Hello
Here is a new interview with Finland's black metal band Ancestors Blood. Who talk about the bands newest release "Hyperborea" and the bands past and future plans.Read it all here
Regards
Patrick
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Interview with A.T.H Vocalist and guitarist for Ancestors Blood done by Patrick
1.Hello A.T.H what gave you the idea to start Ancestors Blood ?And how did you choose the name for this band?
-Greetings Patrick.
The idea was formed from desire to create something to express myself in musically and bringing my visions to life as the first demo began to take shape.
I had already thought about the need for a new name for some time since our previous name(Lost Wisdom) was already chosen by other bands and I'd require something unique and
better suitable for our purposes, then by a sudden vision/dream it emerged to me and therefore the name Ancestors Blood was chosen.
2.Ancestors Blood was formed in 2002 how would you say the band's music has changed over the years?Who are some of the bands biggest influences?
-Essentially we have evolved from a simple way of creating music to a bit more technical edge still preserving the old and straightforward touch.
There's just too many bands and artists or even musical sources of inspiration to mention but we are more or less influenced by:
Motörhead, Mercyful Fate/King Diamond, Manowar, Manilla Road, Dio, Black Sabbath, Sarcofagus, Kingston Wall, OZ, Satyricon, Gehenna, Primordial, Summoning, Ulver, Enslaved,
Moonsorrow, Emperor, Paradise Lost, Weather Report, Hurriganes, Nils-Aslak Valkeapää, Sibelius, Wagner, Bach, Rush, Goblin, Candlemass, Saint Vitus, Irwin Goodman,
Toto, Ennio Morricone, Type O Negative, Ramones, Burzum, The Sisters Of Mercy, Graveland, The Black League, Tapio Rautavaara, electronic dance music, 80's cartoon themes,
movie themes and soundtracks, game themes etc.
3.Ancestors Blood recently released their second full-length cd "Hyperborea" through Naturmacht Prod.
How long did it take you to write the music for this release?
-After our second album "A moment of clarity" was released we started with fast momentum to prepare material for "Hyperborea",
I would say that almost all of the songs came together quickly and just before the recording took place we finalized the last song "Rite of passage",
all in all this whole creating process took us about two years.
4.Which usually comes first for you the music or the lyrics? What are the lyrics based on the new cd "Hyperborea"?
I'd consider lyrical aspect first, then comes the music.
Lyrics are from a very personal view: revisiting some old places which I hold value very higly, some aspects of my ancestry through my father's father side of roots from the Karelian Isthmus,
the cycle of life: death and rebirth, channelling my spiritual way which I discovered some years ago, always seeking, always evolving.
5.Has the band ever made a video for any of the Ancestors Blood songs?
If you could make a video for any of your songs which song would you like seen made into a video?
-No, not in the sense of music video but there is however a couple of promo videos on youtube, one was made for song "Legend of horizon" by Luis Hermosilla who has been doing
our artwork since "A moment of clarity" album and our label Naturmacht Productions made video from the song "Autumn (Metsäpirtti part II)".
Too many good choices to make, perhaps from our newest album the song called "The way of the spirits".
6.Besides the new cd "Hyperborea" are any of the past releases or merchandise still available? If yes where can the readers purchase your merchandise?
-Those who are interested to find old or new releases or merchandise may seek out through MERCH section from our website: ancestors-blood.com
7. A.T.H you handle the vocals for the band at what age did you start singing and screaming?
Do you do anything special to keep your throat and vocals healthy?Who are some of your favorite vocalists?
-I was around 19 when we recorded "Wisdom opens the gates for the king" demo and that was my first attempt to "sing" but in the end I wasn't satisfyed with the results.
After "Preparing for war" I took the vocal duties once I discovered a voice I could express myself with.
There is no excercises, nothing I do to keep my voice working unless you count a couple of whiskey shots on some weekends, only in rehearsals doing the necessary vocal work.
There are so many to mention but some of the vocalists I am more or less influenced by or value very highly are: Lemmy, King Diamond, Tony Martin, Johnny Cash, Ape De Martini, Kirka,
Rob Halford, Freddie Mercury, Ronnie James Dio, Irwin Goodman, Tapio Rautavaara, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennet, Geddy Lee, Marco Hietala, Elvis, Ian Gillan,
Messiah Marcolin, Johan Längquist, Eric Adams, Scott Weinrich, Scott Reagers, Per Yngve Ohlin, Grutle Kjellson, Rob Darken, Mark Shelton, Bryan Patrick, Kal Swan, Stan Bush, Andy Aldrian,
Taneli Jarva, Joseph Williams, David Byron, Terry Glaze, Kal Swan, Bon Scott, Sammy Hagar etc.
8.Besides the vocals you also handle the guitars for the band at what age did you start playing the guitar?
Are you self-taught or did you take lessons when first starting out?
-I was around 14 when I first started to play guitar.
Had to take couple of lessons until had enough skills to move onwards.
9.Who are some of your influences and favorite guitarists? Do you currently play any other instruments?
-Once again so many to mention but I'd consider some of my indirect or direct guitar influences past to present: Hank Sherman, Michael Denner, Eddie Clarke, Brian Robertson,
Phil Campbell, Michael Burston, Alex Lifeson, Steve Lukather, Tony Iommi, Billy Gibbons, Brian May, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Chuck Schuldiner, Jon Nödtveidt, Dimebag Darrell,
Randy Rhoads, Jake E.Lee, Doug Aldrich, Zachary Hietala, Mark Shelton, Petri Walli, Kimmo Kuusniemi, Ross the Boss, Albert Järvinen, Prince, Mark Knopfler, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton
Gary Moore, Keith Richards, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Angus Young, Alexi Laiho, B.B. King etc.
I actually consider bass as my main instrument.
Drums I can only play barely and guitar a bit mediocre.
Considering some of the influential bassists I'd like to mention: Lemmy, Jaco Pastorius, Geezer Butler, Timi Hansen, Dusty Hill, Geddy Lee, Bob Daisley, Duff Mckagan, Flea, Prince,
Cisse Häkkinen, Hal Patino, Mike Porcaro, David Hungate, Jukka Jylli, Sami Yaffa, Leland Sklar, Steve DiGiorgio, Billy Sheehan, Michael Anthony, Chris Squire, Cliff Burton, Paul McCartney, Les Claypool,
Joey DeMaio, John Paul Jones, Alex Webster, Shawn Malone etc.
10.Besides Ancestors Blood are you currently working with any other bands or projects If yes please tell the readers a little about them?
-I am involved in bands named Kadotus and Akolyytti.
Kadotus is my main band manifested with 2 demos, 2 EP's, 2 full-length albums.
Akolyytti was founded from the ashes of previous incarnation of ALH's, stronger than ever emphasizing the fast and raw aspect of black metal under his dark flame.
First demo entitled "...and from the Ashes I Rose" released in 2015 and second demo "Torch of Black Flame" soon to be unleashed.
11.Thank you for taking the time to fill this interview out.Do you have any final words for the readers?
-Thank you for this interview opportunity and I wish you all the best in your zine's future.
Let the flames of our ancestors burn forever in our hearts!
Band Contact
https://www.facebook.com/ancestors.blood/
http://ancestors-blood.com/
