For those unfamiliar with the band, Oranssi Pazuzu is a Finnish Black Metal band that plays Psychedelic Black Metal. After the release of their amazing new album, Oranssi Pazzuzu return to our country, along with their countrymen, Hexvessel, in a concert organized by 3 Shades of Black and Gagarin 205 Live Music Space. Rock Overdose had the pleasure of speaking with the vocalist and guitarists of the band, Juho Vanhannen a.ka. Jun-His, regarding the band and the new album.
Rock Overdose: The first thing that I noticed when I found out about you was the language: Everything was in Finnish. Why did you choose to use your mother tongue in your lyrics?
Jun-His: Its all about atmosphere for us. I feel that as a vocalist, I can access more levels of Ontto’s lyrics when they are written in a language that we both know in a very profound way. And through that I can deliver more feeling and emotion to the music through what interpret with vocals. And hopefully it will cross language barriers and will allow people to access some of the hidden corners in their mind through the intense and thick atmosphere we try to deliver. I just feel that if we did it in any other language, it would lack emotion and intensity.
Rock Overdose: Your last album (like the others)- though it is orchestrated in a complicated way- sounds very energetic and raw in a way that has many similarities to many occult and psychedelic bands of the 70's. Can you describe how did you achieve that? How did you accomplish such a production?
Jun-His: We wanted to do a progressive album that’s more layered that before. Meaning that it should have strong intense riffs but also layers of ambient and noise on top of the riffs. Previously we had mostly been using ambient and noise as passages and separate parts. We also wanted to create a feeling that the band is free flowing in a way but can also turn into something more fierce in a heartbeat, but also with a very smooth transition. We took a lot of time demoing the songs and listening to those demos and trying to see what works and what needs more polishing while trying to keep things free flowing. We didn’t want to rush things or they would seem too forced and not naturally progressing.
Rock Overdose: You are part of a music scene that is very difficult to cope with. Black metal is considered as a highly puristic genre. We see that bands that dare to experiment get immediate hatred. For example, Deafheaven and Liturgy. You have a different sound, but you experiment a lot, too. But people seem to appreciate and love your work. What do you do right?
Jun-His: You tell me. We just do what feels right and natural to us. We have a pretty long history as individuals who want to experiment, otherwise we get bored. I also think many people are thinking about music as an art form that has already established its borders and ”genres” and you kind of have to pick one and stick to that. I think that’s fucking bullshit. Human`s want to find familiar patterns and have a natural desire to stay safe. I think for our evolution its important to rebel against those desires for safety. Otherwise music as art and we as a species become boring married couple sitting on a couch and watching TV.
Rock Overdose: Based on the former question, I need to say that you have developed quite a unique sound. How did you come up with it? Was it a matter of jamming or was it a matter of influences? I mean: did someone of you say the magic words ''Hey! Let's blend black metal with psychedelia!'' and you just tried that? And which are those influences really?
Jun-His: We have a history of playing some pretty theatrical avant gardish stuff previously. On the other hand we had been into extreme areas of metal as well so me and Ontto felt that it’s time to form a band that can be aggressive and dark but also kind of tribal and very atmospheric. We started from that, but the spirit of the band has always been about progressing and developing. A lot of things that has happened with out music are about intuition and chance. For example, we have had a huge influence from Dark Buddha Rising and we wouldn’t sound the way we do on "Värähtelijä" without having the pleasure of getting to know these guys and sharing a rehearsal place with them. Our influences probably are what we find inspiring, no matter what genre. Influences could be also other art forms or just inspiring discussions with interesting individuals. I don’t want to over analyze our personal influences, its much more fun to use music where words end. Its like a higher level discussion at its best when jamming with the other guys in the rehearsal place. Influences pouring from everyone’s subconsciousness, meeting halfway and molding a new forms and shapes.
Rock Overdose: Besides your influences, any other favorite bands? Do you listen to any other music? For example, do you listen to pop music? If so, can you recommend any songs?
Jun-His: I listen to all kinds of music from contemporary classic music to Lady Gaga. I`ve been a lot into Beach House recently. Also Aluk Todolo, Kairon Irse, Sink, Dälek, Gabor Szabo, Jessica93, Massive Attack, Radiohead, Tame Impala, Trans Am, Virus, Aevangelist and Aphex Twin are something that I have been listening lately.
Rock Overdose: Through the last album you gave us the impression that you want to move from the attitude of your other albums (“Valionelu”, “Kosmonument” etc). It is easy to say that you have left behind you that spacelike aesthetics. Now you have turned to a more of an occult-ish atmosphere and aesthetics. Is there any deeper meaning in the albums?
Jun-His: Hmm. I guess we just pick a spot from reality that we want to inspect closer and get inspired about it. For example “Kosmonument” is about getting lost in the void of the cosmos that doesn’t care about us or if life even exists. Even if we wanted to. I think its our most dark and depressing album so far. “Valonielu” is more about coming back on earth and diving into microcosmic levels of life and evolution of life. “Värähtelijä” is roughly about human psyche and is an album that hopefully works as a kind of a psychological mirror that allows you to dive inside your mind, even if u don’t understand the lyrics.
Rock Overdose: Do you think that your albums are part of a general concept? Where do you take inspiration for your music and lyrics from?
Jun-His: I kind of answered this in the previous question. But the concept is usually loose. “Kosmonument” is the only album that has a “story” like concept. It’s about leaving your planet and getting lost in the vast cosmos and losing your whole sense of identity.
Rock Overdose: And now that we are through the ideas and concepts, can you tell us anything about your video clip of “Lahja”? Whose idea was it?
Jun-His: “Lahja” video was very much conducted by the director Janiv Oscar. Me and Ontto discussed with him about some of the general ideas and concepts of the both song and the album and he kind of took it from there. The video is Janiv`s interpretation about our music. I have always wanted to do this kind of art collaboration and we were very pleased of how it turned out. Its interesting to see how visual art will open the music in a new way. I feel that the video is as intense as the music and you get kind of sucked in and have to see what is coming next.
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Rock Overdose: We don't here enough about Finnish bands. Are there any that you like and admire?
Jun-His: Check out Sink. Their new album “Ark of Contempt and Anger” is a masterpiece. Also a young prog/shoegaze band called Kairon Irse is one of the best. They have their second album coming in the beginning of next year that I produced. Even if being somewhat biased, believe me, It’s going to be mind blowing! Also Mr. Peter Hayden and Dark Buddha Rising are fantastic if you haven’t checked them already.
Rock Overdose: And a question to close with, do you know any Greek bands? Not only from the black metal scene, but in general.
Jun-His: Well, Aphrodite`s Child and Tangelos are obviously great. Necromantia sounds good as well from the metal side of things! This reminds me to check it out more. Haven’t heard so much of it yet.
For Rock Overdose,
George Pernaris
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