Scorpio: How's the weather in Finland? It was snowing here in Ukraine for the first two days ago, but it was +5, so it was wet and there wasn't much snow on the ground. What about the "land of thousands of lakes"?
Niko: It's been snowing for a couple of days here too. The temperature is probably around zero or below.
Scorpio: And what city are you from?
Niko: I'm from Kirkkonummi, Anssi is from Karjaa and he's moving to Espoo. Small places that no foreigner has ever heard of. Juffi, the guy who will be our drummer in the future, is from Helsinki.
Scorpio: And why did three guys from Finnish cities decide to form a brutal band? Please tell us the history of FLESH DEFORMATION.
Niko: I wanted to write and publish the most insane riffs I'm capable of. And being a big fan of extreme music, it was natural that the result may sound like death metal. Me and Anssi had been in the same band for a while when I decided to experiment with my brutal side through this one-man orchestra called Chop-Off. It was so fun I decided to make a band out of it, and the expansion has been slow but stable. Anssi is now the lead vocalist and Juffi (from my other band AMORAL) is pounding like hell, so get ready for real ear torture!
Scorpio: Why did you choose death/grind as the style of your project? Finland is known for power metal bands such as STRATOVARIUS, SONATA ARCTICA, NIGHTWISH, pop metallers HIM and TO/DIE/FOR, and also in recent years quite good black metal bands like FINNTROLL, AJATTARA, CALVARIUM.
Niko: Maybe that's exactly the reason. We want to balance the state of metal here, trying to make people listen to something other than just the same things they've always listened to. We're sick of power metal and we're not grim enough to do black metal! Haha! No, personally I'm not into black metal that much, but Juffi is, and that's the reason he was a good choice for a drummer! He'll never get bored with blast beats, I guess...
Scorpio: I've heard metal bands are on top of the Finnish national music charts. Are there really that many metalheads in your country?
Niko: Yeah, it's true. We also have the biggest Scandinavian metal fest called Tuska. It's been sold out for a couple of years, I think, and it sure beats the traditional rock fests. There are several bands, known and unknown, playing every week and weekend, so yeah, metal's alive and well over here.
Scorpio: And who's the minister of culture? Timo Tolkki? :)
Niko: Haha! Not for sure! If he was, it wouldn't be so good because everyone would have to play power metal. Honestly, I don't know shit about the politicians here...
Scorpio: What bands can you call your "mental teachers"?
Niko: Hmm... MORBID ANGEL and CANNIBAL CORPSE have done their own thing for years and they've never gone mellow, so they're my heroes. I also like TREY AZAGOTH's fresh approach to music. MESHUGGAH kicks ass for breathing new life into the rhythmical side of metal. CRYPTOPSY has my full respect for breathing new life into the whole death metal genre.
Scorpio: What guitars are the best in the world? And which one is your dream guitar?
Niko: B.C.Rich is cool, but now I'd say that Ibanez is my choice 'cos I just got one :) The slim neck makes it so good to play. At first I hated them because they all look the same. My dream guitar would be a 7-string B.C.Rich V like the one Pat (CANNIBAL CORPSE) has.
Scorpio: Lapland, the place where Santa Claus lives, is part of Finland. Have you ever seen Santa?
Niko: When I was a kid I saw him a couple of times, but I haven't seen him for a while. Where the hell is he?
Scorpio: And how do you say Santa in Finnish? You know, here in russia and Ukraine his name is Grandpa Frost (Ded Moroz).
Niko: It's Joulupukki. Means something like Christmas Papa, I guess. Although "pukki" means either a goat or a stud, but I don't even want to think about a Christmas Stud!
Scorpio: I've heard there is a city called Pajakulja (correct me if I'm wrong) in the north of your country. So, there's a Santa's post office there. Have you ever been there?
Niko: No, never been there.
Scorpio: How old were you when you found out that Santa doesn't exist, or do you still believe Santa is a real "alive" person?
Niko: I guess I was something like 5 years old. Can't remember it. Perhaps I was 15? Haha! Anyway, now he's dead to me.
Scorpio: What present did you get last year for New Year's?
Niko: We don't share presents at New Year's Eve. No Christmas presents either. We've been so naughty.
TRUE MEAT QUESTIONNAIRE:
Scorpio: Meat in your life?
Niko: Cow. An important source of energy and inspiration.
Scorpio: What do you like to eat more: ears or fingers?
Niko: Ears. More gummy-like. You can chew it wherever you go. Library, shopping, while driving, you name it.
Scorpio: What do you use to cut meat — axe (classic) or chainsaw (modern)?
Niko: Traditional chainsaw is God! I like the smell of gasoline, you know.
Scorpio: Have you ever eaten a hamburger with tongue instead of a chop?
Niko: I can't remember my state of consciousness when I tried to do that. Next question...
Scorpio: Your former project CHOP-OFF was named so because you chopped off tongues for hamburgers?
Niko: Pretty much so. And not only tongues, ears also. For that chewing gum...
Scorpio: How can you decode MEAT? My version is More Ears And Tongues! :)
Niko: I'd like to have some organs too. Eat vital organs and you live longer!
Scorpio: Final Flesh words for our readers.
Niko: Thanks for the interview and stay sick, but only when mom's not around! And visit our homepage http://www.fleshdeformation.tk!