1. Hello my friend, pleasure to have you on Rotten Pages ´zine. How are you doing today? Let us set the scene first. Where do we find you right now? Please describe your surroundings.
I’m doing well. I’m just chilling at home, having some down time between shows and everyday life.
2. Are you and the rest of the band friends and how do you all get along with one another? How difficult is it being in the band and having a life outside the band?
We are the best of friends. Literally a well tied group of friends that gets to do things we love, which is music, performing and hanging out.
At the same time it’s easy and difficult to have a life outside the band. We all live in different cities and have separate everyday lives filled with work etc, so we see each other when we do gigs, rehearse or make new music. It’s a luxury to spend time together so it’s not really a problem having a life outside the band.
3. Finland is considered the elite, in Europe, in the educational system as well as having one of the most peaceful places on Earth, to live. How is it living there and what was it like growing up for you in Finland?
Finland really is a peaceful place and a great place to grow up in. The education system has given us the chance to educate ourselves in the field of music. Many of us in the band are music educators and have vocational music degrees. The down side living here is that we are quiet nation and we keep to ourselves so it can be a lonely place too if you are unemployed or isolated in some other ways. Overall it has been a good place to grow up in. There are more positive aspects that negative.
4. To become a musician in Finland where almost everybody plays some musical instrument and has three bands at least – it’s a challenge, or is it something you Finns are predisposed to at birth?
I think it’s because we have a good education system that offers great musical education as well. It’s reasonably priced to sign your children up for music lessons. Even though there are many bands that come from Finland, I think we are not as active as it would seem on the outside. It just happens that metal music is very popular and many people play instruments for fun. On the other side the lack of sunshine during winter makes us channel creativity into music and other forms of art. It’s a combination of many things, but I have to give a shout out to the education system that has enabled us to study music and make a career of it.
5. Being a new band – even though most of the guys have spent time in other bands – is it difficult these days to write songs that are unique?
Yes and no. The unique aspect comes from our chemistry together and each of us gives their own flavor to every song. I think it’s not important to try make something unique, but instead focusing on what you like and makes you feel good. That positive energy is more nourishing to the band and to the listener. In it’s simplest form music is a language and it’s basically impossible not to repeat things that people have done before you.
6. You are a heavy metal band, although you´ve also self called Melancholic metal. Explain to us what went into developing the concept, music and band-name?
Our band name came from the song called ”Mourn”, an instumental song by Sentenced. We used the name Mourning Wood for the first time when we played The Cold White Light, an album by Sentenced as my final exam concert during my music studies. I thought the name perfectly sums up our sense of humor as a group, but also the melancholic nature of what we do and deal with. The concept came naturally from our chemistry and musical influences.
7. Explain to us how the recording process has been for “Fill Your Grave”? What are some of the challenges in the studio for you and how do you prepare for it?
My personal challenges were to decide how to play my solos so that I’m happy with them. I am very critical toward myself so it takes effort to nail something I’m content with. It’s difficult to decide since it’s my own creation. Overall good preparation before recording goes a long way. We recorded Fill Your Grave EP in two days and achieved a good result because we did our homework beforehand.
8. Does it become easier with time to write songs or is it a much more difficult process in that you don´t want to repeat what you´ve already done?
It becomes easier in way because you develop a routine and become more efficient with it. The difficult part can be the mental side if you start to limit yourself as a creator. For example if you overthink that something sounds too much like stuff you have done before. I think it’s important to follow your intuition as a songwriter and analyze how the song makes you feel. If you’re moving your head or foot with the beat, then you are on the right path.
9. How long did it take you all to create the entire EP from start to finish? What is the process Mourning Wood takes when writing new music? How do you all feed off each other’s ideas?
The first demos were done maybe a year or two before recording. The process is quite simple. I (Eino) do the demos from scratch at home and then I present them to the rest of the band when I’m pleased with them. We all have some ideas and we write them down and eventually discuss them. It’s easy to feed of each other because we are on the same wave link. Basically, Eino has an idea and we finish the idea together most of the time.
10. If you had to highlight one important message behind your music, what would it be?
Mental health is very important and it’s crucial to find some positive even during the darkest of times.
11. You signed with WormHoleDeath this year. Are you pleased with your cooperation so far?
Yes. The cooperation has gone well. They have done a good job.
12. Do you have any interesting or crazy experiences to share with us regarding touring or any live gigs you’ve played?
First thing that comes to mind was a woman topless in the front row during almost the entire show with every band playing that night. Other interesting things are when strangers happen to know your name or something similar like that. Not that crazy, but still unusual when you are not used to it.
13. What you would say is the biggest downfall in the underground metal scene today? What if any changes would you make to better the scene?
Finance issues and the lack of venues. It’s expensive to do shows and uphold venues. At least in Finland I’d add funding to culture instead of cutting it. On the ground level it could be beneficial to attend more shows, buy merch and keep the scene alive by showing my support that way.
14. What do you do other than the band, for fun/work and do you like being in Finland?
I’m a music educator, I teach guitar and have band classes. For fun I play video games, go for long walks and hang out with my cat. I like being in Finland well enough that I haven’t considered moving abroad at least for now.
15. The Finnish metal scene is quite varied and strongly represented throughout several genres: from (melodic) death metal, to black metal, to heavy/power metal and more. How would you explain this large creative output in a less populated country and in such a variety of styles?
It has probably a lot to do with the lack of sunlight like I said earlier. It brings out the dark creativity in people. It’s good for sanity to do metal during long winter times.
16. What ways has been the best for you in order to promote the band? What do you do to reach as many interest as possible?
WormHoleDeath has been the best promotion outlet for us in the digital world. They have done a lot of work promoting on the Internet. A more ground level example of successful promotion this year has been doing Sentenced tribute shows and including a bit of our own material. We have been a part of a biography book tour. A book about the life of Miika Tenkula, the lead guitarist of Sentenced. Titled the master of melancholy. Doing those shows has been a great promotional outlet for us.
17. Finally, is there anything else you would like to share with your fans and the readers of this interview?
Stay tuned for a full Mourning Wood album in 2025 and thanks for all the support!
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