The Finnish band Where's My Bible , winner of the Come To Latin America , performed in 4 Brazilian cities on the 8th, 10th, 11th and 12th of this month (São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Campinas).
Come To Latin America contest is an initiative aimed at emerging Finnish metal bands, funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. Its objective is to spread the music, promote the country's culture, and help break down some of the prejudices that still exist surrounding heavy metal.
More than 100 bands were nominated for the award, from which 10 were selected and voted on by a jury composed of more than 100 Latin American musicians, journalists, radio broadcasters, festival organizers, and professionals connected to live entertainment. Where's My Bible was the big winner of this first edition , closely followed by finalists Luna Kills and Noira .
Over the past few weeks, the band has played in 9 cities across Latin America, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. In a press conference held this Friday, the 13th, they spoke about their experience with the Brazilian audience.
“The audience was super honest. It was very different from Finland, people don’t just stand there with their arms crossed,” comments drummer Teppo Ristola . “It was a very warm reception from the moment we stepped on stage. It was impressive,” adds vocalist Jussi Jeesus Matilainen . “And even when they’re making noise or being crazy, we can see that they’re enjoying our music and showing it,” concludes guitarist Juho Jokimes.
Recently, Where's My Bible released the single “Fenrir,” which is part of the band's upcoming album, to be released in the first half of 2024. The album follows the lyrical style of the band's previous songs, using stories from Norse mythology as inspiration. “It’s a combination of Finnish and Scandinavian myths,” explains Jussi. “We use these stories as a metaphor for the human mind and the darkness that grows within each of us if we do nothing about it.”
Throughout their time in Brazil, Where's My Bible had the opportunity to play with the Brazilian bands Ratos de Porão , Krisiun, and Paradise In Flames . The band members emphasized the positive connection formed between them and the members of each band and assured that they will listen to them when they return to Finland. Drummer Teppo Ristola also mentioned his love for Sepultura since adolescence and cited the band as one of the reasons he decided to become a metal musician.
“The first album my mom gave me was Ride The Lightning by Metallica , and I didn’t want to go to school anymore [laughs]. But my mom said I needed to go,” he says. “A few weeks later, I got a copy of a Sepultura collection and that was it. I wanted to be like those guys.”
Currently, Finland has the highest number of heavy metal bands per capita in the world, with 60 for every 100,000 inhabitants ( VEJA Come To Latin America project will continue, introducing Finnish metal bands to the global market and fostering connections with Latin America.
