Band: GOREWINTER
Country of origin: Finland
Style: black metal the way only Finns manage to do it
Questions by: Kai Mathias Stalhammar
Answers supplied by: Baron Tarwonen (voice, guitars and drums)

In my view, your band carries almost a unique moniker! “Gore” and “winter” – that seems to be a combination of most well-known cliches… How did you come to pick up such a name? Was it done on purpose or not?

- Well, thanx! We didn’t think so much about the name. We just wanted it to be a brutal name. Maybe it's a cliche or not, I don't care.

How about telling the world regarding your latest recording, the “Buried By Night” MCD? Is it a way better comparing to your former works, what do you think? Meat Hook is a small label, mostly concentrating on distro and stuff (as far as I’m informed, though), so it seems like this mini is the first release they made in the shape of digital disk. Do you perceive it as a good thing? I mean, do you believe Ville and Meat Hook have enough enthusiasm to push your band forward, right up to Parnassus ;) ?

- Of course "Buried By Night" is GW's best output to date. "BattleBlack" was Ok, I think. GOREWINTER-Meathook relationship has worked alright because we are good friends with Meathookaz. And I think especially Wille is doing great underground work for thousands ug-bands. But I don't think Meathooked will ever grow as a big label though. Who knows?

Who are Hellborg and Sir Atirkieh? They seemed to help you out with “Buried By Night” recording…

- Hellborg is very crazy and ugly metalkoholic bass player and our friend so we wanted him to play the bass parts on "BBN". He is so fuckin' maniac! Sir A. then, um.... I really don't remember him clearly. He just dropped by and recorded one guitar solo.

What is the principal idea behind the lyrics of yours? Are you attempting to express any special either feelings or sensations being responsible for GOREWINTER’s lyrical canvas?

- Our lyrics deal with death in different angles. It can be some serial killer's thoughts or his victims. I just want to write offending hard lyrics because GW is fucking heavy orchestra. I can't sing about birds or some very "nice" things. It must be really hard and I think death is the most hardest thing in human life.

You also play in CIRCUS OF FLESH and KUHA, right? Please, fill few lines with any info on them you consider to be of importance.

- Yep, and nowadays in MOONSORROW too. I play the guitar in CIRCUS OF FLESH and we play slayerish / entombedish death groove. KUHA is very weird band. We mix different styles together like Finnish folk music, some Arabian stuff, maximum polka, electro, Texas rock and death metal to name a few! Right now my main band is MOONSORROW.

Furthermore, lately you’ve joined yet one more project, this time a bit more famous one: MOONSORROW. The rumours say you’ll have a debut CD out soon. What about that?

- Yes, our debut cd "Suden Uni" was recorded in February this year at Tico-Tico Studio. It should be out in May. It contains 7 tracks of Finnish metal with a slight folkish feeling here and there. It turned out very heavy, so buy it or die!

“None of the current BM bands give me good vibes”, that’s what you said once. Well, let me doubt the fact contemporary black metal scene endures it’s decline. As I’m doing a metal mag, and therefore receive enormous number of various tapes, CD’s and stuff, I assure you that there’s some kind of a “golden age” for black metal (and any other form of metal as well) taking place nowadays… Perhaps, you just miss all the new recordings?

- Well I just like very different styles of music nowadays and that BM stuff is not all in all in my cup of coffee. I just got very bored of it. Of course there are some bands I like very much in BM-scene.

You seem to disdain anything connected with nazism, don’t you? Hence may I wonder what are the reasons for such a stand? Furthermore, do you have the same ( = negative) view on nationalism and any kind of movements adhering themselves to it?

- I hate all -isms that use power wrong. All this racial thing is getting on my nerves. Although it isn't very big problem here in Finland I think. And I'm also quite unconcerned person. I do not act against any political or national parties or something. It's just very ridiculous behaviour.

The world becomes more and more hi-tech nowadays, and that makes me frightened a bit… For example, let’s take computers. Perhaps, it’s just my paranoia, but I’m strongly convinced that soon all of the networks and the Internet itself will be controlled by the government and the patterns like FBI and CIA and their analogues in other countries…  Moreover, don’t you think that our governments try to erase the direct intercourse between us, by using computers and making them more accessible to the usual people, limited in their budget? Such things as various chats, ICQ, etc… A certain person, who fears to be told to fuck off in real life, doesn’t have to fear anything sitting in some kind of chat and associating with different individuals… Unfortunately, lots of people become withdrawn “thanks” to the computers, these machines “save” them from the immediate action…

- No that doesn't worry me at all. I don't use computers so much, so I don't have any view of the subject.

The current day will pass, and another one begins… Is there anything definite you see in a coming day?

- No I don't think about the future much. I live for today and we'll see what tomorrow brings with it.

Do you know anything regarding Russia? What is your attitude to the country of mine as well as it’s people? Any Russian bands you’ve heard lately?

- I have never been to Russia so I can?t say what it was like. But of course your country is on the news here almost everyday. I have very positive attitude with different nationals. Well you have a new president Putin and I hope he doesn't drink as much as Jeltsin ha ha! Also your ice-hockey team played quite badly in the tournament. Wille played me a couple of Russian bands (black metal, I don't remember the names) and some of them sounded very original really! Can you recommend some groups?

Thanks for your time. Here’s some place for you to say or wish anything you’d like…

- Thanx for this interview and sorry for some short answers. I'm quite busy right now. Good luck with your webzine pal! "Buried By Night" can be ordered from Meathook Productions for 8 U.S. dollars.

Contacts:

Gorewinter / Tarwonen
Kuulijantie 2 c
00730 Helsinki
Finland

Email: gorewinter@hotmail.com

Meathook Productions / Wille Sorvali
Porvoonkatu 37 b 6
00520 Helsinki
Finland

Email: wille@pp.htv.fi