> 1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
>
Iiro: Just recovering ourselves from the last fridays album release party! We're heading to Sweden tomorrow to play few gigs! Then a short break and back to business here in Finland. It's pretty much about the gigs, atl east for few months now..Maybe writing some new stuff at the beginning of '13!
> 2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album?
Well..It's "Experimental"! We wanted to mix up "OldSkool" Thrashy style with some new elements..clean vocals, acoustic guitars, organs etc. With "Withdrawal Syndromes" We were still taking baby steps with those new elements, but in the future we might actually be more innovative with those things..We'll see!
>
> 3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores
> with the new release?
Usually Pessis lyrics deal with death and stuff like that..but in "Withdrawal Syndromes" the scale is a lot more wider. The song "Soap" is about our friend, tattoo artist Tuoppi Latvala. And the song "Killing" is an epic adventure with Mel Gibson as the top banana. But most of the songs still deal with death, accepting death, and realising that eventually everybody is going to end up like that..one way or an other.
>
> 4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
I have no idea. It was Kalle or Pessi who came up with the idea. Had real hard times tryin' to learn how to spell or pronounce that. But it sounds cool..and it looks cool! And as far as I'm concerned we're the one and only band named "Retaliatory Measures". So it's at least individual if nothing else.
>
> 5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and
> how would you describe your stage performance?
I really like performing abroad. Had some really great time when we went to Sweden the last time..and also the last Baltic tour was awesome! But with every show We're bearing down 100% and trying to make it memorable for the audience and ourselves. Our live show is pretty energetic and it's always easier to perform to audience that is reflecting that energy back to us somehow. Usually those shows where the audience is enjoying are the ones that can be considered as the best shows.
>
> 6. Do you have any touring plans for the new release?
So far we have few shows booked to sweden, a minor tour in baltic at the early 2013, and quite a bit of gigs here in Finland. Of course we're really looking forward to get more shows abroad! Would be really awesome to perform around europe and maybe U.S/Asia as well. So booking agencys and promoters in around the world, feel free to contact us ;)
>
> 7. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your new album by
> fans of death and thrash metal?
The feedback so far has been really positive! Of course there's always some negative feedback as well and we were already prepared for that when we started to write "Withdrawal Syndromes". But making your own music should not be about pleasing the critics or tryin' to pander anybody. It's about doing stuff that You want to do..and that's exactly what we are doing! But anyhow, the feedback so far has been really positive and flattering! And it's really cool that people are really noticing those new elements that we've added to our stuff, and I'm pretty suprised that most of them are actually hoping that we'd use even more of those elements in our new material. Maybe..maybe not ;)
>
> 8. What is going on with the other musical projects these days?
I have few other projects besides Retaliatory Measures. Some acoustic material with a few friends of mine and an other one with a bit more Hardcore/punk material. Marko is the bass player in Acoustic Folk/Rock band called "End Of August". And Pessi is the singer in Death metal band "Torture Killer", as far as I know they're currently working on some new material..So metal heads around the world, get ready!
>
> 9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
Let's hope that it keeps evolving to bigger and better! We haven't started to write any new material yet so it's hard to say anything about the new direction..if there even is one. Maybe some more melodic parts and acoustic guitars..You know, for the ladies. ;)
>
> 10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your
> newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I'm quoting myself for this one. We all take influences from very different style of music. That's one of the things that makes RM sound like RM. Pessi is into some dark stuff, Black metal, doom and some freaky white noise hissing. Janne's balls dropped when Pantera was the big deal, He also likes The haunted and At the gates. Kalle's deal is everything with rhythmic guitar riffs and melodies, The Crown, Soilwork..Ihsahn is also one of his favorites. Marko listens to all kinds of bands, lately Foo Figters and Muse have taken on his cd player. I myself have been listening to The Mars Volta, Misery Signals and The Ghost Of A thousand for the last few months.. So from metal to soft-rock, and everything between! But I'd say that for anyone of Us, it's not about just one band or one musician. If You listen to some band or song alot, the influence is already in You and it shows on Your playing in some level. Stupidest thing is to try sound or play like someone You idolize.
>
> 11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
We all do a lot of different things! Janne is a big time Hockey fan, Kalle plays volleyball, Pessi and Marko like to hit the gym on their spare time. I work as a bartender and do piercings at the local tattoo studio so there's not much time for me to do anything else besides work and the band. Of course everybody else has a day job aswell..unfortunately there's not that much of those big bucks to be made on the music business.
>
> 12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
>
ahmn.. Sinatra quote should do the trick! "I feel sorry for the people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day"
