Standing Ovation’s latest album ‘The Antikythera Mechanism’ is a real mix of styles and will be of definite interest to fans of progressive metal. Here we catch-up with vocalist Jouni Partanen…

1. What are you currently up to?

At the moment we are promoting our new album and trying to stick our noses in everything, as in selling more gigs etc. We currently tour Finland, but are also eager in getting to play outside our home country. We have actually also started working on new material for the next album. But it will take up to two years until the next one will see daylight. We aren’t in a hurry and we want to make the next one even better, of course. ;)

2. How did the band get together and the band name?

I met with Johannes years ago and already then had a plan for my own band. We composed some music together for a while and then decided to get more guys into it. Quite soon we found the other guys from inside our friends and the band was formed. The band name was a total brain fart when I was thinking of some good names. It has multiple meanings, but the most important one of them all is, that it is a salute for the greatest thing mankind have invented. Music.

3. Could you take us through the new album ‘The Antikythera Mechanism’? (e.g. ideas behind the songs etc)

The main concept of the album came from the great discovery that was found from a shipwreck on the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera. Look it up on Wiki or somewhere else. You will be fascinated, that I guarantee. But it only consists of the trilogy in the end of the album. It’s a story that’s mixed up with historical and sci-fi elements. The rest of the album has a wide variety of themes. Escapade tells about an adventurer who’s destined to find something magnificent. He also has a slight god complex. The song is actually a prologue for the trilogy in the end of the album. Travesty tells about the one person on earth you hate the most and the most ugliest and disgusting human being possible. Black Box tells about incest and revenge. Hey Ho! in its wacky appearance is actually a quite political statement of our society. Hemorrhage tells about the struggles and battles of thy inner self. I Have Superhuman Powers tells about the angst of a kid and also has other layers as how bad the situation for some kids really is and the perspective of an adult trying to help the child. Break The News is about the last words of a dying person to his/hers beloved one. And then comes the trilogy that ends the album.

4. You have recently played some gigs in Finland, including the album launch. How did these go and any plans for summer festivals?

We have been amazed about the passion that some people already have for our band and our music. We truly are humble and grateful. More people seem to be “lining up” for our shows and that’s great. And our live performances also get better all the time, especially with the new songs, so it’s nice to let it loose on the stage. =)

5. The album has many varying musical styles, often in the same song! Does each member of the band bring their own musical tastes to the songs?

I think that that is our fortune. Having six guys with different musical backgrounds. When we make our music it comes naturally and easy and everyone puts in their own share. It’s extreme fun when we start to brainstorm our stuff. And that how it should go!

6. How important is social media like Facebook and YouTube for getting the band’s music more widely heard and known?

Very important. And especially when we aren’t that big of a band yet and do not possess huge marketing budgets they are an easy and cost efficient way to do that. And you can easily reach a new potential fan from the other side of the world by just a few clicks!

7. What is the live music scene like for metal and rock acts in Finland?

It’s pretty good. Small bands don’t get gigs that easy and especially if you don’t do mainstream music, but if you put some effort in it, you surely will succeed! But in general there is a lot of supply for good live rock and metal music in Finland.

8. If given the chance who would you like to tour with ideally and why?

Well. There are a great number of bands we could tour with because we don’t actually sound much like any other band and we aren’t just playing straight traditional progressive metal since we mix genres in our music. But we have been compared to bands such as Avenged Sevenfold, System Of A Down, Porcupine Tree and Opeth. So why not with some of these examples!

9. What do you all enjoy doing in your spare time away from music?

Wow. We all have our separate lives, families and work. So there it goes. Sometimes we drink booze as Finns do and some of us even do sports! ;)

10. Anything else to add and a message for your fans…

We hope to see you all at some point wherever you are! And stay tuned, a new music video is in the making and it will come out in late April – beginning of May!! Take care and enjoy life!

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)