ORANSSI PAZUZU (http://www.myspace.com/oranssipazuzu) este un nume oarecum necunoscut insa, dupa lansarea noului album, ‘Kosmonument’, intreaga presa de specialitate a ramas socata de frumusetea si abordarea originala a pieselor finlandezilor. Mai mult, celebre festivaluri ca HELLFEST sau ROADBURN s-au grabit deja sa-i invite in acest an iar albumul este deja in topul preferintelor a multor ascultatori. Ce canta ei? Psychedelic  Black Metal & Space Krautrock, o combinatie stilistica neexperimentata inca de nimeni, dar care suna bestial! Haideti sa aflam cine sunt cei din spatele acestei ciudate titulaturi…

Salutari! Este ORANSSI PAZUZU considerat un alter ego al KUOLLEET INTIAANIT? Care a fost istoria proiectului anterior?

Ontto: “Salut! Nu. ORANSSI PAZUZU este o entitate proprie, nu un alter ego. Muzicienii din trupa au activat in trupe diferite, dar sunetul nostru final este mai degraba rezultatul combinatiei dintre aceste personalitati decat o continuare a proiectelor anterioare a vreunui membru.”

De ce acest nume? Sunt incendiatorii si ‘fumatorii’ limitele conceptului vostru? Black Metal si Psychedelic Progressive Rock? ’90+’70=ORANSSI PAZUZU? Sau soarele Exorcist… Cosmos Exorcist, poate?

Ontto: “Cosmos Exorcist, exact! Asta e ceva la care ne putem raporta. Incendiatorii si ‘fumatorii’ nu sunt limitele noastre, doar referinte la anumite genuri. Bineinteles ca exista numeroase alte influente de scos la suprafata, dar pentru noi, ORANSSI PAZUZU inseamna o combinatie de energie cosmica si intuneric. Numele reprezinta influentele Black Metal si psihedelice din muzica noastra.”

FAUST, CAN, KING CRIMSON sau PINK FLOYD intalnestc DARK THRONE, BURZUM, DEATHSPELL OMEGA, NACHTMYSTIUM si VED BUES ENDE… o combinatie foarte interesanta, dar in acelasi timp ciudata, nu crezi? Cum v-ati decis sa creati acest sound?

Jun-His: “Nu incercam sa facem muzica ciudata dinadins. Inteleg ca multa lume ne considera completamente bizari, dar pentru noi, acest lucru este firesc. Cand am fost tanar, am vrut sa experimentez cateva acorduri ce sunau ciudat. Ceva ce includea armonii in genul King Crimson si acorduri de chitara agresive in stilul Jesus Lizard. Era cu siguranta fortat la inceput, dar de indata ce i-am prins spilul, a devenit o parte fireasca a stilului meu.

Cand am inceput sa compunem material cu OP, majoritatea dintre noi ne cunosteam foarte bine; muzical si in alte privinte. Singurul plan ce-l aveam era pentru a patrunde mai adanc in taramurile atmosferelor intunecate si structurilor muzicale hipnotice. Aveam si inca avem numeroase lucruri de realizat in muzica. Tintim spre ele, dar incercam sa nu ne gandim prea mult la aceste lucruri cand compunem un material nou.” 

FINLANDA este binecunoscuta pentru scena ei Funeral si Slow Doom Metal & Ambient. De ce a urmat ORANSSI PAZUZU o alta cale? Nu iti place acest gen de muzica?

Ontto: “Sincer sa fiu, nu stiu foarte multe trupe Slow Doom sau Ambient din Finlanda, dar avem cateva influente Doom – in special din Reverend Bizarre, Sleep si Electric Wizard. Mi se pare mai interesant sa percepi muzica mai degraba ca pe o anumita atmosfera decat o combinatie de genuri. As vrea sa cred ca ne urmam propria cale, nu o cale pregatita de cineva dinainte.”

A fost dificil sa obtineti contractul cu Spinefarm?

Jun-His: “Cu case de discuri mai mari in o tara atat de mica ca si Finlanda, aceste lucruri sunt destul de evidente. Daca o trupa a lansat deja ceva si industria e oarecum familara cu trupa, ii intrebi daca sunt interesati si ei raspund afirmativ sau negativ. Teemu Suominen de la Spinefarm a zis ‘da’.”

Spune-mi ce ar trebui sa stiu despre istoria trupei, in afara faptului ca ati lansat pana acum 2 albume si un split. Dar despre membri? Pot sa-mi spui ceva despre ei, daca activeaza si in alte trupe?

Ontto: “Membrii ORANSSI PAZUZU sunt: Jun-His (vocal, chitara), Moit (chitara), Korjak (baterie), Evill (clape, efecte) si Ontto (bass). Initial, eu si Jun-His am avut ideea unei trupe ce ar canta muzica cu influente puternice Black Metal. Asta a fost undeva in 2007. Am adunat un grup de prieteni si am inceput sa compunem piese, si in curand focusul muzical a inceput sa se clarifice. Am vrut sa cream ceva intunecat si sucit, dar nu sa copiem o anumita trupa. Chitaristii Jun-His si Moit au activat mult timp in diferite trupe ce se intind de la Math Metal la Psychedelic Rock. Evill are ca background un trai civil ca designer la un teatru si cred ca acest lucru a influentat acceptarea lui in trupa. Moit tocmai isi finalizeaza albumul sau solo, ce e foarte folk si foarte diferit de ORANSSI PAZUZU.”

Ultimul vostru album a avut parte de cele mai bune recenzii. Sunteti multumiti de acest lucru?

Ontto: “Daca ma intrebi ce album prefer, atunci cred ca sunt mai multumit de noul nostru album (‘Kosmonument’) dar albumul de debut (‘Muukalainen puuu’) are meritele lui proprii. Nu stiu ce crede presa dar sper ca lumea va asculta ambele albume cu o minte deschisa, deoarece ambele au propria lor atmosfera si probabil ofera ascultatorilor viziuni diferite.”

Noul album este mai Heavy Black in comparatie cu debutul. De ce? Primul a avut niste atingeri puternice si mistice, visatoare, cosmice si obsedante… un sunet probabil mai meditativ. Acum sunetul este mai potrivit pentru headbanging, nu crezi?

Ontto: “Da, debutul este mai direct si trippy, in timp ce ‘Kosmonument’ este masiv, cosmic si deprimant. Totodata mult mai heavy. Pentru mine, ‘Muukalainen puuu’ este un document ce ne atesta stilul muzical. Cand debutul a fost lansat, am simtit ca mai exista o mina de intuneric uriasa de descoperit, asa ca am inceput abia sa coboram in ea. Astfel ne-am decis sa coboram mai departe in adancuri si sa ne indreptam sunetul spre o directie ‘mai’ extrema. ‘Kosmonument’ este rezultatul acelei calatorii. Poate fi o ascultare mai solicitanta, dar o consider mult mai merituoasa.”

Anul acesta este incredibil pentru voi din punct de vedere al aparitiilor live: Roadburn, Hellfest… Cum crezi ca e posibil pentru o asemenea trupa tanara sa acceada la festivaluri asa mari?

Jun-His: “Este o mare onoare sa cantam la toate aceste festivaluri. Suntem intr-adevar foarte surprinsi de faptul ca atata lume dinafara Finlandei au bagat in seama ORANSSI PAZUZU. Dar desi trupa e relativ tanara, noi, individual, am facut muzica toata viata noastra si am depus mult timp si energie in asta. Muzica este modul nostru de viata si cand ceva este facut cu pasiune si dragoste, cel putin cativa oameni sunt obligati sa se identifice cu aceasta.”

Veti canta in data de 17 august la DBE4. Ce stiti despre Romania, Transilvania? Dar despre DBE? Stiu ca ati vrut sa cantati aici si se pare ca energiile au lucrat in directia potrivita.

Jun-Jis: “Stiu ca in Romania si in special in Transilvania exista cateva peisaje uluitoare si natura frumoasa. Abia asteptam sa vedem o parte mare din acestea. Ii stim pe cei din HEXVESSEL/DARK BUDDHA RISING si ei ne-au spus despre DBE. Povestirile lor au sunat incitant. Nu cunosc o locatie mai potrivita pentru un spectacol decat un castel vechi.”

Cum arata ORANSSI PAZUZU live? Ce fel de show vom vedea in Alba Iulia?

Ontto: “Scopul nostru ca trupa live este sa cream o atmosfera pentru ascultator in care sa il innecam. Incercam sa cream o stare de extaz pentru noi si speram ca si pentru audienta. Folosim lumini dramatice si intuneric pentru vizualizari. Fara trucuri… ne concentram mai degraba pe miezul intunecat si psyched-out al muzicii.”

Pana acum la DBE 4 au fost anuntate participarea trupelor SOLSTAFIR, THE KILIMANJARO DARKJAZZ ENSEMBLE, LANTLOS si OF THE WAND AND THE MOON. Ce stiti despre muzica acestor trupe? Crezi ca sunetul vostru rezoneaza cu aceste trupe in cadrul acestui event?

Ontto: “Sunt familiar cu SOLSTAFIR, dar de obicei nu urmaresc artistii contemporani. La o prima auditie, celelate trupe suna mai melancolic si mai putin agresiv decat ORANSSI PAZUZU, dar cred ca acest lucru face festivalul mult mai interesant. Ar fi de-a dreptul plictisitor daca toata lumea ar canta ceva Death Metal jalnic.”

Ce fel de muzica ascultati?

Ontto: “In ultimul timp am ascultat Rockul Progresiv al anilor 60 – 70, ca si Soft Machine, Neu! Si Wigwam. Imi plac si Neil Young si cateva LPuri ale lui Leonard Cohen. Nu am prea ascultat mult Metal, dar Darkthrone, Burzum si Electric Wizard sunt trupe la care ma intorc constant. Sonic Youth si My Bloody Valentine mi-au lasat o impresie de durata cu sunetele lor de chitara. Ar mai trebui sa mentionez Circle, una dintre cele mai importante influente muzicale. Ceilalti din trupa au gusturi relativ diferite. Cred ca este bine, ofera unghiuri diferite creatiei muzicale.”

Cum arata o zi obisnuita pentru tine?

Ontto: “Nu foarte bine.”

Multumesc pentru aceasta discutie. Ne vedem in cateva luni si iti urez mult succes. Este Black Metalul o religie? Esti o persoana religioasa?

Jun-His: “Stim ca Black Metal este mai mult decat muzica pentru unii oameni. Respectam acest lucru, dar suntem prea hippioti pentru a fi satanisti. Cred ca Black Metalul de calitate are o aura magica intunecata si vrem doar sa folosim acea esenta in muzica noastra. Totodata, mai respect si atitudinea anarhica si necompromitatoare a scenei, dar in acelasi timp cred ca toata lumea trebuie sa evolueze, sa se mute si sa intervina.

Personal, sunt un ateu ce crede ca exista lucruri miserioase pe care mintea umana nu le poate cuprinde, dar ce pot fi explicate intr-o buna zi de stiinta, fapt ce nu face nimic mai putin minunat sau misterios. Lumea are doar prostul obicei de a lua aceste lucruri de-a gata din clipa in care aud ca exista o explicatie stiintifica sau religioasa pentru acestea.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpzwUdeVriU

Ianuarie 2012

ORANSSI PAZUZU is a rather unknown name but, after the first album’s release, ‘Kosmonument‘, the whole press was shocked by its beauty and the Finns’ original approach. Moreover, famous festivals like HELLFEST or ROADBURN were in a hurry to invite them this year and the album is already in the top preferences of many listeners. What are they playing? Psychedelic  Black Metal & Space Krautrock, a stylistic combination experimented by no one yet, but that sounds great! Let us find out who are the ones behind these odd denominations…

Hello! Is ORANSSI PAZUZU is considered an alter ego of KUOLLEET INTIAANIT? What was the history of the previous project?

Ontto: “Hello! No. Oranssi Pazuzu is its own entity, not an alter ego. The musicians in the band have histories in different bands, but our final sound is the result of the combination of these different personalities, rather than a continuation of some band member’s past projects.”  

Why this name? Are arsonists and smokers the only limits of your concept? Black Metal and Psychedelic Progressive Rock? ’90+’70 =ORANSSI PAZUZU? Or the Exorcist sun…. Exorcist cosmos, maybe?

Ontto: “Exorcist cosmos, exactly! That is something we can relate to. Arsonists and smokers are not our limits, but only references to certain genres. Of course there are lots of other influences to dig out, but for us ORANSSI PAZUZU means cosmic energy and darkness combined. The name represents the Black Metal and psychedelic influences in our music.” 

FAUST, CAN, KING CRIMSON or PINK FLOYD meets DARK THRONE, BURZUM, DEATHSPELL OMEGA, NACHTMYSTIUM and VED BUES ENDE… a very interesting combination.. but weird, in the same time… don’t you think? How did you decide to create this sound?

Jun-His: “We`re not trying to make weird music on purpose. I realize that many people find us completely bizarre but this is something that comes naturally for us. When I was a young lad, I wanted to try out some weird sounding riffs. Something that included King Crimson style harmonies and Jesus Lizard type of aggressive guitar playing. It definitely felt a bit forced at first, but once I got the hang of it, it has since become a natural part of my style.

When we started to write material with OP, most of us knew each other very well. Musically and otherwise. The only plan we had was to go deeper into realms of dark atmospheres and hypnotic musical structures. We had and still have several things we want to achieve in music. We aim towards them, but try not to think about that kind of stuff too much when we are making new material.” 

FINLAND is recognized for its Funeral and Slow Doom Metal & Ambient scene. Why did ORANSSI PAZUZU follow another path? Don’t you like this kind of music?

Ontto: “To be frank, I don’t know that many Slow Doom or Ambient bands from Finland. But we do have some Doom influences also – mainly from Reverend Bizarre, Sleep and Electric Wizard. To me it’s more interesting to think about music as a certain atmosphere than a combination of genres. I would like to think that we follow our own path, not a path that someone else cleared for us first.” 

Was it hard to receive the Spinefarm deal?

Jun-His: “With bigger labels in a country as small as Finland, these things seem quite straight forward. If a band has already made some records and the industry is somewhat familiar with the band, you ask them if they are interested and they answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Spinefarm`s Teemu Suominen said ‘yes’.” 

Tell me what I need to know about the band history except the fact you have released 2 albums and a split so far. What about members? Can you tell me about them, are they playing or played in other bands, too?

Ontto: “ORANSSI PAZUZU members are: Jun-His (lead vocal, guitar), Moit (guitar), Korjak (drums), Evill (synthesizers, effects) and Ontto (bass). Basically it was me and Jun-His who had an idea about a band that would play music with a strong Black Metal influence. That was sometime in 2007. We gathered a group of friends and started writing songs, and soon the musical focus started to clarify. We wanted to create something dark and twisted, but not copy any particular band just like that. The guitarists Jun-His and Moit have have long histories of different bands that range from Math Metal to Psychedelic Rock. Evill has civil life background as a sound designer at a theater and I think that has influenced his input in the band a lot. Moit is also finalizing his solo album, which is very folky, soft and extremely different stuff from ORANSSI PAZUZU.” 

Your latest album received the best reviews. Are you satisfied with this fact?

Ontto: “If you ask which album I prefer, then I guess I’m more satisfied with our newest album (‘Kosmonument’), but the debut album (‘Muukalainen puhuu’) has also its merits. I don’t know what all the reviewers think, but I hope people would listen to both albums with open mind, because they both have their own atmosphere and probably give the listener different visions.” 

This new album is more Heavy Black in comparison with the debut. Why? The first one had a kind of dreamy haunting cosmic touch, very powerful and mystic… a more meditative sound, maybe? Now the sound is made more for headbanging, don’t you think?

Ontto: “Yes, the debut album is more straightforward and trippy, where ‘Kosmonument’ is massive, cosmic and depressing. And also a lot heavier. To me it seems like ‘Muukalainen puhuu’ is a document of us finding our musical style. When the debut was done, we felt like there was still a huge pit of cosmic darkness to discover, and we had only started the descent. So we decided to go further down to the depths and take our sound to a more extreme direction. Kosmonument is the result of that journey. It may be a more demanding album to listen to, but to me it’s also more rewarding.” 

This year is incredible for you as live appearances: Roadburn, Hellfest…  How do you think it is possible for such a young band to be featured in these great festivals?

Jun-His: “It’s a great honor to play in all these festivals. We are indeed very surprised that so many people outside Finland have taken notice of OP`s music. But although the band is relatively young, we as individuals have made music all our lives and have put a lot of time and energy into this. Music is our way of life and I guess if something is done with passion and love, at least some people are bound to identify with it.”

You will play in the 17th of August at DBE 4. What do you know about Romania, Transylvania? What about DBE? I know you really wanted to play here and it seems the energies worked in the right direction, heh.

Jun-His: “I know that Romania and Transylvania especially have some breathtaking views and a beautiful nature. Looking forward a lot to see some of that. We know the guys from HEXVESSEL/Dark Buddha Rising and they told us about DBE. Stories sounded good. Don`t know any better location to do a show than in an old castle.” 

How does ORANSSI PAZUZU look like live? What kind of show will we see in Alba Iulia?

Ontto: “Our aim as a live band is to create an atmosphere for the listener to drown him/herself into. We try to conjure a trance-like state for ourselves and hopefully also for the audience. For visualization, we use some dramatic lightning and darkness. No show tricks, but focusing more to the psyched-out and dark core of the music.” 

Until now the participation of SOLSTAFIR, THE KILIMANJARO DARJAZZ ENSEMBLE, LANTLOS and OF THE WAND & THE MOON were announced at DBE 4. What do you know about the music of these bands? Do you consider your sound fit with these bands in the same event?

Ontto: “I’m familiar with Solstafir, but usually I don’t follow that closely to contemporary artists. On a quick listen those other bands sound more melancholic and less aggressive than ORANSSI PAZUZU, but I think it only makes it more interesting to have diverse bands performing at the same festival. It would be absolutely boring if everyone would just play some shitty death metal.” 

What kind of music are you listening to?

Ontto: “Lately I’ve been listening to old Progressive Rock of the late 60′s – early 70′s, like Soft Machine, Neu! and Wigwam. I also like Neil Young and some LPs by Leonard Cohen. Haven’t been listening much Metal right now, but Darkthrone, Burzum and Electric Wizard are bands that I constantly return to. Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine have made a lasting impression with their guitar work. And I have to mention Circle, one of the most important musical influences for me. The other guys in the band have slightly different tastes. I think it is good, it gives some interesting angles to making music.”  

How does a normal day look like for you?

Ontto: “Not very good.” 

Thank you for this discussion. See you in a few months and good luck. Is Black Metal a religion? Are you a religious person?

Jun-His: “We know Black Metal is more than music for some people. We respect that but we are way too hippies to be satanists or anything. I think good Black Metal has a magical dark aura in it and we want to use that essence in our music. I also respect the anarchistic and uncompromising attitude of the scene but at the same time think that everything must evolve, shift and intertwine.

I myself am an atheist who thinks there are mysterious things the human mind cannot grasp but what could someday be explained by science. Which actually doesn`t make anything less amazing or mysterious. People just have a bad habit of starting to take things for granted once they hear the scientific or the religious explanation for them.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpzwUdeVriU

January, 2012