TERVEET KÄDET : 2 interviews (2004 & 1999) ENGLISH VERSION

Those legendary pioneers of finnish Punk and Thrashcore/Metal are still alive, and here are below not less than two different interviews to prove it : a first one, which has just been done been done with Puksu, their bass player, followed by a second one that I did a few years ago with Läjä, their singer. Have a good reading !
Exclusive interview with Puksu (bass) by Hanns Wehrwolf (Hans Cany) August 2004
Hell-o, Puksu ! We almost haven't heard of TERVEET KÄDET for now several years, and many people even believe the band does not exist anymore... Please let us know what happened since the release of your latest album "Non Ultra Descriptica", in year 2000...
PUKSU : You're right, you haven't heard from us for almost four years, coz we have serious troubles with finding a new record label. And on another hand, we had a need to do some other projects on our own. Maike and Sir Luttinen (our drummer since 2002) have their other band THE BLACK LEAGUE, and they spend almost whole year 2003 recording their new album, which by the way is fucking great ! Lene has recently joined in a band called PLAN E, and he still have his GRUD-band, and I have this sideproject called AUDACITY. And I'll spend a lot of time with that band recording our debut album and playing gigs. Lääjää has his family. But TERVEET KÄDET is still active, we have been writing and practising new songs and we have done live shows quite actively !
Sadly, SOLARDISK RDS, the finnish label you were signed on and who released your two latest albums , broke up one or two years ago... Did you manage to find another one, or are you currently still in search of a new label ?
PUKSU : Sadly indeed, Jani ended to close his one-man-revolution-in-music-business ! And even more sadly, I have to tell you that we're having big troubles to find a new "home". You all know that TERVEET KÄDET isn't "mainstream", and it's really hard nowadays to find a decent record company which is ready to put some effort for you and your music. And if you're not "mainstream", you'll not be something that companies think "you're worth for some money". At least, the situation is this in Finland !...
"Doomed Alien Race" (Album, 1997)
And which are your current activities ? Do you plan some new studio recordings, and do you still play gigs from time to time ? If so, in Finland only, or do you also play abroad, sometimes ?
PUKSU : We have material ready for a new album, and we have actually made demos of new songs. We have played new songs live a couple of times, and the acceptance was great ! We have been quite active to play gigs . Because it's the best part in music....playing live ! And of course we'll come abroad if somebody wants us! Sadly it's always a matter of money, shitty situation.
TERVEET KÄDET has always been one of the biggest names ever from the finnish Hardcore Punk scene since 1980. However, your music style evolved a lot since then . At the beginning and during all the first part of your existence, it sounded very chaotic, noisy and messy. But since the band's rebirth , back in the mid-90's, TERVEET KÄÄDET'sound never stopped to get more and more "Metal" influenced, and your new sound could be now described as a kind of "darkened Crust/Metal Thrashcore". How do you explain this evolution ?
PUKSU : I think that evolution is mostly subconscious . We haven't ever made agreement to do "somekind" of music . TERVEET KÄDET's music is like vomit, what we've vomited together ! OK, time goes ahead and we go too . I mean, TERVEET KÄDET music has changed mostly because original members don't play in the band anymore . And we, the new members, have brought our own influences into the band. We're Metal-fans, and that's a fact !
"The Ultimate Pain" (Album, 1999)
And nowadays, do you still feel linked to the Punk scene, one way or another ?... Do you think, as I do, that your new sound can appeal both to Hardcore Punk and Thrash/Metal fans ?
PUKSU : Somehow we will be linked to the Punk scene forever ! Even though TERVEET KÄDET's sound of today is more Metal than ever, we cannot forget our roots . And surely we will play those HC/Punk-classics in every gig, simply coz those songs are so fun to play ! I simply hope that everybody can enjoy and like our music ! I think that even though TERVEET KÄDET is a "Metal-band", we will never give up aggression and brutality in our music! Those components makes us what we are!
In fact, TERVEET KÄDET's current style, in my eyes, could be classified halfway between DISCHARGE and ENTOMBED's latest works. Do you agree with this way to describe it ? And can you confirm that those two legendary bands are parts of your main inspirations ?
PUKSU : Hell yeah ! We're all big fans of those bands ! But it wasn't mentioned to sound like them. In those days we've been listening to these bands a lot. If I tell you that we're all great fans of ENTOMBED , so that wouldn't be a suprise if I say that yes, ENTOMBED is one of our main inspirations !
Your two latest albums "The Ultimate Pain" and "Non Ultra Descriptica" (more especially this last one) also featured some much "slower" and much "heavier" tracks than what you used to do previously, with a very powerful sound, hypnotic melodies, and really dark atmospheres. Personally, I trully enjoy that a lot, and it reminds me a bit of bands like KILLING JOKE, GODFLESH, or even MORGOTH's last album "Feel sorry for the Fanatic"... Do you appreciate such bands, and did they really have some kind of influence on your latest works ? Do you intend to keep on exploring this quite unusual but very effective way, for your future releases ?
PUKSU : When we recorded "Non Ultra Descriptica", our musical approach was a bit of different than than usual. Each of us brought a part of the song to practise, and then we just played it over and over again. At some point, it was just "there". We wanted to sound heavy and dark. So we decided to drop tuning and play simply those riffs hard. I'm a big fan of KILLING JOKE and GODFLESH, but I don't recognize those bands on that album so much. Yes, we will absolutely explore quite different ways to do music. And I can surely say that next TERVEET KÄDET album will sound a bit different, but still it will sound like TERVEET KÄDET !
"Non Ultra Descriptica" (Album, 2000)
Concerning your lyrics, although they have always been like that, it seems like they even tend to get more and more "nihilistic" and disillusioned, and that they always get darker and darker from an album to the next one... What is it due to, according to you ? Do all the band's members share these particularly pessimistic views about Society and the World in general ?... And in a few words, how would you define the band's philosophy about all that ?
PUKSU : Our lyrics embody our way of seeing things around us, what kind of world we're living in. And yes, we are pessimistic persons, coz we have seen so much shit in our lives. And when we were writing the lyrics to "Non Ultra Descriptica", we were somehow exploring the dark side of human mind . What makes us do so fucked-up things to each other . Simply, our lyrics are a mirror to our world, at least how we experiencing it ! The World is disillusion ! The band's philosophy ? Hard question ! I think that could be put in a few words like SEPULTURA put it : "What were you thinking ? what a wonderful world ? -You're full of shit !" The World is a shitty place to live in , full of needless anger and hate . Everybody is trying to get their piece of the pie, no matter what the costs are. We don't want to take part in that !
Back in your early years, your lyrics were all in finnish language, but for the 10 last years or so, you seem to write in english only, with almost no new songs in finnish, despite a few rare exceptions. What's the reason for that ?
PUKSU : When TERVEET KÄDET started to sound more Metal than Punk, it was a "normal" thing to do. Change lyrics from finnish to english. No other reason.
What's your viewpoint about the current music scene in Finland ? Are there some bands you've got friendly contact with, or simply some particular bands who are worth being mentioned and being recommended to readers, according to you ?...
PUKSU : There are so many many great bands here, old veterans and newcomers. Some of them to be mentioned : IMPALED NAZARENE, who are old friends of us, BABYLON WHORES (r.i.p) who are also good friends of us, and ENSTAND, the greatest HC-band we have! Remember that name, ENSTAND !
Which are your other activities, outside the band ? TERVEET KÄDET being a "big name" , being known all over the world, do you manage to live from your music ?
PUKSU : Nobody, except some bands like HIM, lives from music ! At least if they sing in english. Most of us have day jobs, to get money to pay for bills and rents.....
Terveet Kädet on stage, early 80's
You know it, many of your early records are now very hard-to-find collector items, and are so rare that they use to be sold at incredible prices... Do you intend to re-release some of them in the near future, in order to make them available again at reasonable prices ?
PUKSU : I don't think that nobody has a urge to do so . Except ourselves . But those who own the rights of those albums don't give a shit about re-release those classics !
Is there some merchandising available, such as T-shirts, buttons, and posters ? As you can guess, such items are really hard to find too, and some TERVEET KÄDET fans would be more than happy to to find that... ;-)
PUKSU : Sorry guys ! No merchandise available. For not having a record deal, no merchandise ! However yes, I'm sure that there are still some people who'd like to wear TERVEET KÄDET t-shirts !...
Why is there no official TERVEET KÄDET website ?... Do you plan to build up one, in the near future ? It would be a very effective mean to promote the band, and for fans an easiest way to get news from you, don't you think so ?...
PUKSU : Hold on ! It's coming, be patient! Yes, the Internet is the most effective way to "make noise" of yourself !
Well, thanks a lot for this interview, Puksu ! A last word maybe ?...
PUKSU : Stay tuned ! TERVEET KÄDET will rise again.....We're coming, bringing darkness over humankind ! Respect to all WARDANCE readers !
Exclusive interview with Läjä (vocals) by Hanns Wehrwolf (Hans Cany), 27 april 1999
Hello Läjä ! TERVEET KÄDET is one of the biggest names in the finnish Punk and Hardcore scene for a while, now... However, believe it or not, many people here in France still have never heard of you... So, can you please briefly remind us the band's history from the beginning until today ?... And first of all, what does this name of TERVEET KÄDET mean ?... Sorry, but my knowledge of finnish language is quite limited !... ;-)
LÄJÄ : Well... Everything started in early 1980, in the north of Finland, in a town called Tornio... Our TERVEET KÄDET band name ("The Healthy Hands") means something that you do with your hands, who can kill, save, love, rape etc as well... But as you see, it was longtime ago... The original TERVEET KÄDET line up was Tiimo (guitars) , Piasky (Bass), Peedro (drums) and me, Läjä (voice)... Around 1982, Peedro left the band, and during a short time the drummer was Walde (sadly he died at age 18 ). And after him , my little brother called Tilli came on drums ... Then Tiimo and Piasky also left TERVEET KÄDET in the 80´s, and when Tilli and I moved to Oulu city (the biggest town in the north of Finland) . Then, TERVEET KÄDET began to be more Metal-influenced, but still Hardcore oriented. Maike played the guitars and Lene was on bass. Nevertheless, Lene moved to the USA in 1998, and we now have Puksu on bass...
TERVEET KÄDET in the early 80's Why did the band broke up, to finally resurrect a few years later ?...
LÄJÄ : Well, when TERVEET KÄDET first "split" up , at the end of the 80´s , it was mainly for being bored with the music stuff. But when your blood is still warm, it finally appears to be funnier to play. Maike, who was a big fan of the early TERVEET KÄDET joined to play with us when his Metal band FAFF-BEY broke up. Furthermore, LENE was another Tornio born who moved to Oulu at that time times...So that´why...
What's your motivation for still being a so active and modern band, after all those years ?
LÄJÄ : To PLAY and PLAY again ! We always wanted to do our BEST, and so...it still continues !
Until 1997, several of your CDs and vinyl EPs had been produced by a small but well-known finnish label called Alternative Action Records. Why did you finally quit this label ?... And for which reasons did you finally chose to sign on your new label, Solardisk ?
LÄJÄ : Well, Alternative Action Records (AAR) wanted to do something for us... It´s too expensive to put out records, and we had some good songs too, at that time. But AAR were a little bit too "Punk" (HC) to promote these songs, and they even were a little bit too assholes, and they did nothing special for their bands. So we left this label and found that Solardisk was much better (Mr LEHTOSAARI is a bass player with IMPALED NAZARENE, another finnish METAL/HC band), and that they were more Metal-oriented than AAR, and more friendly to us too...
So, Solardisk finally produced your latest album, "The Ultimate Pain"... Are you fully satisfied with this record ?...
LÄJÄ : "The Ultimate Pain" represents what TERVEET KÄDET is today, and what we wanted to do... That is our best stuff so far (although the cover is a little bit shitty, anyway). And of course we have lots of good reviews about it, especially in Metal mags, but also in Punk mags and so on...
Two of the band's main characteristics are the darkened and stormy tension your music is filled with, and also your obvious interest in a rather dark imagery. Where does this "dark side" of TERVEET KÄDET come from ?...
LÄJÄ : I think it´s mainly due to our Finnish background, you know : COLD, LONG, DARK WINTER time... And of course we´re lonely people here in Finland, and our human mind is so depressive, so maniac... We like the "dark" vision. I don't know...That is due to something which is in our blood, maybe ????
The "Metal" side of your sound is also quite unusual for a Punk band, and it gives you a very personal identity. Does the "Thrashcore/Metal" scene have an influence on you ?
LÄJÄ : Yes, we´ve "metallized" our sound, BUT we´re not a Heavy Metal band... Hardcore can still be found by our side. In fact, it´s more about sounding Metal its better than chaotic style , which is a bit too tight. We´re fans of SLAYER anyway, and of DISCHARGE too.
You've got good taste , since in my eyes, DISCHARGE is a fabulous band too ! What kind of influence did they have on TERVEET KÄDET ?
LÄJÄ : All we got from DISCHARGE is that it´s our FAVE band for all these years, and that's even better when you still listen to it... Really good (thanx guys !) .
Nevertheless, aren't you afraid to sound both too "Metal" for fans of Punk music, and too "Punk" for Metal fans ?... According to you, does your music manage to transcend cultural and musical sectarisms ?...
LÄJÄ : Well..we just don't care, we´re here for such a long time that nobody can really "hurt" our musical ideas, now. We do what we want, if it's Punk for somebody, Metal for somebody else, it doesn't really matter. TERVEET KÄDET are still the same band... ok ?
Which are the other bands you like and have friedly contacts with ?
LÄJÄ : We liked to old SEPULTURA (letters to MAX and so on), DEAD KENNEDYS (with Jello Biafra) + our Finnish bands and really good old Brazilian / Mexican stuff too...
According to you, did anything change since Punk first appeared ?... What's your viewpoint about this scene and movement , such as they appear nowadays ?
LÄJÄ : When so called PUNK came up, it sounded good. Then HARDCORE came up, sounding even better, and finally THRASH METAL/SPEED METAL, which sounded even better than everything else... Well in fact, we liked the original idea... But it has now become a kind of standard stuff, like anyone else who likes good music, a bit like "rebel" Rock'a'Billy in the 50´s... Punk is too soft nowadays. TOO SOFT, sorry !
Is TERVEET KÄDET what we might call a "political" band ? Anyway, your lyrics show that you feel deeply concerned by some "serious" issues... What kind of message do you spread through your songs ?
LÄJÄ : Well... All these humans are shit...Ah ah !! Don't know. It would be better to leave this planet to these really good fiends called the animals... So, if TERVEET KÄDET's themes are something like this one, that´s good. Or about our sexsual perversions heh..That´s another of our themes too...
After all those years, which are your favourite TERVEET KÄDET releases ?
LÄJÄ : Well, there´s some really good shit like "Aareton Joulu" EP from 1982, "Halloween" 12" from '83, and something from '99 called "The Ultimate Pain"... Or "Sign of the Cross" too...
What are your main projects, now ?...
LÄJÄ : The new record to come, which should be called "Diabolic", sounds a bit "slowier", but it´s still TERVEET KÄDET... We already have the demo versions. Maybe we'll record these songs next year...And gigs here in Finland... Nothing special...
Well, this interview is now almost finished... Do you have anything more to say, or a special wish to express ?...
LÄJÄ : Well,,,keep in touch ! It´s now end of this stuff. I mean the whole 1900´s, so I just hope that year 2000 will be better for the poor human soul...
The ultimate word ?...
LÄJÄ : PAIN !
CONTACT (Puksu)
terveetkadet@luukku.com
DISCOGRAPHY
- EP "Rock Laahausta Vastaan" 1980 (Ikbal) - EP "Terveet Kädet II" 1981 (Ikbal) - EP "Ääretön Joulu" 1982 (Poko) - EP "Kädet Suojelee" 1983 (P. Tuotanto) - Mini LP "Terveet Kädet" 1983 (Propaganda) - Mini LP "Halloween" 1983 (Rock-O-Rama) - LP "Black God" (Rock-O-Rama 1984) - LP "The Horse" 1985 (Barabbas) - EP "Oma Koloni" 1988 (Ikbal) - EP "Anno Domini" 1989 (Ikbal) - EP "Live Kemi 1982" 1990 (Mad Rat) - EP "Unkind" 1990 (Mad Rat) - EP "Slow Promotion" 1991 (Mad Rat) - EP "Message" 1991 (Kill city) - EP "Six song EP" 1991 (Highly collectable) - EP "Bizarre domination" 1992 (AAR) - LP "Propaganda" 1993 (Kill City) - EP "Pahan Voima 1987" 1995 (AAR) - CD "Sign of the Cross" 1995 (AAR) - EP "Bondage & Anguished Live" 1996 (Healthy hands) - CD "Hardcore brutality" 1996 (Grand Theft) - CD "Kumia Ja Verta - 1987" 1996 (AAR) - CD "Doomed alien race" 1997 (AAR) - LP "Leather enslavement" 1998 (Klayster) - CD "The Ultimate Pain" 1999 (Solardisk) - CD "Ääretön Propaganda" 1999 (Propaganda) -CD "Non Ultra Descriptica" 2000 (Solardisk) -CD "Deep Wounds" 2001 (Usina de Sangue Rds) -CD "Onnellisia Kytkentöjä 1980-2000" 2002 (Solardisk)