Sunday, August 20, 2017

Purtenance  interview done by Patrick Posted on 8-20-17

Interview  with  Purtenance  done  by   Patrick

1.Hello  how  are  things  going  with you  these days? Please introduce  yourself  to  the  readers?

- Hi, we are doing pretty fine these days. I am Ville Koskela, vocalist of Purtenance. Other members of Purtenance are Harri Salo - drums, Juha Rannikko - guitar, Tero Aalto - bass and Simo Rouvinen - guitar. Harri and Juha are original members of Purtenance, they started the band back in the late 80’s. I Joined Purtenance in 2011 and Tero and Simo came along in 2015.


2.When  did you  first  discover  metal  music  and  who  were  some  of the first  bands you  listened to?

- Harri and Juha discovered metal in the early 80’s, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Slayer, Metallica etc. The usual ones that, guys of that time listened. My first experience with metal was in 88’ when I stole my brothers cassette of Twisted Sisters! But my mind was blown when Purtenance released ”Member of Immortal Damnation” in 1991. Harri is my cousin and I was so amazed of the sound that I heard, that still, this day, I get shivers when I listen that album and sing songs from it!


3.Back in  the early  90's  tape trading  was  a big  part of the  underground  scene  did you  ever  do  much  tape trading?

- Juha used to do that. He has remembered that time occasionally and tells that he used, at some point, record a cassette or two daily. He sent letters and cassettes around the world a lot. Fun times he has said, but very time consuming. 


4.Purtenance  was  formed  back  in  1991   what  gave  you  the  idea  to  form this  band?And  who  would  you  say  are the bands  biggest  influences?

- Actually Purtenance was formed in 1989 by the name Purtenance Avulsion. Death metal was just the most extreme music to play and it was just the thing the guys were searching for. What I’ve been told, Napalm Death, Obituary, Cannibal Corpse and the like have been big influences for Purtenance. Even though, you can’t really found those bands from us, do you? At least very obviously.


5.Why  did you  all  stop  the  band  back in the mid 90's? And  what  gave you  the idea to  reform  Purtenance  in 2012?

- The very common answer why Purtenance went to hibernation - guys grew up. Work, families and lack of spare time were the biggest reasons. When in 2011, ”Member of Immortal Damnation” had it’s 20 year anniversary, Dave Rotten was contacting Harri and Juha, with whom I had been playing for a year together (I’ve played with Harri from 2006, in different project) at that point, and gave them proposal. He said that if Purtenance would return, he would sign a deal with us to release new stuff. So Harri and Juha asked me to join them in new lineup of Purtenance (they did ask other old members, but they had no interest, nor intention to join the band again) to play bass and do vocals. What can one say to that!!?? Of course! They were the first death metal band I’ve heard ever (I was 11 when they released their first album).


6.Paradox  Of Existence  is  the  bands  newest  release  how  long  did it  take  to  write the  music for this  release?

- Music was written during the first half of 2016. We started to record the song in autumn of 2016 and it took like couple of months. We had no deadlines and we took our time with it. We did the recording and mixing by ourselves and only mastering was done by someone else. It was mastered by Jaakko Virtalähde at Virtalähde Mastering. We have worked with him with ”Awaken from Slumber” and ”…to Spread the Flame of Ancients”. He just does the final touch to our sound on records. We are amazes every time by his work, he ”cleans” the filth of our mixes! Hah!


7.Who  usually  takes  care  of  writing the lyrics  and  what  are  some topics you  all  wrote  about on the  new  release?

- I usually handle the duties of writing lyrics. At this release, Simo wrote lyrics for two of the songs, ”Vicious Seeds of Mortality” and ”Paradox of Existence”. My topics, as usual, wander around death, death and death. I’m simple and death provides endless stories to be told. As for topics concerning Simo’s lyrics, as far as I know, tells stories of deep dark aspects of life and everything. He’s writing style differs from mine and it gives us more diversity. He’s roots are more in black metal and mine are in punk and hardcore.


8.Besides   the  Paradox  Of Existence  release  are  any of the  bands previous  releases  still  available to  buy? Besides  the releases  does the band  have  any  other merchandise available for the readers  if yes what  is  available  and  where  can the  readers  buy  it?

- Good question. We have no knowledge other that in Xtreem Music’s webstore is the only official place to buy our stuff, www.xtreemmusic.com . Of course many other place maybe sells our stuff, but that’s the only one we know for sure. Selling is not our stuff, obviously as you can see…


9.What  have  been  some  of  Purtenance's  most  memorable  shows  over  the  years?

- Well, both of our shows outside of Finland, Ritual Zombi Fest 2013 in Madrid and Obscene Extreme 2017 in Czech Republic, will surely be the most memorable, in my opinion. Our show at Finnish Death Metal Maniacs Festival will have very special in my mind also. It might not been our best performance, but the fact that Timo Häyrinen sang same time with Harri and Juha, for the first time in 20 years and last time ever, was pretty amazing for a fan that has listened Purtenance since he was 11…


10.Are  their  any  tours or  shows  planned  in support  of  the  new  release? If  yes  where  will the  band  be  playing?

- We only have one show booked at this moment. 15th of September we will play at Tampere, Finland, with Lucifericon and Lantern. No other shows are currently coming. Just last week we hooked up with Etrurian Legion Promotion and with them we have something in planning but nothing to tell at this point.


11.Purtenance  comes  out  of  the  Finnish  death metal  scene  what  is your  opinon  of  Finland's metal  scene  over  the  years?

- Finland’s metal scene has been, is and hopefully continues to be, very original. I mean, bands sound as themselves, most of the time. In the past death metal bands, even from the same town, used to sound something completely different than for example Swedish bands. Nowadays standards may have flatten the difference, but as long as there are the ”fuck that” attitude around, bands continue to have their distinctive sound and way of doing things.


12.Who  are  some of your  all-time  favorite  bands  coming  out  of  Finland's  metal  scene? And  are  there  any  new  bands you  feel  the  readers  should  check  out  soon?

- Call me lame or anything you like but I really like old Amorphis and Sentenced. Before they were anything big, that is. From newer bands I definitely have to mention Galvanizer and Kruor (well they might not be that new but anyway). Galvanizer kick so much ass that it’s always to pleasure to see them play (I’ve seen them like seven times!).


13.In your  opinion  what  is the  best  and  worst  thing  about  the  underground  scene  today? And  what  does  underground  metal  mean  to you?

- Worst thing is the narrow mindedness of people. They refuse to see anything but themselves. Best thing is that underground is alive. It has always been and it always will be. It does not follow trends and it does not care anything else. So the worst and best things are almost the same! Hah! Underground metal means to me total freedom to do what I want, almost like punk and hardcore scene let’s you. There are still too much ”rules” to follow to have that freedom that it’s absurd. To do what you want and enjoy don’t need to have rules, just respect and honesty for others and to yourself.



14.When  not  working  on  new  music  or  band  business what  do  you  enjoy  doing  in your  free  time?

- Spend time with my family, watch movies, walk outside in forests and sleep! Even that Purtenance isn’t that big band, it takes a lot of my spare time. Maybe it’s the sacrifice you have to make, to have a band that you care about.



15.Thank  you  for  taking the  time  to  fill  this  interview  out  do  you  have  any  final  words for the  readers?

- Stay True! Stay as yourself! Death will take us all someday, don’t let it surprise you, live while you can!"


                                                   Band    Contacts  
                                            https://www.facebook.com/Purtenance
                                             https://www.instagram.com/purtenanceofficial/
                                                  Label   Contacts
                                              http://shop.xtreemmusic.com/english.main.index.php
                                                    https://xtreemmusic.bandcamp.com/