YEAR 2003: THE SEARCH FOR MAXIMUM INTENSITY
The Scourger was first kicked into action in the year 2003 in Helsinki, Finland. Formed by ex-GANDALF vocalist Jari Hurskainen together with Seppo Tarvainen on drums. The early days included also Seppo's friend Pekka Hmlinen on guitar. Now, the musical direction for the band was to be thrash metal played with a modern sound for the new millennium and a fierce attitude that would kick some serious ass in the genre! The band was working as a three piece on some material in order to start recordings for a demo as soon as possible. At the same time that this was going on, they were searching for a more permanent solution for the guitar and bass positions in the lineup. This was no easy task as the songs that where written had a very challenging aspect to them.
YEAR 2004: ON THE ROAD TO THE SLAYGROUND
Rehearsal and many hours of writing had resulted in half a dozen new songs in the spring of 2004. Little by little a new line-up started to take form. In a very short time frame two new guitarists joined the band. Two old familiar faces Harri Hytnen (Gandalf, Cubehead) and Timo Nyberg (Gandalf, Divine Decay) took on the challenge. Work started on the final arrangements for the new music written mainly by Seppo. Some time later Alec Hirst-Gee (Suburban Tribe, Divine Decay) joined on session basis on bass.
In the autumn the band entered Moonman Studios in Karjaa, Finland together with producer Aaro Seppovaara, known from the band Blake. Because the lack of time from Alec's side Kirka Sainio (Gandalf, Lab) was asked to help out with the recordings. The end result was a six song Maxi-CD scheduled for release in February of the coming year. Entitled "To The Slayground" the CD clocks in over thirty minutes and tackles cheery subjects like war, drug abuse, greed and the negative influence the media might inflict on us. Titles included are "Slayground", "Soul Seducer", "Crossfire Of Lies", "The Greediness", "Malediction Of Heredity" and "Black Worms".
YEAR 2005: STRIKE OF THE HATEHEADS
Seen thru rock and roll eyes some things sometimes happen fast and some slower than hell. Nevertheless, one and a half year onwards from the initial formation the band was playing the Dimen Nimeen! tribute gig at Rock'N'Roll Station in Helsinki and scourging the main stage at the Finnish Metal Expo (FME) all within a month. Kimmo Kammonen debuted as the new bass player for the band at the tribute gig. The band shot their first video in FME, to the track "Slayground" in front of a very enthusiastic audience. The video can be found as part of the DVD release Inferno: A Collection Of Metal Videos 2005. In February the "To The Slayground" MCD was released. The album release was celebrated in high style when the band supported Finntroll at the Tavastia Club in the same month.
The Scourger and their record company belong to the old school of belief that when creativity is on a high level, then also productivity and outcome should be on a high level. So, if you can get to grips with this then you should not be surprised when the band announced that a new single would be released in July. At this point in time, Seppo had come up with the most fierce music he had ever written and when Jari provided lyrics that fitted the mood of this track like a fist in a metal glove, "Hatehead", the most brutal The Scourger track to date was born. Recorded at Seawolf Studios, Helsinki and at Moonman Studios, Karjaa, the "Hatehead" single was the kick off to the recording of the forthcoming album "Blind Date With Violence". Once again, Aaro Seppovaara was sitting in the producer's chair. The single was released to the public in the week of the Tuska festival in Helsinki and the band supported it by playing the Tuska after show party at the Tavastia Club with Hevein and Total Devastation. What was to follow took everybody by total surprise, the single rocketed to number one in the official Finnish singles charts! Following the week 29 number one position the single, stayed in the charts weeks 31, 32, 33 with respective positions 4, 5 and 12, alongside new singles from such names as Children Of Bodom and Stratovarius.
In August and September the band continued to record the debut album "Blind Date With Violence" and made one change in the lineup when guitarist Harri Hytnen was replaced with Jani Luttinen, also known from the band The Wake. Besides "Hatehead" the album will feature such titles as: "Enslaved To Faith", "Maximum Intensity", "The Oath & The Lie", "Exodus Day", "Chapter Thirteen", "Pain Zone" and "Feast Of The Carnivore". Commenting the work on the track "Exodus Day", Seppo has the following to say: "This is the newest of the songs I have written and it contains a rather progressive arrangement. The intention was that this one would have become a straight forward thrash song, but there were some problems with the chorus. I wasn't satisfied with any of the arrangement solutions. Then, I had come up with this nice melody which is kind of slow. I just had the idea that we would use this melody for the chorus and just drop the tempo whenever needed. This one features also a nice phasing on the vocal track, all in all a really fine track and it rocks!!!"
In October the band was invited to support the new US thrash metal sensation Trivium at the Koff 1st Warning Club gig which would take place at the Tavastia Club. This was the baptism of fire for new guitarist Jani Luttinen playing live with the band for the first time. The man took the stage with his fist raised high in the air and played like never before. At the gig the band aired some of the new songs from the album alongside old favourites from the "To The Slayground" MCD. Needless to say, the biggest chants was received during "Hatehead". The year will be rounded up with gigs at venue Gloria (Metal Club Curium) and at the Rautakanki Pre-Club in December together with various other acts.
YEAR 2006: TOWARDS THE EXODUS DAY
The new album "Blind Date With Violence" will hit the shops in January and The Scourger will see you along the road as we all travel towards Exodus day.and don't forget, no, don't you ever forget, once a hateheadalways a hatehead!
