INTERVIEW & TRACK PREMIERE: Take a trip to “The Island Where Time Stands Still” with doom pagan sons Cardinals Folly

Cardinals Folly refer to themselves as a “Finnish doom metal cult with dark desires & heavy metal incantations,” who have been “laughing at stoner/retro trends since 2004.” 13 years later and Finland´s dark princes of the riff, are back and set to unleash their 4th album “Deranged Pagan Sons”through Nine Recordson CD and Topillo Recordson LP around September 2017.

As we have referenced previously Cardinals Folly are a band who will garnish extreme reactions from listeners. People will either be instantly turned off with their sluggish riffs and at times varied delivery by front man, Mikko or they will instantly proclaim them as their new favorite band, what is certain though, is that they are definitely a highly recommended group for when you find yourself at your most dejected and misanthropic.

Dabbling in the world of occultism, weird tales, pagan rites and luciferian depravity, the band has recorded 8 powerful, even wild anthems of heavy doom and metal mastery, that never let their savage grip go, their only rule is to doom in, drop out, rock hard & stay true.

Laughing off the shackles of the latest trends or retro gimmicks, Helsinki trio Cardinals Folly bring an energy and inventiveness to the genre that is authentic and unique. Drink from this chalice and give your body and mind to the old gods, as we debut another track from the album, so take a trip to “The Island Where Time Time Stands Still” and whilst you’re at it, check out our exclusive interview with bassist/vocalist Mikko Kääriäinen.  Pre-orders of “Deranged Pagan Sons” are available here

Mikko, welcome to THE SLUDGELORD. Can you give us an insight into how you started playing music, leading up to the formation of Cardinals Folly?

My first actual band experience was starting an early version of Folly in October 2004. This is my brainchild and my only active legit band ever. Lots of bogus projects on the way, though. So I´ve played doom for 13 unholy years... it´s not much, but it´s a good start, heh heh! 

Although you are set to release “Deranged Pagan Sons” (your fourth full length), for those people unfamiliar with your band, is there any bands on the scene past and present that you would use as a reference point to describe your band, and who or what continues to inspire you and push you to try new things?

We're open to everything that inspires us, but we do not see much to follow in the current scene of downer metal. Most are bandwagon hoppers, trend followers and arsekissers. Cardinals Folly is all about keeping it true and passionate. Pure impact and catchiness. We're all about the glory days of heavy metal; our main influences are very much in the past. Everything from groovy and fast New Wave of British Heavy Metal to the muddy slowness of Sabbath and Vitus. 

I´m often more inspired by weird stories, occult books & theories, B-movies, epics, any kind of sleazy/weird/vintage/exploitation horror stuff and things associated with those. Better and less well-known relics like Dennis Wheatley, Robert E. Howard, H.P Lovecraft, Aleister Crowley, Marquis de Sade, Jess Franco, Jean Rollin, the list is endless... fruits in the vine for deranged pagan son. Also my own creativity, foolhardiness and stupidity is sometimes a great inspiration and the method to my madness. 

What can you tell us about your upcoming record and where do you feel it sits within the context

of current doom scene?

This album is an energetic, groovy, catchy yet solemnly epic 48-minute slab of traditional doom and heavy metal. With slight extreme & epic metal and punk influences. There are bands who still play this old doom metal style, but I would say that no other band in the current downer scene dominated by things like stoner, psych and sludge influences plays diverse and entertaining metal like we do. Think how Reverend Bizarremight've sounded like, if they were formed by Angel Witchmembers, haha! That might be close. Add Cathedral and Motörhead there and put up a fist fight on that cobble-stoned back alley, and you might get Cardinals Folly. We combine slow & low with fast & hard. And no hesitation involved.

It's our best record so far, and the whole production of composing, rehearsing, demoing, recording, negotiating deals and creating visuals was handled pretty professionally this time around. We honed our chops down nicely and knew exactly what we were doing. And also worked with the right people who knew what's up. We're all proud of the album, and very happy to have it out in several formats - finally a vinyl too, thanks to Topillo Records! Playing heavy metal is still exciting to us and we keep evolving. Gotta love that mentally 18-year old's feeling of blasting fine riffs and banging your body while slightly intoxicated. Maybe we were pro this time around - but we're still more deranged than ever. 

Does anything spring to mind when you think about the completion of your upcoming record and how is the mood in the camp at present? What stands out as your overarching memory from the recording sessions?

I guess the thing worth mentioning is, how incredibly smooth it was. I hardly need to tell any vocalist how unpleasant it can be to record vocals in a studio. Or let other people hear the process. But nowadays I actually confide in my band mates as extra ears and all is very professional and focused. I can honestly say that this was a very pleasant session and I felt very confident and strong in regards to recording my vocals. I almost enjoyed it, ha! Also we've worked with our sound engineer for several records since our first EP, so we know exactly how recording with him is like, it fits us perfectly. We want to hone our methods and nowadays only work with people who we can count on, and know what we will get. Cardinals Folly is pretty DIY, so any extra individual involved must be a legit freako who knows what´s up. 

With a new record in the pocket, how is your schedule shaping up over the next 12 months?

Bunch of live rituals coming this autumn, next one is with Count Ravenhere in Finland. Hoping to play more abroad too. Interesting shows coming with really good bands... also, we will record a split with Australia´s finest, Lucifer's Fall, around next winter. We're writing and jamming new stuff still all the time in our ritual cellar, and it just keeps getting better and better. Blasty!!!!

Finally, do you last words

Drink beer, worship Satan, fuck like a beast, be a suicide commando & buy our new album "Deranged Pagan Sons". Out this September. CD is out on Nine Records and Vinyl LP - Topillo Records. Blues for Satan & Doom to all men! VIVA LA MUERTE!