Interviews: Bloodride

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Thrash Metal band Bloodride 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?

Esa: We thought of couples of different names first but I think it was Petteri who said Bloodride. the Bloodride name is praise for Slayer.

Petteri: My fault, yes. Not sure about what it really means, just came to my mind and sounded cool and different. Something to do with Slayer, quite possible, yes. 

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Esa: When I started to listening music in the 80s it was Thrash music. My favorite bands were Thrash bands all at first. And when I started learning to play in my first band it was a Thrash band. So later it was fine to me play Thrash music again.

Petteri: At the time we started, there were not cool thrash bands anymore, really. The Haunted came up suddenly and got some hope for the genre. Then the idea rose...

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

Esa: I didnt know Petteri. I knew all others. We thought with Niko for a couple of years to make a band. And then Niko said that he knows a drummer for the band but then it will be a thrash band. We spoke about some other genres too.

Petteri: I knew Simo before from earlier bands we were both in. I got to know Niko through Kimmo (Sir) Luttinen who asked me to be on the drums for his and Niko´s Legenda -a band which had an upcoming gig at Tavastia (you can find that gig on youtube). After that, we joined forces for Niko and started scheming about a thrash band...

Teemu: I knew Esa and Jykä before, but soon this became some kind of brotherhood with all lads.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Jykä: Hard to pick one. Amenra.

Esa: MGLA at this moment

Simo: If only one can be mentioned here, it must be Motörhead.

Teemu: Hard question…It could be Bolt Thrower.

Petteri: Mine has always been Judas Priest. Then there are of course these traditional ones like Motörhead, AC/DC, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, and couples of curiosities like Trust and Riot. That´s the starting point for me and then came thrash.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Esa: My fucking head is playing songs and my darkness is making sometimes some lyrics to these moments in darkness. When I was young, I sometimes wished that the riffs wouldn't play in my head. but when I was older at some point I had to say that riffs might never end.

Simo: If a good riff comes along, it inspires itself and hopefully the other guys in the band as well.

Petteri: Sometimes a riff just wants to be played and it wills itself out, as do lyrics. Some kind of automatic writing, I would say.

6. Where was your last gig?

Teemu: In Helsinki centrum in a venue called Loose. Nice rock's roll cave!

7. Where would you like to act?

Esa: Wacken Open Air.

Teemu: Wacken certainly would be nice but every place is interesting to me. As a kid, I dreamed about playing in USA and Japan, thanks to some live albums, haha!

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Esa: All artists are welcome, it's always nice to meet new artists

9. Whom not? 

Teemu: Well, egoistic divas are not our favorites. Fortunately, so far we have met only nice bands and people at our gigs.

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

Esa: Just do it! Performance is the one thing why we do this.

Teemu: Yeah, doing shows is about the best thing. Sometimes for some reason, you get really nervous before the show (mostly not) but you gotta just do it again and again. I think it is natural to feel some anxiety before the show, it gives you more power to do a strong performance.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Teemu: Personally I try to avoid straight influences but of course, your favorite bands will be there somehow. As younger, I worshipped bands like Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and Metallica, and a bit later came thrash attack with Slayer, Kreator, Anthrax and so. Then came the death metal wave with Possessed, Entombed, Carcass… I also like hardcore and punk so some roughness and DIY attitude come from there.

Esa: There is maybe a couple of hundred bands whose music is inside my head and inspired me somehow.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Esa: For me, it was a little bit weird that somebody was wondering if I drink beer before a gig. And she was wondering how I can play the gig - so if you are wondering this you should come to see our gigs.

Teemu: I can´t remember anything too weird. Of course, after shows, people can be very drunk and speak or act a bit weird but I don´t mind.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Esa: Thanks to you all who come to chat with us! It's always nice to meet people who are smiling and happy. Thanks for supporting us too, even though in my opinion not everything has always gone so well.

Teemu: A person who likes our stuff must be a good person, haha! Or course we are grateful to everyone who supports us.

14. What do you think of our site?

Esa: You are doing good work! Cheers!

Teemu: Yes, looks nice and professional!

15. Something to add?

Teemu: Thank you very much for this interview and thanks to everyone who read this! Go check out our music and hope you like our merchandise too!