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Hello Rami
thank you for taking the time to do this interview how are things in finland?
please introduce yourself to the readers.
Hi I
am Rami Jämsä and I play guitar and growl in Convulse.
At what
age did you first discover metal? Who were some of the first bands you
listened to? Who are some of your current favorite bands?
I
started to listen to heavy metal in 1985. My friend has borrowed a "Powerslave"
tape from his big brother. I still remember how hard the Iron Maiden hit to
me.
Gradually I started to discover other NWOBHM bands, then speed/thrash metal
and finally around 1989 death metal bands. I listen to music very open
minded. Death metal favorites are Master, Abhorrence, Pestilence, Entombed,
Demigod, Autopsy, Obituary, Death and so on...
When did
you first meet the other members of Convulse? The band originally started in
1989 correct? How would you say the bands music has changed over the years?
How did the members come up with the name for the band?
We are
just bunch of friends who all loved to listen to metal music. Then we
started to play different instruments and formed the band. I remember having
my first band in 1986 and the name was Steel. We formed band called S.D.S
1988 and it was ancestor of Convulse, because we had same members both in
S.D.S and Convulse. S.D.S was speed/thrash metal band and we recorded couple
of demos under the name S.D.S. Everything changed when the death metal
landed to Finland in the end of 1989. Then it was time to move on and form
Convulse. We
wanted brutal sounding name of the band. So we picked the dictionary and
picked the Convulse. The usual story :)
I
believe the band reformed in 2012 to play a few select shows why did you all
decide to reform after so many years? How do you feel the shows went?
I was
playing with other band in heavy metal festivals in my hometown Nokia 2011.
The promoter asked, if we could come back 2012 with the Convulse. First I
said no, but then original Convulse bass player Juha took contact telling he
is very motivated to play that show and maybe more. I thought ok, why not?
It was impossible to take more original member of Convulse, because drummer
lives in Thailand and hasn´t played drums for 20 years and other guitarist
was not interested on live shows and regular rehearsing. Shows were simply
great. Band and the fans have been satisfied with them and more is coming
right away.
How long
after the shows did you guys decide to reform and release a new e.p? What is
the current line-up of the band? How did you all come in contact with Svart Records?
I took
contact to Svart Records on July with rehearsal recordings. I am a big vinyl
fan and I had followed Svart releases for couple of years. Svart was very
interested in Convulse and offered a reasonable deal with good studio
budget. So the plan was/is record at first EP and then full album. The
current line up is:
Rami
Jämsä: GT and growls
Juha
Telenius: Bass
Rolle
Markos: Drums
Kristian Kangasniemi: GT
Are you
all satisfied with
how the e.p has turned out? How has the response been
from the press and the fans?
Inner
Evil Ep is simply great. We recorded it in full analog studio like back in
the beginning of 1990. We are very satisfied with the whole process and the
result of the sound. Inner Evil has got very good reviews and the first
press of vinyls are nearly sold out.
I
have read the band is currently working on a new full-length to be released
sometime this year? How is the process going for this so far? How many songs
will you have on the new release?
You
are right. We are composing new material and we will enter to the same
studio where we recorded EP in August. The album will come out in November.
It will contain about 8 new Convulse tunes. Now we have about 4 new tracks
ready and more is coming. Meanwhile you can listen to "Inner Evil" EP. It is
a great example how the album will sound.
Does the
band have any upcoming shows/tours planned for 2013 or will you all
concentrate on just completing the new full-length?
We are
mostly concentrating on writing new material, but we will play at Maryland
Deathfest in May and some more shows also. I hope we will be in a decent
European tour in November. It is not sure, but let´s hope so!
The band
comes out of the legendary Finnish metal scene, what is your opinion of
Finland's metal scene?
Yeah,
we have quite strong roots in metal music. In the middle of 80´s half of the
Finland was listening to heavy metal! I have gladly noticed that more old
school DM bands are gathering together for example Abhorrence. And also new
DM bands are coming also like Vorum.
Who are
some of your all-time favorite Finnish metal bands? Are their any new bands
you feel the readers should check out soon?
All
time favorites are Stone, ARG, Funebre, Abhorrence, Demigod, Xysma,
Disgrace.. You should check out Vorum, Deathchain, Rotten Sound and occultic
rock band Jess and the ancient ones.
As
mentioned earlier the band started out in 1988, how do you feel the scene
has changed over the years? Do you feel it has gotten better with all the
technology, computers,etc.. or do you miss the old-times of print zines,
tapes etc..?
Of
course there is much new technology that makes some things easier. But I
don´t see scene as active and wide as back in old days. At least not in
Finland.
But to
be honest, I do pretty much the same things now that back in 1990. I send
and trade tapes, T-shirts, answer to questions of fans, write interviews,
play shows, rehearse every week and so on. This all give me a lot of hope
and proves there is still lot of metal heads all around the world.
I have
read and heard some old-schoolers say they feel the scene is dying or dead.
Would you agree with or maybe just changing with the times?
I
don´t think so. Of course the music is not anymore the most important thing
for the kids. For example network games are very popular nowadays. At my age
we were hanging in record shops and music stores dreaming about new album or
guitar.
In your
opinion what is the best and worst thing about the underground today?
What does the term underground metal mean to you?
Underground means to me that we have the full mastery for what we are doing.
It means a lot for me also that I am in straight contact with the fans. I
don´t know any bad things here around. Of course it is sometimes hard to
settle for example tours, because we don´t have a manager or professional
assistance.
You
handle the guitars for the band at what age did you become interested in
playing the guitars? Are you self-taught or did you take lessons?
I
started to play guitar at the same age I discovered metal music. So I was 12
years old. I have taken some lessons, but 95 % of the skills I have learned
by myself listening my idols and creating my own songs.
Who
are some of your influences/favorite guitarists? Do you play any other
instruments besides the guitars?
I am not so big fan of any particular guitarist, but I love the style of
Randy Rhoads. I play bass guitar as well and a little bit piano and drums.
You also
do the vocals for the band when did you start singing? Is their anything you
do to keep your throat/voice healthy when you’re recording or preparing for
a show?
I start to sing also at age of 12. I am not good at clean vocals, but
fortunately there is death metal and I do my growls just fine. I do some
warm up before recordings and show. The growling comes from the diaphragm,
so the best possible way to take care of your voice is keep you in good
physically fit.
Thank
you Rami for this interview we have reached the end of the interview. Do you
have any final comments for the readers?
Stay in touch, visit in Convulse Facebook and you will get the latest news.
Keep underground alive and buy records of your favorite bands. It keeps
wheels burning. Thanks for this interview!
https://www.facebook.com/Convulse
http://www.myspace.com/convulsedeathmetal
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