Doomed Confessionary: Tommi, Jerry, Teemu, Toni & Juuso (Baron)
Photo by Juuso Hämäläinen
Baron is a death/doom metal band from Helsinki, Finland consisting of Tommi Astala (vocals), Jerry Tamminen (guitar, vocals), Teemu Karell (guitar), Toni Nisukangas (bass) and Juuso Hämäläinen (drums). The band’s debut album »Beneath The Blazing Abyss« dropped on April 26th, 2024 via Transcending Obscurity Records.
Baron are straddling the styles of death and doom metal in a spectacular manner. In their faster, heavier moments, they seem to be a death metal band through and through but when they slow down, they showcase a wholly different dimension to their sound.
They are able to do so without altering their imposing, crushing sound and the transitions in pace never seem abrupt but usually culminate into gigantic heaving and stomping parts as if a mountainous, infernal demon like the one on their artwork has decided to awaken after centuries only to mosh. It’s the same the other way around, with slower parts building up to an apocalyptic rampage, volcanic fire spewing all over for added effect, and basically all hell breaking loose. It’s only fitting that a Finnish band is tasked with this immense responsibility, with heroes from that land having already mastered both the styles and passed the skills down the generations.
Can you say a few words about your band?
Greetings from Finland! We are Baron, a death metal/death doom band who just released our debut full-length album named »Beneath The Blazing Abyss«. We were formed way back in 2015 and currently we’re signed on Transcending Obscurity Records.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
For all of us to spend more than one hour in the same room together. Joking aside, it really felt quite hopeless when our original drummer Niko decided to quit the band in 2022. We were just planning to start recording our debut album as well so that felt really disheartening at the time. Thankfully we got quite lucky with our current drummer Juuso who we linked up quite quickly after we started looking for a new drummer. No major delays because of the lack of a drummer in the end, just self-inflicted ones.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Being a barely functioning group of people for nine years and still managing to record and release a full-length album somehow. Also we must be getting close to playing near 100 shows by now, that’s something to be proud of.
What was your biggest regret?
So many to choose from so this is a bit difficult! Probably the way we handled the recording of our debut LP. Too many different sessions in different locations with different people during the span of 11 months. Just plain idiotic and cost us way too much money that we’ll never get back.
Photo by Juuso Hämäläinen
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Probably our first concert with the current lineup back in January 2023 in Helsinki with Galvanizer, Goatburner & EOUI. Pretty much everything went as planned there and the reception was great. All downhill from there afterwards concert-wise unfortunately.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
The amount of dickheads who only care about themselves and try to rip off bands any chance they get. Extreme metal is honestly such a tinpot genre where there’s barely any money to be made, what are you even doing here? Thankfully great and authentic people outnumber the dickheads at least for now.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
The new albums from Civerous, Apparition, Slimelord and Antichrist Siege Machine have been great and on constant rotation recently. There’s also this new band called Refugium who released their debut EP called »Monuments To Degradation« that’s really good Peaceville doom death worship. Outside heavy music we’ve been enjoying the new Bladee album, »Vault Archives« by Mark Morgan and the »Ambient 4: Isolationism« compilation by Virgin Records.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
The end goal of learning an instrument should always be making songs. The fact is that Tom G. Warrior has left a bigger legacy to the music world than Guthrie Govan or any other shredder ever could.
What are your guilty pleasures?
FIFA games, hatewatching Arsenal, the first Resident Evil movie, beans on toast, HM-2 guitar pedal, 2000’s gothic rock/metal, and »Seventh Star« by Black Sabbath.
Photo by @grimvisions
Can you say something more about the music scene in Helsinki / Finland?
Extreme music is in a really good place currently here in Finland. Tons of kids are interested in forming bands and there seems to be concerts happening every weekend. And it’s not exclusively in Helsinki either but rather all around Finland. Shout outs to Killing Frost, Dome Runner, Azatoth, Disguised Malignance, Asphodelus and Gray State.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Most likely in various concerts here around Finland. No foreign concerts or tours are happening as we are aware of it.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
We are currently writing new music for a short form release, either a split or an EP. The plan is to release it before the end of the year. Most likely it will be delayed of course.
How can people best support your band?
Follow us on our social media platforms, keep buying our new album and merch, keep streaming the album and attending our concerts. Maybe after concerts come say hi to us and say something like ‘sick show brother’, and then we can answer ‘well things x and y didn’t quite go as we would’ve hoped they went but we appreciate your words’. Then we can shake hands.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Doom your life and worship us…
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well