Interviews: Torchia

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Melodic Death Metal band Torchia, from Finland. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

V: Aristide Torchia is a fictional occultist from a Spanish novel ’The Club Dumas’ by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. It was just the perfect name in all its mysteriousness and occultism related characteristics. I don’t want to reveal too much.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

E: It’s not even a conscious choice. We have a passion for so many styles of metal, be it something more extreme like death, thrash and black metal or some more melodic genres like heavy and power metal. We don’t want to choose a specific style, so blend them all and the end result is something best described as melodic death metal. That’s the way it was back in the day! V: Yeah I never thought I’d start playing especially melodic death metal. Just wanted to play death metal and thrash metal with stuff I liked from other genres even outside metal as well.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

V: Me and Pirkka (bass player) played in the same band before Torchia and we’ve been very good friends since those times. All other members I’ve had the pleasure to know through the band. 

4. Each band member favourite band?

E: For me it would have to be the industrial pioneers KMFDM. Our guitarist Henri loves Cannibal Corpse to death and our bass player Pirkka is a devout Black Sabbath fan. Our drummer Ville is a metal head as much as any of us, but he said he’s favorite artist has to be Lady Gaga!

V: Changes every day but I can never go wrong with King Diamond.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

V: All kinds of rhythms and sounds, instruments may give an inspiration to write something new and guitar as an instrument is a very inspiring tool. Different sounds and harmonies with it give you very different vibes to great different kinds of music. Sometimes just a line of lyrics may give a certain atmosphere in which I start hunting the right notes. But what comes to playing like solos and lead stuff I must bring up a few names: Andy LaRocque, Michael Romeo, John Petrucci, Vinnie Moore and Mark Knopfler.

6. Where was your last gig?

E: We played our last show before the viral outbreak at our hometown Tampere. It was a sold out show with Omnium Gatherum, Mors Proncipium Est and our friends Voidfallen. It was one of the best crowds we’ve had in Tampere and it was great to play some new tunes for the home audience! 

7. Where would you like to act?

E: We aim for global dominations, but for starters we’re looking to conquer the rest of Europe and East Asia. It also seems that people across the Atlantic have found our music!

V: Everywhere! It’s always nice to see new places and people of metal from all over the world!

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

E: I think no other band has had as profound influence on Torchia than At the Gates. It would be simply mesmerizing to be able to open up for them.

V: Yeah that is true. Never gonna happen but I’d say King Diamond!

9. Whom not?

E: Maybe Azazel from Finland? Then again why not! I was present at their infamous Steel Fest show and I was very much impressed by the sheer authenticity.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

E: I wouldn’t say I’ve suffered from stage fright, but in the beginning of a bands carreer one must really work on stage to earn the audience’s excitement. It’s an uncomfortable position and one of the reasons I decided to cover my eyes on stage. In fact, my tip would be to leave your own persona backstage and come onto the stage in a character. Unless you are an eccentric character yourself!

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

E: Our sound is based on inspirations from a vast number of styles, but I’d say At the Gates has to be the reason why our band exists the way it does today. For me personally Nile and Cannibal Corpse were the bands that got me interested in doing extreme growling vocals.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

E: Well, one fan once offered to pay for a Torchia shirt by a strip tease. I guess back in the day it wouldn’t have been out of the ordinary, but nowadays I’d consider it somewhat weird!

V: ”You wanna touch my tralalaa?”

13. What do you think of your fans?

E: It turns out some melodic death metal fans have been struggling with our relentless style. It stands to reason that Torchia fans are true metal maniacs who want furious riffage and enjoy music that demands a bit more of the listener!

14. What do you think of our site?

E: There are so many webzines and underground bands these days available for everyone, it takes a real passion to run a online heavy music site. We have great appreciation for all you, who take the effort to promote more underground bands like Torchia!

15. Something add?

V: During these dark times you gotta remember that from darkness, comes light.