After hooking up with Viiltola, we headed to Mastervox Studios (end 2004, demo samples pt. 1 & 2) to record some demo songs with Viiltola on the vocals. Outcome pleased us and producer much and we decided to move forwards. Next thing to do was to continue demoing/arranging of the songs with Viiltola. We did 2 separate demoing session in Suomussalmi and Oulu before booking the Mastervox Studio for recordings of the second album. At this point it already seemed that recording session couldn’t be done at once, but in a separate session during summer/fall 2005… But much more we didn’t see coming…
We started recording drums on May and everything seemed like it was going to be ok, but sadly, Petteri’s drumming was not Ultimatium-enough style. Although Petteri’s performance on stage was great, new songs just didn’t have that kind of “feel” and “power” we and record-company were hoping… And so it was decided to postpone further recordings untill we had resolved the situation…
After a couple of weeks we (as the rest of the band) had no choice but to let Petteri go (this is where we didn’t handle the situation well enough, so: Sorry, Petteri, for any inconvenience). I (Matti) had fortunately enough (via some personal life matters) come aware of one crazy, kick-ass drummer from Pyhäjärvi and after some serious phone number hunting (thanks to Jussi from Agonizer) we got connected with Tony (or Toni) Qvick. Tony was really excited about the opportunity and our music, so after couple of weeks (somewhere early July 2005) we headed to Pyhäjärvi to test Tony’s skills…
And from the very first songs played together, we were sure that he’s our guy, he’s the one that can play drums on the album. So, after one more rehearsing weekend we packed up Mastervox’s mobile recording set and headed to Pyhäjärvi to some serious drum-recordings. From this point things were bound to roll out real nicely. On the very beginning of Ultimatium Matti and Harri decided that we try to keep Ultimatium’s music “live-like” on the records also and this time we certainly succeeded. Tony’s dynamical drums-style and improvised arrangements made the songs even better than they were on demos. After three days we were done with the drums and it was time to head back to Oulu to continue…
Well, when you start to record an album by yourselves, why not to continue? It was somewhere October already when we continued the recording process. Again we picked up the mobile unit and started recording keyboards and basses at Toppila, Oulu, at our apartment. Somewhat week went on as we recorded most of the keys (with X3 borrowed from M. Pouke, thanks) and basses (yes, basses, not a bass). We continued with “live-like” feeling on keys and basses also, so that our songs would sound relaxed, but still energised and versatile…
After that we were ready to hit the Mastervox studios to do the guitars and vocals. And still continue recordings by ourselves, except that now Immu was helping out on technical issues and more or less supervising our recordings. Harri wrecked up his guitar A-string couple of times (two times @ exactly same location, at heavy riff after chorus of Whispers), but otherwise recordings went on nicely. I (Matti) got some time off as Nipa Nissilä helped on recordings on couple of days…
Vocals recordings and solos yet to complete, we booked up two new sessions to Mastervox Studios to complete them. We did lot’s of work on re-arranging some of the vocal parts but the outcome was supreme. Tomi reached up the highest and the lowest notes possible and still sounded great all the times. At this point we decided to use two other singers to complete track 6.
We still needed one more session to finish up the vocals and solos and at this point, we had managed to get A. Nissilä & M- Pouke to give some extra spice for the most wicked song we’d ever come up with… Not a typical power-metal track, I’d say… Yes, and it was already March 2006, so the time passed by pretty quickly.
So it was time for mixing… After three or so versions we finally got what everybody wanted (on July 2006). Meantime we unsuccessfully tried to come up with a new logo, album cover and name for the album…
More trouble was to come… We were facing some tough times trying to find someone to make logo and cover. After two or so unsuccessful attempts (waiting for outcomes costed us delayed the process significantly) label contacted Joe Petagno and we was first to come up with perfect cover. Before completing, we did a promo-shoot with whole band and started to make a logo. Too bad it took some time also and after some defeats we contacted TocixlAngel and he was able to come up with a logo on short notice. I think it was somewhere early August 2007 when we got the logo. At this point Tuomo had decided to move back to Suomussalmi and henceforth leave the band, so a bassist was needed (and is still needed: March 2008).
In the end, after second attempt, Matti made inlays to album with I.Ilmarinen and name was decided also: Hwainoo. Hwainoo is an ancient name for the areas residing in both sides of the Gulf of Bothnia that are these days parts of Finland and Sweden. Currently the modern name for Hwainoo is Kainuu that is still used for the eastern parts of Finland. And so, the album was sent to print shop on beginning of November…
After some major problems with print shop, we finally got to hold our “child” our arms for the very first time in middle of March. And a release date was set: 16.4.2008
to be continued…
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