TERÄSBETONI Frontman Launches AHOLA

Jarkko Ahola of the Finnish metal groups TERÄSBETONI and NORTHERN KINGS has launched a new "vital rock act" called AHOLA. According to a press release, the group "has a suitable mix of past and present — which is always an essential part of rock music. The band's musical core consists of hit tunes, feeling and of course the skill to write and play true and powerful rock music, wherein the authenticity and emotion are relevant, leaving the vain posing to others."

Commented Ahola: "AHOLA is something I've been working on for a long time.

"From the beginning I've written rock songs in English, but since being a musician, you find yourself doing something you did never expect like singing and playing in a huge act called TERÄSBETONI or participating a cool project called NORTHERN KINGS. I guess that's part of the fascination!

"Anyway, still riff-based rock being the heart of my musical world, I wanted to add some spice to the soup and do something that I wasn't so familiar with: super tightness, speed… a flavor of punk rock, you might say.

"Oh, don't get scared, there's only a glimpse of it, giving the right edge to the songs. THAT is the territory none of us really handle well which brings this odd 'hanging on the edge' magic to our performance."

He continued, "The way I want to see AHOLA's music is: songs are, I dare say, approachable with catchy choruses but when giving the songs a deeper thought, loaded with layers you can dig into. You can hear echoes from classic rock of the '70s, alternative rock and metal of the '90s and last decade, pop music in general, that punk rock I mentioned and… well, listen to yourselves."

"Livin' The Dream" and "The Spell" audio samples are available here.

AHOLA will make its live debut on August 6 at On The Rocks in Helsinki. This show will be the final concert of the rock club's 10-year-anniversary celebration week.

AHOLA is:

Jari "Jamo" Laitinen: Bass
Jarkko Ahola: Vocals, Guitar
Antti Mäkelä: Drums

A lead guitarist and fourth member of AHOLA will be announced soon.

For more information, visit the AHOLA Facebook page.

Photos by Mirkku Merimaa
 

(Thanks: Melica / Night Elves)