Melamory: Our congratulations to Embraze with 10th Anniversary! So, my first question is about this date. How do you feel now, is Embraze a young band or an old one – for you?

Lauri: If we speak about 10 years it's like one week. When you're 10-years-old boy you're wondering what happens around. For us it feels like one week or one month.

M: But do you feel more experienced as the musicians now? What have you learnt?

Sami: We learnt a lot about record-labels.

Lauri: Yes, you should be careful when you sign a deal with record-company. We made a very bad deal.

Sami: But you were under 18 then.

Lauri: Yes, I was 18 and Ilkka was 15. And at that age you just think: wow, record-deal is everything I want. But I think when we make mistakes we have to learn it. Without mistakes you can't learn how to be… a…

Sami: …a musician… Or something.

M: You just made three really good demo-songs – Sleeping Ground, Memory Trace of Our Time and Feeble. What are your plans now?

Lauri: We are gonna record a new album in spring.

Sami: Or in summer.

Lauri: We have to clean the table and make something new. I do like those three songs, but I don't know if they appear on our forthcoming album, because I want to do something really new.

Sami: And it's a bit difficult, 'cos Embraze have three or four studio albums, and now we have those three songs. And we have to think about it. At the time we don't have a deal. But future is coming and it shows what's going on.

Lauri: Anyway we are gonna record an album in spring, and new Embraze is gonna be harder.

M: Musically or lyrically?

Lauri: Musically. I don't know the lyrics yet. And I want to keep this clean vocal style. And the music is gonna be harder.

M: For me Embraze is kinda unique band, but you don't have a label and a booking. If I may ask… don't you feel miserable because of it?

Sami: Of course, of course.

Lauri: Yes.

M: So how do you get motivation?

Lauri: Well… about new record we have one plan. Do you know Maple Cross?

M: Yes.

Lauri: The plan is our new album will be released by Verikauha Records. Maple Cross is recording there and soon they have a tour with Cannibal Corpse in Scandinavia.

Sami: We have good connection with them.

Lauri: And when we release an album with Verikauha, we will look for a big record-company, send demos and stuff.

M: Why aren't you singed by Spinefarm? Most of the bands I know are there.

Lauri: It was 1997 when we signed our record-deal with Mastervox, and then they didn't want to give us to someone else. And now I'm playing in For My Pain and Charon, they both are on Spinefarm. Maybe it helps us somehow. It would be nice. But they have many good bands. It would be sad to stay behind them.

Sami: They have just few good metal bands and they don't do promotion for small bands.

M: Lauri, is Embraze still the most important band for you?

Lauri: I'm here for 10 years, and it's really important for me. We started to play with Ilkka and Heidi. I like to have my own band. But I like to play in For My Pain and Charon.

M: Is it important for you to play in those bands, or is it just for fun?

Lauri: Yes, it's important. In future I want to make music and don't think about usual work, and now I have to do it 'cos I have to think about money. Embraze is like my dream, and I love to play in Charon, I love to play in For My Pain and I love to play in Embraze. I can't put anything first in the list.

M: Why did it take so long before you were announced as a full member of Charon?

Lauri: I had to think about it, you know, to think what I do, to be sure. Guys asked me many times to join them completely. It was a hard choice, 'cos I thought that Embraze guys could be angry at me for going to Charon.

M: Were you surprised when they asked you to join Charon?

Lauri: I was surprised, yes.

M: Did you know the guys before?

Lauri: I knew Antti. So it was a surprise, but now everything is good.

M: Are you happy in Charon now?

Lauri: Oh, yes. The band has very good stuff. And I love to play with the guys.

M: And have you already taken part in making new songs?

Lauri: There's a couple of new songs done by me and Pasi. They are very good.

M: And when does Charon plan to release anything?

Lauri: The songs should be released maybe in April. And the album… maybe in August. Hopefully we have some gigs after the single release.

M: How did you all take the news that JP is gonna join Amorphis in US tour?

Lauri: It's very good for him. And it's not a problem for Charon now. The songs for the single are already written.

Sami: And of course it's a good chance for him to go to USA , to see the guys from Type O Negative.

M: And a question to Sami. What do you think about Lauri's voice? Do you think it's special?

Sami: Of course! I like it! Lauri has always had a good voice. It was in 1995 when we played together for the first time. And people around said something like: fuck, he's a good singer!

M: It's good to hear, 'cos for me Lauri is a special singer.

Sami: Yes, he is. And his voice is special. It's important for Embraze. Lauri's voice is the first thing you hear when you listen to Embraze or see it on stage.

M: And how do you – Embraze members – get the fact Lauri has different projects?

Sami: For me it's ok. I think Lauri is good guitar-player and good singer. Of course sometimes we think: fuck, he's going to Charon practice. But you know with Embraze we don't have any reason to practice, we don't have any gigs.

Lauri: Now.

Sami: Yes, now. Anyway, it's ok. Lauri is in good form. And it's ok for me personally.

Lauri: And without Charon and For My Pain you wouldn't be here. Because I think…

M: No, we knew and loved Embraze long before you joined Charon.

Lauri: Oh, it's nice to hear!

M: Two Embraze albums were released in Russia. So I just met you personally for the first time when you came to Moscow with Charon, but still we loved Embraze before that.

Lauri: Wow, great!

Sami: Yes, that's great!

M: And being a very good singer do you feel ok when you just play the guitar when somebody else is singing?

Lauri: No, it's not that difficult for me, 'cos it's easier just to play the guitar. I like to play the guitar, but it's very nice to sing and to play together.

M: But don't you think sometimes that you could sing better than the other guys?

Lauri: No, if you're talking about JP and Juha Kylmanen, I think they are very good singers. I don't think I'm a good singer.

*Mel and Sami laugh*

Lauri: I just sing and play guitar, 'cos I like it. But I really don't think I'm a good singer.

M: C'mon :)

Sami: But you're a very special singer. And it's difficult to play guitar and sing lead vocal.

Lauri: Well…

Sami: And I really love your voice.

M: And I really love your voice too.

Lauri: Oh, thank you! And I love you too! But… You know, it's strange, sometimes very good guitarists ask me, how I can play and sing at the same time.

M: So how can you do it?

Lauri: I don't know how I can do it. I just play and sing. It's not a problem, it's coming from me. I'm just playing and yelling.

Sami: At first it was hard. When you sing lead vocal you don't even think about playing. But when it's your own song, you can play and sing it.

M: Could you name really good singers in your opinion?

Lauri: Well… When the first Embraze album came out, people said I sounded like Taneli Jarva. You know?

M: Did you? Of course I know Taneli Jarva.

Lauri: I thought: oh, fuck, how can I sing like someone else, 'cos this is my voice, and I can sing only this way. But Taneli Jarva was the first singer in Sentenced and he was my idol. But I've tried to change my vocals 'cos everyone was saying I sounded like him. I tried to sing in different style, but it was not me. We both sing low. And I really like his voice. When we started Embraze there were only Sentenced's Amok and Tales from The Thousand Lakes of Amorphis.

Sami: And also Something Wild of Children of Bodom is like Taneli Jarva, it's amazing!

Lauri: Yes, Alexi Laiho's idol is Taneli Jarva, like mine.

M: And other good vocalists?

Lauri: You don't like Marco Hietala.

*Sami laughs :)*

M: I hate his terrible voice! *laughs*

Lauri: I like it very much. Whom else should I name?

Sami: Mike Patton.

Lauri: Yes, Mike Patton from Faith No More is good. And I have to name James Hetfield.

M: And who's vocals you don't like?

Lauri: Well, Tuomas Holopainen is my bandmate, but sometimes when I hear Nigthwish, Tarja's voice is… well… I can say I don't like it. I like Nightwish very much, but sometimes, when you have a hangover… *all laugh* There's some bands in Finland you don't know… Uniklubi, Smak…

M: I know…

Lauri: I don't like it. I don't like this kind of new metal. They try to be very hard, and clean vocals…

M: And Negative?

Sami: No!

Lauri: Never heard!

M: How comes? Do you know Ville Laihiala sang backing-vocals for them?

Lauri: Of course I know. Negative has a couple of good songs, but I heard them only on the radio.

M: And the last question. When we got our "virtual" interview with Sami and Ilkka, there was a question to describe the band-members of Embraze. So, Lauri, now it's your turn to describe them.

Lauri: Ilkka is of course a very good drummer, one of the best in Finland , I think. He's a very good person. He doesn't do anything occasionally, first he has to think about that, he's very careful. We've done Embraze together and we are very good friends.

Sami: Ilkka does great drums. We have 130 thousand people in Oulu and Ilkka is the best. He's an amazing drummer, fucking great drummer.

Lauri: Sami is very good with additional things, he takes care of making videos, doing our home-page.

Sami: It hasn't been difficult, just took some minutes. Ok, few weekends.

Lauri: Of course Heidi is very beautiful on stage.

Sami: Lauri is a great singer and a great guitar player. He's unique. Ilkka is unique too. And our bass-player Olli-Pekka is amazing. There're many people and bands in Oulu and we're lucky he's playing in our band.

Late and Sami, thanks for the interview you gave to Crimson Dawn:) I know it was late, and you were tired after the gig, and we all were drunk because of the celebrating:) but still – thanks a lot:)