Doomed Confessionary: Simo Perkiömäki (Dome Runner)
Photo by Saara Samane
Industrial metal juggernaut Dome Runner have been grinding in the underground since 2017, fusing elements of extreme metal, hardcore and alternative with dystopian soundscapes and grinding machinery. Based out of Tampere, Finland, Dome Runner consists of Simo Perkiömäki (vocals, guitars), Antti Kurttila (bass, vocals) and Otto Heino (drums).
Dome Runner’s sophomore full-length album, »World Panopticon«, was released on November 21st, 2025 via Svart Records. »World Panopticon«, the 77-minute double album, represent the strongest and most unafraid songwriting of the group while going dynamically and sonically further than ever before.
Thematically spawn from a dystopian world as an escapist tale fused of observations of modern and future functions of society while simultaneously focusing in rebirth of the observing self-shackled within yet driven to break free, the album takes the listener deeper to the world around and beyond, open for those who dare to dive in.
Can you please say a few words about your band?
Machine Metal Music for Machine Metal People.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
I guess figuring out the basic fundamentals and approach to music. There was a time (under a different name) when the way we approached our music (or I, hah) was physically quite a challenge in itself for me so especially after one rehearsal some years ago when we just let the machines take over and let the complete beats and rhythms dominate instead of playing every single snare hit sample and machine sound as a one shot (which was doable but fucked up challenge together with singing and playing guitar) felt like a epiphany. Two things at once is nothing but three… After many years (the first demos of the band dates as far back as 2014..) we figured out what we are doing and more importantly; how. I never wanted us to be a click track random soundscape band which is why instead I wanted to grind the hard way and push the beats and the cues in the tracks more and keep things honest and real to the people hearing us live, that there is no hidden click for someone or anything, just three people with instruments and a cold blue box of steel and machinery… However its a fine line between having the essential sense of danger and excitement in terms of honesty that comes with doing things the hard way or coming off amateurish and try-hard stupid when doing things the hard way for nothing, so we’ll see what the future holds on that sphere. Having brutal honest amount of machine hihats and rhythms have (partly) led me to hear so many Godflesh comparisons in the last five years that I can assure you that what the future holds can be pretty different.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Well, pride ruins people, but I’m happy that we’ve been a band more than 5 years and not broke up, which means its too late to quit, ha!
What was your biggest regret?
My biggest regret in life was missing out on the Exodus show in Tampere six years ago when Zetro was still on vocals.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
For us as a band? There are many… hometown show two years ago with Killing Frost, Lunastus, Gray State and Forced Humility. People usually just stare like they’ve seen a fucking ghost when we play, but that was different. Beautiful, one might say. The very same goes to Hässäkkä-Päivät Festival in Oulu. Oulu in general has always been good to us and its always a pleasure to especially visit places like Tukikohta. There also was a time we went to Serbia to play Slaughter fest with our dear friends in Throat, and a time in Estonia when we didnt whether to pull or push the revolving doors… I also feel grateful for sharing the stage with Oranssi Pazuzu supporting probably their best album as well on their finnish shows. But yeah there are many.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Good question. To be real I guess the fact how very different people can connect through music surprises constantly. Seek to understand and assume nothing.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Scorn. Morbid Angel. Iron Age. The Bug. Vengeful Blood. Sodan Riivaamat Mutantit. New Final Gasp album. New Converge album. New Bolt Cross album, haha…
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Trust yourself and never give up, but know when to quit. That is the most essential advice. I guess the rest you’ll learn through being open, experimenting and playing in different bands and especially with different people which I really think one should do. Only then you realize what you have with any dynamic of people. Having just one band as your lifes work and personal church of Isaac can really fuck you up. But not necessarily.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Eating salad and watching Frasier. Watching the world melt. Sink in and let go.
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Tampere?
I’m coming from the punk/hardcore/metal sphere but I do think the local music scene overall in Tampere is vital and creative, to say the least… There really seems to be a very integrated fuck rules and fuck the system – ethic running underneath especially with the younger bands that tend to rather fuse elements on a more wider scope unafraid than focusing on genre certainty, sometimes even to quite absurd measures. I guess it can be a purist elitist hellscape at times, but at best it can lead to bands really creating their own sound, so I think its cool. Overall I think our city is rather vibrant and there is a lot of live action on the whole spectrum and different scenes seem to overlap and find common ground instead of segregation, which is awesome and all but obvious.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
We are playing some selected finnish dates through out summer and then some, news to follow.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Push forward. Write a third record. It’s well underway, and its gonna be quite different, but its gonna be a record by the same people and the same band. Not gonna do our own »Cold Lake« though, hah… or maybe we are? We’ll see! Oh yeah and tour as much as we can of course.
How can people best support your band?
You can paypal us to ia***********@***il.com, mobilepay us to address 9542CL the desired amount of money to support us with OR choose a support item of choice from a diverse selection of unique accesories available, all the way from t-shirts to hoodies and longsleeves. Just contact the e-mail address above. Buy our records through Svart Records and Seeing Red Records.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Be open. Be real. Learn and unlearn. Good things come to those who stay true. Thank you for listening.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well