1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Band was found on 2014 when Tarmo (Gtr/Vox) had some songs ready and met recent drummer Juho Jii. First gigs were played at 2016 with 5 members line-up. Later, the band evolved to 4 member lineup when Tarmo took the reins on vocals alongside of playing guitar. In the recent year band's lineup did change, excluding the founding member Tarmo, and now Clamosum is 4 members strong.
Clamosum’s music is composed mainly from Tarmo's ideas and musical influences, which both emanate from within and thematically reflect the mindscape and feelings on the world's hatred and idiotisms. The main theme has revolved around the inner journey to oneself and on the obstacles one faces – in other words – it depicts how oneself can deal with the hell on the earth and became a god unto yourself.
2.Recently you have released a new ep, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
One of the biggest changes in our new EP "Kosmoksen Morsian" is the fact that it is our first release which is professionally produced by Joona Muistola from HAW-studios. First, the sound were little bit strange, but when time passed I feel that every effort was worth of it. The sound and production are very good and the sound engineering and production works very well.
Musically, I think the songs have familiar elements of Clamosum: fast and aggressive drums and guitars, without forgetting dynamic sections. Regardless, I think those elements have evolved to more sophisticated form, and the compositions contain more intricate and interesting details, bringing forth color in form of melodies in certain parts of the song. For example, new EP's title song's outro is very epic, which has not been heard earlier on that level in Clamosum’s music.
3.A couple of the band members also have experience playing in death metal bands, how would you compare the musical style that you play in this band to the other groups that you have been a part of?
Yes I, Tarmo do play guitar at Pyre of Hypocrisy and our new Drummer Ville plays at Coraxo. I think Clamosum has greater amount of commonalities with Coraxo’s music, based on some melodic parts and blast beats. Pyre plays old school death metal, and thus, there are less similarities. Pyre’s sound is based very low B-tuning and consists more groovier stuff. But at the same time, on a general level, every band has the same metal-elements, parts of fast drumming and guitar playing. Then again, at same time, each approach is clearly different.
4.A lot of your lyrics cover existentialism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?
The main focus has never been that I want to write about existential-themes. I think that true art is kindled from a place of true honesty, which demands uncompromising loyalty to one's heart and being. In other words, I always try to write about things that move me and I feel that I want to put them out to the world via my music. And then, naturally, those themes did evolve to existential-lyrics. There are some inevitable and cardinal things in our lives that everyone has to face, both win and losses. Usually, it contains lots of disappointments. Life might be hard and one is forced to grow. In this pivotal process one's consciousness true nature shows its true colors.
One aspect about term existential is that Clamosum's lyrics are not oriented by the traditional black-metal topics, such as satan, anti-christianity, demons, and that kind of explicit stuff. Our approach could be categorized under those themes, but I do not feel great necessity to write directly about such issues. There are lots of bands that do it, and they do it really well! I have huge respect for those bands and their music, which has been huge inspiration for us. But if I begun to tell all the same stories, I would end up as carbon copy. I think that one of the greatest black metal – and art in general – principle is that you should be honest and respectful for the fire inside of you – and as we know, some might consider that is satan...evil...or even antichrist. But in the choice itself lies one's true freedom 😉
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Clamosum'?
First the name came up from one of my favorite black metal band Vesania's (Orions (Behemoth) other project) album in song called "Lumen Clamosum" (straight translation being "The Light is Loud). In that context, I think the meaning was some kind of awakening by ritual etc. So, for me, our band name has different kind of meanings: literally it means loudness and noisiness, but in our context it also means the struggle and one's awakening on the left-hand path. So, I think the name represents quite amicably the driving force behind the bands music and art. For all for us, Clamosum sounded good and compatible.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the ep cover?
The cover was made by one of my good old fellows, Esa Karonen from Finland. When we were planning the new EP, we had a band meeting were our recent drummer Juho Jii came up with idea of "Lempo" - the goddess of love and destruction. We developed the idea and it seemed to work out pretty good with the concept of EP. First we have "Kiirastuli" (The Purgatory), which is demonstrated on the flames on EP’s cover. Then we have ascension, one's transformation to god. Finally, we have "Kosmoksen Morsian" (The Bride of Cosmos), the One, who is ready to move into the abyss of Cosmos. So, the cover represents all those aspects and the figure on the cover is obviously that Bride who goes through the fire. The figure, and the EP’s title song has very personal story. It tells a tale of certain form of true love but also an sexual story, where two persons interact in vigorous spiritual and sexual level.
7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Oh God..(or Satan) there has been many good and memorable shows. Every era has its own aspects. Obviously, our bands first show ever was very grounding and memorable in 2016. Then, in 2017, we had two big gigs with Ajattara. Especially the second gig when we opened at Black Mass evening for Satans Fall, Asagraum and Ajattara were very good and big deal for us. Back then, we were only with three members on the stage! (our gutarist Janne has just left the band).
After that, there has been good gigs in Tampere and different parts of southern-Finland. Even in the summer 2020 we played open air at "Laikunlava" on Tampere's centrum. That itself was very different experience, as the gig was during bright summer evening. Our last gig was last October on Bar Rock Bear with our new line up, and I think that too went pretty good.
I think our stage performances are pretty straightforward. We do not use corpse paints and stuff like that. We like to play while looking pretty natural and let the music speak by itself.
8.The new ep was released by 'Drakkar Productions', how would you compare working with this label to 'Anthrazit Records'?
Obviously we have better deal with Drakkar. On Anthrazit we had a deal in which they print the CD as orders come. Drakkar is clearly larger label and can reach wider audience. We have now a deal about few hundred copies from which we gain small returns. So, the deal is very positive for us. Then again, it demanded little bit more work from us with the label to organize everything, cover art, publishing dates etc. than in Anthrazit's case.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
Regarding the new EP, the reaction from the black metal listeners has been very positive. People have been fond of both the production and the compositions. But at a wider level, its hard to say anything really in a worldwide context, because at this point, we still do not get that much of direct reactions from black metal fans. Instead, there has been some good feedback on podcasts and various channels along the way. Usually, after live gigs we gain only good and positive feedback from audience and other bands.
Our previous EP “Lux Omnipotens” did get rather mediocre reviews and I think main culprit is that the production etc. was not that good. But now with the new EP, we got our first review from "nocleansinging" and that was very, very positive. And many of close fellas have praised the EP. So, I think for me personally, the feedback that has came from those who are interested on black metal has been only good and positive.
10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?
Pyre of Hypocrisy is very active at the moment. We have released new EP called "Altar of Burning Chaos" which I obviously recommend. I think Coraxo is on a break now, but our drummer Villes other project Witches Hollow did play a gig last fall and the Band released new album in 2021. Our bassist Marzo and guitarist Jaakko have little bit softer metal project called A1ka (T1me) that I think is pretty active. They also have some-kind of rock-cover project "Tippuri" that is doing gigs rarely.
11.So far all of the releases have been ep's, when can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Its hard to say. On this level you have to go piece by piece and things take time to develop and there are many variables. I work on music constantly and at the moment I already have 2 to 4 new songs, so at least in theory, the full length album might be possible within 1 to 3 years. I have some aggressive and fast new riffs that relate to older stuff. In addition, nowadays I listen lots of atmospheric black metal, and that has influenced me quite a lot. Influenced by this, some of the new songs are more emotionally engaging, deeper and moodier.
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Mainly Clamosum’s music is inspired by the various forms of black metal. Main influences have been, just to name few: Marduk, Mayhem, Vesania, Dark Fortress, Emperor, Behemoth, Old Mans Child, Dimmu Borgir and more recently Elderwind, Veldes, Antimateria. The newest discovery has been Morwinyon. The album called Pristine contains very good atmospheric stuff.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Questions were very engaging and interesting to answer. Keep grabbing life by the horns, you fuckin' horny black sheep animals! Thank you.
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