MHR Feature Interview with Reversion

[Deuce Entertainment]

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Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
Hello Samuli, thank you for doing this interview for metalheadradio.com. Let's
start off by introducing Reversion and the members of the band to the MHR crowd..

S.F. (Samuli Federley): Reversion. We play kinda progressive influenced
metal with a hint of oriental flavors. We're a quintet which includes vocalist Aleksi
Parviainen, guitarist Samuli Federley, bassist Jaakko Nikko, keyboardist Jonne
Jauhiainen and drummer Toni Paananen.



Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
Whats the origin of your band name Reversion?

S.F. Well, we really struggled for years to find a proper name for this group.
Finally we ended up with Eversio, which is latin and means destruction or
something to that meaning, but then we found out that it was already used
and just couldn't start the process all over again so Reversion was quite rapildy
evolved from Eversio and it also sounded a bit cooler to me at least. I wanted
a name for us that doesn't necessarily mean anything so that our music would
describe the meaning of the word. Reversion is somekind of law-term and it also
means converting from a religion to another. So you people can convert into our music!

Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
How long have you all known each other?

S.F. I've known Aleksi for longest time, since 2003 if my memory serves me
right. Together we established this band and the next member to step in was Jaakko
around 2004. Then we found Jonne at 2006 and finally our lovely drummer Toni at
2007. We had some major issues in finding a drummer good enough to play our grazy
music.

Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
How did you meet everybody?

S.F. I think it was me who found all these guys. I met Aleksi at the most
natural enviroment for us, at gig. It was his other bands, Soulcage's gig and I
was so floored by his performance that I just had to ask him to join this band, I
had been picturing in my mind. Jaakko and Jonne was found through this Finniss
website for musicians, where I left a note that we were seeking for talented guys to
join this band. Over the years we've had several drummers but none of them really
worked until we found Toni through Jaakko's contacts. We haven't been looking back ever
since.



Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
Now with Reversion being formed around 2004, how long did it take to record
and finish your first demo?

S.F. Yes Reversion was formed back in 2004 when Jaakko entered the group. Then
the whole think started to evolve and the first demo was recorded in 2005. The
second demo was done in 2006 with Jonne onboard and the third one in 2007
with Toni. So that was the first product we made with this current line-up. So I
would say we weren't complete until Toni joined Reversion in 2007.

Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
What inspires Reversion to make music together?

S.F. The goal was to make perfect music! Heh, I know that sounds corny but
what I had in mind was that I've always listened a lot of different bands that I
really enjoyed listening to, but I would always liked to chance just some little
thing in their music. Whether I'd like to hear more growling vocals on some song or
shorter guitar solo on another or whatever you know? So the idea was to TRY to
make music that I like to listen myself. And that is quite an impossible task to do but
you got to try. The progressive elements are there 'cause we all like to listen and
play a bit more technically challenging stuff. The keywords are strong
melodies, heavy riffs and tip top playing.

Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
What is your music background?

S.F. I can speak only for myself. I've been a lot of in different music
schools. The main ones would be pop/jazz conservatory in Helsinki, where studied for
about seven years. Then I entered the polytechnics of Helsinki, from where I gratuated
as a guitar teacher in 2007. Those studies took six years for me to handle. Now
I've been a full-time guitar teacher for four years. Still I think I'm mostly self-taught
in guitar and what I got from those studies was a good theory knowledge. The
other guys has also strong music education backgrounds.

Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
Who are your musical influences?

S.F.I have a huge amount of different kinds of influences. Some are
guitarists, some are bands, some are just songs or singers or whatever that
inspiring to me. From guitar appartment I'd like to mention Steve Vai, John
Petrucci, Stevie ray Vaughan, Rusty Cooley, Mike Stern, Albert Lee, Zakk
Wylde and the list goes on. Some great bands would be Dream Theater,
Symphony X, Lamb of God, Pantera, Mnemic, Meshuggah, Mew, Soilwork,
Devin Townsend and Strapping Young Lad, Killswich Engage for example.
I also love pop, jazz and classical music or just about everything that sounds
good.



Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
Does Reversion have any immediate music career goals? (Next year or so)

S.F. We're right now rehearsing for our second studio album and the plan
is to hit the studio in August or so. We're targeting on early 2010 release of that
disc. So that's definitely the big goal for now. We also just made a contract with a
booking agency so we're hoping also to hit some new and bigger venues in near
future. We're going to tour more far-reached in Finland and hopefully soon
abroad also. Those two things will most certainly keep us busy for rest of this
year. A long term goal would be to get a career in metal world and to keep on
making records and tours. What else can you wish for!

Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
Who handles your daily business activities? (Bookings, promotions etc.)

S.F. Our record company Kampas Records arranges some interviews and CD
reviews for us as well as some visibility in general also. And now that we have a
booking agent, he'll be our main gig booker. But we band dudes do a lot promotion
by our self also. I'm constantly seeking some ways to promote Reversion. For example
like this cool Metal Head Radio that I just discovered. Cool site! All of us also send promo
packages to radios to get some airplay and what ever you can think of to get your name
out there. It's truly a huge effort to try to promote your band 'cause the competition is so
hard these days.

Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
Tell us about your record label..

S.F. We are signed to this Finnish record label called Kampas Records. They
released our first album, King of Deceit, and the plan is to make also the
second album with them. And now we have also a booking agent as I mentioned
earlier. I guess those are the main ones that I can think of right now. Sometimes we
have some short-term deals with some promotion companies for example. We are also
members of The Finnish Composers' Copyright Society, Teosto.



Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
Where has Reversion performed?

S.F. This far we have just played in Finland. And mainly at capital area but we're
going to most definitely explore the rest of Finland in near future and of course
outside of Finland. I can't really name a favorite or least favorite venue, cause
I think it's not the venue that makes a gig good, it's the audience. We have
played in some pretty crappy venues but the audience was killer so they really
make the gig a good one for us. But I must mention Tavastia, which is the most
legendary rock club in Finland, it was cool to finally play there last summer.

Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
Where would the "ultimate" venue for you to play be?

S.F. Gee, that's a tough one! I can't really think of any specific venue
but I'd love perform in the US and Japan someday. And Astoria in UK
must be cool! Again, it's the audience that makes the place to be good.

Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
Which songs do you perform most frequently?

S.F. We have played at our gigs our first albums', King of Deceit, songs.
There are some songs that work live better than others. For some reason the least
played song is the album's title track. It's ten minutes long epic piece
so it kinda takes room away from playing more songs you know. But when have played it the
audience have really liked it. So maybe should play it more.. At the latest shows
we have also played some new songs from our up-coming album to hear how they work
live. And damn, they have rocked!!!

Few years ago we did a Metallica cover gig, like 13 songs or something. In
the future I would love to play Strapping Young Lads Love, or some
Meshuggah.

Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?

S.F. I guess it's me who writes most of the songs. When I present the ideas to the
guys I usually have the whole structure for the songs ready. But then we all
take part in arranging the songs and sometimes they might change quite
radically from the idea that I had. And I usually let the arrangements
quite open so there's room enough for everybody to put their effort into
the song. I don't want the songs to sound like one guys ideas, I want people to
hear songs that are made by five individual guys. We try to make the best out of us.

Jaakko (bassist) did most of the lyrics for the first album. There's no
dragons or hobbits but normal day-by-day anxiety and observations.
Upcoming record will have lyrics written by Aleksi and Jaakko. Same topics
covered, propably.



Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each
week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?

S.F. We don't have any specific practice regimen yet it is not that spontaneous
either. It's more period oriented rehearsing, you know. We have usually some
goal to practice. For example an up-coming gig or a studio session or whatever.
And most of the time have something coming up to practice to but sometimes there's
nothing in near future so then we're doing stuff on our own or compose songs etc.
But when we do practice, it's quite hectic, as much as possible. Like right now
'cause we're rehearsing these killer songs for the second album.

Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
How has your music evolved since first began playing together?

S.F. A lot of course. We're grown a lot as a players as well as composers.
And the band chemistry is a lot tighter because of all the gigs we've played.
Nowadays the rehearsing is pretty effortless in my opinion and there's a lot of quiet
communication in rehearsals. Sometimes for example Toni just knows what I was
thinking for some part of the song because he knows my style to compose.
So I don't have to even ask him to play in certain way, it just happens naturally.
It's the gigs that makes bands tick! The songs are less complex and maybe a bit
shorter nowadays.



Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?

S.F. Well, you must have a vision of the music you want to play. You
should be able to stand out from the mass. Think what's your best feature
in music and go for that direction. The main thing would probably be perseverance,
quitting is not an option. Find also the right band mates 'cause the right chemistry
between each member is a really important thing. It also takes time to get anything
happen, be ready to work for years. When you've been around for a long time then
people start to remember your name.

Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
What is the name of your most current CD?
Where can it be purchased?

S:F. It's titled as King of Deceit. It was released last June and you can
get it for example from http://www.cdon.com, http://www.theground.com (US) and
http://www.theomegaorder.com (US). It has eight progging tracks and there's most
certainly something for everybody: heavy riffs, big choruses and of course killer solos!

Deuce - MetalHeadRadio:
Do you maintain a webpage or myspace page? If so what is the URL?

S.F. Yes, check out http://www.reversionband.com and
http://www.myspace.com/reversionband.

You can find songs from our album and a studio-live-musicvideo. And a lot of other
stuff also like an Action Corner where is some, umm, alternative videos, gig photos,
gig diaries and so on. Go and find out!

We here at metalheadradio.com would like to thank you for your time Samuli! To
everybody reading this, make sure you check out Reversions Websites for more
information on this great band and also visit Samuli right here at the MHR Metal
Network and drop him a comment! http://metalheadradio.ning.com/profile/SamuliFederley

Cheers
Deuce MHR..

[Jay Tan]

Nice!
It was cool to play with you guys in Dante's!

[D-1]

Good fukin interview braddafuka \m/

[Whiplash]

Great job on the interview, have had the King of Deceit album since last year and it is awesome.