Interview - KIVINEN KIRVES

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Finnish Dungeon Synth inspired by the Nordic Stone Age. Based in Helsinki, KIVINEN KIRVES released its debut, a 3-track Demo 2024 last September 13. They are apparently spectacular works and that has prompted us to chat with Aleksi Huhta. Let us raise our stone axes towards the face of the sun!

Interview by Jiwa

[01] Hail Aleksi Huhta. How are you today? As an introduction, please say something about you yourself, and how is your life in Helsinki, Finland at the moment?

Aleksi Huhta: Hail Jiwa! I have traveled back to the north of Finland where I grew up. Here you can feel the autumn in the air and enjoy the yellow, red and brown colors of the fall. When I left my home in Helsinki it was 25+ celsius and people were taking sunbathes in the beach… in September.

[02] How did you meet interests and passion in Dungeon Synth, and what sort of artists / albums that influenced / inspired you individually (in this music genre)?

Aleksi Huhta: I had listened to the old classics Mortiis, Secret Stairways and Depressive Silence before, but when the COVID-19 lockdowns happened me and my wife started to play lots of board games together and we always listened to Dungeon Synth as background music. That's when I truly fell in love with the genre and made the jump from "casual listener" to "trve Dr Pepper drinking dungeon dweller". In addition to the classics mentioned above, contemporary artists who have inspired Kivinen Kirves are Diplodocus, Fief, Thangorodrim, Ulk, Vindkaldr, Hedge Wizard, Moth Tower, Keys To Oneiria and Kyvon. I am also really inspired by old Warp Records stuff, jazz, Brian Eno, Berlin school and dark ambient stuff from Aural Hypnox label.

[03] Kivinen Kirves has just released an obviously outstanding debut Demo 2024, 3 tracks / 18 minutes of stunning Dungeon Synth, cold and gloomy! Tell us what were behind the creative processes; the basic ideas, songwritings and recordings?

Aleksi Huhta: Thank you for your kind words! First it started with the theme "Nordic Stone Age", then I started to compose with my main instrument guitar. Usually when I compose with the guitar I can hear in my head approximately what kind of synth sounds they will be. Then I write down ideas and song structures. Then I began to make songs with Roland MC-707. I want to use hardware instead of software cause I need to limit myself - my work needs frames, because otherwise I would be searching for the perfect pads and music box sounds till the end of the time. Then I just jam out till I have the song ready.

With this Kivinen Kirves - Demo 2024 I had this fixation of "capturing the sounds from physical place / air" instead of doing it digitally. So I recorded it the same way you would record a traditional rock band. I used Marshall JCM-800 (with TC Electronic Hall of fame 2 pedal) and Quilter Tone Block 202 guitar amps through 4x12 guitar cabinets. Guitar cabs were mic'd up with shure beta 58a and shure sm57. I recorded it live on a NEC AUK-5000E cassette deck. I made a choice to play all the main leads live instead of programming them on MC-707 to get some "human touch".

[04] Music and soundscapes inspired by Nordic / Northern Stone Age. What driven you to walk on this pathway? What do you want to leave to the listeners of your music?

Aleksi Huhta: I think the best dungeon synth is best when it takes you on a journey into another world. Biggest inspiration for me was Diplodocus - but instead of taking a trip to the land of the dinosaurs I wanted to open a sonic pathway to the stone age. Northern cold, barren lands, long winters and humans starting communities to survive. I wanted to capture this feeling of evolution and hope against harsh environments.

[05] Do you plan to explore more (musically, soundwise and expressions) on the future recordings & releases?

Aleksi Huhta: I have a concept ready for my next Kivinen Kirves records. It's going to be a double record. Other is raw black metal and other dungeon synth with a twist.

[06] Kivinen Kirves means The Stone Axe, right? Why this name?

Aleksi Huhta: I like the dual nature of the stone axe - on the other hand it is an important tool and on the other hand it is an instrument of violence. It is also an important symbol and has important roles in various rituals.

[07] What's your current playlist, in and out of Dungeon Synth? Do you have an all-time favorite artists & albums?

Aleksi Huhta: I have been listening to old death metal albums from the 90s, Summoning, Këkht Aräkh, Celtic Frost, nu-metal, Pixies, new Nails record, Beherit and Peter Gabriel. I already listed favorites related to Dungeon Synth above, but other favorites from other genres are Swans, The Stooges, Miles Davis, The Cramps, John Coltrane, Can, Talking Heads, Musta Paraati, Darkthrone, Napalm Death, Bolt Thrower, Earth… the list just goes on. I love music.

[08] What's your opinion on current scene of Dungeon Synth music, globally?

Aleksi Huhta: I think it's really good. There are so many good labels like for example Gondolin Records, Out of Season, Dungeons Deep Records and Brilliant Emperor Records pumping out gold nuggets of Dungeon Synth. There are more live events and festivals. I was afraid of the rise of AI-generated shit but I think it is not as bad as I thought. I hope it stays on this positive path.

[09] You are an example of multi-talented musician. Share something about your other bands; Revulsion, Kryptareflat, etc. 

Aleksi Huhta: I am the lead vocalist of the Finnish Death metal band REVULSION. We have started to record our second album and I am very excited. It will hopefully come out on Transcending Obscurity Records 2025.

Kryptareflat (The Crypt Cravings) is crazy hard-action-punk-heavypscyh-rockband were I compose the songs and play guitar. We self released our first album Bensaa Palaa (Gasoline Burning) last year and now we are going on tour promoting the album.

Turhuus is powerviolence, d-beat, hardcore punk lovechild of Ana Mana (Hebosagil, Keho&Mieli, Mädätys, Steriili Tila, Vulgar Mass & Rottsmyrk) where I play the guitar. Check out our new split EPs with Harmer and Kantamus!

[10] Thank you Aleksi Huhta for your responses on this interview. I wish more success to Kivinen Kirves in the future. Few last words are yours.

Aleksi Huhta: Thank you Jiwa! Thank you everybody who read this far! I hope I see you at Kivinen Kirves, Revulsion, Turhuus or Kryptareflat liveshows, come and say hi! Keep on supporting underground art, culture and music. And remember that although the times are tough, you are not alone and love always wins.

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