Modernized metal act ODE OF DISGRACE is NOT a disgrace but a pleasure, as this band has gone on to release an EP, array of singles, with all new songs set for release within the next few years! The band discusses with us, their music style, releases, and the plans for the future.
1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or did it come out just like that?
The original guitarist and founder of this band Markus Lahti came up with the name in his teenage years back in 2011. We actually asked him and we were told that there was nothing special about the name actually, he just liked band names that had the two words and a “of” between them. Of course, the name handles disgrace as something to honor, which probably sounded good back then.
2. Why did you want to play this genre?
Ode of Disgrace’s musical direction has been developing for years, with its roots going back to the metalcore scene of the 2010s. Ever since we started in 2011, our sound has been gradually refined towards what it is today. It’s followed its own path, but at the same time, we’ve also drawn inspiration from the overall evolution of modern metal — for example, when it comes to tuning's.
3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?
When the band was founded in 2011, we already knew each other well — except for Valtteri. He joined us this summer after one of the band’s original members, Markus, stepped down from active duty and moved into a more production-oriented role behind the scenes. Valtteri came in as Markus’s replacement, and we actually got to know him during the filming of our music video for MISERIA, which he filmed. To put it shortly: apart from Valtteri, we’ve all known each other since middle school.
4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
Some of us live in different cities, but all within less than 20 miles of each other. Most of us are currently based in a town called Järvenpää, which is about 20 miles north of Finland’s capital, Helsinki. Finland’s metal scene has actually been studied quite a lot, and it turns out we have the highest number of metal bands per capita in the world — so you could say the scene here is really strong. When it comes to modern metal in Finland, some of the bigger names are Atlas, Balance Breach, and Beyond Awareness.
5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?
Pessi: What inspires my songwriting can come from pretty much anything, sometimes it's other
bands, sometimes it's nature and quite often how I feel about certain events and feelings that I go
through. So the short answer to the question is: everything.
Roope: I like to think about the songwriting process like a puzzle: gathering and assembling the
pieces that fit together perfectly and combining them into a kind of time capsule, that contains the
spirit and the feelings of the time of its creation. Musically and lyrically I am mostly inspired by other
bands, nature and life with all its hardships and brightest moments.
Valtteri: My songwriting usually starts from me just jamming by myself, and if I play something that I
think sounds cool, I record it and try to figure something to go with it. Mostly I draw inspiration from
my own feelings, but sometimes I'm inspired by other bands and events happening around me or the
world in general.
6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)
Lyrics are sometimes about personal subjects, sometimes more about the aspects of human life and the morales we tend of tend not to live by. There is no specific broad term that could be used about the themes, since our last EP "ORBIS" and our upcoming EP "Under Grey Skies" have a different approach and themes from each other. Our desire is to bring in some thought provoking lyrics and we hope that everyone can find their own personal meaning for them.
7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)
Up until now, most of the songwriting has been handled by Markus, Pessi, and Roope, but going forward Valtteri will also play a big role in the writing process. In fact, he’s already composed a few songs that we’re currently working on. When it comes to arrangements, that’s something the whole band collaborates on together — everyone contributing with their own strengths and ideas on the structural side.
8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
So far, we’ve released several singles and one EP called ORBIS in 2022. This fall we’re releasing our second EP, titled Under Grey Skies. From that record, the singles Bloodlust, Under Grey Skies, and Omen are already out. Our music is diverse and hits hard — you’ll find both high-energy tracks and more atmospheric ones. If you’re into a mix of growls and screams, harsh vocals alongside clean singing, and, of course, heavy breakdowns, then we definitely recommend checking out our work.
9. Do you have any new music in the works?
We have some new songs in the works right now and will probably have something new to release during the years 2026 and 2027.
10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
Upcoming shows for the year 2025 are 13.9. at Mössön Musaklubi, Lahti and 22.11. at Skenesali, Vantaa. We have something planned for the year 2026, but it will be announced later.
11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
In the future, we’re planning to head into the studio to record new material, as well as to play a lot of shows — and with high quality. We’re also putting a big focus on our live production. I’d say we’re definitely a band worth seeing live, since our shows are both powerful and visually striking.
12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
You can find our music on all major streaming platforms — Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, and Apple Music are probably the most popular. We also have several music videos on YouTube that are definitely worth checking out! There might even be a new video coming later this year, so we highly recommend following our channel. You can also find us on social media: TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Be sure to follow us. For merch T-shirts and hoodies, DM us on Instagram.
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