Doomed Confessionary: Ilari Kallinen (Oblivion Beach)
Oblivion Beach was built on the frozen ashes of Finnish metal act Vuolla in 2018. The band stands as a four-piece unit that calls upon the forces of heavy riffs and sirens of melancholy. Beautiful female voices floating upon the heavy waves of distortion is the sound of the beach.
The band’s debut album »Cold River Spell« was released by Schwarzdorn Production on October 16th, 2020. Inspired by the cold black winter of Northern Finland and the starry window to the sky. Oblivion Beach just released a new doomy tune »Stay« and is currently writing more material for their second album which will see the cold light of day sometime in 2025.
Oblivion Beach are Kati Kallinen (vocals, keyboards), Ilari Kallinen (guitars), Karita Kivioja (bass, backing vocals) and Timo Ruunaniemi (drums).
Can you say a few words about your band?
Oblivion Beach is a four-piece melancholist group from Finland. We all love a proper doomy heavy riffing, not-so-fast tempos and smashing drums along some beautiful, sad clean vocals. We put this group together around 2018 and released our first album just before the Covid pandemic closed all the venues and put everything on hold. Now after a few years we are coming back with a new single and we are writing material for album number two.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
For a rather small band like ours it’s quite difficult to get shows in Finland. Many venues that used to have heavy music live nights have closed down or shifted into promoting other genres of music. Business is business of course.
What can you be most proud of so far?
I’d say this new single and the old school style music video we made for it! »Stay« is a solid piece that has all the elements a good heavy song has and the video rocks nicely.
What was your biggest regret?
I think I should have started writing songs during the pandemic instead of letting it put everything on hold.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Back in falll 2020 at Lutakko, in our old hometown Jyväskylä we had the pleasure to support a well known Finnish band Silentium which was super nice. That night feeling was just right at the stage and soon after that night the Finnish government forced venues to close due to covid situation.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
For this I’d say the closing down of many smaller venues in Finland. It’s sad. Even some bars that used to be proper rock and heavy venues these days prefer to have people on the dance floor while dj is blasting Eurodance kind of stuff. Nothing wrong with that though, business is business and the crowds are in command.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Oranssi Pazuzu is something that I can barely describe how damn good stuff they keep doing. It’s haunting. It’s black. It’s good. Love their shows and love them on headphones in the dark.
Another beast that really rocks for me is Ulver. Also I hear Opeth has taken a leap back to heavier ways so I need to stop by a record shop some day to pick up their latest too.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Nothing really comes to mind on this one…maybe I wasn’t listening at the moment…
What are your guilty pleasures?
Music-wise? Roxette!
Can you say something more about current music scene in Jyväskylä / Finland?
As I mentioned earlier many venues in Finland have been closing down. Not too many places to rock anymore unless you are a bit more known band than us. Something has changed from the days when you just went to your local rock bar on a Friday night and there were smaller bands rocking and in best case you’d find something you really like and worst case you got some proper background music for chatting with friends. These days the few places that host rock/heavy gigs for smaller bands are sadly pretty quiet. Some venues have metal gigs that change into eurodance events with a flip of a switch after the last band is done. It’s weird. But once again, business is business and it seems that dancing to the DJ is what moves the crowds today.
Where can we see you live soon (concerts/tours)?
At the moment don’t have anything planned. Been discussing summer metal festivals in Finland but so far no catch.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Album number two. Few proper gigs to test the new songs live. A proper promo shot of the group too – that’s a hard one to accomplish!
Do you have any special plans for New Year’s Eve?
Yeah, actually staying home healing the fracture on my right leg! Recipe: proper heavy music and something red on the glass.
How can people best support your band?
For a small band like us every listener counts and matters. We make music with heart and zero calculation or whatsoever. If you enjoy our style let the songs spin in streaming services and if you feel wild head out to Schwarzdorn Production website and order a physical copy of our first album!
Do you have any message for your listeners?
The world today is vile place – occasional heavy riffing helps! Thank you for listening – it’s much appreciated!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well