Distorted Sound Magazine 31 | Page 10

DISTORTED SOUND MAGAZINE “Really good! Even though we have like 20-25 of age difference you can’t even really notice it because we share the same sense of humour and we get on really well! Obviously they have more experience playing live . and touring but yeah, it’s been really good so far.” At the time of our conversation Waltteri and PARADISE LOST are about to grace the main stage at this year’s sell out Damnation Festival. A major festival catering for all things heavy and extreme. In PARADISE LOST’s case this is quite a busy day, not just because they are headlining the main stage, but because of the band member’s other commitments in other projects also playing the festival. With Nick Holmes involved in BLOODBATH and Gregor Mackintosh and Waltteri himself involved in VALLENFYRE, there must surely be more pressure surrounding the day’s performances but Waltteri says they have the expertise to pull it off. “Damnation Festival is in the middle of our tour, we’ve already done six weeks of touring in Europe so it is definitely more stressful, especially with VALLENFYRE as we haven’t played together since September. So it has been more stressful but I think it was a really good gig with VALLENFYRE. With PARADISE LOST it’s more of a routine, as like I said, we have already played like 30 shows.” Since joining the band in 2015, Waltteri has overcome the pressure in performing in one of Britain’s most respected metal bands. Revered in the underground and with a discography that is so well-respected, the pressure will always be on when it comes to releasing a new album. Such was the case this year as PARADISE LOST released their 15th studio effort this year, Medusa, which is also the first album Waltteri has featured on with the band. Now, several months on, what does Waltteri feel about the reception? “It’s been really good! All the reviews I’ve seen have been nice and positive, maybe one or two not so much, but that’s just opinions. It’s hard to tell myself how did I do? Was it good enough? But, like I said, the feedback has been really positive!” And so with Damnation Festival now under their belts, PARADISE LOST have proved yet again why they are still a force to be reckoned with decades after they first exploded onto the scene. Looking ahead on the horizon, it’s all action stations for the band as they prepare to support their latest release through a headlining UK tour. But, 2018 is also a special occasion for PARADISE LOST as it marks their 30 year anniversary as a band. Waltteri reveals what plans are in the works for such a milestone whilst reflects on the band’s impact on heavy music. “I would say they pretty much invented the gothic metal genre. Originally I think Greg’s idea was to mix together things like SISTERS OF MERCY and then doom metal and that’s how it became gothic metal” says Waltteri. “There might be something, we haven’t planned anything as of yet. Right now, the main focus is on the new album but we might do something like a show or a series of shows but I don’t think we should do a full tour or anything like that”. 10 DISTORTED SOUND MAGAZINE “I would say they pretty much invented the gothic metal genre!” “Even though we have like 20-25 of age difference you can’t even really notice it because we share the same sense of humour...” 11