Hanna Tsepesh: Moro(Hello in Finnish) Jussi Tikka. Thank you so much for accepting my invitation for an interview in THE GATES OF METAL, we stay very happy for your nice answer. First of all we like to know about the band history and the members too, for all the readers to know your band a little more.
Jussi: Moro moro! Well, we’re a melodic heavy-metal band from Finland and we’ve been together since 1998. The band’s singer is Pasi Kärkkäinen, guitarist are Joni Laine and Jari-Pekka Perälä, the bassist is Jussi Tikka (me), keyboardist Patrik Laine (Joni Laine’s brother) and final last but no less, the drummer Atte Palokangas. We make all our music together, but Pasi writes all the lyrics.
Hanna Tsepesh: why the name (Agonizer) ?from where came from that idea for the band name?
Jussi: The name figured out from our friend’s head somewhere between 1997-1998 i guess. Why the name Agonizer? Actually I don’t know. Maybe it sounds cool (laughs).
Hanna Tsepesh: Can you talk a little more about musical influences in your band?
Jussi: Every guy in our band listens very different-like music, for example my musical influences comes somewhere between classical and death-metal.
Hanna Tsepesh: it is true that Agonizer in 2005 played in Wacken Open Air? Can you tell to us about that and how it goes in there?
Jussi: that’s true. That trip was really awesome and we presented Finland in Wacken’s band contest. We have been drinked a little bit when we played, but still I think the gig went good. We were “one of the six bests” so, that tells you something.
Hanna Tsepesh: (laughs) that’s cool! About your album “Brith / The End”, first of all congratulations for your work, for me the album is fantastic, the sound have so much power in my opinion and the voices are great together, i don’t have anything bad to tell about the album. Can you talk about “Brith / The End” album?
Jussi: Thank you. We made it in Astia-Studio, Lappeenranta in four weeks with the guy Anssi Kippo. I was little bit stressed but in the end all went good and we are really proud of our work. Covers made the guy Timo Oravakangas, excellent work!
Hanna Tsepesh: when you enter in studio to make the album,do you have any idea how it’s going to be? the band have some lyrics and some riffs, or the stuff came out when you start to recording the album ?
Jussi: We had almost all the stuff ready and demoted. One exception, the song “Sleepless” was only half-ready. Of course we produced our songs really long and with emotional feelings.
Hanna Tsepesh: I stay a little curious in “everyone of us”lyric…can you explain me what is the meaning of that lyric? What they tell about? For me it was the most strong music in the album, i don’t know if i am right but it was, my feeling when i listen your album for the first time.
Jussi: Well it tells about the old man. And dying... You should think what the lyrics means. The answer is in your head.
Hanna Tsepesh: ok, thanks a lot for you answer! What is your and others members perspective for the future with the band? Can you tell to us dates and country’s in were you are going to Play? And i like to know if there is any concert for Portugal in a near future or something?
Jussi: I really hope that we’re playing in Portugal some day. Just now there’s only few gigs in Finland but you never know! Now we are making new songs in our second album and we’ll see what happens.
Hanna Tsepesh: thanks a lot Jussi Tikka for give us this interview. In the name of THE GATES OF METAL we wish to you and the band lots of success and we hope to see you in Portugal some day!
Jussi : Thank you very much for this interview and greetings from all band’s members to all the Portuguese!
By: Hanna Tsepesh
