LAPKO Weird Avantgarde from Finland!

These days I got a very confusing record from Lapko called »Scandal«. Their brilliant mixture of different Rock and Metal styles sounds like no other band I listened before (and I listened really a lot...) although I don´t like the vocals sometimes. However: The band has a great following in Finland and I think it is just a question of time when they come to the rest of Europe on a glorious march of success. The band was so kind to send back lots of interesting answers. Sorry that I don´t know exactly who of the three musicians wrote the answers.

Here we go:

Iron Pages: "First of all: Was does Lapko mean?"

Lapko: "It means whatever you want to. We have thought it comes from words Lap and K.O But it's not the only truth. It's also a last name in Russia."

I.P.: "Can you introduce our readers in the three members behind Lapko? Who are you?"

L.: "Malja, voc, gtr, Nordberg, bass, Heikkonen, drums. Three man approx. in the same age with strong visual backgrounds. Sometimes we don't have anything in common but music, sometimes we do."

I.P.: "»Scandal« is your second release although you started back in 1996. Why? Do you have so much other bands beside Lapko or are you just lazy songwriters?"

L.: "It took ten years to build up our own sound and to learn to play. At the same time we created our visuality and tried to stay alive. We have few projects, but you can't blame them about anything regarding to slow processing of Lapko."

I.P.: "What does the cover express?"

L.: "Scandal cover is about perspective of things. How to handle reality and when we should and shouldn't to close our eyes from it. On the other hand it's just a cool and hypnotic picture."

I.P.: "Why does your label promote the rest of Europe now although the official release date of »Scandal« was April 2006?"

L.: "We tried to find as good co-operators as possible and it took time. At the same time we have done lots of work in Finland. Finally we had time to concentrate on abroad and we hope everything is gonna be fine."

I.P.: "Are you satisfied with your label? Who made first steps to get a contract?"

L.: "If you mean Fullsteamrecords, we are very satisfied with them. Pias is a new one. But I believe they were the best alternative for us."

I.P.: "Let´s talk about your music: When I wrote my CD review I declaimed it as Modern Art Metal Rock, mixed with Progressive Avantgarde and some slight Doom and Gothic influences. What do you think?"

L.: "Lots of words from you. It could be easier just to say it's melancholic alternative stuff."

I.P.: "I think especially the vocals probably could be problematic to establish the band in the scene: I would compare it with the voice of Michael Dickes of Gypsy Kyss, a band I really like, but I don´t know what was the reason that you mixed up such cool, powerfull guitar riffs and freaky hooklines which such a high and soft voice? Sometimes I think it is absolutely brilliant, sometimes it is much too high for me..."

L.: "Thank You. What we are doing is something unique because we're mixing things with the way bands never do. In future we are going to do that more. So I can promise to you that you'll find something to hate and something to love in upcoming records too. Be patient, please."

I.P.: "Which bands have been an influence for you?"

L.: "Propagandhi, Tool, Queen, Lag Wagon, Placebo, QOTSA, Kyuss, Bad Religion... "

I.P.: "Do you belong to the Metal scene somehow?"

L.: "I don't think so but at the same time, yes. Our rhythms are a bit kind of metal style. But if metal means turbo distortion in guitar then we don't."

I.P.: "Can you tell us something about the status of Lapko in Finnland? I have heard you are really succesfull in your country!"

L.: "We have lots of fans in Finland that's true. People with different backgrounds. That is because we have played for so long here so we have build a strong fan base in the whole country. Anyway you should remember Finland isn't a big country."

I.P.: "Is it easy for a finish rock musician to get popular in Finland? I heard that most of the bands that are in your charts are Rock and Metal bands!"

L.: "It's the same all over the world, You should do good songs and play fantastic gigs. After that it's good to be lovely and strange at the same time. Then you'll be popular...maybe."

I.P.: "What do you know about Germany? Have you ever been here?"

L.: "Few times. We have played in Bochum and PopKomm in Berlin. We have liked the country and its' people eventought you have a bit different sense of humor."

I.P.: "Can we expect to see you sometime on a German stage?"

L.: "For sure. We are coming to Germany as soon as possible."

I.P.: "Mention some bands you´d like to go on tour with and why!"

L.: "Coheed and Cambria cause they're amazing band. Placebo, Tool and Mew because of the same reason. Smaller ones would be Disco Ensemble, Lost Alone or any other good band."

I.P.: "Back to the music again: I just own a promotional CD: Can you tell us something about your lyrical concept?"

L.: "The lyrical theme on Scandal is about breaking points. Every lyric has a point you can think is an end of something or a start of a new era. It's a personal and private album with themes which are common to all of us."

I.P.: "Where did you record the album? Any nice recording-process stories to tell?"

L.: "We recorded it in Pori that is about 200 kilometres from Helsinki to the west coast. We all have born in Pori so it was nice to do it there. We lived in the studio about six week and I can tell you it wasn't funny all the time. It was like drunken family without mother - and we need a mother."

I.P.: "I read that you are going to record another album very soon. Can we compare the new songs with »Scandal«? Some changes?"

L.: "There's more melodics in the new stuff. It's also straighten and younger. There's a lots of leather and speed so it is going to be a kind of dangerous album."

What a pitty that I forgot them to have the final words, sorry! However, I hope you all are interested now to check out this cool band. I did not expect that a mixture of the mentioned bands and influences of Lapko could interest me as a Metalhead - So it is somehow magic what the band did on their album... Try it!

Interview, story and article: Dirk Wettlaufer