Our next quest is Nino Laurenne, the singer/guitarist in Finnish metal-band ANTIDOTE. I asked him
latest news and some facts concerning their history.
Mike Steel:
In underground -metal circles ANTIDOTE began to be noticed with Epoch of Insanity -demo from
1990. The demo in question included some good quality Speed Metal and I was almost certain that
demo will secure you recording-deal. Was it irritating that couple of years earlier it would have been
easy to get deal even with worse demo?
Nino Laurenne:
Epoch of Insanity was in fact the demo which got us the deal with SHARK. Couple of years earlier
our demos were so bad there's no way we would-ve got a deal with them. And nowadays when I
listen Epoch... huh huh!!
Mike Steel:
Epoch -demo helped your career so that it spreaded all over the world through tape trading. I
remember seeing it in foreign lists even before I've checked it myself. All in all I would say that all the
bands of that period got good start for them by active metal-underground of those times. How big do
you think was importance of that movement for ANTIDOTE?
Nino Laurenne:
Underground is very important for bands which don't have a deal, but if band gets a deal from even a
bit "bigger" label, the importance becomes smaller and smaller. But of course I have to admit
underground was one of the things that made us carry on, especially when demos got ok rewiews.
Mike Steel:
At the end of eighties there was in Helsinki -area lots of Metal Massacre and other similar events
where performed many Speed -bands at same concert. Did you play many that kind of gigs and
where they cool?
Nino Laurenne:
As an matter of fact, I think, ANTIDOTE didn't to play in any of those Metal Massacre -events but
yes, they were cool gigs during that golden age of thrash/speed.
Mike Steel:
ANTIDOTE is one of the few bands from that thrash/speed -period which is still together. Now Metal is
again in a slight raise of popularity (at least in Finland), but was there any motivation problems
during those times when Metal was at it's lowest and when it would have been cooler to play
grunge.
Nino Laurenne:
When we got a deal, motivation-problems were over bevause from then we had to think all the time
what next. And although our sale-figures weren't huge, nothing in the world would have made us to
play "that fuckin' grunge-shit". It's power which talks in a music, not some damn grungemillionaires
who complain about fans fans who don't leave them alone... Fuck'em!
Mike Steel:
Did you two albums with SHARK RECORDS which isn't one with the best reputation. I remember
that they had some confusions with two first SEPULTURA lp's, for example. Did you feel at all
doubtful when you signed the paper?
Nino Laurenne:
Well, I must say when guys under seventies receive a letter from Germany which says "we are very
interested about your band" it's bound to make them go nuts and sign almost anything, like if you
don't hurry they are going to take the offer away. But we did have Ande Päiväläinen who checked
out it first, but I think we would have signed it anyway. And it wasn't anything unusual, just normal
slavedeal, which means artist pays everything (from the royalties).
Mike Steel:
In your latest record Mind Alive you took a step towards more melodic and traditional Heavy Metal.
How you like that album now when it's been a year since it was released? Has it sold well enough?
Nino Laurenne:
Mind Alive is still listenable, in fact the only one of our records which I can still listen without feeling
bad, of course there is bits and pieces I would do differently today but it would be mad to think
thing like that, it is what it is and stays that way! Record-sales begin to satisfy me when Mr. Laurenne is driving at least Porche which means sales could always be better!
Mike Steel:
From your homepage I noticed that that you have recruited a new basist called Titus Hjelm. Do we
know him from any previous connections? Why Peltonen left the band?
Nino Laurenne:
Titus used to play guitar in a band called INCREDIBLE BRAINSHELLS. Peltonen left because he
wanted to do something completely different than music. There wasn't any disagreements.
Mike Steel:
Your musical foundation has kept pretty much same over the years, although there was certain
amount of renewal in Mind Alive. Your Speed Metal -roots are still shining through. Are you going to
decrease those influences from your sound in your future releases?
Nino Laurenne:
When I'm working on songs I never thing that now I make thrash-part and after that I'll make speed-
part. It's just a fact that certain stuff appeal to me and if there is some kind of label for that stuff , I
don't mind. But I admit that we will decrease most conventional speed/thrash -parts... Maybe! I
mean we have couple of new songs which thrash like hell!!! About radical style-changes... never!!!
Mike Steel:
So far ANTIDOTE has played gigs mostly in Helsinki -area. Any plans for club-tour to other areas of
Finland?
ANTIDOTE:
In fact we have been planning it but it haven't yet gone any further due to our laziness. But I'm sure that
miracle will come true someday.
Mike Steel:
How much you have finished new material? Tell us something about new songs. Have you already
decided when next album will be recorded?
Nino Laurenne:
I'm maybe world's slowest composer. I have had almost completed songs about album's worth but
when my rejection-rate is 99, there isn't much left after that, we have few finished ones and demo should
be done early winter. New material could be described as mercilessly heavy with melodic
choruses! New record hasn't been even discussed yet, but I think it will be out before year 2000...
Maybe!!!