Industrial Metal From Cold Finland |

Interview with Poltinmerkki

Finland, besides being located in the cold extreme north of Europe, is widely known for its scene, from which great bands such as Stratovarious, Nightwish, Sonata Arctica, etc. have emerged. Not to mention the legendary Hanoi Rocks. Incidentally, at some point, a band coming from this Nordic country was a guarantee of good music, and of Power Metal or even Black Metal (as a kind of extension of the Scandinavian power in the area), but it is always good to check a little behind the great billboards. In this case we have come across Poltinmerkki, a band that besides having a strange name (at least as it sounds in our language), has evaded any label and goes the hard way. Their style is framed in the so-called Industrial Metal, a genre that has not been too popular, at least not in Europe.

The band has its beginnings in 2002 and is formed by Janne Virtanen on guitars and vocals, Ari Vinen on drums, Ville Viuhko on bass and collaborates, only in studio, Sauli Paukkonen. Strange that a band of their caliber is only a trio. Despite the time they have as a band, Poltinmerkki could only release their first album in 2015 and it was called “Askeel Eteenpâin”. Then, they were releasing different singles through digital formats until the release of their second album, which is titled “Steel Star”, from the year 2023, which we were able to give a listen to. It really won’t disappoint those who like the genre, and those who don’t, I invite you to give them a chance.

For all this, we found it more than interesting to get into the world of Poltinmerkki, and not only that, but also to exchange some questions with Ari Viren, drummer of the band, who very kindly agreed to answer some of our questions…

First of all, we would like you to tell us the origin of the band, how it is formed and a small summary of its history… What does the name of the band mean?

“The band originated when Ari and Janne started casually playing music together during their youth. The lineup took shape over time, and both the name and the lineup became established in their current form in the early 2000s
The name can be translated into English as “burned brand mark.”

The band has existed as such since 2002, why did it take so long to be able to release material?

“Developing our own style took time; everyone has day jobs, and there are no record label deadlines. The style became established with the single released in 2017.”

From what we could hear, Poltinmerkki comes from the side of Industrial Metal, which is strange coming from a country like Finland, which we know more from bands like Stratovarious or Nightwish…. Which bands do you consider as influence?

“The music may reveal influences from bands such as Die Krupps and Gothminister. The style is considered fitting and intriguing by the band members. It is true that Finland lacks internationally recognized bands in this genre. However, within the Finnish scene, there are a few bands that can be categorized within the same genre.”

Still, nowadays there are not many bands that are dedicated to this genre, as it is something that has been left more in the 90’s… do you think that the genre can be popular again in some way? Do you see a resurgence of this type of bands today?

“Currently, there are only a few bands in this genre. This will remain the case until others realize the brilliance of industrial metal. Come to our gigs and see for yourself!”

I could notice that this music has a lot of work in the studio, is it difficult to bring all this to a live concert without the difference in arrangements and/or sound being a problem?

“Modern technology enables a lot, although the band’s small lineup (3 members) does impose certain limitations.”

Poltinmerkki has already released two albums, an EP and some singles, we would like you to describe what we can find in each of those releases, and above all to tell us about their latest release “Steel Star”….

“Syytön: This album paved the way for the genre to move toward heavier music. Askel eteenpäin: A crossroads where certain industrial elements begin to emerge, while still retaining some of the old style. single All-out freefall/High stream: The style becomes established, and the range of languages expands. Steel star: The genre-specific expression deepens, and the album authentically reflects the band’s current state.”

I understand that at first, Poltinmerkki’s songs were in Finnish, but that currently their songs are in English, why is that? Do you think it is necessary to sing in English in order to be known outside Finland?

“The English language enables a broader understanding of the message, although we also recognize the unique brutality of the Finnish language.”

What themes do they deal with in their lyrics? Regarding what issues of human life are you interested in your lyrics? By the way, as you see the current situation in society in general, both in Europe and in the rest of the world…

“The lyrics aim to highlight an alternative way of thinking, based on the idea that we are never in a situation where there is no hope. We have been given the promise of eternal life and the forgiveness of sins. We can trust in this promise every day. As for the general state of society, we observe with some concern the division within society and the rise of extreme ideologies.”

The current music business is managed from digital downloads, and the release of single songs on digital platforms, how do you see the current panorama? Are you going to continue betting on the release of albums in physical format?

“The versatility of formats is fundamentally a good thing. We constantly reflect on this matter. We also see the value of physical CDs when sold at concerts.”

Lately several festivals have been organized where different bands of varied styles are grouped, especially in Europe, how do you see that theme? Have you participated in any of them?

“From a business perspective, the idea needs to be justified, but genre-specific festivals naturally offer more to the fans of a particular genre. It is also worth noting that after the pandemic, at least in Finland, people are not going to concerts as much as they did before. Perhaps this model is justifiable from that point of view. There are experiences from both types of events.”

How can you get or buy any of your albums in physical format?

“You can buy our album at our concerts, or if you happen to visit Finland for a vacation, you can stop by Levykauppa X. You can also order the album from that store. (https://www.levykauppax.fi/artist/poltinmerkki/steel_star/#862267)”

Thank you very much for the interview and I ask for a few last words for the readers….

“See you at the concerts!”

If you want more information, listen to his music, get any of his albums in physical format (something we always recommend), or simply contact Poltinmerkki, you can do it at https://poltinmerkki.com or in his social networks.