Well! Almost didn't think I'd ever get to say this, but the recordings for the album are finally done! I mean done. Tonmi might still make some keyboard touch-ups, but after that the mixing may begin. It's been a long and winding road, but this, my friends, is the shit. Everybody's done a really good job, especially Tonmi, whose angel-like patience (hahahahaahahahaha) has really been put to the test these past few months, with him both recording and producing it with very little help from outside of the band. We are very proud of him and this new album - it's going to be a little surprise for our old fans, here's hoping we still keep both of them, and hopefully get some new friends as well. At least we all love the new stuff and can't wait to get it mixed, mastered and blasting from our own
cd players!

And what else has happened while making the album, hmm, let me think. Beepo became a dad and is the proud father of a cute yet musically very critical little girl. Pusa cut his hair ( I have no self-adopted son!!) (Who am I kidding, I'd forgive that lovable brat anything, even this hidious abomination). Mikko is making progress with his music studies, Tonmi has had a million gigs combining his time with us and the recently very active Ajattara, and has also made a couple of albums with Ajattara and Kylähullut, not to mention a few music videos. I've basically just worked as a graphic designer, fixed the house, practiced my singing and partied. J has taken care of the bands doings, being the alpha crow that he so naturally is, and worked his ass off for the last couple of weeks for our New Year's gig in St.Petersburgh - it's surprisingly difficult to arrange 8 people just to get there and back... But the biggest change is Vanguard becoming a 6-person band, we're sad to see our co-founding member and brother Lari leave us due to lack of time and structural changes in the band. He will be replaced live with background tracks next year. This will be a very big change for us all, and we have nothing else but graditude and love to show of our 8-year journey together with Lari. It feels like just yesterday I shyly stumbled into Lari's dad's garage for my first band rehearsal - little did I know how much difference that one night in 2001 would have on my life, and what great music and memories we would make together. Lari back then was a long haired half-ninja-slash-law student who could without trouble switch between flute and keyboard and listened to some really fucked-up UG black metal which the rest of us simply called gurgle buzzing - needless to say we became instant
friends.

So, thank you, good friend, and brother - you'll always be a part of Vanguard! Long live Mörk Satan and the best of luck for your career!

Suvi laying down the last tracks...


Last little things...