Thrash Metal erfreut sich wieder zunehmender Beliebtheit, und ein gutes Stück dürften die Finnen The Scourger dazu beigetragen haben, die dieser Tage mit "Dark Invitation To Armageddon" ihr zweites, formidables Album vorgelegt haben. Auf ebenjener Scheibe besticht die Band ebenso mit rasierklingenscharfen Riffs und furiosem Drumming wie mit feinen Harmonien und Gitarrensoli. Über allem regiert aber Mr. Scourger himself, Sänger Jari Hurskainen, mit seiner unnachahmlichen Ferkelstimme, während er sein Gefolge mit einer Peitsche in Schach hält... Dennoch waren er und Drummer Seppo Tarvainen so nett, nicht nur ihre Peitsche knallen zu lassen, sondern sich für ein paar Fragen Zeit zu nehmen.

SJM: Hi Jari, hi Seppo, how are you?

Jari / The Scourger: Hi! A little bit tired, after a hard workshift weekend, I guess that Seppo has a great hangover.

Seppo / The Scourger: Hi! I'm okay, never felt stronger...

SJM: Could you perhaps introduce The Scourger and its members to our readers?

Seppo / The Scourger: Yeah! We are a Finnish brute thrash metal band and we are here to kick some ass! The band is: Jari-Vocals, Seppo-Drums, Jani-Guitar, Antti-guitar and Kimmo-Bass.

SJM: A question regarding the beginnings of The Scourger: Jari, you started The Scourger together with drummer Seppo. What was the reason to step aside your former band Gandalf and start a new band?

Jari / The Scourger: Actually I didn`t step aside, Gandalf was split-up over a year before we started this band.

SJM: You were later joined by three members of Gandalf. So was the band still existing when The Scourger saw the light of day?

Jari / The Scourger: No, like I said before, Gandalf had already split up and the rest of the guys were also free at the time, when we were looking for more members, so it was all just a pure coincidence that there were so many ex-Gandalf members in the beginning.

SJM: How did you, Jari and Seppo, come together?

Jari / The Scourger: I was looking for a new band or project for several months mainly from the internet and one day I noticed an advert where two guys said that they where looking for a vocalist for a thrash band. I contacted the guys and we arranged a meeting, things went well and after that, quite fast we already started to write some stuff.

Seppo / The Scourger: Yeah, we was like, if you are interested, the job is yours! That’s about it.

SJM: Regarding the sound of The Scourger, it differs very much from the sound of your former band. For you, Jari, was it a conscious step away from the Death Metal-roots towards Thrash Metal when you left Gandalf?

Jari / The Scourger: No, I wasn`t planning any new musical directions, the only thing in my head was "the war ain`t over" attitude. I mean, when Gandalf was at the end of the road, all happened very fast and I thought from my personal view point that I still have a burning ambition for music, so my decision was very easy, I`ll continue...

SJM: What do you think is the most outstanding trademark of The Scourger?

Jari / The Scourger: It must be our hellish, furious demon WHIP!

Seppo / The Scourger: And of course we are an outstanding live band and of course you should witness Jari using the goddamn whip on stage! How odd is that!

SJM: Back in 2005, you had even a number 1-hit in Finland with your "Hatehead"-single. Can you explain what had happened back then, in Germany it would be impossible to hit the charts with that kind of music?!

Jari / The Scourger: The answer is perfect timing, the release hit the shop in the same week when we had the Tuska Festival over here, so there were thousands of headbangers in town and of course they wanted to buy every new metal release they could find.

Seppo / The Scourger: But of course we were like, what the fuck? We are freaking number one in the single charts!! No way!

SJM: You have your new album out these days, "Dark Invitation To Armageddon". Did you already get reactions to the album?

Jari / The Scourger: Yeah, a few reviews and those have been mainly positive, but I think that we are more curious about what will happen outside of Finland, because of all the possible touring we wanna do.

Seppo / The Scourger: Sure man, people are really digging it!

SJM: What are you doing these days when the album is about to be released?

Jari / The Scourger: Promotion and more promotion! Some live shows and making plans for the summer festivals and gigs.

Seppo / The Scourger: Hopefully we can get some larger tours outside of Finland and some festivals booked soon!

SJM: What is your favourite song on the album?

Jari / The Scourger: It depends on the day, but today's spontaneuos opinion: "Last Nail To The Coffin".

Seppo / The Scourger: My favourite is "Dark Invitation To Armageddon". Because it is little bit progressive and very death metal sounding song. Works like hell on stage.

SJM: Are you writing the songs in a team? In another interview I’ve read that you, Seppo, are doing most of the song-writing?!

Seppo / The Scourger: That's very true, I'm the main song writer. Some of the guys have brought some riffs to the table here and there, but the main parts are mine. Me and Antti have just started to write some stuff together, so let's see what happens in the future. Our other guitarist Jani brings also some input to the songs when he gets down to it.

SJM: Were the songs which now made it on "Dark Invitation To Armageddon" already written when you entered the studio or did you have the possibility to even improve them in the studio and experiment a little bit?

Seppo / The Scourger: They were written beforehand and even demoed at the rehearsal place. But of course we had left some stuff for the studio, for example Jari worked on the vocal arrangements together with producer Aaro Seppovaara. And of course there's also some small changes that can be done when you edit the final stuff.

SJM: In how far is the cover-artwork relating to the music and the title of the album? Or is the guy with the bullwhip in his hand your sixth band-member?

Jari / The Scourger: I think it goes very much hand in hand, that was our intention and aim. The whole package is a "Dark Invitation To Armageddon" and remember that Mr. Scourger is above all!

SJM: Again a question regarding favourites: Three bands: Kreator, Testament, Slayer, which one is your favourite?

Jari / The Scourger: Three great ones, but if I have to put them in order, then I have to turn the list upside down, and pick fuckin' SLAYER at place #1!

Seppo / The Scourger: Ooh fuck! They are all my favourites, but if I have to pick one of those it would be Testament.

SJM: It would be important for us to know if there are any plans for touring Europe and especially Germany in the near future?

Jari / The Scourger: Nothing is confirmed at the moment, we are looking into a few possibilities, bu nothing is ready right now as we speak. But I can tell you that this has high priority for us. Tell the big German promoters to call us right now an offer a good deal, that is possible to grab without ending up too much in debt!!!

SJM: When doing a tour, what would you prefer: to go on the road with gods like Slayer or Testament, or doing a tour with rather unknown bands?

Jari / The Scourger: Honestly it doesn't matter, I think the biggest difference would be the size of the venues. Sharing the stage with those names you mentioned would be a kind of dream come true scene.

Seppo / The Scourger: I'd like to tour with any of those but the most important thing on the road is the vibe between the bands. When we toured with Napalm Death a while ago I was first afraid that they would be really big stars, and impossible to talk to but hey, they're really down to earth guys and we had a totally great tour. Anyway, if somebody asked me if I would like to tour with Testament, hell I'd give my left testicle for it!

SJM: Any last comments? If there is anything you’d like to say or just add what has not been mentioned yet, you’re welcome!

Jari / The Scourger: Check out The Scourger at www.thescourger.net and the new album "Dark Invitation To Armageddon"! After you have been striken by this Armageddon you can burn all your other albums, hah-ha! Stay thrash!

(Eckart Maronde)