PA: Thanks a lot for the compliment :) Well, the response so far has been awesome! Great reviews from all over the world and fans just love the album.

PM: Are there any facts or songs in particular you feel are special to you during the recording process that you would like to share?

PA: I must say that they all are important or special to me but maybe this time it was bit different in a way that I sang few melodies for the first time in bands history, not done by me : )

PM: Are there any recording techniques you have added to the Burning Point sound?

PA: No, not really…

PM: Is there an overall concept or reference you use for the lyrics in Burning Point? What message, if any, do you feel you give? From listening to your latest album, all the songs are uplifting.

PA: Hmm, uplifting? Really? I write stuff from the real life mixed with a little fiction and I try to write them in a way that everybody could relate to them…usually it seems that they come from the anger or the “darker” side of life haha.

PM: Were the new songs developed in the studio during the recording or were these pre-written?

PA: They usually are pretty much pre- written but as I record the guitar tracks we listen the song and if it needs some arrangements we’ll do it in the studio right away. PM: Why did you re-record ‘Black Star’ and ‘Lake of Fire’?

PA: Those have been on our live set list from the start and I just wanted to re-record them with this new line-up and see could we do them better hah.. And to me they definitively sound much better and updated versions.

We recorded them basically just for fun but as we found out they were great bonus tracks for the Japanese version of Empyre because the first Salvation…album is the only one that has not been released in Japan….yet : -)

PM: Your bonus tracks recorded for special releases include tracks originally by The Rods, Q5 and Running Wild. Will you be attending Headbangers Open Air in Germany this July where the first two of these bands are playing this summer?

PA: Well, we tried to contact them (HOA) but I guess they weren’t interested enough from us :-) I even talked to Jonathan (Q5) that it would be awesome to play Q5 song on stage and with him on vocals!

So, I guess we will celebrate my birthday instead :)

PM: How much of an influence on your own music do these bands have?

PA: They’re one part of my influences definitively. My roots are in the 80’s metal :-)

PM: Do you feel there is a different approach to ‘Empyre’ to that of say ‘Burned Down the Enemy’ (apart from the band line up)?

PA: Yes! There are 4 composers first time in bands history, first time the recordings & mixing etc. was done by the band (only the mastering was done elsewhere) I’ve heard a lot comments from fans that it is more easier to “approach” this album even if you’re not that in to metal music and we’ve received a lots of new fans because of this.

Of course we’re band that doesn’t pre-think what type of songs there’s going to be on the next album, what comes, comes…Within the boundaries of melodic heavy metal of course hah hah

PM: What was the reason for Jari (Drums) leaving Burning Point since the last recording?

PA: Well, I don’t want to go to in any details but let’s say that he wasn’t up for the task at hand…

PM: Why did Jussi take over on drums (previously your keyboard player)? Was Jussi a drummer by trade previously?

PA: Jussi is a multitalented musician and he can get the tune out from the shoe if necessary hah hah. Seriously, he is firstly a drummer so it was very natural to him(and us) to fill in the drums. Also we’re very happy that Pasi (Hiltula /keyboards) decided to join BP as a fulltime member.

PM: How did you get involved with Felipe Machado Franco for the artwork?

PA: I think that the first idea came from our record label. I contacted him and we throw our ideas back and worth. We’re very pleased for the cover and the whole layout of the Empyre, definitively our best so far!

PM: What are your immediate plans? Tours etc? Will this include the UK?

PA: We did this little tour with Cryonic Temple & Tragedian in March and our plan is to continue this in some point. We’re always looking for new gigs to play and if there are any interested parties to co-operate with us, just contact us!

UK shows would definitively be one of the highlights to me personally and to the as well! We’re also gathering the material for the first BP DVD release too, hopefully released later this year.

We are heading to the studio to record some new BP tracks and also re-record the Running Wild cover Gods of Iron, we were chosen to the new RW tribute and we’re very excited & honoured for this.

So, we’re constantly doing something :-)

Thanks for your time and all the best for the future.

PA: Thanks a lot for this interview Paul!

For more on the band check out http://www.burningpoint.net/
http://www.myspace.com/burningpointband
http://www.myspace.com/pestilence1

Interviewed by Paul Maddison

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