Interview with Kangas, Kuusisalo & Ahmis
www.ydinband.com

Not so long time ago here on the pages of Metal Revolution we've introduced you to the latest opus by this quite unusual Finnish metal band. Now the time has come to take the whole thing a step further. If you want to dig deeper into the dark and mystique world of Ydin you don't get a better chance than this very exclusive interview with the whole band.

MR: I believe not many Danish metallers have heard of your band, so here is your unique chance to introduce Ydin shortly and each of the band members, current line-up etc.
Kangas: Ydin was formed in autumn 2003. Music style was pretty clear right away, harsh and brutal death metal sung in Finnish. I knew Ahmis and Punishment already and we had discussed in a late drunken hours about a forming a band. I saw that Löytynoja was looking for musicians to form a death metal band and contacted him. Löytynoja knew Massacre so line-up was found pretty easily and fast. Current line-up is Punishment: vocals, Kuusisalo: drums, Massacre: bass, Ahmis and me in guitars.

MR: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard of Ydin? Are you playing simple and old-school death or…?
Kuusisalo: Dark, cold and brutal death metal with some influences from black metal too. I wouldn't say we are old-school or simple. Maybe the first demo was something like that but the second demo and new songs are not.

MR: So do you agree with different descriptions of your music done by the media? Have for read our review at MR site and what do you think of that? Now you have the chance to protest or even fight back (Laughing)?
Ahmis: Well, reviews have been very good generally as well as MR review what you wrote. There have been many notes about our black metal influences and that’s OK, after all we just write material without planning any BM riffs or so. It has been nice to see that our language hasn’t been a problem. We have promised translations of lyrics but so far we haven’t had time to write those.
But in the end of the day, reviews are single opinions and have no effect to Ydin, we will continue to create music by our own terms – no matter if someone like it or hate it.

MR: Now tell me please what is the philosophy behind the name Ydin? To be honest for me it does sound much more like a name for a power metal or Nordic folk metal band than it is a name for death metal unit. Who and why have chosen this name for your band?
Ahmis: When we started Ydin (core), we were trying to come up with a name that is unique, personal and very cruel. I am not sure who figured it out because we were doing very heavy drinking. Philosophy behind the name Ydin is that when you search sickest, furious and twisted thing on this earth, you find that one of them is human mind, the human core. So the name was perfect and there hasn't been a need to chance it.
Kangas: Ydin and Odin might be easy to mix but Ydin has nothing to do with Nordic mythology. I think that our record covers and other graphical concept tells that Ydin is not a power metal band. Heh, in one review Ydin was confused to Idi Amin who was a dictator in Uganda. I can say that Ydin has NOTHING to do with Idi Amin too. (Laughing)

MR: Would you then be kind and introduce your latest demo to your fans and our readers? I mean we’ve done a review on our part, but I mean more in a sense that you’ll maybe reveal what lyrics are all about etc.?
Kangas: Silvottuna ja Häpäistynä (Mutilated and dishonoured) was recorded in four days in winter 2005. Song titles in fast translations are 1. Inho (disgust) 2. Verivaltias (bloodruler) 3. Kylmä ydin (Cold core) 4. No.1(pt.2) (Number 1 part 2) 5. Ikuinen (Eternal). Lyrics contains a lot of fury, violence and hate. The concept for a name and cover of demo comes from song Ikuinen.
Ahmis: Silvottuna ja häpäistynä is very cold and powerful release, it attacks without empathy from the beginning to end. For example, track called “Verivaltias” (bloodruler) is about the true image of human, merciless and sick, one of the nature’s best murderer creations. Here is a short translation of the lyrics:
” …fury brings blood taste in my mouth, Cold stares will cut your head off, self control has been buried a long time ago. Holding the knife I drink the liquor, I enjoy for your suffering and my steady rule. Step closer and beg. I throw-up on you and show your place. I polish my blade between your teeths and cuddle your head…”

MR: Where do you find inspiration when writing music/lyrics and who’s responsible for that part?
Ahmis: Punishment gets inspirations for the lyrics from the life itself, environment has much really annoying and sick stuff to offer that is good to use for lyrical inspirations. Personally, I have to say that same goes for me, I have written couple lyrics for Ydin, tracks called “Verivaltias” (bloodruler) and “Kylmäverinen” (cold blooded). We do not use those autopsy/fuck the dead – kind of lyrics as many bands in death metal, rather colder, twisted and harsh lyrics that are more destructive in my opinion.
Kuusisalo: As a drummer my inspiration comes usually from other drummers, either listening or watching them or even just talking with 'em. But the main inspiration is still the feeling that you get when you're in a band practice and making new songs. And of course performing them live is also awesome.
Kangas: It is hard to say where inspiration comes in music. Basic structure of making a new Ydin song is that, Ahmis or I have some riffs and then we jam them in our rehearsal place until we got a song that we all are satisfied in.

MR: For how long have you been together in this line-up? I know that you’ve had some line-up changes, true?!
Ahmis: Yes, Our former drummer Löytynoja who played in Verityöt (bloodworks) and Silvottuna ja häpäistynä (Mutilated and dishonoured) left from the band after we finished SJH in the beginning of year 2005. It was quite hard to find a new drummer who would fit the band and the search took over half years but finally in the end of 2005 Kuusisalo joined to band. He brought more sense of agressivines and violence by his drumming skills to music.

MR: What bands do you listen to at home? What are you all time favourites?
Ahmis: I like quite many kind music genres, so there isn’t one and only style. It depends much what mood I am, example: In terrible hangover, German band called Bohren & der Club of Gore fits perfectly, makes you feel even more dead. But if I have to pick one of my favourite band, Satyricon has been source of inspiration for me.
Kangas: I like most of black and death metal but I too listen a lot of heavy metal and rock and other shit. All time favourites? Hmm, it is hard to say. If I had to say one that would be a Sentenced´s Amok.
Kuusisalo: Like Ahmis and Kangas, I also listen different kinds of music but mostly it's black or death metal. All time favourites... Well there are a lot of really great albums but maybe the most important so far have been Master Of Puppets by Metallica, Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk by Emperor and Informis Infinitas Inhumanitas by Origin.

MR: I dare to ask you about your knowledge about Danish death metal scene. Any bands you know and like to listen to?
Kangas: I have to confess that I remember only Panzerchrist. And of course a Mercyful Fate and King Diamond are originally from Denmark.
Kuusisalo: If I remember right, Exmortem is also from Denmark.

MR: Yes you’re right. How do you look at metal, and esp. death metal, scene in your country? I know that Finland has produced some really awesome metal bands in the last two decades. How is the situation now? Any young bands you would recommend to our readers?
Kuusisalo: The band called “F” (formerly Fornjotr) sounds awesome. They are really young and I'm sure that if they work hard, they will really achieve something.
Ahmis: Band called Incarnate is a damn good act from this area. They have played trash/death metal from since 1999. Finland has very strong scene so there is many bands what should be named.

MR: Are you active playing live? Have you ever played outside of your great country?
Ahmis: We are ready for gigs for sure but in this area there isn’t many places to play in live. I assume that Ydin is quite marginal music to gig bookers, so it’s damn difficult to get gigs around here, despite that we don’t ask any reward but I am sure that more opportunities to play live will come as people get known about Ydin. Yet we haven’t played in foreign countries but hell yes we would like to! When there is chance to do so, it’s damn sure that we are going to do that.

MR: Now towards the end a cliché but nevertheless very important question - are you in the process of recording a new material? What can we expect to hear on it?
Kangas: We are actually recording a new material right this moment. New material is more dynamic and maybe a bit more technical than earlier recordings. It is also at least in my opinion more furious than Verityöt and Silvottuna ja Häpäistynä. We also have a live DVD done but we haven’t released it yet. DVD contains nine songs and three of them are new. It also contains our both demos and couples earlier live videos as bonus material.
Ahmis: Release date of the DVD hasn’t been decided yet, but it will be out in a month. First edition is only 50 copies. More information will be in our websites soon.

MR: I guess the only thing we expect you to do now is to say some final words to close this interview up. Anything you would like to add that we maybe forgot to ask you about?
Ahmis: Keep the eye on our websites, new material will be released in following spring. We offer all our releases in full length, also there is video called “Ruttolainen“ from upcoming DVD release.

MR: Thank you. It was my pleasure to listen to your music and even more to interview you. Good luck.
Ahmis: Thanks for interview, Kippis (cheers) from Finland!