A Chat with Rough Grind (22.07.26)
Pulsing with raw power, intense ferocity, and an old-school zealousness, Rough Grind preserve old-school rock with their boundary-breaking melodies. We speak with vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Sami about their new album, Neverending Night, changes in the music industry, and much more.
OSR: You recently released your album Neverending Night, and note that this is your third album release, so you have experience recording and producing albums. Is there a particular “template” that you follow, or does each time come with its own challenges and learning curves? Moreover, which has been your favourite album to date, Neverending Night included?
Sami: The production of Hardened (2022) album was a gruelling and delayed process that led to a great deal of frustration. Due to these internal struggles and challenges, the album ultimately turned out shorter than originally intended. It also became undeniable that that particular lineup could not deliver the results I was looking for, so I decided to break up the band.
However, I had a few good songs demoed, and I wanted to continue the story of Rough Grind for one more album. After a hiatus of about a year, I approached Killi and Lassi to join me in recording the new album, which became Neverending Night.
When I wrote the rest of the songs and made demos for the new album, I had total creative freedom. After years of delays, difficulties and frustration, it felt liberating. These new ideas naturally pushed the band’s sonic landscape beyond the boundaries of traditional hard rock, taking it in a more diverse, massive, and atmospheric direction. But we didn’t lose our signature sound; we just allowed it to evolve naturally. In my opinion, the more cinematic sound supports the storytelling, and that’s exactly what I was after.
On Neverending Night, Killi plays drums, and Lassi plays lead guitar. I sing and play all the other instruments and share rhythm guitar duties with Lassi. I produced the album, but Lassi was a crucial partner in the production. He also mixed and mastered the album in his studio.
OSR: What can you tell us about Neverending Night? Is there a particular backstory or theme?
Sami: I guess you could describe it as a “soundtrack to the darkness”. Neverending Night is about finding your way through the dark, even though the shadows are closing in. It offers perspectives on heavy life situations, mental exhaustion, trauma and death, but also takes a couple of sharp swings at modern culture.
OSR: Do you think that this album is a good representation of Rough Grind at the moment?
Sami: We’re proud of the outcome. This release has lifted Rough Grind to another level, and if it’s the final album from the band, it is a perfect swan song to end on.
OSR: Another one for a seasoned band: what evolutions or changes have you seen over the past 15 years, and what do you think has been the most influential on today’s music industry? Also, do you feel these changes are for the better or the worse?
Sami: Album releases have lost their significance in this day and age. Music consumption has become fragmented. Audiences listen to curated playlists and individual tracks rather than sitting through full-length albums. Single-by-single distribution strategy has almost become the industry standard for artists. I think it’s a shame. I’m an old school guy, and I love listening to whole albums. With Neverending Night, we really wanted to take the listener on a journey that spans from the very beginning of the album to the end.
OSR: What can we expect from Rough Grind in the future?
Sami: Right now, it feels very likely that Rough Grind will no longer release full-length albums. I had a personal urge to make this third album, in order to write the final chapter to the story of Rough Grind, which has always been my brainchild. Now it’s done, and I don’t know what the future holds.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Sami: Support local music and independent bands!
Many thanks to Sami for speaking with us. Find out more about Rough Grind on their official website, Facebook, X, Instagram, Bandcamp and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
