Miseria Ultima interview about all new album ‘Arctic Esotericism’ – Out now
Miseria Ultima
We talked to Aleksi Martikainen, frontman of the Finnish dark elektro duo MISERIA ULTIMA who recently returned in full force with their 4th studio album, “Arctic Esotericism” (out now on Bandcamp and on CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore). An aggrotech tour de force through which they also expands their sonic palette with deeper, sorrowful atmospheres and fiery cold melodies.
SL. Your new album “Arctic Esotericism” seems to take listeners on an existential journey through the cold ethos of the North. Can you tell us more about the philosophical and emotional themes you wanted to convey with this album?
MU. We think the philosophy of the album has a tie to our roots in the northern Finland. Especially the landscapes, long winter times and suddenly changing sceneries and long dark seasonal times. In a way the ethos represents death and birth. The north is a metaphor for many of these natural events. There are emotions from highs to lows represented here.
SL. From the harsh aggrotech of “Displayed For Punishment” to the melancholic atmospheres of “The Cruel Beauty Of Reverence,” the album showcases a diverse sonic palette. How did you approach expanding your sound on this release while staying true to your signature style?
MU. It was a natural continuation for us. We think it felt right to keep to what we are, but also offer something new, we don’t want to make the same album twice, but this does not mean that we abandon what we are.
SL. The track titles, like “Spiritual Nailbomb” and “Storms of Atonement,” suggest a strong narrative element. How do you develop the themes in your music—do they evolve naturally during the writing process, or do you start with a specific concept in mind?
MU. For us the lyrical themes come naturally. It is tied to something creative within. Usually these are some philosophical concepts (like lost control) which awake the spark, but of course like said before, nature is also a great inspiration for us. For example the “Storms of Atonement” is about losing your will and abandoning your reach for the “knowledge”, “wisdom” or “black/ inner flame”.
SL. Vocally, this album appears to offer more diversity compared to your previous works, from aggressive harsh tones to more disillusioned and noir styles. What inspired this shift, and how do you see your vocal expression evolving in future projects?
MU. Yes! We are always processing our music and like said before, sometimes diversity comes naturally. We have a plan to continue this evolving path, but we also will keep of course our own sound and style within these changes. There will be more change of style for the vocals, but only if it suits the “song” — no reason to push something that does not suit the theme or song. We are although very happy with our progression in music.
SL. You’ve mentioned influences from bands like Suicide Commando and Skinny Puppy, yet MISERIA ULTIMA has its own distinct sound. How do you balance paying homage to the genre’s pioneers while carving out your own musical identity?
MU. We think our roots in doom-metal music back in the years still affect our sound quite heavily. We will keep our own Dark electro / electronic music as part of our music, which opens a way for us to keep loyalty to our genre. But, aside from that we always try to open doors for something new, which comes naturally and keep the doors open to our past style in music. We think this is the key to our musical identity.
SL. As you gear up for the release of “Arctic Esotericism,” can fans expect any special live performances or a tour? What can we anticipate from your upcoming shows in terms of atmosphere and setlists?
MU. There are upcoming shows announced (tour supporting our friends of King Satan) and some unannounced ones. We never take these kind of opportunities for granted and are always happy to play. For new shows, you can still expect the energy combined with coldness (and of course bad Finnish jokes), but in addition new songs will be pushed even more to setlist.
SL. Looking ahead, do you have plans for future collaborations or releases—such as an EP or remixes? Are there any particular artists or producers you’d love to work with to continue evolving the MISERIA ULTIMA sound?
MU. Yes, we have some smaller plans for the upcoming EP, but let’s see how that works out. Alfa Matrix has done more than perfect job. We truly appreciate them and usually working with them includes some more releases too! We are always open for new suggestions of a collaboration, so if you have interested, don’t hesitate to take contact. (laugh)
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