Biography
The Machete started off as a "we have to get together sometime and play some metal"-thing between Teemu, Kuisma (Mokoma) and Juha (ex-Mind Riot) in late winter / early spring 2003. After a couple of jam sessions there were already some song skeletons and a bunch of riffs to be worked on. Santtu (Mokoma) joined the group immediately after the obvious need for a bass player was uttered aloud.
From the very first rehearsal, Santtu's role in song-writing became central to the extent that the most natural thing was that Santtu switched to playing the guitar (his first instrument, after all) and Kuisma took over on the bass. The core line-up was now in place, with Santtu, Juha and Teemu doing most of the song-writing.
Song-writing continued at a rapid pace during the rest of the year 2003 and as the year was closing to its end, enough songs for a full-length album had taken form. Minus the vocals, that is, which posed the next challenge. Tuomo (Mokoma, ex-Mind Riot) had earlier mentioned that if ever a singer was needed, he would be willing to give it a try. So he did, and Machete finally took its current form.
In early June 2004 the first Machete demo was finally completed and the group was now ready to crawl out of the cellar and into the open. During 2004 The Machete played its first half dozen gigs to enthusiastic crowds. In late 2004 the band felt that it was time to move on and start working on a full-length album.
The original idea was to release a self-financed album, but in spring 2005 only days from hitting the studio, Spinefarm Records contacted The Machete and offered a deal. The negotiations were carried out swiftly, to say the very least, and in Auqust 2005 The Machete's debut album "Regression" was released through Spinefarm.
Well before The Machete entered studio, Kuisma had been struggling to divide his time between two bands and personal life and In January 2005, it was agreed with Kuisma that a new bass player was needed. "Regression" was recorded with Santtu taking care of the bass player's duties, but after the album was released the hunt for a bass player started for real. The hunt ended up being very short, as Antti Vajanto, a long time friend agreed to pick up the bass. And that he did like a true professional, The Machete now has a line-up that's ready for any adventure future may bring!
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