INTERVIEW: DET

In 2022 a maniacal entity called DET (Destructive Elite Terror) emerged from the Finnish underground. This trio got in touch the old school way, sending me a demo tape and invited me to come see them in London which was a blast of a show. With their debut full length here, I figured it was the right time to do an interview.

1. Hails maniacs, can you introduce yourselves and the band for our readers?

Miikka: I play drums and sing vocals in this chaos patrol! The band is formed in 2022 in Helsinki Finland, basically it just happened when same minded fools found each other I guess.

Atte: I play bass, in first practice we didn’t have any covers practiced or any riffs ready, so we just started to play riffs and jam and first song “Death Night” was made in under an hour, since then we have been evolving our sound same way, just playing music we all like and that’s how DET sound have been found, mix of speed, death, black, thrash, heavy and punk.

Jari: I play quitar and sing vocals. We are the sickest equation of any musical endeavour you can imagine. We combine different styles of genres and playing without prejudice- what sounds sick and evil is good.

2. You started out properly, by crafting a couple of demo tapes. How were these recorded and was the reception good? Do you still enjoy these tapes?

We recorded and mixed them ourselves at our rehearsal place. It was a learning process since we had never recorded nor mixed anything but they came up ok we’ve heard now! We think it’s good way for a band to find their sound just by messing around with sounds while making demos. You can hear some evolving in our sound also compared to the first demo, at least we hope so!

3. Underground Filth compiled both of these tapes onto 12” vinyl in 2024. Did having your music on wax mean anything significant to you?

Miikka: it was a great moment to finally hold that vinyl in my hands since it was the first one for us, and we can never thank Underground Filth enough for trusting us and doing all the work she did. I think the vinyl looks and sounds good, you should get one from Underground Filth if they still have some left!

4. Physical media is obviously very important; do you guys have a preference how your music is presented between vinyl, tape or CD? Do the band members collect any of these formats?

Miikka: Well maybe vinyl is my favourite but since I’m lazy fuck and also getting old and miserable I’ve started to enjoy CD’s because you can lay on the couch for the whole length of an album. But I do have all three formats and quite a lot, all are good, tapes are best for DIY stuff obviously. Physical music rules.

Jari: Any physical format is preferable to me over non-physical format. I did collect vinyls from ever since I was a preteen, but I did face some hardships which forced me to sell some of my collection. I have now been able to start collecting again. I have always felt that vinyls provide a more massive and warm sound and feeling when I’m listening to the musick. Also, I have always loved the rough sound of tapes. Especially when it comes to demo tapes, there is a certain sick sound and feel when you are listening to a tape. I have a collection of tapes that I never have parted with.

5. You’ve also been playing some shows both in Finland and overseas. Which have been your favourites and can you tell and tales from the road?

Miikka: Uff hard to pick some over others, but of course our minitour in UK was awesome, Friday night in Camden and us playing, c’mon it was great! Caucasia was sick and exotic, and we have been in Germany two times and the audience has been super excited and wild both times. Of course we can’t forget many many shows we’ve done in our home soil also. As I mentioned hard to choose!

Jari: The gigs in caucasus tour, especially Armenia, were a blast! All Hails to Rudy and Rampant Beast! And all others! Those guys are keeping the scene alive in Yerevan! During the Caucasian tour we visited an Iranian bar, in Yerevan, which led to me taking a nap in a roadside gutter (haha). Next day we had a fresh gig in Georgia Tbilisi, and after the gig they inquired if we would like to play another gig the following Friday. We were on planning a break anyways, so the timeline for another gig worked out fine. And sick times were had in between!

6. Your debut album “Destructive Elite Terror” is now here, how was this album written, recorded, produced and also has your new deal with Dying Victims Productions been going well so far? Personally I think they are one of the best labels around. 

Miikka: We started writing songs right after we had the second demo released, it took a year or so to come up with enough material that is good enough. It was actually recorded in our rehearsal place in Helsinki, but this time we had Anselmi Ahopalo doing the magics as producer and audio engineer. He also mixed it with us. Dying Victims has been very good to us, nothing to complain, Florian is a great guy and things go forward all the time with him. I also own some of DVP released vinyls and the quality has been super.

7. Your music is primitive but also varied. There is a mix of death, speed, thrash and heavy metal amongst other things, at least to my ear. But it would be better if you told us which bands, genres, even things outside of music, inspire you?

Miikka: We all love old school extreme metal in its variety so that’s the obvious. Bands I get inspiration from: Bathory (pre Viking era), Nifelheim, Sodom just to name a few.

Jari:  The Beatles are one of my favourite bands of all time — their unique approach to harmonies is something I still admire today. I also draw a lot of inspiration from artists like Kate Bush (Hammer Horror!!) and bands such as KISS and Venom. Outside of music, much of my inspiration comes from horror and Italian exploitation films, as well as the work of Tarkovsky. And of course: only VHS is real!

8. Finally, what’s next? Another album to write? More demos / splits? More shows? Warn our maniacal readers of your next moves so they can prepare for the Destructive Elite Terror!

Miikka: Making of the first full length took more time than we expected, maybe we do a small release next just for a change. A split maybe, are you interested? Hah, that would be something! The album drops 17th of October and after that we do shows, few in Finland and a Baltics tour, come to see us and listen to the album loud as hell. Also feel free to book us to your town! Thanks for having us!

Old school maniacs can get this interview and more in print here!