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1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?
Juha: “ We have taken a little break to relax and refresh our minds for the future activities. Spring has gone by working on the album release and on our day jobs. Teemu and Antti are busy working on their side projects and Kristian became a father for the second time at the beginning of the year, so everyone has enough activities outside the band.
2.In April you had released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?
Juha: Our previous release “Death Over Ostrobothnia” was more of a OSDM-oriented split album so the songs leaned more towards brutal riffs than melodies. In a way we continued on “Triumvirate” the dualistic approach we started on the “A True Believer” EP where we made two kinds of songs - death metal with brutal riffs and black(ened) death metal with sombre melodies and dynamic compositions. On “Triumvirate” everything is more matured, festered, deeper, darker and organic.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer release and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
Juha: “Not to go too much into details, “Triumvirate” is made up of stories of human suffering, either caused by other human beings or self-induced. All our songs center on the mortal, imperfect and fallible man whose trials we write songs about. These stories are mainly timeless though it is possible to draw connections from them to, say for example, events of today. After all, mankind has been repeating the same mistakes as long as memory and historical records will go and there is no change to be expected for that.
As songwriters, we always strive to overcome ourselves each time we write a new song, be it in writing better riffs, compositions, arrangements, production or lyrics wise. When we started writing music for Living Inferno in 2019, we made it our goal to bring some unique elements to each song and find a new aspects of our sound. In this way, we strive to create a personal and memorable songs and not get stuck in a certain kind of narrow mold that produces only one kind of songs. This path has taught us a great deal but the learning never stops.”
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Living Inferno"/
Kristian: “We felt that the name was a good representation for the lyrical themes our songs mainly dealt with. “The Living Inferno” was actually a name of one of our songs before it became the name of our band. The song was released on “ A True Believer” EP in 2021, but it is much older than that.
Originally, the name “Living Inferno” represents a kind of suffering in the real ordinary world, which gets unnoticed. It is hiding in plain sight, but remains incomprehensible for all but the one experiencing it. This creates an interesting layer of cold indifference to our world. One must not dwell on the suffering of others if one wishes to survive, thus leaving the less fortunate to their fates “
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
Juha: “ The artwork was made by our friend and tattoo artist Juha Wuorinen based on our ideas. We wanted to have something that has symbolism and which can tie together the albums atmosphere and overall topics.
The three characters on the album cover represent the “dark triad”, a concept known in psychology: narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism. These three traits are behind untold amounts of suffering, wrongdoings and tragic human fates. The name of the album, “Triumvirate”, comes from ancient Rome where triumvirate meant three rulers, and in the context of this album, they form a “triumvirate of dark rulers”.
6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Juha: “Our latest gig at Heretical Fever Meeting black metal event during spring and last years gig at local heavy metal “Mecca” Bar15 were a real blasts!
Our gigs are usually quite intense and we try to interact with the audience during song breaks, otherwise we let the music speak for itself and move the audience. We are a very honest down-to-earth band regarding our image and we go on stage as ourselves.
7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
Juha: “We played one gig in the spring at local Heretical Fever Meeting, which was a black metal event organized by our drummer Teemun's Nineheaded Production & Events. We haven't booked gigs for the rest of the year, but we'll get back to it in 2025.”
8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
Juha: We might consider a label if it’s beneficial to our cause and they can support our artistic vision and help us to grow bigger. Nowadays there’s no income in releasing new music and artists mostly pay everything from their own pockets and carry all the risks. On the same time releasing music and promotion have become easier to D.I.Y so the need for labels for smaller bands has lessened.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black and death metal?
Juha: “Feedback has been mostly positive and appraising, still waiting for some crushing ⅕ star reviews that really roast us, haha!” Truth to be told, we are humbled by the receive from the fans and we are pleased ourselves how the album turned out.
10.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?
Juha: “Teemu has several other projects like Victimarum, Essedum and Amongst the Ashes. Antti has HC punk band Aimo Possu. I myself work mostly on Living Inferno stuff but there is a possibility of Satyricon/Khold oriented black metal project cooking up behind the scenes.
11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Juha: “It’s hard to say for sure where the inspiration eventually leads us. Last time I checked the unfinished material written since “Triumvirate” recordings, it seems to lean towards deeper into Morbid Angel/Deicide/Bloodbath/Deathchain territory of OSDM without forgetting sombre melodies and rock’n roll/blues solos. Time will tell and writing music is a constant process which ebs and flows chaotically.
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?
Juha: Old school Morbid Angel, Bloodbath, Akercocke, Concrete Winds & Black Curse.
Teemu: Kalmankantaja, Blut Aus Nord & Vorna.
Antti: Victor Wooten, Rytmihäiriö & Asphyx.
Kristian: Black Sabbath, Behemoth & Morbid Angel.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Juha: “Go check out our latest album “Triumvirate” on Bandcamp, Spotify & YouTube, support your favourite bands by buying their merchandise and discover new bands on local gigs and events.
Thank you and stay metal, only death is real.”
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