Interesting chat with Stormheit from the excellent Finnish Black Metal band “Mooncitadel” who also plays at the iconic Goatmoon.
Mooncitadel is far from being your first project. What could you tell us about your first years in the Finnish Black Metal scene? How was it back there?
I got interested in black metal roughly during 1997 when being 12-13 years old. Finnish radio program Metalliliitto was of great importance in finding new bands and genres. A bit later we of course had lots of zines and a “major” magazine called Suomi Finland Perkele which introduced me and my circle of friends to a lot of different bands. Quite fast we discovered the finnish scene with Thy Serpent, Barathrum, Beherit, Horna, Impaled Nazarene etc. and the rapidly growing underground scene with new amazing bands like Bethel. We soon started getting instruments and playing under different names and released our first “proper” demos during 1998. I remember for example after hearing a song off Veles “Black Hateful Metal” album in radio we tryed to copy the sound, hah! It was early 1999 when we changed a bit, somewhat due to the rising black/thrash trend, towards more thrash and quite soon towards more death/thrash approach with WOUNDS.
We basically just changed the name but all members remained since the start. We lived in a small town of approx 7000 habitants so all in all we probably had less than 20 people of our age group to be interested in this kind of stuff. Of course legendary TORSOFUCK and their members were a 2-4 years older than us. Funny anecdote: my first extreme metal concert was Torsofuck in local scumbag bar where we got in even though we were 13-14 years old, haha!
Our first Wounds concert outside our own town was in Turku with bands like Horna, Behexen and Urn and several others. Of course we followed the black metal scene too even though playing deathrash. But actual album that really changed everything was “Strength & Honour” by Satanic Warmaster. That gave me a belief in the scene after few years of not so interesting releases. Seeing them live 2004 (their second gig) with all the sieg heil shoutings and everything! Completely unheard of earlier! And the album is a diamond! Also seeing BEHEXEN/ENOCHIAN CRESCENT live in 2001 was quite a treat! Torog threw dead rats at the audience and I got one to my face, haha! So when thinking of everything now about 20 years later… Things really were different. Everything was new and dangerous and not listenable easily from Spotify and no Instagram for bands to announce their personal shit. More mysterious times and that’s something I really have some nostalgia for… Even though being so young and not completely understanding everything but just parts and pieces from here and there. Great times, great gigs, great memories!
Empire of Tharaphita was a project that I really appreciated since the first time I listened to it. I got the Distant Echoes Through Blood Infinite compilation. What did you keep from Empire of Tharaphita and which elements are new in MOONCITADEL?
Basically all the elements are the same. Even though in EOT I concentrated mainly in the dark side of finnish mythology. Now I tend to be interested in about everything everywhere and also write about it. Mostly I get my ideas for lyrics from something I have red or heard. I usually somehow get an idea of the name/title and there I continue with the lyrics. Some of the Mooncitadel music comes from EOT times too. Also luckily I don’t have to play the drums and now I understand that songs get a bit boring when repeating too much. So not too much changes. Better riffs maybe.
Which are your main influences? Are you still influenced for the new bands of the Finnish metal scene that are coming around?
Really hard to say. I listen to so much different music. Can be Klaus Schulze to influence one melody and then Joy Division or maybe even some 80’s synth pop with a twist from Graveland and something from Amebix. Obvious influences are Blazebirth Hall, Emperor, Bathory etc.
Metallica was the most important band to me in my early years and first 4 albums are still amazing and I play them quite often.
Of what I know there are some bands that have said I have been influencing them mostly with Stormheit but I think Goatmoon being a really big influence on the younger scene. Funny thing happened last weekend as my daughter (16 y.) had her new friend over. She saw Goatmoon-mug here and asked if we are Goatmoon fans or why the mug? Truth was quite a thing to her as she said her boyfriend’s favourite band is Goatmoon and her all friends like Goatmoon. Needless to say that I was shocked, hah!
If you did mean am I influenced by new bands from finnish scene then I would say maybe not. I follow the scene to some point and every now and then there are good new bands and something I really like but maybe not influencing me too much. Sibelius influences me more. MORGAL is the single best new band coming from here! Ferocious live! MORBIFIC released a really good album last year too.
” Night’s Scarlet Symphonies” is one of the best albums I’ve listened. In this album the guitar lines are still pretty dark but they layer some really interesting almost folky melodies over these bombastic bass lines and rhythm guitars accompanied by some pretty incredible drum work. Now the band is a duo, did you feel the need of having another person working with you and contributing or it just happened?
Thank you for these words. When new riffs started coming to me 2014 or something I instantly decided to have a drummer. I did already take my drums out from the house so I had no touch anymore. Though one could argue if I ever had. I did not maybe need another person to help with the arrangements or anything else but now after few years in it there is no way I would not work with the drummer/another member I have. We are two equal members even though it’s mainly my brainchild but he has a lot of influence on arrangements and has done synth melodies and clean singing etc. I don’t know if I could go on without him as I feel him and his style being so big part of the sound. We’ve known probably since 2005 or something and a bit better maybe after 2009 maybe so it was natural to ask him.
Most of the melodies are very grand incorporating folky/classical elements into the structure of the riff, they seem to have the same dungeon synth atmosphere connecting them. How those elements were mixed? Was that the idea? Have a constant elements through the record?
Actually I don’t really know… I just do the riffs in my style and gather them in songs and structure the album that it sounds complete. I did not thinkof doing any constant elements through the album. I really work quite intuition based and follow my instincts.
How’s it been to work with Werewolf Records and Lauri? When you worked as Empire of Tharaphita you were independent. What is different now?
– Excellent. We have known almost 20 years now. We have complete trust to each other and everything works really good. What is different? Now when working with decent labels (like Out of the Dungeon too) everything is just smooth. Money is never a problem, everything is always paid and taken care of with the very best care. Not to badmouth anyone here but in future I will work only with finnish labels. As I have mostly done too in the past.
What have you been listening to nowadays? Could you mention any underground bands that you have been working with or contributing?
Well, during writing these lines and getting my computer to work has been the first 4 Manowar LP’s. Klaus Schulze’s all albums from the 70’s are really good and I just got them on original vinyls. When on work I have been listening to more easy going music like finnish Kauko Röyhkä which is one of the best/weird guys in this scene. He proclaimed to be a satanist in the middle 90’s on finnish television. Needless to say he got a lot bullshit from that cause all the satanic hysteria/alert thing was going on. I listen to a lot of 80’s Metal and of course Black Metal but I tend to keep the most precious BM albums to be listened when having silence on the house and darkness around. Usually when autumn is here and darkness enters I tend to reach towards the BM albums. That goes through the whole winter and when spring is around somehow I go more towards the classic metal or rock or punk rock. Luckily my 14 year old son has a growing interest in bands like Morbid Angel, Beherit, Bathory, Venom etc. so that has really been nice to listen stuff with him. MASSACRE “From Beyond…” LP playing now.
Underground bands I have been working with… Well, I share the rehearsal place with Horna/Behexen/Trollheim’s Grått/Baptism/Bythos etc. Those are the bands/members I think as comrades/friends/trustworthy. Of course almost same goes to all the main labels in Finland and UG stores and everything. Pretty much everybody knows everybody here and you are appreciated if you earn it. I also played rhythm guitars/bass/synth on the 2nd demo by BETHEL that was released few years ago. Molestor Kadotus with his projects live in the same town and we share a hobby of going to gym and cold swimming/sauna weekly. MORRIGAN is also a local band these days as Beliar moved here few years ago. He is a comrade! I am in good terms with Ukrainian Militant Zone and hold them as comrades too and always a pleasure to work with them! Really sad to see the situation with Russia/Ukraine right now…
You have been performing live with some great metal bands as Der Sturmer, Drowning the Light and Goatmoon. Will you be live on those projects again? How do you feel about live performances? Are they still limited in Finland, too?
We all know what happened to Hjarulv Henker. REST IN POWER! When you wrote these questions none could have guessed what will happen in the first day of 2022. He was a comrade and a friend since 2008. I don’t kow how DS could go on without him but definitely would play with them again if such a memory happening or something would happen. Drowning The Light… well, never say never! Cheers to John! In Goatmoon I am a permanent
member and haven been soon 10 years now. New album was recorded two years ago and definitely we will play gigs all around the world when the time is right!
Btw. we were supposed to come play in Argentina three years ago but pandemic ruined everything. Actually I have no problem playing with Stormheit outside of Finland too. Actually there a plans on playing full band gig outside of Finland but time will tell how everything goes.
The harmony and arrangements from “Dweller Of The Lotus Moon” is pretty impressive. The lyrics have something from Empire Of Tharaphit, it looks timeless and deals with different perspectives on how you see darkness. What are the main themes from this album?
Actually the lyrics are partly from the EOT era but so are some of the riffs too. Main themes remain in mysticism, occultism, darkness, death, life, combat, micro/macrocosm, universe etc. I don’t really limit myself on anything. Well, what about Satan? I think Satan/Lucifer is connected to all the themes I just listed. Everything we do in life…. echoes in eternity! (Sorry, could not help myself with the fault “Gladiator” line!)
What could we expect from Mooncitadel’s future? Are you working on something new? Or a side project?
I am working for the next Mooncitadel LP as I have most of the songs/titles/lyrics ready and maybe we will start rehearsing within this year. “Nexus Aeternitas” being the title for now. Also, as spoken later in interview, I am working for the new and maybe last Stormheit album “Codex Aureus Fennorum”. Plus helping comrades’ bands with recordings. Expect new MC album maybe 2023/2024 and new Stormheit within a decade.
Has the pandemic affected your plans after releasing this album in 2020?
Well, it made more time to rehearse/record the “Onyx Castles…” MLP so that was good. Goatmoon plans on playing around were completely ruined but otherwise nothing too important. Mainly pissed cause most of the local public saunas/cold swimming places are closed and so were gyms for a while. Morons, idiots and corrupted globalists run this country.
Which metal bands from Brazil have you ever listened to? Have you checked anything from South America?
I love the classic Brazilian and South American scenes! Early works of SEPULTURA (actually “Morbid Visions” being some of the first black/death albums in my childhood that I ever heard! And still my favourite!), HOLOCAUSTO, SARCÓFAGO, VULCANO, MUTILATOR! Of a bit later formed bands something that I have in my collection are EVIL, GOATPENIS and MYSTIFER. EVIL being obviously the most important and luckily have met him once and seen Evil live too.
Nothing can compare the drum machine filled crazyness of the classic Evil though. Of other countries: GOAT SEMEN and ANAL VOMIT did very good stuff earlier not to forget PENTAGRAM or REENCARNACION either. Several excellent albums that are still (have been since 20 years now) in huge rotation on my player. And being a maniac collector I am lucky enough to have most of them on original vinyls. HAIL & KILL!
You have a project called “Stormheit” that takes your name, basically. Is it still active? The last full album as “Pohjanmaa”. Could we expect any other release under this name?
Stormheit has been active all the time as a one man solo concerts have been played. Also last summer in Apocalyptic Rites fest we played a duo gig with long time friend and Stormheit live guitarist T.L. That was excellent magical night. To play in the middle of forest, under the stars at midnight with the bonfires on both sides of the stage. Excellent! As I said before i have actually just started to write songs for the full-length heavy metal album to be called “Codex Aureus Fennorum” and to be released maybe during the next 10 years. Don’t hold your breath on this one…
How’s the Pagan Front now? How could you describe the bands that are part of it? Which characteristics you share in common?
No idea actually… I think the main members keep in touch through social media. Maybe. I get a message or two in personal messages in my phone every now and then but nothing of importance. Common idealism/realism might be a correct answer to this. Great bands, great minds…think alike.
You contributed with Pagan Skull/Minu Kamp, in a RAC split called ” Aseveljet/Relvavennad”. Do you think it has an ideological connection between the BM Bands you play and the RAC moviment in general?
Of course. In Finland many of the newer RAC bands and skinhead movements are guys who earlier were a lot to BM and played/listened to it. We share members here and there. BlackGoat (Goatmoon) plays drums in oldest finnish RAC band MISTREAT and we play gigs together every now and then. I just played a solo gig with Mistreat and PWA. Pagan Skull are comrades since at least 10 years now so of course gonna help them. Just saw them live
month ago in their own club house with VAPAUDENRISTI. Ideological connection might be somewhat being against modern world, communism, tolerance and all the bullshit that world is ridden with now. On the spiritual side there might be somewhat difference on some occasions but that does not bother anyone.
In the past we had some events like ” Against the modern world” and ” “Perinteiden Yö”. You usually perform in more than one band. Are any of these secret metal events happening?
There has been gigs going on almost all the time even though pandemic was going on. On few occasions some gigs have been cancelled. We are in lucky situation that these days we have active organizers and own club houses here and there. Apocalyptic Rites festival 2 days every year and Steelfest/Steelhordes going on strong with a bit bigger festival.
Goatmoon is well-known around the underground and world-wide. I think you joined Goatmoon around 2010, and have been busy not only at live concerts, but you were a studio member at Stella Polaris (2017) album, have you played in any other Goatmoon studio albums?
I think I joined later than 2010. I did clean vocals on “Varjot” which was recorded early 2011. Later on I joined the band on synth which was easy since my girlfriend at the time lived in Helsinki area. It was easy to attend on rehearsals. Now since like 7-8 years I join the rehearsals when I can. Maybe 2-5 times a year. I played bass and synth on “Voitto tai Valhalla” album too. And as i said earlier we recorded a new LP two years ago. It will be released during this year. I am really glad being a member in Goatmoon. Good friends and good times. Goatmoon has also showed me parts of the world I maybe could not have experienced otherwise. With BlackGoat I am the only member being the same since over 10 years now as everybody else have changed. So maybe soon I will leave Goatmoon and start The True Goatmoon on my own and start legal fighting with BlackGoat. That seems to be the trend nowadays!
Now either I have to become an alcoholic or BlackGoat quit drinking to make this more interesting…
I remember the event ” ”Carelian Pagan Madness Tour” caused a lot of noise on the media. Have you had problems with ANTIFA or other political organizations that go against the Black Metal underground subculture? We have heard of a lot of bands and artists that are suffering censorship from the media nowadays. What do you think of it?
Local antifa losers have their Varisverkosto web page (which I suppose you have seen at least basing on the happenings you know of, heh!) which made a huge article about me and several other black metal activists around. But is that a problem? Well, no. Good advertising and curriculum vitae mostly. They (Varisverkosto) were celebrating their 5 year existence few years ago in local punk bar. We went there (three of us) and paid to get inside and everything. It took them few minutes to understand who have entered there. The crowd (20-30 people) surrounded us asking why we came and shouting us insults like “nazis get out” and everything. We were sitting there laughing and drinking our waters. They did not even try to attack us or anything even though they had a very good chance. That shows what their true nature is. They are losers and weaklings. About media… I don’t care. Black Metal is supposed to be in the shadows. The more dangerous it is portraited in main media the better. We have this national TV and radio here called YLE that are known for it’s leftist approach. They did very neutral news about Steelfest few years ago showing bands like Evil and Seigneur Voland in photos and no bad words. Spellgoth (Baptism/Horna) was just presented in same newspage in a very good portrait. Werwolf/SW was presented largely in their own areas biggest newspaper in very good way as in speaking of his label and bands and everything. Some of the BM albums reach TOP 10 album list here these days like Satanic Warmaster and Vargrav at least. So no censorship here it seems. Mainly in the shadows is still best.
With the internet, the technology, the home studios and the digital media around us in this modern world, we are experiencing a coming back from vinyls, tapes, printed publications (like this one!), how do you see this? Are we tired of all these modern bullshits that the modern world throws on us?
I think we crave for something more real than just pictures on the screen and digital music… I have never stopped reading zines and books or stopped buying tapes, vinyls and cd’s. But that goes on everything now. Movies and art and everything used to be a lot better than these days. Kali Yuga, baby!
I just wanna see this world burn so the ashes could bring us a sparkle to give birth to a new and better one. I tend to reach more towards the archaic ways all the time. To enjoy the forest, skiing, sauna and simple things I have around me. Luckily I chose to live already 15 years ago a bit further from the town so there is wilderness close to me. Even bears and wolves wander in these forests. Among these monumental silvery horns as winter is here…
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“By moonlight…we ride!”
