Warfarer blends melodic death and folk metal, weaving Finnish mythology into tales of jealousy, betrayal, and madness. Their album A Tale Beyond the Pale is an epic journey of emotion and culture.
1.
Congratulations on releasing A Tale Beyond the Pale! This album has been highly
anticipated. How does it feel to finally have it out in the world?
Thank you! We've been working on this album for a couple of years, but many of
the songs are older than that, so it feels good to finally let them out into
the world and make room for new songs.
2. The album delves into deep, myth-inspired themes like jealousy, betrayal,
and madness. Can you tell us what inspired this narrative and why you chose
these particular themes?
I (Kalle, the primary composer, guitarist, and vocalist) felt these themes
naturally connected to the Finnish poem Brother-slayer (or Brotherslayer, as we
chose to stylize it). These negative emotions served as strong motivations for
metal songs and helped bring out the fierce energy in them.
3. A Tale Beyond the Pale follows the journey of a character whose actions
lead him to madness. Could you tell us more about how this character's arc
connects with Finnish mythology or folk legends?
The album's story expands on the Finnish myth (or poem) 'Brotherslayer'. The
original poem tells of a son who returns to his mother alone, his sword covered
in blood. When questioned by his mother, the son ultimately confesses to
killing his own brother. This album builds on that concept, imagining a full
narrative of brotherhood, betrayal, a descent into guilt and madness, and the
legacy he leaves behind.
There are also references to Finnish folklore, such as the character’s attempt to reach 'the black stream', the final obstacle to the mythological land of the dead, Tuonela.
4. Each track has its own story, like “Heir Uncrowned” and “Brotherslayer.” Could you walk us through how you approached weaving these tales into music?
Weaving everything into a cohesive whole was an iterative process. I often began by randomly noodling with melodies or riffs, which would then evolve into a theme that fit the song I had produced so far. After that, I imagined which part of the overarching story the song would tell. Once I established the theme, the song naturally found its place.
'Brotherslayer' is notable for kicking off the entire opus, serving as the foundation upon which the other songs' stories were built. Interestingly, 'Heir Uncrowned' was specifically created because Mira (the bassist and co-writer on certain songs) and I felt the album's story needed a clear introduction to establish the setting and characters.
5. Your music has been described as a blend of melodic death and folk metal. How do you strike a balance between the aggression of death metal and the atmospheric elements of folk in your sound?
I find that starting with an atmosphere and then deciding what kind of energy you want it to have makes balancing aggression and atmosphere feel natural.
In our
case, the 'folk' element is more about subtly incorporating the melodies,
ideas, and compositional traditions of Finnish music, rather than relying on a
flute sampler for everything. For example, the bridge in 'Bereaver,' right
after the intro riff, was inspired by the introduction to Sibelius'
'Finlandia'.
6. What was the most challenging part of creating A Tale Beyond the Pale?
Were there any specific moments that were particularly difficult to capture
musically?
I’d say the most difficult part was finishing the composition of 'Heir
Uncrowned.' I went through three different versions of the song, each with a
different intro and overall structure. I finally managed to complete it when I
caught pneumonia, was running a high fever, and all my usual inhibitions were
gone. Once I recovered, I was pleasantly surprised to find a finished song that
now serves as the album opener.
7. This album seems to have an intense emotional depth. How do each of you connect personally with the story and the music on this album?
For me, many of the songs reflect my life experiences and memories of specific moments. For example, the lyrics in 'March Through the Endless Snow' capture the emotions I felt during my time in the army—marching through knee-deep snow in northern Finland, with branches seemingly always raking against my face.
8. You mentioned that the band has evolved over the years, with line-up changes and musical shifts since 2013. How do you feel this transformation has shaped your sound on this album?
Had we made our debut in 2014, I’d imagine it would have been stylistically very different. I feel that, with time and the right people working together, we achieved a level of maturity that wouldn’t have been possible without all the shifts and transformations we’ve gone through.
9. Warfarer has some exciting plans, including a tour and already working on a second album. Can you share what fans might expect from your live shows and future music?
For live performances, our goal has always been "all-live" with no backing tracks of any kind. We want the music to have imperfections, to feel alive and sound human. For now, we plan to tour major cities in Finland and hopefully expand to neighboring countries as well.
If 'A Tale Beyond the Pale' was about myths and tragedy, the next album will likely explore the more 'everyday' aspects of Nordic culture: the feasts, the darkness and its impact on the Nordic people, mental health, perseverance, the forefathers, and similar themes.
10. You recently released music videos for “Brotherslayer” and “Heir Uncrowned.” What role do you see these visuals playing in enhancing the storytelling of the album?
I have synesthesia, so for me, music is always a visual experience. Personally, I love music videos as a storytelling medium, and if we had a bigger budget, we would have loved to create more videos with a stronger emphasis on storytelling. This would enhance the experience through the visual medium and give listeners something tangible to connect with.
On the other hand, we also want to leave the story up to the listener’s imagination. When a listener relates to the story, the images they conjure in their mind are often more personal and intimate than anything we could create visually.
11. As a Finnish band drawing from the country’s rich mythological background, how do you hope to represent Finnish culture and folklore through your music?
Although all things Viking-related have become popular worldwide (note: 'Viking' is a job description, not a culture), it’s worth noting that while Finns may have historically participated in raiding, they have always been distinct from other Nordics. Our myths share some commonalities but also have unique characteristics. Through our songs, I’d like to highlight other aspects of Nordic cultures beyond Viking raiding—for example, the adaptation to life in the North, the struggles of enduring the cold, and the perseverance it demands.
12. Finally, what message or experience do you hope listeners will take away from A Tale Beyond the Pale?
We hope that anyone who listens to the whole album in one sitting can feel a sense of catharsis or closure as the final notes of the last song fade away.
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