RAGINPIT MAGAZINE

Khachi Cleveland - Former Raginpit Magazine Staff Writer

I was very excited about the concert that I was going to see tonight, but more so excited about the interview in which I was going to conduct with one of the members of Children of Bodom. I have been a big fan of theirs from the first time I heard their third album, Follow the Reaper. They had a unique sound to me that was like no other. I was very nervous and in a way felt very unprepared. I was going to interview Janne Warman (keyboards), but then when I got there I found out I was going to talk to Henkka Seppälä (bass). We talked a little bit about their new album Are You Dead Yet?. Either way, I was still excited that I had the opportunity to talk with him and this is how it went:

Please tell us your name and what instrument you play.

Henkka: My name is Henkka and I play bass guitar.

Out of all the places that you have been throughout Europe, America, and Japan, who has the best metal scene that you have seen throughout the world? Who do you think has the most impact as far as crowds go?

Henkka: You don't see that much of a metal scene anywhere. Yeah, you see the crowds and the fans. Yeah, I think that's all you really can see in the metal scene.

Who gives a better response? I know it's not us here in America because we have a really poor metal scene.

Henkka: The response is good. Of course it's a little different everywhere, but for example, when you compare kids in Japan to kids in New York City who are agressive (though in a good way) you get a lot of them who do circle pits and the Japanese are more like they are delighted that we are playing for them.

What is your favorite track off the new album?

Henkka: For me it's like changing all the time. At the moment it's "Are you dead yet?" I like to play it live too. It used to be "Living Dead Beat," but it's more difficult to play live.

Do you think that having long hair makes you metal?

Henkka: I don't think it matters if you have long hair or not to be metal. Look at Phil Anselmo from Pantera and Randy from Lamb of God; they have short hair and they are still metal. So to me it doesn't make a difference.

I know you changed your name from "Inearthed" to "Children of Bodom," can you explain the story for those that don't know?

Henkka: We had the band called Inearthed and then we made a couple of demos and then we got a deal from a small record label in Europe and then we made the album for them and the album was Something Wild - first one of ours. Then when the album was done, we luckily had some guy from our record label hear the album and he was like, 'yeah, yeah you have to come to our label.' And we were like, 'no, sorry we just staying with our label,' and he was like, 'I know, I know you're happy not playing for us.' So we figured out how to get away from the deal from the small label and the only thing is the band would like break up. Then we just started a band with a new name. Then we started Children of Bodom.

I know that Alexander left the band and then you have the entrance of Roope. How has he improved the band since he has been playing with you?

Henkka: He improved the whole atmosphere between the members of the band.

It seems like your sound has totally changed when he came into the band and Alexander left. You seem more heavier and faster than you were. I noticed a progressive change with each album. So I was wondering if he has had the influence, or is it the group together - you are just progressing forward like that?

Henkka: I would say it's more the group and not about Roope coming into the band because Alexi is doing about 95 percent of the music and I dont think with Roope in the band has affected the music we're doing. Roope did maybe two riffs, but he didn't change the style that we are doing. Maybe with Alexi because Roope is such a skillful guitar player. Maybe Alexi can write all kinds of riffs for the rhythm guitar, but he would be sure that the second guitarist would play everything that he chose. I don't think the sound of the band has so far changed because of the member change. The mentality in the band and relationship of the five members is some how better now, I would say.

Can you give me an idea of what you feel when you are on stage?

Henkka: It's very hard to describe. It's kind of a very blank moment when you go on stage. There's not much going on in your head. The first thing is that you want to go on stage and then give the people the kind of energy that we bring with the music and then the best thing is when you receive it and back, and it's like an interaction with the whole crowd and that's the best way to do it. Then in the end, both parties are very excited and very happy. What we are trying to do is give them good vibes - like the feeling of the music somehow with the audience and hope to get it back from them too and then it's perfect.

Have you guys ever thought about playing outside of San Francisco? Like in Sacramento?

Henkka: No. That, you would have to talk to the booking manager about. We don't actually decide where we play. So we just go wherever they tell us to go.

So how is your tour going right now with Trivium and Amon Amarth? Is it going good?

Henkka: It's going pretty good. I mean it's been now two or three weeks and we started from Cananda and most of the shows have been sold out. I mean it's frightening for us because we are doing a headlining tour, but then again we knew that Trivium was going to be good for a supporting band because they are very popular and they pull in lots of crowds - so does Amon Amarth. So that's why we have had many people at the shows; so it's perfect.

Are we going to see you guys playing more often in California, instead of once or twice a year?

Henkka: I don't know. We are playing four shows in Calfornia. San Francisco, Santa Ana, San Diego and Los Angeles.

What would you like to say to all of your fans out there?

Henkka: I just want to say that we're very thankful for all the people who have been attending all the shows so far and I wish that all the kids who have our albums will just want to come to the show and support the whole tour. I'm just so grateful because our tour has been good so far. Thank you, everybody who has been supportive.

Thank you for your time for this interview and I can't wait to see you guys again when you come back around the Bay.

To me it seemed as if he wanted me to ask him some more questions, but I didn't have anymore. From their pictures, they look all mean and evil, but when you talk to them, you find out that they are the sweetest and nicest people that you could ever meet and I was very thankful to have had the opportunity to meet him. I thanked him for his time and I asked him if I could have an autograph for my son (he is my little mosher). I was on cloud 9 the whole time from the time the interview began to the time the show ended. I wish everyone could've felt what I felt that night.

http://www.myspace.com/childrenofbodom