Cardinals Folly refer to themselves as a “Finnish doom
metal cult with dark desires & heavy metal incantations,” who have
been “laughing at stoner/retro trends since 2004.” 13 years
later and Finland´s dark princes of the riff, are back and set to unleash their
4th album “Deranged Pagan Sons”
through Nine Records
on CD and Topillo Records
on LP around September 2017.
As we have referenced previously Cardinals Folly are a
band who will garnish extreme reactions from listeners. People will either be
instantly turned off with their sluggish riffs and at times varied delivery by front
man, Mikko or they will instantly proclaim them as their new favorite band,
what is certain though, is that they are definitely a highly recommended group
for when you find yourself at your most dejected and misanthropic.
Dabbling in the world of occultism, weird tales,
pagan rites and luciferian depravity, the band has recorded 8 powerful, even
wild anthems of heavy doom and metal mastery, that never let their savage grip
go, their only rule is to doom in, drop out, rock hard & stay true.
Mikko, welcome to THE SLUDGELORD. Can you
give us an insight into how you started playing music, leading up to the
formation of Cardinals Folly?
My
first actual band experience was starting an early version of Folly in October 2004. This is my brainchild and my only
active legit band ever. Lots of bogus projects on the way, though. So I´ve
played doom for 13 unholy years... it´s not much, but it´s a good start, heh
heh!
Although you are set to release “Deranged Pagan Sons” (your fourth full
length), for those people unfamiliar with your band, is there any bands on the
scene past and present that you would use as a reference point to describe your
band, and who or what continues to inspire you and push you to try new things?
We're
open to everything that inspires us, but we do not see much to follow in the
current scene of downer metal. Most are bandwagon hoppers, trend followers and
arsekissers. Cardinals Folly is all about keeping it true
and passionate. Pure impact and catchiness. We're all about the glory days of
heavy metal; our main influences are very much in the past. Everything from
groovy and fast New Wave of British Heavy Metal to the muddy slowness of Sabbath and Vitus.
I´m
often more inspired by weird stories, occult books & theories, B-movies,
epics, any kind of sleazy/weird/vintage/exploitation horror stuff and things
associated with those. Better and less well-known relics like Dennis Wheatley,
Robert E. Howard, H.P Lovecraft, Aleister Crowley, Marquis de Sade, Jess
Franco, Jean Rollin, the list is endless... fruits in the vine for deranged
pagan son. Also my own creativity, foolhardiness and stupidity is sometimes a
great inspiration and the method to my madness.
What can you tell us about your upcoming
record and where do you feel it sits within the context
of current doom scene?
This
album is an energetic, groovy, catchy yet solemnly epic 48-minute slab of
traditional doom and heavy metal. With slight extreme & epic metal and punk
influences. There are bands who still play this old doom metal style, but I
would say that no other band in the current downer scene dominated by things
like stoner, psych and sludge influences plays diverse and entertaining metal
like we do. Think how Reverend Bizarre
might've sounded like, if they were formed by Angel Witch
members, haha! That might be close. Add Cathedral and Motörhead there and put up a fist fight on that
cobble-stoned back alley, and you might get Cardinals Folly.
We combine slow & low with fast & hard. And no hesitation involved.
It's
our best record so far, and the whole production of composing, rehearsing,
demoing, recording, negotiating deals and creating visuals was handled pretty
professionally this time around. We honed our chops down nicely and knew
exactly what we were doing. And also worked with the right people who knew
what's up. We're all proud of the album, and very happy to have it out in
several formats - finally a vinyl too, thanks to Topillo Records!
Playing heavy metal is still exciting to us and we keep evolving. Gotta love
that mentally 18-year old's feeling of blasting fine riffs and banging your
body while slightly intoxicated. Maybe we were pro this time around - but we're
still more deranged than ever.
Does anything spring to mind when you
think about the completion of your upcoming record and how is the mood in the
camp at present? What stands out as your overarching memory from the
recording sessions?
I
guess the thing worth mentioning is, how incredibly smooth it was. I hardly
need to tell any vocalist how unpleasant it can be to record vocals in a
studio. Or let other people hear the process. But nowadays I actually confide
in my band mates as extra ears and all is very professional and focused. I can
honestly say that this was a very pleasant session and I felt very confident
and strong in regards to recording my vocals. I almost enjoyed it, ha! Also
we've worked with our sound engineer for several records since our first EP, so
we know exactly how recording with him is like, it fits us perfectly. We want
to hone our methods and nowadays only work with people who we can count on, and
know what we will get. Cardinals Folly is
pretty DIY, so any extra individual involved must be a legit freako who knows
what´s up.
With a new record in the pocket, how is
your schedule shaping up over the next 12 months?
Bunch
of live rituals coming this autumn, next one is with Count Raven
here in Finland. Hoping to play more abroad too. Interesting shows coming with
really good bands... also, we will record a split with Australia´s finest, Lucifer's Fall, around next winter. We're writing and
jamming new stuff still all the time in our ritual cellar, and it just keeps
getting better and better. Blasty!!!!
Finally, do you last words
Drink
beer, worship Satan, fuck like a beast, be a suicide commando & buy our new
album "Deranged Pagan Sons". Out
this September. CD is out on Nine Records and Vinyl
LP - Topillo Records. Blues for Satan & Doom
to all men! VIVA LA MUERTE!
