INTERVIEW: BATTLE BEAST IN CONVERSATION WITH EERO SIPILÄ
No Barriers was privileged to gain an interview with Eero Sipilä the self-described “happy bassist” and songwriter from the Finnish powerhouse heavy metal band Battle Beast. The band is about to tour Europe and are getting ready to release their stunning new album ‘Steelbound’.
Battle Beast is a Finnish heavy metal band formed in Helsinki. The band comprises of Noora Louhimo (vocals), Eero Sipilä (bass), Joona Björkroth (guitar), Juuso Soinio (guitar), Janne Björkroth (keyboards) and Pyry Vikki (drums). Their new album ‘Steelbound’ is their seventh release and it sees the band in fine form as they experiment with blending classic heavy metal sounds with 1980s hard rock, symphonic orchestration, cinematic synths, and pop elements. The 10-song record thematically asks the listener to take 40 minutes away from the worries of the world and enjoy the music.
Battle Beast’s new album ‘Steelbound’ has soaring melodies, huge guitar riffs with lots of guitar solos, epic synths, and symphonic orchestrations with a choir. The album dares to go into sounds outside of the traditional heavy metal pantheon with Broadway tunes and Latin American melodies referenced. The band’s songs are mindbogglingly good. “Well. We have three songwriters in the band and we write in different ways,” explained Eero Sipilä. “We are always looking for the spark that will make a song. The people you meet, the situations you face, as long as you're breathing, you're still in the game. So, let the emotions carry you, and crank the music like it’s the 1980s”.
“Joona Björkroth, Noora Louhimo and me, the happy bassist, we all think about music differently,” stated Eero Sipilä. “But we come together to bring the songs into a shape. The song ‘Twilight Cabaret’ definitely has the Broadway show tune thing going on. I know it’s not very metal but we think it works. I wrote and arranged ‘The Long Road’ and it was very different – it’s a melodic symphonic piece of music with a choir - it can be an interlude or an introduction – but it was an idea that popped into my head while I was driving the car to band practice. I worked on the piece and used it to reset myself. I sent it to the others and they liked it and the piece was placed in this album”.
Battle Beast’s album uses a wide sonic palatte and there is an homage back to heavy metal music made in the 1970s and 1980s. The heavy metal of this period had catchier melodic lines and guitar riffs. “I really like music from the 1980s for that reason,” said Eero Sipilä. “Making music that makes people happy is also important. I like the fact that our songs and lyrics can affect people and give them an escape. The world is a horror movie at the moment and it’s hard to cope with – but music can take you somewhere even if it’s just for a short time – it can give relief. We want our music to make people feel better while they are listening to it”.
Battle Beast’s album is magic. It does take the listener away with its lovely uplifting extremely well written lyricism and the catchy, moving, energetic, powerful music. ‘Here We Are’ is a call to unity and to stand strong together in the face of an uncertain world, wrapped up in heavy metal with dance beats. The ‘Last Goodbye’ packs an emotional punch about growing stronger and never letting bad events or times kill your soul with the songs DNA referencing Sabaton, Judas Priest, Europe and ABBA: a heady mixture! ‘Steelbound’ with its start of “Unfold, Behold, Break the mold” is a Broadway show tune that takes you straight back to the 1980s.
“Everything goes in circles. What was uncool yesterday, is hip and trendy again today,” stated Eero Sipilä. “Song writing is important to the band. We hope our music captures the moments of real life as many of our songs are looking at life after the storm has passed like ‘Riders Of The Storm’, ‘Blood Of Heroes’ and ‘Burning Within’. You have faced challenges, been tested, and somehow come through the other side a little stronger and a bit wiser. You realise what’s important. Unity with others and love. Things in life might not have gone perfectly, but you have endured. The songs are tributes to perseverance and resilience: to standing tall just as we are. Even ‘Watch The Sky Fall’ is a love song that has that idea at its heart”.
The sonic soundscape of the album has great instrumentation and the singer Noora Louhimo’s vocal range is stunning. It is her voice that brings Battle Beast’s sound together from her power metal screams to her soft clean singing. The song ‘Angel Of Midnight’ is a perfect reflection of the vocal power. The song is built on a catchy hard rock guitar riff, with big synths, and the beautiful singing of Noora Louhimo. It showcases Battle Beast’s mastery in blending infectious pop hooks with high octane heavy metal. “I really had an internal battle with writing this one,” explained Eero Sipilä. “We're a heavy metal band. Will we be burned at the stake for writing a song like this? This song is a romantic love song. I just shrugged. We can do whatever the hell we want”.
And that confidence to throw out the rule book in making music is a refreshing way to look at the world. ‘Steelbound’ is an album that makes you want to dance and headbang all at once – while you throw your worries away for a while.
Battle Beast’s highly anticipated seventh studio album ‘Steelbound’ is out on 17 October 2025 on Nuclear Blast.
