Interviews: Erase This Earth

We have had the opportunity to interview the Death Metal band Erase This Earth 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 come out just like that?

At the terrace of a local pub, we figured out that "hey we need a name". After few suggestions Heikki came up with our current name that comes from Black Dahlia Murder's song Malenchantments of the Necrosphere and everybody agreed. 

2. Why did you want to play this genre? 

Mikko: After playing a lot of "lighter" metal earlier I just felt that I'd like to do heavier stuff I already had some ideas for.

Matias: To challenge myself and seek a new perspective to my playing. And oh boy what a great decision it was!

Heikki: I've wanted to play metal from the moment I first saw a band playing on stage. There's just something totally unique performing this kind of music.

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

Heikki, Mikko and Antti have known each other since elementary school but Matias later a couple of years back. Mikko and Heikki knew our newest member Janne from studies and hobbies.

4. Each band member favourite band?

Mikko: Varies over time but probably Cannibal Corpse. 

Antti: Stam1na or Dream Theater

Heikki: Hypocrisy 

Matias: Kingston Wall

Janne: Really changes on a monthly basis. My most frequent answer to this question used to be Arch Enemy.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Usually utilizing a specific idea that comes up when listening to music from a variety of genres. Atmospheres and feelings that music creates rather than technical details. What comes to lyrics, Heikki consumes a lot of Sci-fi + fantasy content and there’s an endless well of topics and concepts to condense into a 4 minute song. It’s also very therapeutic to write one’s frustrations and feelings into text form.

6. Where was your last gig?

First and latest in Varjobaari, Tampere Finland. A local metal/alt music oriented pub that comfortably holds around 50 people.

7. Where would you like to act?

Everywhere. Some big milestones would be domestic festivals such as Nummirock, Saarihelvetti and Tuska.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Any metal band! If we could perform alongside anyone, from death metal we’d probably go for Suffocation or Bloodbath.

9. Whom not?

A safe answer is artists from a totally different genre even if we were fans ourselves. Saying we wouldn’t want to be featured with a certain artist would be disrespectful but let’s just say any band that creates a negative atmosphere or are overly arrogant.

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

Sure, who doesn't? Heikki’s hands were visibly shaking just before entering the stage (but that was his first time ever on stage with a band).

Go there to just have fun instead of focusing on a perfect performance, that's also better for the audience when the feeling shows. Most of the anxiety will be gone before the first song is done. Also practicing so much that you can do it even blindfolded helps a lot.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Mikko: Children of Bodom.

Matias: Kingston Wall, Iron Maiden and Mastodon.

Heikki: Allegaeon, Hypocrisy, In Flames.

Antti: Lamb of God, Dream Theater, Stam1na, The Black Dahlia Murder. 

Janne: Children of Bodom got me into playing guitar. After that I've been just absorbing everything from anywhere. 

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

We haven’t gotten anything weirder than a strong demand for an encore (we delivered).

13. What do you think of your fans?

They are the reason why the band exists. We feel lucky and thankful to have people taking the time to come to a show and cheer at us doing the thing we enjoy so much.

14. What do you think of our site? 

It’s streamlined and easy to navigate especially with dedicated pages to bands and genres.