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Interviews Concrete Icon

Interview with guitarist and vocalist Jaakko "Jake" Peltonen

Interview conducted by Luxi Lahtinen

Date online: January 22, 2025


Concrete Icon, formed in 2007, is a death metal band from Finland's ex-capital, Turku, that has a catalog with a good number of releases, including three full-length albums. Their latest, Voracious Streams, was released on January 20, 2025.

The band has been working hard to get their name on the lips of a more extreme metal audience, and one could say they are on their way to that goal. Time will tell.

The Metal Crypt checked in with main songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Jaakko "Jake" Peltonen, who eagerly opened up about Concrete Icon's strategy for brutally chopping our heads off with their merciless, mangling death metal, especially now when their new album is out and spreading its plague to your neighbors, so beware, folks!

Good day, Jake? How's life in Turku, Finland?

Jake: Hey, well dark and grim, as you'd expect on Finland's west coast this time of the year, haha!

THIRD PLAGUE – VORACIOUS STREAMS

It's been six long years since your previous album, Rancid Harmony, was released. What were the primary reasons it took so long to get your third album, titled Voracious Streams, recorded and finished?

Jake: Well, yeah, it was definitely not supposed to take this long. COVID hit soon after the Rancid... album was released and pretty much shut down everything for a few years, but we managed to play a few shows here and there during that time. It was a total gamble, "will they limit the capacity before we get to play," etc. but I had material ready to go and we were shooting to start recording before the end of 2022. Then the lineup changes started to happen again. We had three new songs rehearsed with the lineup at that time, but it just didn't happen.

As you let me hear a few songs off your new album in advance (my sincere thanks, mate!), I must say you have really improved your songs quite a lot, making them catchier, punchier and more compact as far as the song structures are concerned. Would you say you truly worked your asses for these new songs on Voracious Streams?

Jake: Thanks, glad you liked them. Well, I have to say for me COVID kind of helped to reflect more on the material I had so far and improve some parts that I was not that sure of. So having that, dare I say, extra time to craft the material really made the difference in the end.

How did you share the songwriting process this time, compared to your previous album, Rancid Harmony?

Jake: Rancid Harmony was all me and, not meaning to sound selfish, but that's the way it has been pretty much since 2012, as the other guys haven't really been that interested in throwing riffs or ideas my way. And when I'm "in the zone," I don't really need outside ideas but, of course, they are always welcome, as even an idea that isn't that good may give a push for a better idea. So, this time I really had a lot of time to create and after all the time that went into lineup changes, etc. the songs were pretty much ready and only needed the individual touch of all the players involved.

How pleased are you with the songs on Voracious Streams?

Jake: Let's say it's a pretty good indicator that I don't hate any of the tracks on the new album, at least yet, haha! I honestly am pretty satisfied, and the guys seem to be digging them too, so I think we did good.

"NOT EVERY WRITING SESSION IS FRUITFUL"

Making good songs is not something that can be taken for granted. Do you sometimes feel like it's tough to come up with a striking riff or a rhythm part, which would make you instantly pleased and/or happy, or is this always a struggle, as we know, it's really hard to please yourself, first and foremost?

Jake: Yeah, of course, it's always hard but I think nowadays I clearly sense when I get there. So, when I'm alone, I pretty much write all the time like 1-2 hours every evening and weekends even more if I have nothing else to do. I just love the writing process and sometimes you come up with something cool and sometimes nothing useful. The hardest thing for me to accept is the fact that not every writing session is fruitful (haha!) but that's just the way it is and I just have to keep grinding.

Can I ask what kind of things inspire you nowadays, music-wise?

Jake: All the classic Florida/US death metal shit is where it's at for me, and then maybe some melodic pieces seep in from time to time from some classic doom, etc.

LINEUP CHANGES

Going back to your second album, Rancid Harmony, you have an entirely new lineup these days. Why did the other members decide to quit the band after your second album? Did it have something to do with the right band chemistry, or did they simply get busy in their lives?

Jake: It was all kind of gradual. Drummer Mike, who was with us since 2017, had just started his new job, which was really demanding (a lot of traveling, etc.) and was also a member of another band, which was doing a lot of gigging, and on top of that he had a kid coming, so he just had to cut something. Right after that my brother, who had rejoined back in 2020 (after being a member in 2007-08), also informed me that he was quitting too. I guess he just didn't feel comfortable in the band with me as he is my brother and we have pretty different personalities.

Our original bassist TK is a chef, so it has always been difficult balancing his work schedules and rehearsing. The material was also pretty demanding, and he had some health issues, which made it really painful to even wear earplugs and be in a live situation under flashing lights, etc. without getting a headache. So, he basically saw no other option but to step down. This was, of course, a sad thing, as he had been with me since 2007, but hey, it's life, what can you do? There have never been any fights between band members or anything. Life changes and situations change, and not all are equally motivated being in an underground band.

So going back to the entirely "new" lineup question, now we have Andreas on drums, whom I knew from playing with me in my other project. I always kind of knew he was into more death and black stuff than the thrashier stuff we were playing, so when the former drummer quit, it was a no-brainer to ask him and gladly, he agreed to join, as he is a beast behind the kit.

Makk is on lead guitar, and I've known him from local bands for over 10 years now. I always wanted to ask him to join, as he is the sickest guitarist around here but anytime we had a guitarist issue, he was busy with other bands. This time his former band had just quit so he was a free agent, and I managed to lure him in, haha!

Henri was the last to join. We had already started recording Voracious... in January 2024 and I was visiting him for other business and asked if his other band has a good bassist and can I steal him. He said no please, but how about if he comes to play bass. I said what the hell if you want to do it and he really threw himself into it seriously and learned the live set really quickly and managed to record with us, too. So, this time the member changes worked out pretty seamlessly and quick, and everybody seems to be enjoying being on board.

What makes the right band chemistry, in your sincere opinion?

Jake: We are all really laid back and we discuss things like adults - haha! Thinking of this as a team effort really helps a lot. We are all in this because we like this kind of music and that's a necessary thing when you are in a band that's just a hobby and still pretty demanding, playing wise.

What could you tell about the eye-catching cover art on the album? Who has done it, and does it meet your original expectations (and beyond) of how you wanted it to look?

Jake: Juanjo Castellano did it and yes, it is definitely the way I envisioned it when I sent him the sketch. He is a master of his craft, absolutely.

MEMENTO MORI STEPS IN

How did you end up signing a deal with Memento Mori?

Jake: I was actually in contact with Raul in 2021 when we did the 2-song promo, and he liked the material, but things went another way and we ended up releasing those tracks through Redefining Darkness Records as the Rebirth cassette EP. This new one didn't fit into the release schedule of Redefining Darkness the way I would have liked back then, so I ended up contacting Raul and he was happy to release it. Fetzner Death Records from Germany also jumped on board and is doing the cassette version of the album. I still have a lot of respect and love towards Tommy and Redefining Darkness, and he agreed to handle the digital platforms a month after the physicals are out.

Would you say that Memento Mori is an ideal label for a band like Concrete Icon, truly understanding what you guys are all about?

Jake: Absolutely. What I like about Raul is he is a man of his word, s straight shooter and an honest guy doing it for the love of the music. And, of course, old school as fuck too, haha! Respect, Raul!

On February 28, 2025, you'll have your record release party in your hometown, Turku, which will take place at Nirvana. I assume you will play your new album there from start to finish, plus even a few surprise numbers are to be expected?

Jake: Yeah, that will be cool. We are having a double release party, as local grinder Cannibal Accident are also unleashing their new album at that show. Our setlist will be like 70% new stuff, not the whole album, though.

FORTHC0MING GIGS IN 2025?

What plans do you have regarding gigging in 2025? Are you trying to get the band booked for some summer metal festivals as well?

Jake: We have a couple of other shows sorted out so far and 2025 summer festivals may be out of our hands at this point, as the lineups for those are usually booked really early but who knows what comes up. Hopefully some cool shows for the later part of the year.

What's your take on the current Finnish death metal scene? Is Finland enjoying the second peak, sort of, from your point of view?

Jake: I guess it does, yeah, a lot of young people also seem to be putting together bands and doing gigs. I am a shitty observer of our scene usually, as I'm so much immersed in my own music and things and I don't socialize and go to shows that much unless we are also playing.

What else have you planned for 2025 as far as the band's comings and goings are all concerned? Global mass destruction by the brutality of Concrete Icon's death metal lethal missiles, perhaps? ;o)

Jake: We will try to play as much as we can and I am already writing material for the next album, well ahead the game. And judging by the material on Voracious Streams, having more time for the material to brew seems to get the best results.

Hey, I guess that's all I had in mind for this conversation, so thank you, Jake, for your time and, of course, all the best both for you and for the band in the future. Any last thoughts/rites/curses/etc.?

Jake: Cheers man and thanks a lot for taking a time to do this. For the last I'll go with the classic keep on supporting the underground!

Other information about Concrete Icon on this site
Review: Perennial Anguish
Review: Through Agonizing Past
Review: Rancid Harmony
Review: Reign of Anguish MMXXII
Review: Voracious Streams




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