Interview with MANIAC ABDUCTOR
!!!FINNISH THRASH METAL!!!
We had a conversation with MANIAC ABDUCTOR. Enjoy!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
1. Tell us a few things about MANIAC ABDUCTOR (Members, Starting Year etc).
Well our story began pretty traditionally! In 2013 our drummer Jesse Räsänen and guitarists Late Jaatinen (former) & Jesse Elo met each other at local bar in Joensuu, Eastern Finland. The conversation quickly turned into playing music and particulary our love to Thrash Metal. The trio started to play cover songs that same week. Bass player Janne Parviainen and vocalist Niklas Pappinen followed in 2014 and we started to compose original material. The debut EP "Thrash Assault" was released in 2015 which helped us to play dozens of shows around Finland.
After that we released the first music video for the new track "Fight or Die" which in turn helped us to tour in Russia & Eastern Europe twice opening for Evil Invaders etc. In 2018 we decided that it was time to release our first lenght album which saw the light of day last year. In that same time we parted ways with Late, but Saku Tauru joined our band soon after as the second guitarist. Since that we have played a couple of show here and there in Finland and focused on new material and also making our new line-up the tightest version of us possible.
2. In 2019 you released your album ''Casualties of Causality''. What was the Feedback from your audience as well as from the Press?
The feedback for "Casualties" has been almost universally positive which was a huge thing for us. Our goal was to make every song into something that we all love and we think that's the x-factor on the album that passes to the listeners because after all we are Thrash Metal-fans ourselves. We also like to spice things up with more brutal stuff and also some melodic stuff which keeps the things fresh. The constructive feedback is also very important for us because it always helps you to evolve as a musician. We are extremely proud of this album and we can assure that it's just the beginning.
3. Label or DIY and why?
"Casualties of Causality" actually was our first release to have a label "Inverse Records", which is one of the biggest underground labels in Finland.
Of course we are looking for a major label and that's one of the big goals for our future, but we're also very used to doing things ourselves. Both have their pros and cons. As a DIY artist you'll have complete freedom to do things the way you want them and the labels help you to get your music to wider audiences.
4. Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
The debut album was the first one to be featured on vinyl besides CD and digital formats. It's really amazing that fans are getting back to vinyls more and more nowadays. It's safe to say that we prefer all of these platforms because the fans love to buy a lot of physical copies from the venues and digital tracks are great to listen on your phone and such. We will definitely keep this up on the releases to come.
5. Your music style is Thrash Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
Thrash Metal is our main style for sure but our members like to listen to a lot of different music genres. The main influences from Thrash are obviously there. The new-school bands like Havok & Warbringer and old-school band like Exodus, Testament & Slayer have been the main inspiration for us. It's really amazing to see how the bands from the early 80's like Testament & Kreator have managed to stay fresh in their latest albums by evolving and mixing different styles with Thrash Metal.
Our band members like to listen and play Death Metal, Heavy Metal, Rock music and even stuff outside of metal. You can also hear those influences in our music.
6. Which things, do you think, a Band should sacrifice in order to succeed?
Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future of your Band?
Definitely the main thing is to be there for the band mentally 100 %. Obviously we have to work outside of this band to finance the band life and it requires a lot of hard work. Maniac Abductor is like our child and we want to see it live up to it's full potential. If you feel like you are sacrificing something to play in a band then you have to consider doing something else. If you really want to make it you can make it as cliché as it sounds. Of course there are times that we have felt like we are sacrificing our mental health to keep things running, but when you love what you do it's worth it. You just have to keep working and good things
will eventually come.
7. Describe your ideal live show as a performance Band. Have you already experienced that?
Our ideal live show is the next show! We always treat every single show equally by giving our everything. The best live experience is seeing the looks of fans at the venues having the time of their life listening to music that you've poured you heart and soul into. Sure we have played smaller and bigger venues but at the end of the night when you finish the show knowing whether you made 20 or 2000 people happy it's worth it.
8. Which attributes, do you think, that a new Thrash Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
It's very important not to be lazy and do anything half-assed. The general assumption has been for ages that Thrash Metal bands are generic and a dime in a dozen. When you start a Thrash Metal band you have to figure out what's that one thing that seperates you from the masses. It's important to practice, practice and you guessed it, practice some more. When you play your instruments tight that will transfer to your music. By playing tight live shows night in and night out you'll get more live shows to showcase your band. It's also extremely important to be humble and professional in everything that your band does. Being the booze soaked
idiot thrasher does not work anymore.
9. Do you believe that Bandcamp and other Digital Platforms help the new Thrash Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a Band to promote its work?
The digital platforms have helped us a lot and of course they'll help other new Thrash bands too. You need the digital platforms to showcase your recorded music to the general audience, the press, labels etc to make your band advance in your career. There is no reason to be scared to approach the labels & promoters because you have nothing to lose if you do. At least then they have heard you at least once. The other important factor for the promotion is to play every show that you can. The more experience you have the better. Finally nowadays in the age of social media every band needs their own accounts in Facebook etc. and it's vital
to remain active so that everyone will see that you are in fact active.
10. Tell us a few things about the New Underground Thrash Metal Scene in Finland(Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
There are a lot of great underground Thrash Metal bands going on like Radux, Damage S.F.P and Unhoped but in the last couple of years the field has become more open.
The underground metal scene in general is doing really well in Finland. In many cities here there are dedicated clubs to arrange many gig nights a year just to promote their local underground scenes. There are also fans who are running their own webzines and fanzines for the cause. Everyone in the scene are extremely warm towards new underground bands because we are all just fans sticking together for metal.
11. Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
We can name some of the bigger bands like Varathron and Rotting Christ, but the scene isn't that familiar to us.
12. What are your future plans?
As of right now we are writing new music for us and you'll definitely hear more about that rather sooner than later! We're also arranging more shows in Finland for the rest of the winter and spring. We hope to also tour outside of Finland as soon as possible! The ultimate goal is to get our name out there to the bigger Thrash Metal field and we will not stop working to get there.
13. Thank you very much for your time & Keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
The pleasure was all ours! To the readers we'd like to say that keep supporting your local music scene. The are a lot of great bands that deserve to be heard and if we keep doing that more great bands will keep emerging and metal will never die. Cheers!
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
MANIAC ABDUCTOR CONTACT:
https://www.facebook.com/ManiacAbductor/
https://maniacabductorofficial.bandcamp.com/