Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?
TK: Philadelphia Incident pertains to the awe-inspiring moment back in time when the American comedian Bill Burr singlehandedly literally demolished the whole hostile audience in Philadelphia back in 2007. He fucking exorcised their demons LOL. That term had been brewing in the back of my mind for long as it seemed so fitting for a metal band designed to vent out a little. I told about this to SK and we sort of found the common red line immediately which made this band reality. We have been working pretty fast with writing stuff and it has been almost a self-generating process ever since that moment we decided to go ahead with this. Funnily enough I just recently had to affirm SK that we are indeed both in this shit together and not so that its my solo project with him being a session contributor. I may have had the idea of the name and project but once I talked to him about it I considered it to be our thing. Hell, he brings out so many ingredients to the songs that I wouldn’t have ever thought about.
Previously I have played in quite a few bands like Pain Confessor, Jane Doe (69), Kara Darahu, Society, Artificial God, Shadows of Sadistia, Ten Horayas and some projects I can’t go into detail about. Been in the game since early 90s so I had the pleasure of seeing and experiencing one of the golden eras. Actually two, the 2000s new rise was quite a ride.
SK: I’ve been here, there and everywhere… I’ve played with all kinds of bands. If I had to name a few bands from my metal past…I’d say Sancnity, Corruption Inc. at least.
Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?
SK: Well, TK and I have known each other for decades and Pete (Sandal) is my cousin’s neighbour’s Tinder match.
TK: Yeah, we have been in the scene, SK and me, and SK came to play bass in A Soul Called Perdition which was my project after leaving Pain Confessor. That is now defunct and on non-determined hiatus. Just needed to take a breather and just vent shit out and we ended up doing it with SK and using Pete “Gommando” Sandal on drums. That fucker’s a machine.
Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?
SK: There’s too many to mention… I listen to all kinds of music from jazz to black metal and everything in between. Only criterion is: a good song is a good song and a shitty song is a shitty song. Anything under a nun goes for me…
TK: I subscribe to SK’s criteria of quality being the primary qualifier for me. Good shit works, no matter the genre. A favorite genre cannot save utter bullshit garbage. Influences come far and wide but I will point out Sentenced and Miika Tenkula as my go to guideline when thinking melodic stuff. Also, I got reminded quite recently how much I really was inspired by stuff Stuart Anstis brought to the table when he was churning out genius shit in Cradle of Filth. Their early stuff was awesome and markedly meaningful to me, the whole lineup was golden during Vempire-From The Cradle To Enslave -period. Both Les and Greg were fucking awesome, and Was and Adrian destroyed on the latter EP.
Metallica, Testament, Vader, Gwar, Behemoth, Rotting Christ, Impaled Nazarene, Satyricon, Naglfar, Iron Maiden, Sepultura, Machine Head, At The Gates, Amorphis, WASP, KISS, Eric Clapton, Def Leppard, OZ, Burzum, Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir, Gloomy Grim, Elvis, Spinal Tap, all the local awesome groups… I could go on forever and even here I am forgetting many many super important bands I regret leaving out. Every song ever that has touched me has molded my view of music. Which is natural and obvious. Also those that I do not care for have guided my path elsewhere. Everything matters.
Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?
TK: From a really young age yes, I got my first drumset when I was about 5 or 6. Always loved music and insisted my mom to buy me vinyls when I was 4, like Matchbox – Riders in the sky, Village People – Go West, Boney M – Oceans of Fantasy and a bit later cassettes and vinyls by KISS and W.A.S.P. and Loudness. I actually own the first European pressing of W.A.S.P. debut. Later still I got inspired by Accept, Metallica, Iron Maiden…the list goes on and on. But the real wake up was when Sentenced, Amorphis, Impaled Nazarene, Vomiturition, Beherit, Kyyria, Waltari and the like showed this shit can be done in this lovely backwoods of Finland as well as everywhere else, USA, UK and Germany. When I fell in love with Sentenced’s Amok, I knew there was no turning back. Then, my mind was blown to find out our hometown basically had this stuff going on as well. We had Sancninty (SK’s one former group), Defier, Moral Suicide, whole slew of amazing bands right in my backyard doing the impossible, producing actually impressive metal. I formed a band that minute. And so I was on my way.
SK: Besides being / to be a musician i always wanted to be a janitor but due to circumstances it never happened. You can’t always get what you want…fortunately.
TK: Oh yeah, I wanted to be a welder for Valmet. Can’t weld myself out of a wet paperbag so its ok I never made it.
What songs or albums are on your current playlist?
TK: Machine Head – Burn My Eyes, Goatlord – Reflections of the Solstice, Dissection – Storm of the Lights Bane, Morbid Angel – Blessed Are The Sick, SIA – Chandelier, Massive Attack – Teardrop, Vader – Impressions in Blood, Alessi Brothers – Saving the Day, Anzi Destruction – Black Dog Bias, Die Antwoord – Pitbull Terrier, OZ – Dominator. And tons of others, I just keep forgetting names.
SK: Lately (yesterday) I’ve been listening to bands / artists such as: Archgoat, Weather Report, Cattle Decapitation, Carcass, Erykah Badoo, Krisiun, Kingston Wall, Ofermod, Sammal, Mayhem, Cypress Hill, Bolt Thrower, Chelsea Wolfe, Jinjer, Swallow the Sun etc.
Do you sing in the shower?
TK: I growl and shriek in the shower. Mostly when I get soap in my eyes.
SK: No, but I gently explore myself.
Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?
TK: Yes. Nothing to publicize as of right now but we are working on a full length album and of course would love to do live shows at some point. But yes, we have plans and this beast is now loose and cannot be contained. The music is basically writing itself so we just let it come.
Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?
TK: We have some material ready, and lots under works. An album will be coming but too early to even hint at a date or how it will be released.
If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?
TK: Some South American festival, Tuska in Finland, any venue in Japan and definitely Wacken. Actually some ancient site like any of the gladiatorial arenas still in existence and Aztec pyramids. That would be insane.
Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?
TK: Just one? Then it must be Amok by Sentenced. It just means so many things to me.
SK: There’s too many of them, can’t pick just one…
Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?
SK: Whistling album by Eero Vatunki ( a famous finnish whistler), I can’t remember the name of the album, but it isn’t guilty pleasure it’s Pure Pleasure!
TK: I don’t find shame or feel guilt in liking whatever it is that strikes my fancy.
If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?
TK: Gladiators from ancient Rome. I would have Secutores, Retiarii, Murmillones, Thrax, some Scissors and a grand Venatio with politicians instead of wild game being hunted. I would also have Damnatio Ad Gladium for the heads of states. Main pairings would be Putin vs Zelenskyi, Biden vs Trump, Kim Jong Un vs his current highest ranking officer, Boris Johnson vs Prince Andrew and the main event would be a Battle Royale of 42 pedophiles and child killers. Winner is flayed.
Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?
TK: KISS – Rock and Roll Over cassette.
SK: Matchbox: Settin’ the woods on fire cassette
As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?
TK: We appreciate each and every single person who takes a moment of their life to listen to what we have created. Even if you don’t like it, it still matters to us that we have piqued even that little bit of interest that a time investment has been deemed worthy. Appreciate music, it is a healer, therapist, time machine, best friend and consolation at the worst of times. And make sure the artists that you like get to know how you feel. You matter.
Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!
https://instagram.com/philadelphiaincident
https://twitter.com/philadelphiaindicent
https://facebook.com/philadelphiaincident
And Philadelphia Incident should be represented in all major digital platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Deezer, even fucking Napster. Go get some!
We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?
TK: Thank you! Your support is much appreciated.
SK: Thank you for your support and now I would like to add some water to the sea!
This interview is solely the property of The Metal Asylum