The Finnish metal scene has been reigning for many years with the international success of bands such as Children Of Bodom, H.I.M., Apocalyptica, and Nightwish, to name a few. Kaunis Kuolematon is a new Finnish metal band featuring members of Sinamore and Black Sun Aeon. Recently, we sat down with Sinamore vocalist Mikko Heikkilä about his decision to close the chapter on Sinamore and start a new story with Kaunis Kuolematon.
Crypticrock.com – You have been involved in the Finnish metal scene for over a decade, playing vocals, guitar, bass, and keyboards. Your newest band is Kaunis Kuolematon. Tell us about this new project.
Mikko Heikkilä – For a long time, I´ve been searching for what comes to music. Have I been honest with myself in the past? I don’t know, but Kaunis Kuolematon proves to me that now I’m in the place that I can truly stand for. Even though I have had many projects/ bands to play with, I’ve never stopped writing music. I had about 5-6 songs in my drawer when I asked Miika and Jarno from Sinamore to jam with me, and this way, I got a larger view of the songs. For us, the session was a success, and we all got a feeling that we really could create something different from what we had already done for many years with Sinamore.
Ville (our second guitarist) is Miika’s workmate, so it was kind of an easy way to ask him to join the band. I’ve also met Ville a couple of times at local music places and found him to be a great person, so that was more than just a great opportunity to get him in the same band. Saakeli (dark vocal of Kaunis Kuolematon) is a little younger than the rest of the band members. I read some live reviews about his own band, Encranius, and there were many praising words of him. I was thrilled to have a chance to ask him. Everything fits perfectly together, and we all are very anxious to show what we are capable of as a band.
CrypticRock.com – Kaunis Kuolematon was formed in 2012. Can we expect to hear an album from the band? What can we expect from the album?
Mikko Heikkilä – We released the single “En Ole Mitään”(I’m Nothing) as a summer tune in digital format, and it’s free for everyone to download. You can find it on our website https://kauniskuolematon.com and many other sites as well. It’s also available on Spotify, AmazonMp3, and iTunes. The song is the introduction for the debut album, and the whole process will start this summer. Who will release it, and how will we release it? We can’t answer yet because we do not have a label, and we need to think carefully about what is a better choice for us and how we should work on that. The single does not speak much about the content of the album. We have lots of songs, so there’s no problem creating the first masterpiece of Kaunis Kuolematon. We have three songwriters in the band, so it will be a very colorful combination of poetry, death, loneliness, and Finnish melancholy.
Crypticrock.com – It sounds like the music will be very diverse. Now, Saakeli and you are sharing the singing to Kaunis Kuolematon. Are all the tracks in Finnish?
Mikko Heikkilä – Yes. That’s the main thing in this band, to be close to the home ground. First, I wrote English lyrics for five songs, but something was missing. I don’t know what it was, but I felt uncomfortable doing it. A few days later, I called Saakeli and asked him if he would be willing to sing in Finnish, and then I started to work in a style that was totally new to me. It all came out pretty easy, so it was kinda “fun,” actually. Now, after these three recorded songs we have done so far, I’m sure that we made the right decision to write lyrics in Finnish.
Crypticrock.com – It is important that the writing process is organic. English seems to be the universal language for rock and metal. I personally have no problem with bands singing in their native language. I find it interesting, and great music is great music. Do you feel that Kaunis Kuolematon’s songs being Finnish limits the band’s international reach?
Mikko Heikkilä – I have to agree with you. Good music is good music, and nothing can change that fact. Fans from other countries have told me how, in general, they were inspired by the Finnish language. So, I see it more as a great opportunity to fulfill yourself as who you are, not as a limit.
Crypticrock.com – It is important to stay true to who you are. What is the main concept behind the music in Kaunis Kuolematon?
Mikko Heikkilä – Poetry, life, death, Finland (smiles)
Crypticrock.com – (laughs) Sounds like a good mix. Most fans internationally know you for your work in the band Sinamore. The last Sinamore album, Seven Sins A Second, was released in 2007. Many fans love Sinamore’s work. What made you decide to take a break from Sinamore?
Mikko Heikkilä – Sinamore was the first band for all of us then. It’s really hard to put in words and explain what happened. That was a great experience for us, but things changed, and people changed. We had our ups and downs, and at some point, that turned too difficult for me to handle how things were. It wasn’t enjoyable anymore. After Tommi decided to leave the band behind, it wasn’t the same band anymore, even how we tried… that just didn’t work anymore in the way we wanted.
Crypticrock.com – It is understood that it can be difficult when a key musician leaves the band. Can fans expect to hear another Sinamore album in the future, or is the project dead?
Mikko Heikkilä —We haven’t published a final statement, but it seems that the main focus is now on Kaunis Kuolematon, and Sinamore has come to an end. Never say never, but that’s how it seems to be.
Crypticrock.com – Fair enough! One can imagine you are a music fan yourself. Tell us about some of your musical influences.
Mikko Heikkilä – Nowadays, I don’t have any certain bands to follow. Years ago, I was into bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Type O Negative, Soilwork, etc. I remember when I first heard Metallica’s Black album, I was like, “What the hell is this?” and there was no turning back anymore. That’s the most memorable highlight for me. These days, I have been influenced by basic, ordinary life. I write songs about human life and its dark sides by using my imagination to color the stories. I also believe that every band I have listened to has affected the sound of the music I write.
Crypticrock.com – The Finnish metal scene has quite a few bands that have been successful internationally. H.I.M., Children Of Bodom, Nightwish, Apocalyptica, and Sentenced to name a few. Why do you think Finland has such a strong metal scene?
Mikko Heikkilä – Really hard to say. I have thought about it, too, without finding any answers. I think you know that the Finns are dark, depressing people. Maybe we can find the answers from there. Would that be so simple?
Crypticrock.com – That is a very good point. Last question: Crypticrock.com covers all forms of rock music and horror movies, so we like to focus on both areas. Are you a fan of horror movies, and if so, do you have a favorite?
Mikko Heikkilä – I watch movies casually, so I don’t see myself as a fan of any genre. But yes, I do like to watch horror movies too. The last one, if I remember, was House At The End Of The Street, and I had to admit that surprised me. It was a very good movie. I can’t say what would be the best one, but I like Jason-style action pretty much!!! PERKELE (The Devil)
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