From left to right: Henkka Seppälä, Mikko Hakila, Jussi Ylikoski (all MOON SHOT), Greg Rothermehl (on screen) and Flori Milz (both Reaper Entertainment), Ville Malja (MOON SHOT), Achim Ostertag (Reaper Entertainment), Urs Middelhauve (umi music / MOON SHOT Mgmt.).
Scrap the old-school idea of a rock band. Then enter the world of MOON SHOT where insight and experience replace youthful chaos as the thing that leads to great rock ’n’ roll. This is timeless music that sits right at home in the times we live in. Honest-to-rock melodies go big and themes strike deep.
The Finnish rock band, featuring Children Of Bodom, Disco Ensemble, and Lapko alumni, now signs a worldwide record deal with Reaper Entertainment.
Guitarist Jussi Ylikoski comments, “This is a giant leap for MOON SHOT. The people behind Reaper have shown their dedication and ability to build and lift bands to new levels. I am beyond excited about this collaboration! Let’s do this!”
Bassist Henkka Seppälä adds, “The pandemic was tough on all musicians, but on the other hand, it also gave us time to start making the songs for the second album, which turned out to be such a strong package that I’m still smiling when I think about it. When an old friend of mine – Flori from Reaper Entertainment – came back to me saying, ‘How about working with us?,’ I was surprised, but then realizing how much our music had actually touched the Reaper guys, it made total sense! Let’s go already!”
Flori Milz from Reaper comments, “When I first heard about MOON SHOT a few years ago, I immediately offered my help to Henkka. Since then, I have been following the band and curiously watching how they develop. So, when Henkka sent me the new songs a few months ago, I was a bit surprised, but I was happy about his trust. I was totally excited about what I heard and forwarded it directly to my two comrades-in-arms, who were also totally thrilled. We are very happy that the band has now signed with us. It’s not the typical Reaper band, because it’s not metal – but still music with heart and soul – and that’s what we stand for as well.”
Watch for further updates on MOON SHOT to post over the months ahead.
The way the world is throwing up craziness upon us, no twenty-something rock star can shock us with some old-fashioned hotel room obliteration before the break of dawn. We need new ways to get our release from the mad world because the old cliches are no longer relevant. For MOON SHOT, the no nonsense let-the-music-do-the-wowing approach has been clear from moment zero. Instead of the fly high and burn Icarus-type lifestyle (their past is familiar with that too), they come at us with a commonsense approach, rewriting the rock ‘n’ roll dream as something lasting. With tunes that give you release.
Where once there was posturing, now it’s about showing your burns, cuts and fragility. Being honest, while also having fun and making touching power tunes with melodies big enough to build bridges between planets, nations, ex-lovers, or estranged family members.
First, let’s look at how MOON SHOT got to this place called now. Like any moonshot, it’s a dream before it becomes reality. This is true of the moon landing, pretty much any rock band ever started by a pimply teen (applies to these guys’ former bands Children Of Bodom, Disco Ensemble, and Lapko), creating the greatest stamp collection in the world or renovating the hell out of your home. Whatever makes your dreams tick. Always: first imagination, then action.
In the case of MOON SHOT, whose debut Confession hit us in the collective gut in October 2021, that dream was following a first career in bands with which they grew into musicians. Who knew what would happen before putting out tracks to burn your socks off and heading out to engage with people at gigs. It was just four guys getting together to make music hot on the heels of decades making music and touring like hectic evil-eyed-bunnies.
Well, spoiler alert, good stuff happened. Really. Things just flew up, up and away – this was a moonshot to a new planet of sound to introduce us to honest-to-rock 21st century rock ’n’ roll. And the guys are still accelerating on that high of a loving reception.
MOON SHOT:
Jussi Ylikoski – guitars
Henkka Seppälä – bass
Ville Malja – vocals
Mikko Hakila – drums
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