Interviews: Deimhal

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Symphonic Black Metal band, Deimhal from Finland. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

The band's name goes back to the end of the 90s, when I started using it as an alias as an extension of my own name. However, Deimhal started as my own solo project, when it was natural to use that name, and no other band members had joined at that time. If I had known that this would become a whole band, the name could be something completely different. Deimhal as a name is rooted in Irish folklore / ancient history. Deimhal (Dumah-el) as a name means prince of darkness, spirit of wins and is also in some cases used as a name for dead angels. 

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

Black metal has always been the genre I've wanted to play, but for some reason I haven't had the opportunity because I've always drifted into other bands that have played a slightly different genre of music. Over time, when I learned to play the guitar a little, I also had the opportunity to start composing my own songs, as a result of which it was clear that the compositions will be Black Metal at least on some level. I got my biggest musical influences in the 90s, so it's clear that there are also the biggest influences on my own compositions. I've always been a fan of symphonic Black Metal and it was bands of this style that I listened to in the 90s, mostly from the Nordic scene.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed? 

With our drummer Janne Kusmin and bass player Timo Lehtinen, we have known each other since we were young. We already played together in the band “Catamenia” when we were teenagers. Then there was a 20-year break and during that time they mainly focused on gigging and recording with “Kalmah”. Then when I decided that the band needed more members, it was natural that I would ask them if they would have the time and enthusiasm to join. I didn't have any connections with the other members before, but we mostly met each other through friends.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

This is a difficult question because there are so many good bands that we could mention, but if we have to choose, we ended up with these choices:

Mika Tönning – “Dissection”

Henri Isojärvi – “Insomnium”

Jukka Hallikainen – “Children of Bodom”, Timo Lehtinen “Death”

Janne Kusmin – “Morbid Angel” (Old)

Gàbor Dancs – “Devin Townsend Project”.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

For me personally, the momentary emotional state gives me inspiration, but of course the biggest influence comes from the music I listen to for several hours every day. When composing a song, I kind of hear the finished product in my head, but of course some limitations come from the fact that, for example, I can't play everything the song would require on the guitar because my skills are lacking in that respect. Many players and composers of the newer generation use, for example, guitar pro and other programs to help, but I myself am so old-fashioned that I want to compose everything with real instruments.

6. Where was your last gig?

We are such a new band that we haven't been able to play gigs yet, but we have decided that we will release at least one more EP and a single, after which we will have enough material for live performances. 2024 could be the right time for start live performances.

7. Where would you like to act?

Personally, I am a big supporter of (Finnish) Tuska metal festival and Steelfest festival and I try to visit them every year, so maybe it would be great to perform at these festivals someday.

8. Whom would you like to feature with? 

There are a lot of these, but if sometime in the future we could perform as a warm-up act for e.g. Immortal, Satyricon, Fleshgod Apocalypse, that would be great.

9. Whom not? 

There are probably many different options for this within the band, so let's leave it unsaid this time.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that? 

I've never had stage fright, but I haven't been performing myself for a long time, so you don't know about it these days. But usually a couple of excitement-triggering drinks have produced a good result!. The importance of practicing cannot be underestimated, if you know the songs even in your sleep, it is also easier to perform.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

The biggest inspirations are probably the bands that have been with me since childhood, which are e.g. Immortal, Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon, Dissection, Old Man`s Child, Covenant, Windir etc...

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

”Have you had any fish lately?”

13. What do you think of your fans?

Because we are such a new band, we haven't been able to talk much with the fans yet, but at least on the social media side, it would seem that they are very practical and nice people!

14. What do you think of our site? 

Breathing the core looks good and clear, and I like that the site has a lot of interviews with new bands and information about songs from the bands' albums. 

15. Something to add?

Support your favourite bands, it`s the only way to keep them running in this current musical (digital) world!