A few words from the editorial office
There are few interviews that I am waiting for as an editor than the one with the guys from Scythe Of Sorrow. I owe it all to my earlier acquaintance with the one who supposedly cannot be heard;) - Kacper "Lucek". It is worth mentioning about this relationship only that there was a sufficient amount of good beer in it. The guys are, despite their rather dark music, incredibly fucking amazing and cheerful people. I hope you will find out for yourself in this interview. Stay True, Stay Tuned, Stay Heavy! Beware the Scythe!
MHB - The Metal Heartbeat
K - Kacper "Lucek"
P - Piotrek "Petteri"
MHB - Hello, Piotrek from The Metal Heartbeat here,
and today we host the guys from the band that we patronize, Scythe Of Sorrow.
K - Hi! At least the Polish side of the band.
P - Finnish.
K - Yeah, Finnish but with Polish origins.
MHB - Finnish with Polish origins, exactly. You may
know Lucek from his previous band, Last Riot, but we also have a second guest.
Let him introduce himself to us.
P - Hello, I'm Piotrek. I play the guitar and scream in this band, and
that's all. What more can I say?
K - Yeah, and you pretend to be Alexi Laiho.
P - Only sometimes!
K - Yes, only sometimes, right.
MHB - Exactly. Scythe, and the scythe is followed
by the Reaper. Tell me, where does this
symbol come from? Why scythe?
P - Why scythe.. who will answer, me or you?
K - Maybe you, because it was your idea.
P - So, everyone knows which band inspires us, right? Their symbol is
the Reaper. So to not copy them, I was thinking and got that idea of the scythe
and ravens, which are also symbols of death. Our lyrics relate to this, and
also our music is dark and melancholic, so I think that it goes pretty well
together. So, as not to be a copy - because we are not a copy, we are a
continuation of their legacy - we have a Scythe.
K - Shit, how pretty you've said that.
MHB - But, I believe, not only Children of Bodom,
but also Bodom After Midnight?
P - Exactly. Bodom After Midnight and other projects that Alexi was
involved in.
K - And not only, because if it's about inspiration, then for example,
MyGRAIN, In Flames, or melodic death metal generally.
P - Also, another cool band from Helsinki, Norther, melodic death metal
too but more technical.
MHB - Ok, so basically you have inspiration all
around you to play every kind of melodic death metal?
P - Exactly, yes.
MHB - If you could share the bands that you are
listening to that have had an influence on you, then who would it be?
P - You first.
K - He will talk about Children Of Bodom and Alexi (laugh). Musically,
I'm very open. From I don't know..Things like Krzysztof Daukszewicz and other
sung poetry and classical music to Behemoth, Vader, Beherit, Truchło Strzygi,
black metal at all, of course, melodic death metal too, especially Children Of
Bodom, which I got to know thanks to Piotrek, because earlier I knew like 2
songs and he not only introduced me to their music but also invited me to his
own band, so..
P - Yes, and if it's about me then, as you can guess, it's mainly
Children Of Bodom and Bodom After Midnight. But also, you may be surprised, but
I was raised on metal from the 80's, mainly hair metal, so bands like Europe,
Skid Row, Motley Crue, things like that, and those are my roots.
K - W.A.S.P.
P - W.A.S.P. yeah, exactly!
MHB - I'm a wild child
P - Exactly, yes (laugh)
MHB - Listen, since you are not shy anymore, like
you've said, you continue the legacy of Children Of Bodom, you play the music
that is noticeable with its style for the fans of heavy music. Tell me, in your
opinion, where is the boundary between cheeky copying someone's style and being
inspired and following someone's path while simultaneously creating your own
style?
K - Maybe you will answer, mister cheeky copy of Alexi Laiho.
P - (laugh) I'm not a cheeky copy! Okay, look at me. It's obvious who is
my inspiration and like who I'm trying to be. But in reality, from my side it's
not copying but a tribute for him. Through the music we play and how we play,
also with my look we try to pay a tribute to him and thank him for what he did
for music and also for me, because if not him and his music I would not be here
and most probably I would not be alive anymore. So yeah, it's a tribute from my
side.I know that many people accuse me and this band of being a copy of
Children Of Bodom and Alexi, but it's mostly the haters that say it, because in
reality, from what we see, our first single was welcomed very well, especially
by fans of CoB, and they say that we continue their legacy and that "Bodom
is back" because of us.
K - And even people who knew Alexi in person say that.
P - Yes, exactly. I know people who lived with Alexi on a daily basis,
and they have nothing against how I look or how this band sound, and they even
support and encourage us to keep doing what we're doing. So.. We don't care
about haters, and we are sending our warm greetings to them.
K - And to our fans too!
P - Yeah, and to our fans even warmer (laugh)
MHB - Despite that Finland is really cold.
P - Ah yes, it got colder recently.
K - I would say that it's nice, one is dressed in a jacket and the other
one is only in a t-shirt.
P - Yeah, dress yourself like people on the streets (laugh).
MHB - Since we are on this topic, tell me. What is
the difference between Polish and Finnish society regarding metal music? How
metal music is received, because for us in Poland, it's a foreign climate.
P - You are new here so you first say what do you think.
K - First of all, metal music is everywhere. You even open the stupid
guide to Finland and you have a culture tab and you don't have folk music
there. No, of course it's there too, but in the beginning you have big bands
from Finland. So, Children Of Bodom, Korpiklaani, etc.
P - Nightwish..
K - Nightwish too. Here, this type of music is better received. Also, on
the streets, you see a lot of metalheads. It's a small country too, so..
P - Yeah, 5.5 million
K - Yes, large in size, but small in terms of population. And even
walking in Helsinki, you can pass those metal musicians on the streets. I'm
even bored of it.
P - Yeah, you pass them normally on the streets, so.. Metal is the main
genre here, as it is in Poland, where Disco Polo is the main genre.
K - You go to the shop and you hear I don't know.. W.A.S.P. or Europe
P - Mhm, even heavier things. You go shopping normally and hear Cannibal
Corpse in the shop or something like that on the radio, and it's totally okay
and normal here.
K - You can hear Korpiklaani or Amon Amarth in the elevator. People live
by it way more.
P - And there is no discrimination. For example, it's normal that you
listen to this type of music and no one will call you a satanist or a child of
the shade or other insolults like I used to hear in Poland. Here it's normal.
Here you are free to be yourself.
MHB - You are free to be yourself, feel the atmosphere
of this musical freedom. But let's go back to our Polish backyard for a moment.
Lucek, how do you recall leaving the Last Riot?
K - Well.. good. (laugh) Looking at it logically, it would be difficult
to play in Warsaw with Last Riot and in Berlin or Paris with Scythe of Sorrow,
right? So, this was the main reason. Secondly, it's different to fly to play
rehearsals in Finland and it's different to come back to Poland to play
rehearsals there. Because it happened to me. So I've decided that I have to choose
something, and I've chosen something that I like better, and it's melodic death
metal music. So, the last show with Last Riot was quite good, afterparty to the
moment I remember and as far as I remember was good too (laugh) so.. I will say
it like this, leaving the band itself.. they knew about it half a year earlier,
so they had time to find a bassist. Some people were complaining that there was
a new bassist, but you know how it is with changes in the band lineup when
someone plays there for some years and suddenly they change this person for
someone else. Because I've played there for almost 2.5 years and now there is a
new bassist, of course there was some complaining, but I think slowly people
will get used to the new bassist and that's all.
MHB - It is not as painful change as a change of
vocalist, which many bands can't survive.
K - Yes, that's true. Let's face the truth, usually vocals keep the band
together, and when it changes, the band has to change their whole sound.
Because it's hard to find someone who will be a clone, not everyone will find a
clone like Judas Priest.
P - Wait, what about me?
(laugh)
K - Okay, but it's another band! But for example, you have Judas Priest,
and Owens, in the beginning, sounded exactly like Rob Halford basically. But
Iron Maiden had a problem when Blaze was the vocalist. So they basically went
from being a stadium band to an arena band to a club band. And it changed after
Bruce came back. But what can we do? They will disband or play further. I don't
play there anymore. We wish them the best.
P - Yeah, of course we wish them all the best.
MHB - Exactly. We've started from the back. Let's
go back to the beginning like we were supposed to start. How did you guys met?
P - Oh, how did we met..
K - It was more than 2 years ago
P - Who would remember that (laugh)
K - Me as through the fog, but I remember the beginning
P - For sure vodka was involved, I'm sure
K - And not a small amount!
P - Yeah, not a small amount. No, for real.
K - Maybe I'll start because back then Piotrek with his band wrote to
Last Riot
P - I wrote, not my band.
K - Yes, you wrote with your band Averness to play as a support.
P - Oooh... band starting with A..
K - (laugh) And from message to message, we've met on his rehearsal.
Then they were recording an album, and then the pandemic hit, so we didn't get
to go on tour. Unfortunately, or fortunately.
P - Yeah, we've played something like one rehearsal at midnight, if I
remember correctly. Drunk, and we've played CoB covers (laugh
K - Yes, those two songs that I knew. Then we went to the playground
where we were drinking.
P - And somehow, we liked each other. Then we were talking from time to
time. After my moving to Finland to create a band here, I was looking for
musicians to join me. And from word to word, from time to time, I've asked him
if he would like to play as a session bassist for the beginning and record his
parts.
K - Yeah, because in the beginning it was about recording bass tracks
for an album.
P - Yes, because in the beginning I didn't think about playing the shows
or something like that. I just wanted to record and release an album. And
that's why I kept on asking him if he would record bass tracks for me. And
finally, he flew here to play a rehearsal.
K - Yeah, I came here to play a rehearsal, and somehow I liked it here
so much that at the beginning of September 2022, I moved here permanently.
P - Exactly.
MHB - Notabene I remember the first snap that I
received from you, Lucek, from your trip to Finland: "How fucking cool
miniature vodkas they have here!"
(laugh)
K - yeah, for one sip!
P - Beers are miniature too!
K - They have bigger ones too but mainly those small ones
P - Yes, for people my height they have those
MHB - Guys, back to meritum. "Rise and
Shine" for melodic death metal is very catchy, very listenable, I would
risk saying pro publico bono. Tell me, will the rest of the album be like that
or will you go heavier?
K - Basically, we were thinking of turning into disco polo
P - I've heard that some people accuse us of being unprofessional with
this song, and that some people don't like it because it sounds like something
from the 90's. I think that we should delete this single from the internet. For
real, those people accuse us of things that we intentionally wanted to have in
this sound.
K - Okay, let's stop with this hate at this moment
P - No, it just makes me laugh, what was the question?
(laugh)
MHB - We lost the sense
P - No, okay, what I mean is that the rest of the material is, of
course, in that style, but will it be as catchy as this? It's not us to judge.
K - For us, yes, but we will see what the listeners will say.
P - Another way. Climate is identical, and we can compare it to melodic
death metal from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. So, everyone that was
listening to our demos or rehearsals was maybe not delighted but very satisfied
with the way we play. We will see. I hope that people will like it, but will it
be as catchy? It's not me to judge.
K - For us it is, but we have played it for so long, that it will be for
us anyhow, so..
P - What's interesting is that, for example, the song that I like the
most is maybe not completely disliked by listeners, but they don't see it as
the most catchy one.
MHB - And can you share what song you are talking
about?
P - The song is called "Scythe Of Sorrow", so.. (laugh) it
will be our next single. Ah fuck, I shouldn't say that!
K - Now wait for the lawsuit from the manager.
P - It will be hard (laugh)
K - But for real, the rest of the songs will be in the same style. We
hope that people will like it. We like it. First of all, we play for our
pleasure, then for the rest. We will play the shows no matter if there are 500
people or 50.
P - Or 2
K - Or 2, mother and grandmother
P - Nevermind, but I will add one more thing. I'm not a fan of what I
create and what we play at all. I just play it, but.. I have the pleasure of
playing it, but I don't know... maybe I'm not a fan of our band? I don't know
if you can be a fan of your own band? It's a hard topic.
K - The truth is, when you play that material for so long, you get used
to it. And get bored of it.
P - And we know these songs in every version, as a matter of fact.
Because there were changes and we know these songs in every version.
K - Yes, in "Rise and Shine" there were huge changes.
P - In "Scythe Of Sorrow" too. So for real, we know these
songs in every version, and later when it's recorded, it's hard to tell if it
was the best version because we know every one of them, and I bet everyone
likes different one.
K - Exactly. So we also listen to our producer, and we try to send like
two versions to our trusted people so they will say what they think.
P - By the way, I want to send greetings to Vintage Records Studio and
mister Szymon Swoboda because he does an amazing job. We really recommend him.
MHB - Listen, maybe after the EP, you'll release an
EP box set with Piotrek riff tapes, similar to Metallica.
(laugh)
K - After the EP, we plan to go on tour and then record a full album.
P - I would also like to create an acoustic set with those songs.
K - Yeah so you could play by the campfire, at the weddings etc.
P - Exactly, unplugged. You know what I mean.
(laugh)
P - No, but for real I'd like to have some bonus tracks.
K - Yeah but not on the EP.
P - No no, on a LP.
MHB - Tell me, you are talking about an EP. Do you
want to release it this year or not yet?
P - Definitely! All the songs are recorded, they are only waiting for
the mix and master.
K - For sure we will release it before our tour. I will not say when
specifically because we don't have dates yet. But, before our tour, it will be
released.
P - Yeah, that's the plan to have it out at least for half of the month
before our tour so people can get to know it because it will be available to
buy physically at our shows and in our webshop, which will most probably soon
be opened. It's difficult to say because we don't run it; our management does,
but...
K - But all of that you will be able to listen, buy. We will go on tour
to show what we play, so people can take it home, right? Buy a cd, shirt,
patch, what else they want.
MHB - I wanted to ask because most of the bands
nowadays are based on internet distribution, but it seems that you have more of
an old-school attitude towards that.
P - Because we are old and we were born and raised in different times
(laugh)
K - Speak for yourself (laugh)
P - No, I mean, of course, nowadays, YouTube or Spotify, iTunes, and
other services, you have to release your music there because we see even on our
single that it pays off.
K - Yes, we have a lot more listeners on Spotify than on YouTube.
P - But for example, I like to collect CDs, especially EPs or singles,
which are available only for a limited period of time, and after releasing a
full album, it's hard to buy them. And it's kind of a gadget for fans. There
are people in this world that still want it. Of course, it's not like in old
times and we will not have a golden disc from selling CDs and vinyl, but for
sure it's something cool to buy at shows and in our shop, so..
K - The truth is that most people nowadays listen to music from services
like Spotify, Tidal, and others. Me too. But when I like something, I like to
have it in physical form too.
P - For example, I have the full discography of CoB and that one EP of
Bodom After Midnight and I have them on a wall... not on a wall. What is it
called in Polish?
K - Shelf
P - Ah yes, on a shelf. Sorry, I started to forget Polish words. So yes,
I have it on a shelf and, in reality, those CDs were never played , they just
stand there. Sometimes I like to open the case, look through it, read what the
band had to say and the lyrics, stuff like that.
K - I'm different, I listen to music from CDs. I just like to have CD's.
In general, I do not listen to them, but I enjoy having them.
MHB - Sure, I would also add the practical side of
it, so that if, for example, streaming services go down, you have it on a CD
and, while they are fixing them, you can still listen to it.
P - Yeah, that's true, right.
K - I didn't think about it.
P - Now I got the idea of releasing it on a cassette too, but for now,
nevermind.
MHB - I'm not sure if walkmans will be back in
popularity so much
P - I think they will..
K - For now, vinyls are popular again, cassettes slowly too. Basically,
black metal bands never stopped releasing them, and now even big black metal
bands are returning to releasing them. I don't know if people are returning to
buying it, but bands are returning to releasing cassettes, so maybe people are
also buying it. I also have some nice cassettes myself.
MHB - From curiosity - do you guys plan on
releasing your album on vinyl or not?
P - Of course! Vinyls are cool, look cool, and I think we should release
our album on them. But I think it's not for an EP, I think that our full album
should be released on it.
K - Yeah, I would not buy 5 EP on vinyl.
P - Yeah, we have to think about it, but for sure, our full album will
be released on vinyl too. I don't know about the amount of copies. It may be
very limited, but for sure it will be released.
MHB - Now a technical question for Piotrek. How do
you balance the roles of vocalist and guitarist because it is a difficult task?
P - Yes, it is quite a difficult task, but it's a matter of practice.
You know, in a studio you do this separately. But on a stage you have to do it
together at once, so you can't write too hard parts on a guitar where you will
also scream. That's why we have a second guitar in our band, to take hard parts
off me a little while I will scream. Of course, it's not like I will only play
rhythms, but you have to balance it right and it's all about practice. We also
practice it hard in rehearsals, so..
K - I also scream where Piotrek can't, so
P - Right, he screams too, exactly.
MHB - So, so-called backing vocals exist in your
band?
P/K - Yes, of course!
MHB - What about sharing the solos? Are there any
quarrels about who will play which one?
K - I don't play solos, I play the bass.
P - (laugh) but if you want you can have a solo on a bass!
K - No one hears bass, so for what do I need a bass solo?
P - So people will finally hear you!
K - Yeah, on a bass (laugh)
P - No, for real, solos are written for two guitars and a keyboard from
the beginning. It's just a matter of positioning it inside the song, but it's
always like that, that lead guitar plays solo, rhythm guitar plays solo, and
keyboards too. There is no tragedy.
MHB - Sure. Now I've imagined a show where Piotrek
waves to the sound engineer, and the sound engineer mutes him, and suddenly
Kacper hears only himself (laugh)
K - I don't hear myself sometimes, even in clubs, with a sound monitor
in front of me, so..
P - Because you should clean your ears, not hit them on a sink.
(laugh)
MHB - Tell me more about your tour. It will contain
Poland, the Czech Republic, and what more?
K - Finland, of course, Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany.
MHB - Do you have any further plans? Bigger
expansion in Europe?
K - Yes, for next year, but we can't say anything more at the moment.
All we can say is that we have the rest of Europe in our plans. Maybe not where
and when, but the rest of Europe is in our minds.
P - Yeah, because what we do now is more like a mini-tour, we can say.
Because there is no point in traveling the world with only an EP. But once we
will release the full album, we will visit a lot more places for sure.
K - We also plan to do some open-air festivals, so..
P - But it's a melody of the future, next year, next summer.
K - Exactly, yes.
MHB - Now let's talk about those you cannot see,
but whose activity is very important to you - your management. What are their
duties?
K - Generally, we think that as musicians in this band, we should be
responsible for playing. Not for managing the band, contacting the studios,
hotels, cars, etc. We should play - we should sit in a studio, stand on a
stage, practice in rehearsals etc. For all the rest, we have management. So
contacting and booking the studios, shows, things about merch, webshop, etc.,
it's all on them.
P - Yeah, all the contracts, all those things, it's all in their duties.
In reality, we only take our instruments and play. And it's all our job. We
don't have to worry about how we will get somewhere, where we will sleep, or
where we are going. It's all on them. We only play, and that's all we have to
do.
K - Yes, we only need to know the dates and that's all.
P - Of course, if we want to know, then they will tell us (laugh), but
what I mean is that it's not on our minds. We can fully concentrate on creating
music and practicing.
K - That's true, and that, from the perspective of a person that was a
manager of a band that was playing in, not thinking about it all helps a lot.
You can play with a more open mind, and you can relax before the show and not
think about stuff like, for example, changing the guy at the entrance, driving
400 km tomorrow to the next show, etc.
P - Yes, our manager has assigned someone to be our driver, someone to
stand at the entrance, and someone to sell merchandise.
K - So shortly, we play and that's all, and our management does
everything except play.
P - And, for example, if someone writes to us on Facebook or via email,
then you write not to us directly but to our management, and they are letting
us know about it. And in other ways, the same. If we want to write to someone,
we tell our management and they do their magic. They are also handling our
interests from the legal side.
MHB - Tell me, in what cities in Poland will you
play?
P - We don't know! (laugh)
K - I mean, we know but it's not announced yet, so I think we can't talk
about it too much.
P - All the bigger cities, I think
K - There are like 4 shows in Poland, so
P - Where you want to hear us, you will.
K - Yeah, 4 shows, but where, we'd rather not say before it's officially
announced. But we invite you to follow our social media.
P - Everyone who is on the ball should know. Where every band plays.
MHB - It is my duty to invite you to a place where
every band doesn't play - to West Pomerania, to Szczecin.
P - Write to our management. We can handle that.
MHB - I think it would be great to see you, and
finally have a new show on the ground, where there isn't much going on.
K - We cannot promise, but we can say something to our management.
MHB - Let's stick to it.
K - Exactly.
MHB - Let's go back to the beginning. Piotrek, how
did you discover Alexi and CoB? How did it start?
P - Ooh, it will be a long story. Do we have so much time?
MHB - I think we do!
P - Okay, so it all started in 2009, so not so long ago. I was listening
to completely different kind of music back then, I was a die-hard fan of
Europe. Maybe you know this band, and Final Countdown, it's their song. And I
met a guy who was listening to CoB, and we became friends back then. So
greetings to George, even though most likely he will not see it. But yeah, he
showed me CoB. It was Tie My Rope if I recall it right, and at the beginning, I
didn't like it at all. I hadn't thought about it for about a month, but then
suddenly the name BODOM came to my thoughts, and I've decided to give it
another try and look it up on YouTube. And I remember, the first video that I
found was a video for Downfall, and it was at 1 am, all the lights were turned
off. And if you play that video, then in the middle, blood will start to flow
on the screen, etc. Alexi is playing with a knife and stuff. I got crazy and
totally obsessed with Alexi and CoB. Instantly, the next day, I told my father
that I wanted to be like Alexi, and we were looking for a similar guitar. So
yeah, that was the beginning.
MHB - Do you remember your first guitar, or did you
misplace it over time?
P - I started to play the guitar when I was like 10–12 years old, but it
was a classical guitar, and for the first two years I didn't even care about
playing. But after that time, I decided that I wanted to play the guitar. I've
had lessons for like a month, where I've learned 4 basic chords, and I've
decided that it's all I need to know to become a rockstar. Instantly, for like
20 euros, I bought an electric guitar. It was a Polish Defil from 1975. You
couldn't play on it at all, it was shitty, but it was my first electric. Later,
I had other guitars, but I can say that since I was around 14, I had a guitar
in my hands every day.
MHB - Did you have a teacher or did you learn all
by yourself?
P - Like I've said, for about a month I had lessons. I've learned four
basic chords and that's it. Everything else I learned by myself.
MHB - I understand, so in that case - all the girls
are yours.
P - Well, I'm married already, so I'm sorry (laugh). My wife is the best
in the world.
K - What can you say, she will listen to it.
P - Don't beat me too hard.
MHB - Hit me baby one more time!
P - My wife beats hard but runs slowly. Oh shit, actually she runs fast,
so I'm fucked.
K - She loves as hard as she beats.
P - Exactly, true!
MHB - In the end, tell us. Are black metal
influences noticeable in your music since you are close to Scandinavia? Do you
have any influences from black metal or not?
K - As you can hear, we have blast beats, we have tremolo picking. Maybe
not like in black metal where the whole song is tremolo picking, but we have
it. More in the next song, "Scythe Of Sorrow" but generally we use
them sometimes.
P - It happens, yeah, it happens because melodic death metal in reality
is a mix of all metal subgenres and I think everyone will find something for
themselves.
K - Exactly.
P - Of course, we're not going to paint our faces in corpse paint,
but...
MHB - So hopes of fans of this type of makeup are
buried unfortunately.
P - Unfortunately, yes, but we can burn churches. Hit us!
K - But we don't have wooden churches.
P - We will go to Poland! Along the tour hit us, we can burn something.
MHB - Tell us how experience gained in previous
bands affects what you do in this one.
K - All the mistakes that we could make, we made in our previous bands.
And we will not make them here.
P - Yes, exactly, through experiences with previous bands, we know what
to avoid, and we know how the band should run in general.
K - That's why we have management, that's why we don't have any shows
before releasing an EP
P - That's why we have our single on Spotify, not only on YouTube. It is
how it is.
K - So, shortly, we will not make these mistakes again in this band.
P - We are not that stupid! Or are we?
MHB - Okay. Thank you very much for your time. And
I invite you all to check out Scythe Of Sorrow. We would also appreciate it if
you could like and subscribe to The Metal Heartbeat. And now our guests can say
something on their side.
K - Perkele! (laugh)
P - We're sending greetings to everyone who likes what we do, who
started to follow us after releasing our single as well as before. Even warmer,
we greet our detractors: studio with the letter A; band with the letter S; band
with the letter L (hello guys!) and we'll see you soon! Voi Vittu Perkele
Saatana!.
MHB - Thank you guys very much! Stay true, stay
tuned, stay heavy! Thanks!
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