The Scourger

YEAR 2003: THE SEARCH FOR MAXIMUM INTENSITY
The Scourger was first kicked into action in the year 2003 in Helsinki, Finland. Formed by ex-Gandalf vocalist Jari Hurskainen together with Seppo Tarvainen on drums. The early days included also Seppo's friend Pekka Hämäläinen on guitar. Now, the musical direction for the band was to be thrash metal played with a modern sound for the new millennium and a fierce attitude that would kick some serious ass in the genre! The band was working as a three piece on some material in order to start recordings for a demo as soon as possible. At the same time that this was going on, they were searching for a more permanent solution for the guitar and bass positions in the lineup. This was no easy task as the songs that where written had a very challenging aspect to them.
The first rare demo was recorded as a three piece with Tony Näykki engineering and mixing. In addition to three own songs, "The Fool Circle", "Pain Zone" & "Maximum Intensity" the demo also includes a version of the At The Gates song: "Cold". As the band continued towards the new year, little did they know that the demo had already caused some buzz among the people roaming the metal wasteland in the capital area of Finland.

YEAR 2004: ON THE ROAD TO THE SLAYGROUND
Rehearsal and many hours of writing had resulted in half a dozen new songs in the spring of 2004. Little by little a new line-up started to take form. In a very short time frame two new guitarists joined the band. Two old familiar faces Harri Hytönen (Gandalf, Cubehead) and Timo Nyberg (Gandalf, Divine Decay) took on the challenge. Work started on the final arrangements for the new music written mainly by Seppo. Some time later Alec Hirst-Gee (Suburban Tribe, Divine Decay) joined on session basis on bass.
The band debuted live at Nosturi in August playing alongside Amoral, Drive and Rujo. Opening the show with Testament's "Over The Wall", the band made a clear statement of where the roots and sources of inspiration for this band could be found. Some new songs where also played at this gig, among others, "Slayground" which was to become the title track for the forthcoming Maxi-CD. At this point in time, one Tony Taleva had become seriously involved in the career of the band. He offered the band the chance to make proper studio recordings of the new material.

In the autumn the band entered Moonman Studios in Karjaa, Finland together with producer Aaro Seppovaara, known from the band Blake. Because the lack of time from Alec's side Kirka Sainio (Gandalf, Lab) was asked to help out with the recordings. The end result was a six song Maxi-CD scheduled for release in February of the coming year. Entitled "To The Slayground" the CD clocks in over thirty minutes and tackles cheery subjects like war, drug abuse, greed and the negative influence the media might inflict on us. Titles included are "Slayground", "Soul Seducer", "Crossfire Of Lies", "The Greediness", "Malediction Of Heredity" and "Black Worms". The old year was kicked out the door at two gigs, one at the Tavastia Club in November supporting Transport League and one at Stella Star Club with Moonsorrow, Imperanon and Born Of Thorns.’’

YEAR 2005: STRIKE OF THE HATEHEADS
Seen thru rock and roll eyes some things sometimes happen fast and some slower than hell. Nevertheless, one and a half year onwards from the initial formation the band was playing the Dimen Nimeen! tribute gig at Rock'N'Roll Station in Helsinki and scourging the main stage at the Finnish Metal Expo (FME) all within a month. Kimmo Kammonen debuted as the new bass player for the band at the tribute gig. The band shot their first video in FME, to the track "Slayground" in front of a very enthusiastic audience. The video can be found as part of the DVD release Inferno: A Collection Of Metal Videos 2005. In February the "To The Slayground" MCD was released. As you might guess, to many of the reviewers Christmas came early this year when they received their promo copies. Antonis Maglaras from the Behind The Weil webzine had the following to say: "The Scourger, plays thrash metal the way that thrash metal must be played!". This sums up quite well the reaction to debut release of the band. The album release was celebrated in high style when the band supported Finntroll at the Tavastia Club in the same month.

The Scourger and their record company belong to the old school of belief that when creativity is on a high level, then also productivity and outcome should be on a high level. So, if you can get to grips with this then you should not be surprised when the band announced that a new single would be released in July. At this point in time, Seppo had come up with the most fierce music he had ever written and when Jari provided lyrics that fitted the mood of this track like a fist in a metal glove, "Hatehead", the most brutal The Scourger track to date was born. Recorded at Seawolf Studios, Helsinki and at Moonman Studios, Karjaa, the "Hatehead" single was the kick off to the recording of the forthcoming album "Blind Date With Violence". Once again, Aaro Seppovaara was sitting in the producer's chair. The single was released to the public in the week of the Tuska festival in Helsinki and the band supported it by playing the Tuska after show party at the Tavastia Club with Hevein and Total Devastation. What was to follow took everybody by total surprise, the single rocketed to number one in the official Finnish singles charts! Following the week 29 number one position the single, stayed in the charts weeks 31, 32, 33 with respective positions 4, 5 and 12, alongside new singles from such names as Children Of Bodom and Stratovarius. So, this was the amazing response from the record buying public in Finland, but what had the almighty media to say about all this?

To start with, the comment on the success of the "Hatehead" single by record company executive Tony Taleva speaks of the unique feeling: "The success of this single is really amazing, during all the years I have worked with heavy metal, this has just got to be the most fierce track to enter the charts. I know there has been some extreme bands in the charts before, but this is something else! This is the second wave of Finnish thrash metal taken to a whole new level!". If the mood was high among the band, the response from the media was also no other than great. Olli Rinnekangas stated in Imperiumi the following: "Both songs on this release are really excellent" and many of his colleagues in webzines and magazines throughout Europe seemed to be of the same opinion.

In August and September the band continued to record the debut album "Blind Date With Violence" and made one change in the lineup when guitarist Harri Hytönen was replaced with Jani Luttinen, also known from the band The Wake. Besides "Hatehead" the album will feature such titles as: "Enslaved To Faith", "Maximum Intensity", "The Oath & The Lie", "Exodus Day", "Chapter Thirteen", "Pain Zone" and "Feast Of The Carnivore". Commenting the work on the track "Exodus Day", Seppo has the following to say: "This is the newest of the songs I have written and it contains a rather progressive arrangement. The intention was that this one would have become a straight forward thrash song, but there were some problems with the chorus. I wasn't satisfied with any of the arrangement solutions. Then, I had come up with this nice melody which is kind of slow. I just had the idea that we would use this melody for the chorus and just drop the tempo whenever needed. This one features also a nice phasing on the vocal track, all in all a really fine track and it rocks!!!"

In October the band was invited to support the new US thrash metal sensation Trivium at the Koff 1st Warning Club gig which would take place at the Tavastia Club. This was the baptism of fire for new guitarist Jani Luttinen playing live with the band for the first time. The man took the stage with his fist raised high in the air and played like never before. At the gig the band aired some of the new songs from the album alongside old favourites from the "To The Slayground" MCD. Needless to say, the biggest chants was received during "Hatehead". The year will be rounded up with gigs at venue Gloria (Metal Club Curium) and at the Rautakanki Pre-Club in December together with various other acts.

YEAR 2006: TOWARDS THE EXODUS DAY
The new album "Blind Date With Violence" will hit the shops in January and The Scourger will see you along the road as we all travel towards Exodus day….and don't forget, no, don't you ever forget, once a hatehead…always a hatehead!