Dharma Guns
Dharma Guns
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Their latest album is called ‘Nightmares and Broken Dreams’.
“It has such a positive title, right?” He jokes.
The first song he sent his band was the opening track, ‘shock a’clock’, which includes that rousing lyric: Nightmares and Broken Dreams.
Whereas their first album, ‘Ex-Generation Superstars’ was all about the gaps between different generations in Finland, their second release explores some of those themes internationally.
“This is all about when mad individuals and genocidal maniacs attack other countries,” Pete says. Quite relatable considering the current political climate. “There are lines like ‘I’m sick of watching the news today’, because all the time there are bombs and wars, and as a songwriter that affects you.
“The best punk bands have always been a little bit political, so if I put politics in the lyrics, that’s only the most natural thing. This album is a bit darker, and has a certain 90s grunge vibe. There’s some Mudhoney in the guitar riffs”.
Pete says that despite all that doom and gloom, there is at least one more optimistic track on the album. He refers to its lead single, ‘King of Action Rock’.
“We knew people hadn’t heard from us in a long time, so we had to make a bit of a statement. The long lasts less than two minutes, and it’s this in your face, punk rock song, and it makes you think: ‘what the f***, what’s this album going to sound like?”
The Helsinki music scene has always proven reliably dynamic. Currently, the action and street rock sub-genres are seeing a huge boom thanks in part to bands like Dharma Guns.
“During the pandemic, you couldn’t see live music anywhere. It’s only been a few years and now there are plenty of young guitar rock bands rising up. Finland is known internationally as a country with great metal music, and there’s always been a real punk scene”.
“If we had to say anything, though, we’re more dead boys than New York Dolls”.
Attention turns to the bookshelves behind Pete on the zoom call. They are full of comprehensive works on Bowie, Ozzy, Iggy. Well, pretty much any legend you can think of.
Pete’s day job is in book publishing, and worked solely alongside music publishers in his previous employment: “Life’s about books and rock and roll,” he says.
The rock and roll that the guys produce is big, bold and has something to say. Experiencing them live is especially rewarding, Pete promises ahead of a potential UK tour.
“We’re not going to go on stage with the same clothes we’ve been wearing all day,” he says. “We’re not Kiss, with masks or anything, but when you get on stage you go to perform, and give people not only the music but also something to see.
“If you play rock and roll, you should move with it, show you have a pulse, feel the rhythm. When I’m not playing guitar, I jump into the crowd to say ‘I’m here with you, are you here with us?’.”
The second Dharma Guns album, Nightmares and Broken Dreams, is out now wherever you get your music.
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