Author: Rok Klemše
Interview date: February 28, 2007
Finland’s wonder boys Machine Men have been turning heads ever since their first record came out. Plenty of people have already crowned them the heirs to the legendary Iron Maiden, mostly thanks to a killer voice that sounds a lot like a young Bruce Dickinson. We talked to vocalist Anthony about the new record, free time and a few other things.
Rockline: Hey guys! First off, thanks for doing this interview. Your new record, Circus of Fools, just came out. How long did it take you to make it, from start to release?
Toni: About a year, I think, same as with the last record, Elegies. We worked like crazy and spent whole days in the studio.
Rockline: Circus of Fools is a bit heavier than the earlier ones, with some thrash metal influences and less of the “Iron Maiden sound”. Are you happy with how it turned out?
Toni: Yeah, definitely. We wanted to do something new, but still respect and honor our roots. The heavier sound actually came about totally naturally… We just wrote music we liked, that’s all.
Rockline: So which tracks are your favorites on the new record?
Toni: Hard to say – they change all the time, but all the songs are good. If I had to pick, I’d say Circus of Fools, Ghost of the Seasons, The Shadow Gallery and Where I Stand. I can’t wait to play the new songs live!
Rockline: People must ask you all the time where the band name comes from. Did you borrow it from Bruce Dickinson’s album The Chemical Wedding?
Toni: That’s actually a question for our drummer Jarno, the name was his idea. He claims he didn’t borrow it from Bruce’s song of the same name, but I say he’s lying. That said, Chemical Wedding and Accident of Birth were our Bibles when we first started playing.
Rockline: You just shot a video for No Talk Without the Giant from the new record. How did the shoot go?
Toni: To be honest… I don’t even remember it that well. I was completely wiped out. The day before the shoot I had a gig with another band in Turku, and the shoot was in Helsinki the next morning. I slept maybe an hour on the train, then drank a dozen coffees during the shoot, didn’t even count the energy drinks, read porn mags, and somehow managed to stay awake.
Rockline: How does the songwriting work for you guys? Where do the ideas for your music even come from?
Toni: Our drummer Jarno is the main writer. The process is actually really simple – Jarno writes the music at home and adds a few vocal melodies to the songs. I write the lyrics and add my own vocal melodies. Guitarist J-V writes a lot of material too. I can’t say where Jarno gets his ideas, but I get my lyric ideas from everyday life and the dark thoughts in my head.
Rockline: You started out as an Iron Maiden cover band. Which albums by the legendary Maidens are your favorites?
Toni: Seventh Son is awesome. It’s hard to pick the best one, they’ve got so many incredible records.
Rockline: Are you planning a European tour?
Toni: Yeah, the tour kicks off in Finland in March, and the rest of Europe comes in April and May as part of The Earthshaker Roadshock Tour. The line-up and running order for Germany is Fintroll, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, Tarot, After Forever, Machine Men and All Ends, and for the rest of Europe it’s Finntroll, After Forever, Tarot, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, Machine Men and All Ends.
Rockline: What are you listening to right now? And what are your favorite bands?
Toni: I don’t know… It’s always changing… Ozzy is great.
Rockline: So what do you guys do outside Machine Men?
Toni: We sit in the sauna pouring energy drinks down our throats. My favorite place in the world. And answering interviews, of course. Some of us have day jobs too. Our bassist is going to acting school, I think he’ll be the next Brad Pitt. J-V is a salesman, Jani is a security guard, and drummer Jarno works at a lumber factory as a lab worker… probably brewing moonshine. Me, I do graphic design.
Rockline: Any last thoughts or greetings for the Slovenian fans?
Toni: Kippis ja Kulaus! Hope to see you soon! And buy the new record – it’s awesome!
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