actually to start here.




You’ve been in Estonia before, I think one time. How was the last time, what are your memories of this place?

Wille: I didn’t see much (of the town). We went to the venue which was really big – too big for us at the time. We played with some Estonian band and then there was our friend’s band from Finland, Deathbed, who are disbanded now. They played a dark, hardcore kind of music. I don’t remember a lot. The show was good, but we were just kind of starting out with the band – we probably had released one record.

Veli-Matti: Our early stages

Wille: Nobody knew who we were. They came there to see the Estonian band. It was just like we played our songs, and then we left. I think the next day we also played in Finland, so it was a quick visit. But it was okay, as far as I remember.




So for today’s show, any expectations heading into it, or are you just going to try and have some fun with it, getting back out there?

Wille: That’s exactly (what we’ll try to do). I have no expectations whatsoever. It’s our second time here. We usually tour in Germany and Central Europe, and then we usually know around how many people come to the shows, and that sort of stuff. But here, I honestly don’t know if one person knows us or two hundred or one hundred.

Veli-Matti: it’s a bit of a question mark (for us) what’s going to happen.

Wille: We’ll see, it’s exciting, from that point of view also, to come here.




That upcoming tour that I have been referencing is of course in support of your new album IV – One With The Storm, that came out about a month ago (by now two months, it was released on the 7th November). The reception for it has been exceedingly positive, there are, like you have posted on your facebook page, over 70 positive reviews already for the album. As musicians, I’m sure you expected the press feedback to be positive – otherwise there’d be something wrong if you weren’t happy with your own output – but did you expect the sheer amount of positivity that has come your way?

Veli-Matti: it’s always the same situation. What do you (can you) expect? We’re pretty confident with the material, it feels good to us.

Wille: But then again you never know how it’ll turn out (the reception). With every album that we’ve done, not everything has been positive. And those reviews that we posted, we didn’t post only good ones. There are some mediocre ones as well. That’s just everything that we’ve found and we like to put it out there. There are as many opinions as there is people. But yeah, most of it (the feedback) has been very, very good. I don’t know what else to say when to think about it, just you never know.

You’ve said that One With The Storm almost never happened, that there were a lot of bumps along the way. What were some of the difficulties that came along on the road and how did you overcome them to finally arrive here?

Wille: First thing was that our bass player left the band. Me and him, we two, we have played together for twenty years in different bands, and then he quit. Even though he didn’t write any music, he was one of the original members, a very close friend. So it was a big “let’s re-evaluate the whole thing and let’s take some time off” situation. And we took some six months off (without ever thinking about quitting) to think about how should we go forward. So that was one of the things that delayed everything. Another one was that me and our (second) guitar player, we have another band, called Sons of Aeon, and we did one record with that band, which is a faster death metal project. It took us three years to really learn to play that kind of music with a good groove. That took time. But we never quit writing music despite the breaks. I always wrote music for Ghost Brigade whenever I came up with something. I recorded that at home. Here we are, the writing process itself was pretty much the same as before – about a year and a half – but the bass player leaving the band and us having a second band was taking a lot of our time, and then all these breaks in between – figuring out what we should and shouldn’t do, should we get new members or not? And all of a sudden you realize “Ok, that was one year ago, we really need to start doing something.”

Veli-Matti: We also found a new line-up and wanted to get the group together, to get things happening.

Wille: Yeah I think that was the spark that we needed to continue – bringing these new guys on board. We also got a new keyboard player at the same time (as a new bassist), we decided to do that switch as well. That’s what happened, in a nutshell.




You mentioned that you, for example, are in another band called Sons of Aeon as well. Do you think it’s important to have different projects going on; do you think it could be detrimental to place too much emphasis on one band, to put too much into it? Or is that a matter of personality, that there is no golden rule?

Wille: Yeah I know some musicians who are members of four or five different bands. I could never do that. Even when we had Sons of Aeon, which we’re having a break from right now, we had two bands going, and it was too much for me, because I wrote music for both. Not everything for Sons of Aeon, but for Ghost Brigade most of the stuff is written by me. It was too much. Besides, I have to concentrate, I have to pick one, because otherwise it’s (the material) not good for either band.

Veli-Matti: You have to prioritize things and find time for each band.

Wille: When Ghost Brigade were on a break, we did Sons of Aeon, and with Sons of Aeon we kind of stopped playing. Then all of a sudden we have new members in Ghost Brigade and we continued from there. But there was a small period where we had to call each other like “Ok, Ghost Brigade is playing a show on that week, can we do a Sons of Aeon show on another week,” and I just hate that kind of stuff – too much hassle. I like simple things and simple planning. That’s why I want to concentrate on one band at a time. You can always have some hobby bands that don’t even have a name, such projects going, that’s nothing, but when you start recording an album, it’s a different story. I don’t know how people handle it, having three or four or maybe even five bands.

So now you’re dealing with Ghost Brigade full-time. You’ve just finished your new album, it’s out. Do you expect, after the touring and all, to keep on working on Ghost Brigade, not necessarily new stuff, but just on the band, or do you expect to vary between different bands then?

Wille: I think so (to vary). He has a crust band (Veli-Matti) and we all have different bands. I think I’m the only one with Tommi (guitars) at the moment who has only Ghost Brigade. Our bass player had another band, who I think are split up or something, but everybody’s involved in different projects. Actually now would be a good time (to vary things), because you’ve just done three years worth of work, and now it’s out there, and I think it’s time to regroup. We’ll see. I don’t have anything planned at the moment, but who knows. If somebody asks me if I want to come and play guitar on this and this project, if it’s something that I like, why not.




One With The Storm came out on the 7th of November. For me, for example, I find that seasons play a big role in my listening habits. During winter and autumn, I listen to deeper, possibly more melodic, more though-provoking stuff, and during spring-summer I like more lighthearted, more fun, more energetic stuff. How is it with you, do seasons affect your listening habits in any way, and more on from that point, was it a conscious decision from the start to release One With The Storm in the autumn, or did it just happen like that?

Wille: It wasn’t conscious, but then again, when to think about it, we have always entered the studio in January of February for every album, I think. That’s because the winters are hard and it’s not very nice to tour in the middle of the winter, so you go on tour like in May or April.

Veli-Matti: I don’t know why we haven’t recorded in the summertime, ever.

Wille: We usually go (into the studio) in January of February, which means we are done when summer arrives, and then the album will be released in the autumn. I think that has happened with our three latest albums, maybe even with all of them. So it’s more because of going to the studio at a certain time.

As for seasons, it doesn’t really work for me that way. I go through these phases musically. I find something interesting and then I dig out everything from that musical style.

Veli-Matti: it doesn’t really matter if it’s metal or crust or whatever. There’s a lot of new music coming in the summertime. The genre doesn’t matter too me for me.

Wille: Like a year ago or something I discovered a lot of early ’70s bands, I started listening to ’70s rock a lot, and that was kind of a seasonal thing for me. I started looking into it and started buying loads and loads of ’70s records – vinyls. That’s how it works for me. Then I listened to that stuff, and then I discovered something else, maybe also because of that aforementioned stuff. ’60s rock for example, because of listening to those ’70s records. It’s more about music styles (when it comes to changes in listening habits).

Veli-Matti: I agree!




With bands that I personally like, I like to buy the records, introspect the booklet, really get to know the lyrics. I think that’s something people don’t really appreciate that much any more. With Ghost Brigade, the lyrical part, to me, seems to often deal with everyday demons, just that it (the message) is often conveyed in a metaphorical form. Do you guys share a common worldview in the band as well, or are those more personal? Also, do you have any philosophies or morals that you abide by in everyday life?

Wille: No, nothing that would affect the lyrics anyway. For the new album, I wrote half of the lyrics and our singer (Manne ikonen) wrote the other half, so he should be sitting here to give his view. My stuff is very personal, and I think his is too, but more in a hidden form. Mine (lyrics) are easier to understand that they’re very personal, that they must be from real life. Not everything of course, because it would get really boring to write 20 songs about more or less the same subject, the same feelings.

Veli-Matti: Manne has more storytelling maybe (in his lyrics), and a darker view. You have more hope (laughs)!

Wille: Yeah, I am the more hopeful guy, and that’s how I like my lyrics! If you play this kind of music, I don’t think you have to pile melancholic feelings on top of the very melancholic music; to underline bad feelings. It’s too much. I also like to write lyrics about very deep personal stuff, but I put a lot of hope and positive thoughts (into them). I kind of hide the dark thoughts.




One thing that I’ve read from your lyrics, which then seems to concern you as the more hopeful songwriter, is that you often deal with the subject of love in your songs, but it is painted in different colors. What are your thoughts on the emotion? Do you still believe in it, are you someone who believes in love?

Wille: I think in this specific subject, it’s actually Manne’s lyrics that are about love, more than mine anyway. But to answer your question, yes, very much so, I do believe in love and I am in love.




Do you think it is the greatest emotion that one can experience in life?

Veli-Matti: One of the most important, definitely.

Wille: We have a lot of our life ahead of us still. I believe that there might be emotions that you are not even aware of until you grow older.

Veli-Matti: there’s lots of positive and negative feelings revolving around that subject.

Wille: But it is a very strong emotion, for sure.

One thing that I was thinking about: in this modern world, everything moves really fast. It seems like everybody is doing something all the time, striving to get somewhere. I myself, I don’t really fancy that much. Maybe it’s because I’m still young and naive and not very experienced, but I like the ideal of being in the moment more. Do you feel that life feels like a race sometimes (too)? Would you like to slow (from time to time), or would you perhaps like to see other people around you slow down?

Wille: I can only give my personal view on this, and I have slowed down a lot over the past two years. I almost jumped (into) the same lifestyle that everyone else did: that you need to be in a hurry, without really having a reason for it. Then I realized that “why do it?” Nobody’s forcing me to be one of them.

Veli-Matti: You should do what you want to do. You choose your actions. You can always choose.

Wille:That same hurry is even in music, in the whole business. For example, we released a new album, that we took three years to write, a month ago, and I’m pretty sure that one of these days, there will be the first person to ask “Have you done any new songs?” It’s like, you know, fuck off (laughs). But it’s everywhere, the rush and hurry. It’s bad!




One lyric from your new album that struck me and made me think a lot was from the song “Disembodied Voices,” and it was made up of contradictory statements right next to each other – “People say that time heals”, and then you go on to say that time doesn’t heal. What are your own thoughts on it? Does time heal wounds, to paraphrase the song, or is it something that just makes you forget about them?

Wille: It’s just like we sing in the lyrics: it only makes you forget. Time itself doesn’t heal anything. That’s just a saying, that time heals. Time doesn’t heal, you have to do something about it yourself, to heal whatever is the issue. Your own actions heal. But it’s not a law or a rule or anything (that time makes you forget). It of course depends on the subject.




Your albums have always had really fitting titles. Isolation Songs sounded really bleak and isolated; Until Fear No Longer Defines Us, some songs on it, especially “Soulcarvers,” had these ascending sections to it, or descending, depends on how you look at it. Now One With The Storm, how does the phrase affect you? Do you feel that maybe you are one with the storm in everyday life? Or is it just a catchy title?

Wille: Our title is (what it is) because of our recording session, which was pure hell. We recorded this album forever and I thought at some point that this might not get finished, that we just have to leave the studio with an unfinished record there. It was so difficult. The title is a reflection of that, when finally after two or so months, we had the album on tape and it sounded really, really good. Now it is on tape, fuck you difficulties. That’s the everyday message of the title. One With The Storm – it’s very, very spot on, if you only knew what happened in the studio.

Could you see it being a motivational saying, for people who listen to the music, as well? That it could encourage us to overcome all difficulties, to become one with the storm?

Wille: Of course, that’s one way to look at it, because people don’t know how our studio sessions went. People who buy our record don’t know that and they understand the title in their own ways, which are as good as ours. That’s one way to look at it. And that’s one reason why we picked this title – it wasn’t only about our studio difficulties. At least I thought of it like you said.

Veli-Matti: You can definitely see the title in very personal ways.




Moving on from that towards a lighter tone, what is the one thing that you always love to do to get your mind off things? It may be anything, it can be something you do, or maybe it’s just taking time off. What is the way for you guys to relax outside of the band? What do you like to do to lose everything around you and lose yourself in?

Wille: For me, maybe going on a holiday with my fiancee. That has worked for me so far, just to go somewhere and forget about the band and forget about work. Just a basic holiday, like people do.

Veli-Matti: I don’t listen to music (laughs). I jog sometimes and play a bit of badminton. Just do different things away from the music.

Wille: I also have this ’60s rock radio station on my phone, and that is a good way for me to relax. I put my headphones on and this really lighthearted ’60s pop music comes on that couldn’t harm anyone. That works for me.

Veli-Matti: Bubblegum pop!

Wille: I really like that kind of style. It helps me forget about stress and other negative things.

Veli-Matti: Cutting yourself away from music works as well though, sure. There’s enough noise in this world, so it’s nice to enjoy the silence.

Just to come full circle, with both your new album and the interview: the last track on One With The Storm is a Finnish title called “Elämä on Tulta.” What does it mean to you as a band to have a song in your own language as the closer, and why did you choose to write the last song in your own language?

Wille: That was also kind of a half-accident, half-coincidence. I had the lyrics written for at least a year. We wrote the last song, which was originally meant to be an instrumental, but then I started thinking that maybe we try some vocals on it. Not much, but some, so it would be a half-instrumental. And then I remembered those lyrics, that I hadn’t used these thus far, let’s try them. I remember, it was just one rehearsal when Manne started growling those vocals, and I got goosebumps all over my body. I knew that this was it, that this was going to be the last song on our new record. It became very important. People in Finland especially are saying so many good things about that song, which is understandable since it’s in our mother tongue. It’s different abroad, where people may think it’s just a “cool” thing to do, but they don’t understand that it’s very deep.

Veli-Matti: Bit of a surprising move from us, but it was an idea that we had played with for a while – that we could have some Finnish lyrics in some songs some day.

Wille: We actually talked about it for several years. And now it’s done! It feels very natural. Now I could very easily imagine a Ghost Brigade album with only Finnish lyrics. It is doable, but I don’t think we’ll ever go that far. But maybe…


I can see the idea is alight in you! You seem to really like the sound of the idea.

Wille: When you sing and write lyrics in your own mother tongue, of course it is different. You can go way deeper with simpler lyrics. You write simple words, but you go much deeper.

Veli-Matti: Then again, the lyrics won’t forgive you if they are in your own language. They won’t be your basic English-written “I love you baby” rock ‘n’ roll lyrics, you really have to think how to make those (simple) lyrics work.



I’d like to end this interview with a bit of a philosophical question, derived from the same song. “Elämä on Tulta” translates into English as “Life is Fire”. If life is fire, how do you make it burn for yourself?

Wille: Do things that you love, that’s it.

Veli-Matti: There’s nothing more to it.

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