Interviews

Possessed: Please, tell us something about your band (history, members, recordings/releases, live gigs, record label etc.).

Master Warjomaa: Aarni was properly founded in Northern Finland in 1998 by Master Warjomaa. Other band members don't include Comte de Saint-Germain, Doomintroll and Mrs. Palm. Aarni's musical style is a mixture of (doom) metal, folk and artsy-fartsy avantgarde music with lyrical themes from nature, Lovecraft, Occultism, Psychoanalysis, Finnish folklore and whatnot. Aarni's recordings include two demos and a split album (with a local doom band Umbra Nihil) released by Firebox Records in 2002. We've also been signed to that label and will release a full length album in late 2003 or early 2004. We haven't played live yet and won't any time soon...Aarni's doomy and 'experimental' material isn't really suited for a live situation.

Possessed: How would you describe your position in the worldwide metal scene? What do you think about the underground movement?

MW: Our position is surely a small one, because doom metal is a marginal genre even in the metal scene. Aarni is by no means 'pure' doom (whatever that is), so the band's position is made even more obscure... I'm not sure what you mean by 'underground movement' - all music that's not mainstream? Of course I support the bands which I happen to like and they are mostly ones that don't appear on any hit charts, even though here in Finland metal bands are often listed in the 'most sold albums' Top 10. I don't watch TV or listen to the radio, so I don't know or care what's 'aboveground'.

Possessed: Which 3 CDs would you take with you to a lonely island?

MW: Hmm, maybe My Dying Bride 'Like Gods Of The Sun', Vesa-Matti Loiri 'Eino Leino 4' and Black Sabbath 'Vol. 4'.

Possessed: If you had enough money to shoot a video, how would the clip look like?

MW: I've toyed with that idea sometimes...the video would have much symbolic and allegorical content, perhaps not totally unlike a medieaval mystery play - but with added cthulhoid content, of course.

Possessed: If you've the chance to change one day of your life. Which will it be and why?

MW: None - I don't have regrets big enough.

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