Spiritual Holocaust

Saluting the Death!

Northern darkness really do affect some people. Even though Spiritual Holocaust hail from Raahe, Northern Ostrobothnia, a city which lies next to Oulu (when going up Finland, about in the middle way), they still get exposed to hellish, dark times in winter.

Maybe that's why Spiritual Holocaust's death metal is so dark and mystic. The band releasd their debut demo 'Salute the Death' last year, so it's finally time to get some answers from the guitarist Janne Satokangas.

AM: Hails! How are things in Spiritual Holocaust camp?

JS: Everything is running fine. We are back in business after a short break and a line-up change. Jarkko Ahola replaced by Ville Yypänaho. Currently we are working with new material. We are on fire!

AM: I have to congratulate you for putting out a good debut demo 'Salute the Death'. It has reaped some good reviews thus far. How you see it now, after some months?

JS: Feedback has been suprisingly good! We are proud of our debut demo and it is cool to see that some of the metalheads like it too. I think that it is a very good start to us.

AM: So, four guys of your quintet also play in Point-Blank. I can hear the difference between the two sure, but care to explain the decision to form another band?

JS: At first it was supposed to be a side-project to me and Jaakko [Ulanto - guitar] but something went totally "wrong" and now Spiritual Holocaust is our main band so to speak. Also we felt that these songs didn't fit to the concept of Point-Blank.

AM: Are Point-Blank still active, by the way? If yes, what the future holds for that band?

JS: Nope, Point-Blank is executed and buried.

AM: So, Spiritual Holocaust have more doomy and also kind of old school approach to death metal, but definitely not technical showing off. I hear certain similarities in your music to certain bands (e.g. Runemagick), but what are the actual ambitions for the band?

JS: Well, we just try to create "killer" songs to ourselves. Brutal, aggressive and even atmospheric. I am death metal fanatic and I especially like old school stuff. So hell yeah there is some old school vibe for sure.

AM: Have you played any gigs thus far? If yes, how have they been?

JS: No. Not yet.

AM: By reading your song titles, it's death, of course, that is the subject for the lyrics. What kind of philospohy possibly lies behind your texts?

JS: At least nothing political! Yes, it is all about death in a way or another. On 'Salute the Death' demo there is a lot of war theme and apocalyptic stuff. It just fit with these songs and atmosphere. There is nothing "big" behind the texts or nothing about our personal life's.

AM: What's in store for Spiritual Holocaust in near future?

JS: Like I said we are working with new material and we gonna release new demo-cd during this year. Hopefully we hit the stages too as soon as possible.

AM: It's time to wrap up this interview. Is there anything you still want to point out?

JS: Lapaluoto... Don't even ask..

AM: Maybe it's this place... h my, what a huge oil spill?! Even the Haapajaervi reservoir is oil! Or maybe it wasn't about this place anyways... But thank you very much for your precious time and good luck with the new demo and gigs!

Interview by Lane

02/08/2011 17:57