The Nordic goth metal band Cemetery Skyline are a relatively new band, but their members are experienced. Members are or have been in bands including Sentenced, Amorphis, Dimmu Borgir and Dark Tranquillity. Guitarist Markus Vanhala (Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum) gives us the scoop on the band, their debut album, tour plans, his other bands and other subjects.
Chad Bowar: How did the lineup for Cemetery Skyline come together?
Markus Vanhala: Cemetery Skyline is a band of touring friends, as we all knew each other from numerous tours and festivals we’ve done together so all of us have met down the long road. Before the pandemic, in the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise bar in the middle of the drunken night one anonymous musician came to me and insisted to form a gothic band. I thought immediately that’s a great idea, and unlike zillion other drunken bar projects, this one went through and actually became flesh and audio.
Describe the songwriting process for Nordic Gothic.
Me and Santeri (Kallio, keyboards) started to write music freely in our home studios, just to have a title ”gothic” in our minds to clear the vision of the direction. Quite soon we had a pile of song skeletons and we started to refresh each others ideas, and actually became a really easily working songwriting duo. I’m really happy to have found such a great music writing partner. After that we sent song ideas to Mikael Stanne who started working lyrics and melodies in his end. It was really nice that we didn’t exactly have any deadlines, as the band didn’t exist publicly and we didn’t have any label pressures. So we took the time, which actually was four years, to complete this album and that’s the reason why it became this good! I’ve never done any other album for four years.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
Before the actual recordings begun, I probably will cherish the moment when we were selling this to labels. I was visiting Century Media HQ in Berlin for Insomnium and Omnium Gatherum
reasons and during the meeting I told the label boss Philipp that I have a new demo of a new band here with me – wanna listen? He and his coworkers wanted to and we went to the fancy listening room of Sony headquarters and in the middle of the first song he already told me ”I wanna sign this to our label, but what is this?” The demo was also sent to four other labels and pretty much everyone immediately were interested, so pre-production work well done, I guess.
What was the biggest challenge in its creation?
Maybe at some point it felt like this album’s never gonna be ready, just because we didn’t have deadlines nor outer pressures and everyone’s always busy with their other bands too. Also we
were working with the whole concept with a great visual artist, so they took their own time too to get it all finished and everyone was more than happy with the finished product..
How would you characterize its style/sound?
Keywords and goth and 90’s nostalgia, but made in unique 2020’s way. Sounds really like Cemetery Skyline, so accidentally this band immediately sounded like its own. We tried to sound a bit like Type O Negative and Sisters Of Mercy as a starter, but failed. This became original. I think the main point is in good songs, don’t need to categorize the genre too much. It’s all about
good songs and honest music.
What lyrical topics do you cover?
Mikael built a great world view out of ”Scandinavian gothic,” but we renamed it as Nordic as we’re Finns on board too and Finland isn’t part of Scandinavia. It’s all about the ”happiest
countries in the world” in polls and votes, Finland and Sweden, we both have a biggest rate of people dying alone. Our cultures doesn’t have that kind of unity with families that is common in the rest of the world. People love to be alone and isolated, and it’s kind of a self chosen loneliness. Isn’t that goth enough?
What are your goals and expectations for the album?
At first I should say, it was all about the music and I am so happy that we did this album with this great group of people. That alone is a milestone for me and I am so happy about the outcome. But hunger always rises, and we already played one show together which was great and magical, so now we definitely are doing some shows whenever we can. Of course it’s not easy with this group’s schedules and conflicts to other bands. But the gigs will be rare and something special, so we recommend to come if you see some around. So far the first singles and videos have got amazing feedback, so I’m sure this story isn’t told yet and more will follow.
You filmed several videos for the album. Which was your favorite shoot?
We went to film the first two videos ”Violent Storm” and ”In Darkness” in Gothenburg with Patric Ullaeus, and those videos were actually the first time we all five were in the same spot at the same time. So it was a huge celebration and kickoff for the band. Had some really good times and many beers in the nightly Goth’enburg. Santeri rented us some air b’n’b house and accidentally it was a huge house in the hill over GBG. We called this house ”the gothic mansion.”
How important are videos in the promotion process, especially for a new band?
Really important, that’s the launch and the first image. The first vibe is always the most important one and will probably follow the band forever after. It’s not anymore the time of MTV
and Headbangers Ball, but YouTube and social media have raised the need and importance of music videos to a next level.
Talk about the band’s first live show at John Smith Rock Festival.
The festival organizer is a good friend of mine and a crazy guy, who likes to run his festival wildly and different way. He insisted we play the first show on his festival, and then I said okay, but let’s do this differently and in a funny way – let’s announce the ”Cemetery Skyline” name on the festival poster before anyone knows about the band. So that was the first launch for the name, and nobody knew what ”Cemetery Skyline” was when it was announced for the festival and high in the poster. People started googling and guessing and that was just what we wanted, so pun taken by the folks. The actual show was magical and entertaining, it went so well that we couldn’t ever expected that warm welcome. All of us old geezers were restless as we didn’t know what to expect. That was a good fresh feeling after thousands of gigs the members have played. Not a safe home this time.
Do you have any other show/tour plans?
At the moment we’re getting way more requests for concerts than we can actually do, due to all other band’s schedules. For example Mikael has Cemetery Skyline, Dark Tranquillity and The
Halo Effect albums out before next summer, so the festival summer calendar is a bit of a minefield for him. We do have some festivals confirmed, and a Finnish club tour and Progpower USA already announced. So there’ll be some shows indeed, but we will keep these things special and rare.
How challenging is it to balance being in multiple bands and having a personal life?
It is, but if there’s a will there’s always a way. Calendars look mayhem and stressing, but it’s also about the love for the music itself. I would get bored playing in only one band and the same music year after year, so this keeps things fresh in some way. I can express myself in different fields. Somehow I still have also a life” outside music, though people probably won’t believe that. (laughs)
What’s the timeline for the next Omnium Gatherum album?
OG is in the songwriting process at the moment with the new album, so it’s definitely next in line for me. I wrote such a huge amount of music during the pandemic times, that I’ve been actively trying to have a pause from writing and been concentrating finally being on the road with my bands, and at the same time I’m unable to write new music on the road. Need my private and isolation to make something happen in that field.
Any updates on your other projects?
All systems go. Also I Am The Night is writing second album and we’re quite far in that process already. Insomnium have been very actively touring lately, and soon gonna go to hibernation to
have a little break and concentrate on future moves.
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
Check the album, it’s a good album. It’s not melodeath, so the sticker on the cover with members from Amorphis, Dark Tranquillity, Dimmu Borgir, Omnium Gatherum, Halo Effect, Insomnium etc. might give a wrong impact. Sentenced probably is the most near goal of the sticker bands. If you see us announcing a gig, I strongly advise to come see us as it won’t be an everyday happening.
(interview published October 10, 2024)
Watch Cemetery Skyline – “In Darkness” Video
