Interviews: Arctora

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Melodic Death Metal/Black Metal band, Arctora from Finland. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

I came up with the name around a decade ago for my first band, but in the end, we landed on a different one back then. Simply put, it’s a mash-up of “Arctic” and the Finnish word “Torahammas” which means “Fang”. No deeper story than that. It was something that sounded very cool to my 16-year-old self, and for some reason, it stuck in the back of my head for all these years.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

There’s a certain sense of freedom in this type of music. I need to tell a story through the song, and this genre feels like the most natural way for me to do that. We can do blast beats and doomy parts or clean singing and guttural vocals in one song if we want to.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

I, Jere, and VP had known each other for a long time as friends and/or bandmates. There I had met once and Tommi I hadn’t met until our first rehearsals in February. We’ve become great friends since!

4. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Depends mostly on the song. Sometimes inspiration can come from the smallest of things. Other times a song might come out of strong emotion. You never really know where the next one is going to come from until it happens. What I enjoy most about writing songs is that I can get lost in its world and that feeling inspires me to write time and time again.

5. Where was your last gig?

In a small, but almost legendary venue called “Lepakkomies” (eng. Batman). It was our first gig and it came close to being a disaster with our gear acting up. Even my guitar's output jack stopped functioning just as I entered the stage. But we made it through and had an awesome time despite all the minor misfortunes! 

6. Where would you like to act?

Everywhere eventually, but playing at Tuska-festival in Finland would be a great milestone for the band and all of us personally!

7. Whom would you like to feature with?

I definitely want to get Sami Hinkka from Ensiferum to do a speech part on a song. Maybe one day!

8. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Yeah, definitely. I think it’s very natural, and you have to just embrace it and use the nervous energy during the performance. Don’t try to drown the anxiety with beer. And also practice hard beforehand. That way your muscle memory will do the job for you if your mind goes blank.

9. What bands have inspired you the most?

Children of Bodom and Ensiferum, because they were the first metal bands I really got into. Wintersun because when I found them, I listened to their debut album literally every day for a year or so, and during that time I decided I had to get guitar lessons. And Insomnium just in general. When I think of what “Finnish melodic death metal” brings to mind, it's exactly their sound. Those are my big four, though there are many more I could mention!

10. What do you think of our site?

It’s absolutely necessary and great to have sites like yours supporting the smaller scene in heavy music. Thank you for keeping it up!

11. Something to add?

Our debut album titled “The Storm Is Over” will be released on the 30th of September and a music video for a song called “I Am Human” on the 11th of October. Thanks for reading, stay healthy, and see you live!