"Melancholy driven metal of desperation, self destruction and death. A plunge deep into the source of hidden fear and agony. Music filled with all the pain in the world to accompany you on your last journey you will never return from..."
Hautajaisyö was born in Finland in 2006 by vocalist J. Partanen and Drummer S. Leinonen and today, their vocalist Janne talks about their music.
Interview by Michela
LFdM: Hello guys and thanks for this interview. After listening to your album I wanted to deepen my knowledge of you and your world.
The first question, obvious but important for those who don’t know your music: can you tell us something about you and your music?
Janne: We are a metal band from a small city in Finland. Band was formed in 2014 , but it has roots to 2006. We play melancholy thrash metal & death metal, but have also mixed other styles in our music. Our main goal is to make melancholy but aggressive music that still has some groove on it. Vocals are sung in finnish and the lyrics tells about death,suicide,mental problems and despair. We released our debut album as a digital release on halloween 2015, it has nine songs and you can find it almost every digital store and free on youtube.
LFdM: "Hautajaisyö" is a name very musical: after having sailed into the murky waters of trash metal you preferred to turn to the most frigid waters of death metal. Why this choice? J: Well we try to make music that we want to listen. Death metal runs in our veins and it is strongest of metal styles. Our band members also enjoy thrash and black metal so it our music has lots of different elements. We also want to break some ”genre rules” because metal is always been full of anarchy. We do what we want to do.
LFdM: You have great technical skills - as always, this is a credit to the great Finnish school, able to put on the market promising and talented young bands. Today, which is your main target?
J: Well this year has been great for the band. We have played great gigs and we have got our music to many people. Next we are starting making new songs and try to get more great gigs and get our music to even more people.
LFdM: I have found the perfect combination of sound and image, even thanks to the voice of J. Partanen, very expressive. How many hours of work do you dedicate to music?
J: Pure music only 2-4 hours in a week. But all the other stuff writing lyrics, making songs, doing pr, selling gigs and the band websites takes alot of time. Basicly I am always doing something for the band. So it takes a lot but also gives alot.
LFdM: "Hautajaisyö" is like a mantra, recited more for us to sink into oblivion then to redeem us. What kind of message do you want to send, if there’s any?
J: There is nothing but death. Our lives is just waiting the end. In deaths eyes we are all the same. Many times our life is full of agony and misery, but death will free us from the pain.
LFdM: Where does the urge to start a band come from?
J: From the love of music and way to get out from normal life. Its way to release stress and keep our heads up one more day and its keeping us from mental breakdown.
LFdM: What or who has most influenced your style?
J: Lots of old and new bands. Napalm Death, Slayer, Bolt Thrower, Asphyx, Cannibal Corpse, Six feet under, Deatchain, Sepultura, Lamb of god and many more. We all listen to different bands so there is no simple answer to that question. From King Diamond to Cattle Decapitation.
LFdM: The Internet has certainly facilitated the visibility for the artists in general. Can it be considered a double edged sword? I mean, most things are put on the market… is there the risk to be forgotten the next moment?
J: Sure there is, but that just keeps the flame going. You have to make new songs,play gigs, make videos, albums and use the interned as best you can. And what you do must be good. I really like this time. The second we released our album it was in everywhere and people could listen to it. For me internet is freedom.
LFdM: What are, in your opinion, the bands that have made your country famous?
J: Well everybody knows the main finnish bands but for new bands you should check: Kaunis Kuolematon, Saattue, Verjnuarmu, Nicole and Seremonia.
LFdM: Thanks so much.
J:Thanks for this interview! Listen to our album and feel free to tell us how you like it. More music coming 2016 and for the latest info join up out fb page. Janne from Hautajaisyö thanks for your support!
Edit by Alessandra
ph. credits to owner