After the explosive show of the Estonian band Signs of Execution in Dolný Kubín, the band members were kind enough to answer a few questions for me. I spoke with rhythm guitarist Maksim Osheka and lead vocalist Meriliis Ojamäe about the tour, their plans, and more.

Let’s start with your show today. Did you enjoy it?

Maksim: Yes, it was totally… super cool.
Meriliis: Yeah.

Meriliis, you are new in the band. How long have you been with Signs of Execution?

Meriliis: Yes, I have been in the band for about three months.
Maksim: Since March, I guess. Or February.
Meriliis: February, yes, since February.

So is this your first tour with the band?

Meriliis: Yes.
Maksim: And actually, it is also the first tour for the band.

I didn’t know that. But are these also your first live shows together as a band?

Maksim: No, no. We had one nice event about two weeks ago in Tallinn, Estonia. And yesterday we had a super blasting show in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Today is the second day of the tour, so we already have some experience together.

Does this tour include only these three shows, or is it part of something bigger?

Maksim: No, it is only these three shows. We decided to take a shorter tour. It is our first one, so we wanted to get some experience, to see what we can do and what we cannot. But everything is going great, so the next tour will definitely be much stronger.

Now, there is something I am very curious about. Meriliis, how do you feel as the only woman in the band, and actually in both bands on the tour?

Meriliis: Awww, it actually feels awesome. When I’m on stage, I feel like, “Worship me.” (laughing) It’s pretty awesome. I love it.
Maksim: And we try to take care of her as much as we can.

How did you become part of Signs of Execution? Was the band searching for a long time, or were you their first choice?

Meriliis: I actually found them on a local musicians’ page.
Maksim: Yes, it was a forum for Estonian musicians. We had several candidates, and we tried working with one guy for about a month, but then we decided… I mean, he was a really nice guy, but he didn’t quite fit into the Signs of Execution model, let’s say. And then Meriliis wrote to me, we tried, we liked it, and here we are now.

And are you still singing with the band Nihilistikrypt, Meriliis?

Meriliis: Yes, but it has quieted down. We don’t have a drummer or guitarist right now, so I’m putting all my time into Signs of Execution.

Are you or were you in any other band besides these two?

Meriliis: No.

When I listened to Nihilistikrypt’s album Serial Killer Diaries for the first time, I was actually more shocked than when I first heard Arch Enemy.

Meriliis: Really? (laughing)

Your growl is really powerful.

Meriliis: Thank you.

Could you tell me how you got into this kind of music?

Meriliis: Well, it’s actually a long story. I think I was six or seven when my uncle showed me Papa Roach… And I was like, “Oh my god, OK, that’s cool.” The next band I heard was Asking Alexandria, and then I thought, “OK, I’m gonna learn that.” So I started with Asking Alexandria, then moved to Chelsea Grin, and I started practicing. I think when I was seventeen, I uploaded a cover to YouTube, and a guy from Nihilistikrypt found me. He wrote to me like, “Hi! What’s up? Maybe you wanna try a band?” And I was like, “Fuck yeah!” I was in Nihilistikrypt for three years. Well, I still am, but we’re not doing anything now, so I thought, “OK, I’m gonna try another band that’s active.” And here I am.

And one more question about that. Did you learn to growl with a teacher or by yourself?

Meriliis: By myself. My idol is Phil Bozeman from Whitechapel, so I’ve been watching his videos on YouTube and learning from them.

Is metal music popular in Estonia?

Meriliis: Kind of. We have a small scene, but it’s somewhat popular.
Maksim: It is, but it’s more about black metal and death metal, the heavier kinds.

Do you have a favorite band from Estonia?

Meriliis: Beyond The Structure, for sure.
Maksim: For me… there are loads of great bands in Estonia, though not all of them are active anymore. Now, I like Cantilena, a thrash metal band. I like Cryptica, that’s why we’re here together. As I mentioned before, there are loads of great bands, and it’s really hard to choose between them because they’re all my friends, and I don’t want to offend anyone. But yes, Estonia has many great bands.

Have you ever been to Slovakia before?

Maksim: No, it’s my first time.
Meriliis: Same for me. It’s a really beautiful city… town… country… Country! (laughing)
Maksim: The main difference between Estonia and Slovakia is that Estonia is very flat, while Slovakia is full of hills, mountains, and beautiful views, which we really enjoyed.

And my last question. Do you already have plans after the tour, maybe a new album or video?

Maksim: Yes, we are planning. We have some material to work on, and when the songs are ready, we’ll definitely record them. Once the tour is finished, we’ll start working on new material.