Through tumult and unexpected change, Finland’s Mors Principium Est ultimately chose to focus on their creative vision and find some change in that as well. In an overall effort and desire to explore new musical territories while staying true to their roots, the band experimented with different styles, and it pays off handsomely on their latest release, Darkness Invisible, out September 26 via Perception, an imprint of Reigning Phoenix Music.
“It’s really great and feels amazing to do something new,” says vocalist Ville Viljanen. “I’m really (happy) with my vocals because I could use a lot more of my voice in different ways. In the end, we did this album the way that we wanted, not the way other people wanted us to do.”
Self-recorded again at the Ansa Studio in Finland, the album is a blend of the traditional Finnish melodic death metal the band is known for, while also introducing elements of black metal. Highlighted during the writing process is the group’s cohesive approach to songwriting.
“Jori wrote every song on this new album,” shares Viljanen. “I didn’t have time to start to think about the songs because I hadn’t heard the songs before. It takes me a while to get to know the song before I can start to focus on the lyrics.”
It took a while for this release to see the light of day, though. In February, the album was already recorded and mixed. But a change of ownership at AFM led to a huge roster overhaul, and the band saw themselves dropped from the label, leaving the album in limbo. Luckily, since AFM chose not to release the album, the band held rights to the songs, so it was just a matter of finding a new backer.
“We got an email from our label saying that you don’t have a label anymore, which meant we don’t have anybody to pay (for) the album,” explains Viljanen. “I contacted the studio, and we had to put a pause on everything.”
That’s where Reigning Phoenix stepped in and got everything back on track. They consist of a lot of people who used to work for AFM, including the old label boss, who, in turn, is now MPE’s contact for the label. This allowed the band to continue with familiar faces and a relative ease of transition. Thrown in with the consistency over the years from Ansa, the stress melted away and allowed that creative freedom to fully unfold.
Founded in 1999, it’s been over 25 years of grinding, but nothing compares to the big picture perspective you get when looking back at that kind of illustrious career. It’s one thing to achieve your dreams along the way, but it’s another, greater thing to realize your potential and live up to it. Viljanen admits it’s been a long journey, but he knows his priorities, and he’s sticking with them.
“Your body doesn’t work the same way as it used to. You get tired (more easily), and there are a lot of things that you find more important than you used to when you were younger. You were willing to play shows and tour, even if the conditions are not that great, as long as you get on tour, it doesn’t matter. Now that you’re older, you learn to appreciate the little things.”
Darkness Invisible is out Friday, and you can preorder it from Reigning Phoenix Music. Follow Mors Principium Est on Facebook and Instagram for future updates.
Photo Credit: Sami Teeri
