Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
This is a one person project at the moment. I have played in some hardcore punk bands before. At the moment I also play in a proto-punk group Vuokkoset.
The inspiration for this album and the band or project as a whole came from listening to a ton of post-metal and stuff like that. I had never been in a metal band before and had the sudden urge to do so. I think I had a semi clear vision of what I wanted to accomplish pretty early on so it became a one man project. I wanted to have all the creative control on this one.
How would you describe your style? Which bands influenced your music?
It’s post-metal basically. You could also call it doom or sludge or some combination of the three. Slow, dark and heavy both musically and in terms of theme and lyrics. Biggest influences are Amenra, Neurosis and Cult of Luna, I think.
Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?
The is something meditative about heavy music for me and that is the kind of feeling I wanted to convey here. For me it’s not about head banging or fucking shit up or whatever. It’s more about a kind of trance state. Take a 30 minute break from yourself, you know. Embrace the feelings it makes you feel. It will not make you a happier person but it might make you feel better for a while. That’s how it works for me at least.
What have you released so far and how were your releases received by the public/media?
I Have Already Failed You is the debut release by this project and it has been released by a selection of different labels in cassettes and cds. Sadly no vinyl yet. The album has been received quite well in my opinion. Lots of nice reviews. Seems like many people really thought about what the thing really meant, so that’s nice.
Do you play live as well? How’s your live activity so far?
I completed the first release by myself during the pandemic so I have no thought about live stuff at all. A few friends have let me know that they would be interested in joining the live group if I ever decided that I wanted to start one. That is all currently.
What should labels/zines/promoters know about your band? Why should they be interested in it?
DEVASTATING LIGHT is a DIY post-metal/doom/sludge band from Tampere, Finland. Everything is played, recorded, mixed and mastered by Teemu Toikka, who is a seasoned veteran of the punk -scene in Finland. DEVASTATING LIGHT has stories to tell and the stories are all about the pain of existence in our modern time, mental health issues and the effect that has on a person and people around them.
I Have Already Failed You is a concept album about a man suffering from depression and becoming a father while the world is ending around him. It explores feelings of not being or doing enough and the fear of somehow passing on the disease to the child. Is it even right to bring a child into this world that is slowly ending?
What plans do you have for the near future as a band?
I plan to make and release more music this year or early next year. And more after that.
Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
You can listen to and buy the album at https://devastatinglight.bandcamp.com
Other options are various streaming services like for example Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0GDoqO0zUCtnRi3p4Zw3c9?si=jpRJH569Tsyzr9vsurc8xQ
June 2021