BATTLE BEAST's Next Album Will Have 'The Same Spirit' As 'Bringer Of Pain'

BATTLE BEAST singer Noora Louhimo spoke to Metal Casino about the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for the band's fifth album, tentatively due in early 2019. "We are actually on the process already, doing a new album," she said (see video below). "This is nothing new for us — we always do shows at the same time as we are kind of having the year of doing the album. But that's fine for us — we are used to do work a lot, all the time. So, actually, the album is on its way, and it's gonna be released in the beginning of next year."

Asked how the musical direction of BATTLE BEAST's next disc will compare to to 2017's "Bringer Of Pain", Noora said: "Well, I don't want to reveal anything too much, but we're gonna keep the same spirit as on the previous album. And also, I'm not promising anything, but there will be huge songs. I'm really excited about the demos that we have, because there is something… With the previous album, we learned a lot what we wanna do with our music, so it's gonna be maybe even more epic [laughs] than the last time. But I can't really say anything yet before we get the album done."

Noora also talked about how the songwriting process has changed since the band's split with longtime guitarist and main songwriter Anton Kabanen and addition of Joona Björkroth. "It has changed a lot, or totally," she said. "Of course, different songwriters. The previous album, the whole band wanted to contribute, and now after we had Joona in the songwriting process and kind of changed the whole dynamics in the band, we contributed, the whole band, in the songwriting process. I think it was… Not just because of the songwriting, but also the atmosphere nowadays, I think, it's very healthy and we like each other and I love to work in this band. And I think it's great to have more than just one person doing the songwriting and giving the opinions. Of course, someone has to say, 'Okay, this is the decision,' and not everyone can just decide about everything. But we also have to do compromises, because we are six people, six different opinions. But I think we are already on the way to see everybody's… who can do what in the band. I feel like my priority is to do the good vocals and performance and visual things, and I can happily leave songwriting to our most productive guys, like Janne [Björkroth, keyboards] and Joona — they have been so productive. And also our bass player, Eero [Sipilä], has written a few songs. So we are in a good place."

"Bringer Of Pain" was released in February 2017 via Nuclear Blast Records. The ten-track disc was recorded and produced at JKB Studios by Janne Björkroth, was mixed by Björkroth alongside Viktor Gullichsen and Mikko Karmila, and was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios. The cover artwork was crafted by Jan Yrlund.

"Bringer Of Pain" was BATTLE BEAST's first album to feature Björkroth, who joined the band in 2015.

BATTLE BEAST in February 2015 parted ways with Kabanen due to "insurmountable disagreements" with the other members of the band.

Photo credit: Natalia Enemede