The Aristocracy proudly arrives at its Nineteenth Interview.This time,we will talk to the Finnish Melodic Death\Black Metal band Se,Josta Ei Puhuta.The band started this process of recording the third album in 2010 and in 2011. However, at the end of 2012, this process was interrupted. After a hiatus of almost eight years, this process was resumed. In this way, the band will show us officially on April 22 their third album titled as Gehenna.The band have this formation:Samu Männikkö On Vocals,Harri Granqvist On Guitar,Heikki Matero On Guitar,Juho-Pekka Lappalainen On Bass and the band also counts with the special participation of the Drummer Teemu Roth.Samu Mannikko answered our questions.Let's go to a song by the band so that you can follow this incredible interview in all your emotions.
A1:Talking about the composition work in Gehenna?
Samu Mannikko:Well well, it was sort of a strange process. Some songs are pretty old and some parts were done less than a year ago.At the end, it was quite easy but it sure took a long long time.Some parts were recorded a way back but strong material will hold anyways so it won't matter in the end.But,there's nothing unusual, just fucking around with my old guitar or piano and see if I can write something interesting.Riffs pop up quite easily, but having a bunch of chords transformed to a song takes time.When a skeleton for the song is ready we do the usual finetuning, etc. with the band.This time I also re-wrote pretty much all the lyrics.
Why I did that? Well some of the lyrics were almost ten years old and didn't feel right.
So now, I'm pretty satisfied obviously it may feel very different after the next ten years.
A2:How come the band doing a dark album?
Samu Mannikko: I don't know. It felt natural and once you find the starting point, the music leads the way.Who knows, maybe the world is a darker place than 15 years ago and I personally LOVE black metal and other obscure shit, so there's also that.I find it easy to make music that comes out easily and do most of the writing, so I guess,that's the answer.
A3:What kind of misery influence the band?
Samu Mannikko:The kind of misery that lives inside of our heads.The negativity that comes with the stereotype Finnish thinking.I would choose not to find the negative things out of everything but I guess we are the way we are.
A4:Some literature or film inspire the band?
Samu Mannikko:A part of last album was sort of inspired by Finnish classic "Täällä pohjantähden alla" and on the new album we have a couple of lines written by Finnish poet Eino Leino.But generally speaking, I wouldn't say we are inspired by anything specific.
Subconcious is a strange thing, so maybe we are but can't point a finger.
A5:What is dark side of human nature?
Samu Mannikko:Personally, I don't think there is a dark side.All the feelings are there for a reason.But,if you ask why some are drawn more to the darker aspects of life, I have no answer.
A6:Why the band have this name?
Samu Mannikko:It does not have a deeper meaning.That's the name we came up and that's that.I guess one reason was not to sound your generic "Doomslayers of hell" and "Witchcrafters of darkness".
A7:Is doing something in your mother tongue challenging or necessary so that words don't lose their meaning?
Samu Mannikko:It's much more personal and honest in a way.I think you should really have a reason NOT to use your first language.Maybe, we have some other projects that are not in Finnish in the future, who knows, but with Se, josta ei puhuta it was clear from the start that we would "sing" in Finnish.
A8:What´s the idea behind artwork´s album?
Samu Mannikko:We wanted something dark that wouldn't be so obvious.We had a lot of brainstorming but that didn't lead very far.So when, we found the artist online, it was an easy decision.We think the album artwork looks awesome.
A9:How Se,Josta Ei Puhuta different from your previous bands?
Samu Mannikko:We've played in many different bands and projects. I guess this is musically the most intense stuff for all of us.At least, Se, josta ei puhuta has been the most time consuming project for all of us on all standards.
A10:Some songs have black humor?
Samu Mannikko:Of course, we are not all about doom and gloom all the time.It gets old real fast if you need to fake or force it."There is time and place for everything" -Van Halen.
A11:Is man an animal that carries the corpse on its back?
Samu Mannikko:I'm not sure what this means.And when,I'm not sure I'll double the bet: Yes.
A12:Respect for any band is important and necessary. But, is there a band that you listen to and think: I respect them, but will that ever be my approach to Melodic Death?
Samu Mannikko:I personally listen to a lot of different bands and genres and I doubt we share a same taste of music band-wise either.There are a lot of bands that sound boring to my ears no matter what the genre happens to be.I'll just skip them, just like boring books and movies.
A13:This album is conceptual?yes or no and why?
Samu Mannikko:Not completely, but there's a not so clear path that the songs follow.So sort of, yes.Why? Well,this time it felt like a good idea.
A14:Based on your words and songs,is the man an experiment gone wrong?
Samu Mannikko:Nope. I think the man is an animal that can act and will act like one, until the end of time.
A15:How band arrive to Inverse Records?
Samu Mannikko:They contacted us when they heard that we were recording new stuff.Unfortunately,no fancier story behind it.
A16:The band feel differences in Musta,Kylma,Syva Ja Samea and now in Gehenna?
Samu Mannikko:Yes, I would say Genenna is darker in the darkest parts and more melodic in the melodic parts.We made some leaps to a places where we wouldn't have gone in MKSS -times.Maybe,the song structures are also a bit more wider,I don't know.
A17:Based on your words and songs,is it better to think of the human being as agony than an animal for health?
Samu Mannikko:Not sure, if I understood, but being a human being is a constant struggle for sure and the struggle will continue, no matter the circumstances.Different animal, different struggles.
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