Finnish metal band Stråle recently released Resist & Reform, a powerful anthem against greed and anger, featuring Soilwork's Björn Strid. In this interview, they share insights on collaborations, evolving sounds, and upcoming projects.
1.
Congratulations on the release of "Resist & Reform"! What
inspired the themes of this song, and how do they resonate with today’s world?
Thank you! The song came out of a frustration of how the world is constantly
feeding on greed and anger. we wanted to make a change with our music. To
inspire to be a positive force.
2. Featuring Björn Strid from Soilwork is a significant collaboration. How
did this partnership come about, and what was it like working with him on this
track?
When we wrote the song our guuitarist who is a big Soilwork fan thought that
this would be a perfect match for Björns vocals. We reached out, he really
liked the song and started to work with it right away. It was very inspiring to
get his take on the song.
3. Teemu Aalto produced "Resist & Reform," and Jacob Hansen
mixed it. Can you tell us how their contributions shaped the final sound of the
song?
Teemu and Jacob are two of the top producers of alternative metal in the nordic
countries. And as you can hear their contribution made a huge impact. They are
also in charge of the whole album so it is definitely going to be a high-quality
sounding album!
4. With the recent addition of Daniel Jakobsson as your vocalist, how has
the band's sound evolved, and what does he bring to Stråle’s music?
The new vocals is more emotional based and clean. It has pushed us maybe in a
more melodic direction but without losing the raw energy that is our trademark.
5. Your music often carries a distinct Finnish melancholy. How do you
balance this with the heavy, energetic elements of your sound?
Well that is the foundation of the Stråle sound. It can be hard sometimes to
find the right balance, but when we do there is magic.
6. The lyrics of "Resist & Reform" reflect a call for unity
and change. What message do you hope listeners take away from this song?
We hope that it will inspire people to stand up for eachother. To fight the
ignorance and fight for love!
7. You have a European tour coming up with Orphaned Land. What are you most
looking forward to on this tour, and how do you prepare for live performances?
It's going to be awesome that for the first time meet our European fans. We are
preparing and rehearsing to make a hell of a show!
8. Your last singles have already gained significant traction with 120,000
streams. How do you think your audience has responded to your recent music
compared to your earlier work?
We have only got really good response - It looks like the audience and fans
love the new direction.
9. The upcoming single, a cover of "Blinding Lights" by The
Weeknd, is an interesting choice. What inspired you to cover this song, and how
do you plan to put your own twist on it?
We have been playing it live for about a year to spice up things. We put some
Stråle energy into it without destroying the original feeling of the song. It
will be a banger!
10. As a band that’s been active since 2009, how do you feel your journey
has shaped your current identity and sound as Stråle?
Well the journey is everything. We are constantly evolving and the sound get
more and more shaped in our own distinct style.
11. Jaakko Suomalainen has joined the band on guitar. How has his presence
changed your live performances and songwriting dynamic?
He has brought a lot of energy into the band in many ways. His guitar riffing
and energy on stage is mindblowing and we're lucky to have him onboard.
12. Looking ahead, what can fans expect from Stråle in 2025 and beyond,
especially regarding new music and tours?
The new album will be released in spring 2025 and with that we expect to be
playing a lot in finland and hopefully a european tour again in fall .
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