Darkest
greetings! First of all, I feel that you should introduce GLOOMY GRIM to
our readers...
- It all
started about 10 years ago when I and my friend formed band called HELLSTORM.
We couldn’t play our intruments (I was on guitar and my friend was on drums),
but we tried to create very extreme metal in the veins of VENOM, BATHORY,
etc. HELLSTORM ended within a year and not so nice way, but that is another
story. I continued my `works of art’ by myself and four track tape machine.
That was the time when I started to play drums more ’professionally’. So,
I played drums (and still will) in many bands and my own music was left
behind... until I bought computer at year 95. I was played so long time
others music that I wanted to create something of my own. And that was
it.
Your debut CD was unleashed a couple of months ago and I believe that we already can talk about the response...
- Yes, it came out 15.5.1998. I haven’t seen many of the reviews, but mainly it has been good.
Is GLOOMY GRIM a commercially successful project? Do you know how much copies were sold till now?
- I got my first sales report at July and at time it was sold 7000, but I don’t know how much it has sold now…
No
doubts that «Blood, Monsters, Darkness» offers very original
interpretation of black metal... Personally I dislike BM bands with keyboards
as the leading instrument, however despite that GLOOMY GRIM can be reckoned
to this kind, I truly appreciate what you’re doing... Maybe, the reason
for that is quite distinctive and non-typical sound possessed by your band?
Anyway, here’s the question - why did you decide to make emphasis on synths
and why are you ignoring ‘live’ drums using the computer instead?
- First of all... GLOOMY GRIM is not black metal band, so we are not limited in to some “scene rules”. I keep GLOOMY GRIM more as “horror movie metal” (like many have said) It is true that in many songs the guitars are more like backing instruments. Reason? I don’t know, I just like it that way. The main thing , which I don’t want to do in Gloomy is playing drums. In this band I want only compose music & sing. The whole idea behind GLOOMY GRIM is in that. I have played so many years others made music, that this time I wanted something different. I make all the base (synths, etc.) by computer and I also do drums with it. We tried this with real drums, but somehow it didn’t worked. When this album came out, I thought that it would be great to have real drummer in live situation, but now when we have done some gigs, I am not sure if it’s necessary. I think that we will continue like this, but never know what happens.
«Blood, Monsters, Darkness» was recorded at Helsinki’s HD Studio which doesn’t seem to be a well-known one among black metallers. Why did you choose it and ignored such places as Tico Tico or Egotrip? Are you satisfied with the way your work there turned out?
- MD studios were the place where I did our previous demos and I was satisfied with their sound, so it wasn’t hard to decide which studio I will use with the recordings. Also I know people who work there and it is always easier to do work with friends. Yes, I am satisfied with the results.
«Over The Moutain» tune features additional guitarist namely Trooper... I’m eager to know the following - who is he and where does he come from (i.e. what band or project)?
- There’s reasons why I can’t tell it. Sorry.
I
believe you have plenty of free time if you manage to play in three bands
simultaneously! How do you contrive to do it?
- You are right about that, that I do not have time spending problems, but none of these bands do not keep rehearsals so often, that they start to eat time from others. I play more with that band, which have some new stuff, gig or recording coming, then I leave it for awhile and move to another. We are now starting to keep rehearsals with THY SERPENT and if the future plans keep what they are promising (European tour etc.) I think that I must leave some bands totally.
By the way, how are the things going with SOULGRIND?
- SOULGRIND’s new album (the fourth one - ED) is going to be released through Holy Records and we are starting recordings with it at February 1999.
Are you pleased with Holy Records and their work in regards to GLOOMY GRIM? Can you share with us your view upon other bands signed to that label? What do you think about the fact that there aren’t too many black metal acts besides you...?
- I am very satisfied to their work. I like Holy because even they are not biggest label they do very professional / dedicated work for their bands. In bigger labels there´s always the fear that you might sunk among the other bands they have (because theres too many of them) and they do not have time to put all their capasite to your band. Also I like Holy, because they have guts to release something what others are scared to release, if they like it by themselves. Of course they think of profits too, but I think that making money isn´t their main goal. Like I said GLOOMY GRIM is not black metal band, so I think that Gloomy fits fine to Holy’s band category.
Few
words in regards to Finnish black metal scene...
- Finland
is going to be next leading black metal country in the world.
What the
perfect black metal band must be alike in your opinion?
- IMMORTAL is near perfect black metal band. In my opinion rage is the main point in black metal (hey, I didn’t ask WHAT band do you consider perfect! – ED)
What about such term as «originality»? Is there any chance for a young group to achieve the status of «original band» nowadays?
- There’re too many bands, which rip off others riffs etc. and by that way you could not be nothing. Of course it is difficult to be original, cause mainly all is done before, but no one have said it is worth of try.
What path black metal will embark on in the future, how do you think? How long this style will exist and what awaits it further – more «popularity», more «trends» or temporary lull... maybe even oblivion?
- I think that black metal has come to stay and of course it developes to some direction, but I don’t know where. At least I have seen that many bands use old thrash bands as their main influence, then they put some keyboards into it. I don’t say it is a bad thing, but the circle is closing.
Your country has amazingly beautiful nature... Does it inspire your creative commencement? What is your attitude towards people, worshipping pre-christian gods, the ones, who profess ancient beliefs...?
-
I can’t say that nature influences me to make my music more than any other
thing which I experience. In my opinion all people can worship what they
want, at least as long as I can worship what I want. Anti-christianism
has always been in me and it has very little to do with music. My lyrics
are quite antichristian and the main point is in them: believe in yourself
& be what you want.Our first demo ”Fuck The World, Kill The Jehova"
tells the story of my past. The things which have actually happened and
leaded into some unpleasant happenings. Now I write from what I feel
now. I still consider myself as an antichristian person, but not the way
it was 15 years ago when I was pure Satan worshipper. I have learned not
to follow any -ism, those things are for the weak ones. I still think that
”evil" (like christians think it) is more pure than any kind of "goodness".
Actually in my opinion there is no such things as evil or good. There is
only different happenigs and people. Satan represent to me that animalish,
pure side of man, which every christian try to deny. All religion try to
deny humans real feelings. I try to be like animal, which lives through
its insticts. So called goodness is always learned from somewhere, but
your insticts are pure. If I feel I want to be nice to somebody I can be,
but if I don’t feel like it I don’t have to be. Thats simple and I can’t
understand that shit what christians try to feed to everybody (that we
have to love each others even thou they are fuckers to us). Christianisms
were brought here with sword, so how they can say they love us? All religions
come from people, without people there is no Satan or God. We are the only
ones who really dominate. I can´t say that my lyrics are better than
others, but they are for real for me, not just ’cause "I have to scream
about Satan, ’cause other do as well".
Finland is located quite close to Sweden and huge number of my ancestors come from this country, so this fact makes me wonder – what are your thoughts upon Swedish (black) metal scene, this country and it’s people in the whole? The same question goes for Russia, where I come from...
- Actually I don’t know much of Sweden’s or Russian B.M. scene, so I have hard to say anything about that.
As always, something in conclusion...
- For close
words I would like to thank you for interview and if anyboby have something
to ask they can contact me by e-mail : agathon@sci.fi or visit at our www
page which is located at: http://www.sci.fi/~agathon
I also sell
our T-shirts & long sleeves & CD’s. Price for CD is 18 US $ and
for T-shirt the same and long sleeve 25 US $ (outside Europe add 1 $)
My snail mail
address is:
Agathon,
Kestikuja 1 E 47, 00650 Hellsinki, Finland
Know that
our years are the Years of War
and our Days
measured as Battles
and every
hour is a life lost from the outside
of
Sweet World Of Sorrow.