Doomed Confessionary: Juho Puusniekka (StoneGazer)
Photos by Siina Vieri
StoneGazer is a five-piece stoner metal band from Tampere, Finland. They have been making their own brand of rock for over a decade now. Their style has become more and more eclectic over the years, combining stoner and southern rock, blues, metal and perhaps even a hint of grunge for good measure. All their songs are after all quintessentially a group effort – a weaving of five different forms of musical expression.
Formed back in 2011, StoneGazer consists of Jussi Virtala (vocals), Juho Puusniekka (guitar), Lauri Lehto (guitars), Tomas Kurki (bass) and Jani-Matti Salmela (drums).
StoneGazer’s sophomore full-length album »Threshold« was released on July 25th, 2025 via Kozmik Artifactz. »Threshold« builds on the same themes of impending doom and the glooming future of humanity. The album was fully recorded at StoneGazer’s own rehearsal/recording studio. Everything except for the mastering was done inhouse to ensure that this stoner metal juggernaut sounds and feels just right. It’s a big, bold and groovy portrayal of humanity standing on the »Threshold« of an uncertain future.
Can you please say a few words about your band?
“It depends, how do you define a band.”*
Now that I got that out of my system, we are a stoner band from Nekala, Finland. We mix things up by adding elements of blues and grunge into the stoner. Nekala is a borough of Tampere.
*spoken with the voice of Kermit the Frog
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
I’d say our biggest obstacle was when we parted our ways with our longtime bass player, as he decided to focus on other things in his life. Luckily, we were able to find a new bass player and we are looking forward to new gigs. A new chapter has begun.
What can you be most proud of so far?
I think we have created a personal type of stoner rock/metal/blues/grunge sound. To say that you can seriously stand behind your creations without a hint of irony, is something I take pride in.
What was your biggest regret?
Musicwise, we have no regrets. Perhaps we could have a bit more active in spinning social media and selling ourselves to the corporate overlords. But then again, nah.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Probably the time we shared the stage with Demonic Death Judge and Rytmihäiriö. Two of my favourite bands on the same gig was an experience I would not mind repeating again.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
How you can be a billionaire by streaming other peoples’ music while paying fractions of pennies and still no one is calling it stealing. The submission musicians have been subjected to is simply amazing.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Raised Fist as well as King Diamond, Agalloch, Leprous and ZZ Top.
Our guitarist Juho mostly listens to The Eagles 😀
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
This is going to sound like a cliche, because it is. Be yourself. But that does not make it not true.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Chappell Roan kicks ass and I kinda like Tones and I as well. I don’t know if that’s really a guilty pleasure, as I will admit to these gladly. I recently discovered that I really enjoy Elton John as well, especially the 70s albums. I don’t really find enjoying music/art shameful as it is such a subjective thing, so this is kind of a hard question for me.
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Tampere?
Tampere has a thriving UG music scene, and there are a lot of great bands coming from here, both from the stoner genre and beyond. There is plenty of gigs whole year around.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
We just played a gig in Tampere, Bar Kotelo on the 29th of August. We have several other gigs to be confirmed.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Make more music, play gigs and have fun while doing it. Everything else comes as it may.
How can people best support your band?
By listening and sharing our music to people.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
The most revolutionary thing one can do is always to proclaim loudly what is happening.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well