BATTLE BEAST: 'We've Been Doing Some Songwriting' For Next Studio Album

In a new interview with Chaoszine, BATTLE BEAST singer Noora Louhimo spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to 2022's "Circus Of Doom" album. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "Yes, we've been doing some songwriting. I had the first vocal demo sessions last week. And yeah, we will keep on doing some songs during this — we have, like, seven weeks of touring here. So we're gonna have songwriting sessions on the road."

Noora went on to say that writing on tour is "normal for us. Before pandemic time, we always used to make our songs kind of on the road, touring and making songs and then going to the recording booth and making the album and constant movement. It's like organized chaos. [Laughs]

"The only way nowadays to make money for the band is to make shows and tour," she explained. "So the making of the album is always just — [spending] money, and you have to make the money. So it would be nice if there would be like that we could maybe sometimes have one year just making an album and then another year for touring. But maybe in the future. We'll see."

Asked if she and her bandmates have a timetable for the release of the next BATTLE BEAST album already, Noora said: "Yes, we have, but I can't reveal it. [Laughs] [And] yes, we will release singles, but I can't tell you anything else about the schedule yet. You just have to hold on for a while."

Louhimo revealed in November that she had been diagnosed with a ruptured left carotid artery, causing the postponement the band's tour. The 35-year-old Finnish musician has since said in an interview that she has "definitely started doing more warm-up before any singing and warming down and taking care of my overall health even more than before." She added: "I really appreciate life more now. I'm thankful for each and every day and every moment that I get to live, I get to love, I get to see. I get to see people. I get to be with my loved ones and with my animals here at home. And now I get to tour in the places that I've always dreamed of. And it's not something that you should take [for] granted."

When Louhimo first revealed her diagnosis six months ago, she wrote on her social media: "I went to be examined because of a weird pain in the left side of my neck, throat, ear and chin. At ultrasound examination the doctor found the rupture that had already started healing, and he saved my life. I was hospitalized for more exams and finally got confirmation of the situation. I was ordered to have a break on everything that might stress or increase my blood pressure for the next month. Otherwise, I could have a stroke. As you know how passionate I am as a singer and performer, the blood pressure getting high is a guarantee. So, I did not want to take the risk to die with my boots on, not quite yet".

Louhimo joined BATTLE BEAST in 2012 with no previous experience as a metal vocalist but quickly acclimated herself as the replacement for Nitte Valo (a.k.a. Nitte Vänskä).

Less than two years ago, Noora, who in 2021 released her debut solo album, "Eternal Wheel Of Time And Space", under the NOORA LOUHIMO EXPERIENCE banner, admitted publicly that she had been struggling with eating disorders and her weight since she was "a little child" and said that she was "still trying to find a balance." She added that she had "been depressed and anxious sometimes 'without a reason'."

In an interview with Metal Divas, Noora explained how she ended up fronting BATTLE BEAST: "[In] September [2012], I got a call from [then-BATTLE BEAST guitarist] Anton [Kabanen] that they want me to join BATTLE BEAST. I had heard their music and loved the sound and the vocals, so the next day I called Anton and said I'm in.

"Anton found me by accident on YouTube when he was searching for the new vocalist," she continued. "He had been looking for a vocalist — male or female; [it did not] matter. The only thing that mattered was can that [he or she could] sing his songs without compromises.

"I've been singing since I was four years old," Noora added. "While being a huge fan of heavy metal of '80s and a teenager, I had some classical singing lessons when I was 16 years old. Then at the age of 19, I started studying music in pop/jazz line. At the same time, I started doing some jam sessions at bars. There I found my first band (ADMIRAL OCTOPUS) in the blues bar. We used to play rock and blues music from '60s-'70s and Janis Joplin was the reason I got the rasp in my voice. After ADMIRAL OCTOPUS, in 2011, I took part in a singing competition ('Wanna Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star') at Henry's Pub of Tampere and won it with Janis Joplin's 'Piece Of My Heart'. That's how my single 'Relax' was born."