A decade on from their debut release, Finnish Power Metallers Buring Point recently completed work on their fourth album, Empyre, which is already receving a great response. Sea of Tranquility's Dean Pedley recently caught up with Burning Point vocalist Pete Ahonen to talk about this latest release .
SoT: It's now been ten years since you started Burning Point.....how would say the bands sound has evolved over the past decade?
Pete: I think that we are definitively matured as composers as well as writing lyrics. But of course we're still playing the melodic heavy metal which we all love!
SoT: Empyre is getting some great reviews, have you been pleased with the reaction so far?
Pete: Oh man, it has been mind-blowing to read all those reviews! The reviews have been always great, but it looks like we definitively nailed it this time! I think that now it's only a question of big promotion and advertising in magazines, webzines etc.!
SoT: You've been with Metal Heaven for the last two albums now; how are things working out with the label?
Pete: Everything is good with Metal Heaven and hopefully they'll promote and advertise this release as well as it definitively deserves !
SoT: The whole band shared the song writing this time around - how did this happen?
Pete: Well, on the previous album the guys were so new in this band and I had basically written all the material a long time ago, so there were no time or need to write new stuff. As we started planning this new Empyre album everyone had songs ready for the album and I must say that it took a lot of weight from my shoulders. I'm definitively looking forward to start recording the new album in the near future!
SoT: Where do you get your inspiration for the lyrics?
Pete: Lyrically we deal with a everyday life mixed with a little fiction!
SoT: Touring plans will be of interest to our readers and we'd certainly like to see you play here in the UK sometime - anything you can tell us?
Pete: One of those things we get asked a lot ! We get a lot of fan mail from UK too and it would be awesome to play some shows over there ! But, yeah here's the but…as you know touring is in connections with the album sales and it is very expensive to travel, but if the album gets properly promoted and advertised and fans will purchase the record like crazy, we might get a change to do shows! If things would be up to us alone, we would've been there years ago, trust me! We keep our fingers crossed, you do the same hah hah
SoT: Speaking of the UK a couple of bands I am reminded of when listening to Empyre is Magnum and Saxon - are you fans of these bands and have they been an influence?
Pete: Wow, that's the first time I've heard of us compared to those bands! All I can say, is thanks! I'm personally a fan of both of those amazing bands and no doubt that they've left a mark on my song writing.
SoT: What else is planned over the next twelve months for Burning Point?
Pete: Gigs, gathering and filming the material for the DVD release and we start recording the new album too.
SoT: Are there any other music related projects you are involved with?
Pete: Yes, I have 2 other bands. Stargazery which is fronted by a former MSG vocalist Jari Tiura and we've started to record the debut album. It's been a slow start, but we're getting there(check out www.myspace.com/stargazeryband) and also Ghost Machinery, (www.myspace.com/ghostmachinery), in which we are at half way through the recording of the second CD.
SoT: Where do you see Burning Point ten years from now?
Pete: I try to live one day at the time, but I think we will still be in the business. We don't have any plans to quit !
SoT: And finally, was there anything else you wanted to add?
Pete: We want to thank all the fans out there for the support and we do hope that you'll love the new Empyre album! And hopefully see you on tour in the UK !!!
SoT: Many thanks for your time and congratulations on making an excellent album
Pete: Thank you Dean very much for this great interview , it was my pleasure to do.!
Dean Pedley
(Click here to read our review of Empyre)
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