The conversation began with the obvious: five albums in, how does it feel? They laughed that the title fits not only the discography but the fact that they’re now a five-piece, having welcomed keyboardist Ari — someone they’ve known for over a decade — fully into the lineup. Despite the expanded roster, they don’t see this as a dramatic new chapter so much as a continuation of what they’ve always done best. “The band is still pretty much the same,” they noted, adding that the addition felt natural because Ari had long been part of their circle.

When asked about passion and identity, the answer came quick and genuine: making music still feels like being in their twenties, picking up guitars and sitting on tour buses with friends. “It’s still fun — probably the best thing you can do with your pants on,” Tommi joked. Their identity isn’t tied so much to Helsinki as to a broader Finnish melancholy, though they admitted they probably feel closer to the Gothenburg rock ‘n’ roll world than anything locals usually label as a “Helsinki scene.”

Talk quickly shifted to ‘Vol. 5′ and the singles that introduced it, including their one-hour wonder ‘Congregation.’ The song was literally written under a self-imposed one-hour deadline when the band realised they were two songs short before entering the studio. Despite the rush, it “clicked pretty easily” once they began playing it as a full band. Its lyrical jabs at religious hypocrisy came straight from Tommi’s headspace at the time — not an intentional theme for the record, but simply something he enjoys poking fun at. “I like making a pun out of things when they seem off,” he said, adding that religion in particular offers plenty of its own material.

The other teaser, ‘Elwood & Jake,’ emerged just as quickly. Topi sent a short demo, and within an hour and a half Tommi had returned it with full melodies and lyrics. The title and vibe are clear nods to The Blues Brothers, paired with what they called a “Turbojugend-ish clang.” They talked about enjoying intertextual references from 80s culture — Trading Places, Top Gun, you name it — and the joy of pulling unexpected influences into rock’n’roll. The music video leans even further into the homage, opening with a Finnish twist on the film’s famous dialogue and featuring an old Finnish Saab that was used as a police car in the past. To top it off, they recruited their own stunt actors for the shoot — a detail they were clearly proud of.

Humour, it became clear, runs through much of their work. They don’t take themselves too seriously, balancing sarcasm with genuine heart. They joked that they could write heavy, brooding songs full of big statements, but it’s simply more fun to sing about rock’n’roll, girls, cults, or even relationships from a dog’s point of view — all while making sure there’s always another side to the story.

Even after ten years and multiple albums, their approach remains refreshingly grounded. Their gear has barely changed (“I haven’t touched the knobs on my amp in a decade”), and they describe their sound evolution as “regressive” with a laugh. What has evolved, they say, is their songwriting confidence. From ‘Charm’ onward, they feel the music has become more truly theirs — less about references, more about identity. They’ve reached a point where they don’t feel compelled to follow any unwritten stylistic rules. Heavy songs, lighter songs, unexpected turns — it’s all fair game. “If it sounds good to us,” they said, “hopefully someone else likes it too.”

With ‘Vol. 5′ almost in listeners’ hands, the band was preparing for shows in Germany, Belgium, and a likely return to Spain — their “second home.” They were also looking forward to celebrating the album’s release at Helsinki’s legendary Semifinal, their first show there in five years. They’re excited to bring new tracks like ‘Seven Sins’ and ‘Peace and Out’ to the stage.

As the conversation wrapped up, I asked which film genre would best describe ‘Vol. 5′. Tommi answered with characteristic flair: Back to the Future — entertaining, energetic, but carrying a message underneath. A fitting comparison for an album that blends fun, nostalgia, and sincerity in exactly the way The Empire Strikes do best.

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