Ave, Jussi! What’s up? “Hypnotech” was released quite a long time ago (almost two years passed), hence I’m wondering about the latest news from TENEBRAE’s camp…

- TENEBRAE has been layed to rest. I am way too busy with SOULGRIND, WALHALLA and GLOOMY GRIM. I might do something electro stuff, which might be called as extension for TENEBRAE. It is called FIRETRANCE. It was fun as long as it last. But never say never...
 
First I considered your band to be death metal one, then I discovered some industrial and BM influences and became simply embarassed because of the impossibility of defining TENEBRAE’s style… Shiver Records promote “Hypnotech” as ‘dark hypno groove death metal’ – that’s another definition, however I can’t say that I agree with it… In my opinion, TENEBRAE have nothing to do with so-called ‘groove death metal’ (represented by such bands as DOMINUS, ILLDISPOSED, etc.) So, Jussi, maybe you’ll help me a bit and finally say yourself what TENEBRAE is all about? Or you try to escape any ‘labels’ when it comes to your music?

- I think it's simply metal. It has influences from old ENTOMBED to WHITE ZOMBIE with some doom touches of BLACK SABBATH. All of the stuff came from my head and we just molded them into what it was. Unfortunately I didn't get a long with the rest of the lads. Now we are much better friends.

Back in 1995, you said that ‘TENEBRAE is a dead band. This is not for me anymore…’ That’s why I was somehow surprised when I got “Hypnotech” CD and saw your name in the lineup…

- ... as I said before, never say never again. It might still rise again. Who knows. Back then we had some serious shit and differences among the band members. First I kicked the drummer out, got narc to fill him in. It came hell then. I do dislike drugs. Then the bassist didn't like the anti-christian aspect. He had to go etc. but now I have friends among darker metal, so it is easy to find members to fit in the band. It is just a matter of free time, you know.

Let’s get back for many years and talk about “This Divine Flesh Of Ours” demo… Now, after almost seven years after it has been released, can you say that generally you’re pleased with that tape?

- Wow, you remember that! Yeah, I just listened it a while ago. It is quite funny, but hell, it was made with a four-tracker. What can you expect. Those days people didn't wait for digital quality from a demo. It is a shame that the demo feeling has been lost. But the songs are still original, I think.

What about the “Welcome Death” track? Some even started to consider this slogan as your life motto (sorry for the pun)…

- Motto? Hell no, I just put my darker moments into songs. I never consider a suicide, as that is for a weak minds. This shit has to be lived, but when the time comes it comes.

Ok, enough with this. Let’s move a bit closer to present times – to your debut CD... Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to listen to it, so it might be nice if you’d tell me something regarding it…

- It was made too soon. We didn't have the songs ready. But as we had a chance to record it, we did. The whole recording session started about a year too soon. That was a mistake, which i regret. Songs are great, but the whole consept suxx.

As far as I know, TENEBRAE’s debut album was released through Spinefarm Records… Why did you leave that label?

- They disliked TENEBRAE and didn't do anything for it. I heard later that it was my fault, that I didn't care about TENEBRAE. Weird, as it was everything for me. But now we have straghten things up. Spinefarm is one of the best labels around these days. It is a good kick start for a new bands.

I heard that once you had a conflict with (pathetic) Tombstone Records – can you tell me more of it? Did Mark just rip-off you or there was some other sort of problems?

- He was just a fucking joke. Promises after promises. That's why the record was made in 1992 and released 1994. Fuck, two wasted years. I visited the Newcastle area where he lives a couple of years ago and met the manager of ATOM SEED, who told me that he doesn't even dare to walk during nights these days. He even got a package full of shit mailed to him. He just ripped us badly. Well he might released the album somewhere, because he had all of the masters etc. Luckily I made back ups...

It’s time to talk about your lyrics, don’t you think so? Comments (erh, or how else should I call it?) to them suppose quite interesting lyrical works (and also rather various thematically, I must admit)…

- I write about world as i see it. Mostly truly anti-religious. I hate religions, man is it's own god, no other gods shall be. If there is a heaven and hell, I shall go to Valhalla; beer and boobs forever… heh heh. “Wounds” is about one razor session we had, truly dangerous one; “Motorsexmanifest-O” is pure orgasmic stuff about sex and machines. I just wrote what I feltt like. I think that it fitted the concept of TENEBRAE.

“… one can’t live a life without getting any wounds. A true life story dedicated to the bloodbrother of Jussi, Tommi Launonen” – this is what written in commentary to the “Wounds” track. What did you try to tell through these words? What a life story? And who is Tommi Launonen? Is he a musician also?

- T. Launonen is Ceasar in SOULGRIND and GLOOMY GRIM. As said, we had this one razor blade incident which lead to hospital. Dangerous shit, I must say.

What happened to Hannu? Will he ever appear in TENEBRAE again or everything’s over (I mean, I even couldn’t find his name in “Hypnotech” thanx list)?

- He disappeared for a while. But we are friends. I just forgot him, heh heh. We are doing a Mentors cover band, where he is playing bass. That's simple for fun. It is called PORNONORSU (Porn Elephant). The name is our inside joke, when one girl called us that… hehh heh.

Estonia is located quite close to Russia and once you played there live with TENEBRAE… If you don’t mind, please share with us your impressions of that gig…

- Awesome. A lot of crowd and all enthuastic. Fucking brilliant; we didn't get much money out of it but had one helluva time there. We played with local band, about eight of them. The first gig was the one where we were so fucked up, that I can't remember anything. But rest of the went great.

I know that you’re quite skillful person when it comes to Internet… Is it your work or only a passion of yours?

- Well, I have done some covers for some bands and I do computer things in my work. But I think it is still my passion. And I don't find myself so skillful. I am still learning to do "proper" pages with frames and shit. But I don't have time to do it. I do play a lot with computer, so… And then there are bands and partying. It always take three days, when I go out… so…

Do you know anything concerning Russia and my country’s people? Are there any Russian bands you consider to be quite worthy?

- Lots of Russians visit Helsinki daily. I think the common Russian is a common man. No difference. Some fuckheads have moved here and ruined the city. There are some russian Youth Mafias over here, which should be eliminated. I have studied my Russian history, mainly WWII. All of the battles in Kaukasus, Stalingrad, Leningrad, whole eastern Front. And of course Winterwar. I know emperors and the whole period of communism. Of course I know a lot of Russia as it is the big bear neighbouring us. Unfortunately I don't know any Russian bands… oh, BRAINSTORM. I have their EP.

Hmm… That’s all I think. Any last words?

- Thanx for the intie and sorry for taking it so long. Be pagan and get in touch. Specially women, hah hah.

TENEBRAE contact –
Email: darkshiv@sci.fi