Unholy Savior is the band’s third full-length, and second through Nuclear Blast. How different was it recording this time around compared to your first or second venture into the studio?
Noora:
It is always a challenge to start recording a new album. We learned many things again. What we should do and what we shouldn’t. The recordings of this third album was personally for me very challenging but also after recording the “Battle beast”-album, it taught me a lot and I had found my style to sing heavy metal. I believe that using outside professionals in the matter of mixing and mastering is important when the goal is to get the best out of the band’s music.
Was there more support from the label this time around compared to your last full-length release?
Noora:
Nuclear Blast has always been very good to us and wish our collaboration continue many years ahead. No further comments.
Looking back at Unholy Savior, is there anything you hear now and go “Oh man, I should have done this instead”, or perhaps any tracks that didn’t make the cut we might see as a bonus track in the future?
Noora:
Yes, of course. I would be lying if I said no. There are things that I would love to change but like I said we learned a lot again what to do and not to do. And one great thing in doing music is that you are never ready and you can always get better in what you’re doing. So, already eager to do the fourth album! *wink*
What are some of the major influences behind Unholy Savior? Any recent bands or events that may have played a role in the music or lyrical content?
Noora:
Anton has been writing the songs in his words “from his own life” but there are also songs about the movie “Scarface”, a video game, and “Berserk” the manga series. Anton keeps the detailed information about the songs to himself so people have to make their own conclusions of the songs what they mean. Lately Anton has been talking something about his “spiritual journey” and finding the truth.
Did anyone try anything different during the writing stages or in the studio that fans might want to take note on this time around?
Noora:
After sitting down with Unholy Savior, I found “Touch in the Night” the odd track out. Kind of eighties synth rock, but yet reminded me of Shaikra oddly enough.
Why was this song chosen to be the lead single through a lyric video, and not, say, “The Black Swordsman” with that powerful and moody introductory ballad?
Noora:
Well,”Touch in the night” is a song that show one of the softer sides of Anton’a writing and my vocal ability and it is courting for bigger audience. But the music Anton write is just what comes out and not thinking about the commercial angle. But this is my opinion. “Touch in the night” doesn’t mean we are changing our style into more “pop” but we are experimenting what we can do as musicians or Anton is. We would’ve wanted to make single out of “Far far away” but the decision came from higher department. It is fun to “stir the soup sometimes” and make people think WTF? :D I love 80’s music and wanna bring that in our music but with more roughness and balls to the wall attitude in the future
Let’s talk Battle Beast live. I see Battle Beast is set to go on tour in Europe with Delain on Sabaton’s “Heroes on Tour 2015″ trek. Has the band toured with either of these groups before, and are you excited to hit the road with them?
Noora:
This is our first tour with both of the bands but we have done co-operation with Sabaton before. Sabaton took us play in their Sabaton cruise and Sabaton open air festivals and they came to play at Sotkamon syke- festivals where we were playing too. Sabaton guys are awesome and we met the band Delain at Leyendas del Rock- festivals in Spain and they seemed very nice people. Looking forward meeting the both bands on tour and have fun with them and the people who come to see us at the shows.
Is there any hope for a North American trek at some point this year?
Noora:
We’d love that! Hope that’s going to happen soon but nothing confirmed information is not to be announced yet.
The band has also announced two 2015 festivals already: Summer Breeze and the Sweden Rock Festival. Are you excited to play these dates or even the chance to play the same tab as any of the other bands appearing?
Noora:
We are very excited playing at any Festivals and show people what we are made of. When ever we get a chance to perform and meet fans is the best thing that can happen.
Battle Beast is approaching its ten year anniversary. Are there any celebratory plans for the group at this point to honor this milestone, or does the band consider this just another day?
Noora:
No plans made yet on that issue but of course when that day appears it is going to be awesome and we are going to throw a hell of a party, that’s for sure!
Is there anything else you want to mention that I didn’t touch on?
Noora:
This is for all you people out there, the fans that already exist and the new ones: We love you, thank you for your support, please do buy our new album and come to our shows to take part of the great experience of losing control and enjoying the music. Stay metal, stay brutal!
Love, Noora
Thank you for your time, and all the best with Unholy Savior and the future tour dates! Take care!
Noora:
Thank you very much!
