Caskets have become one of Leeds’ most compelling post‑hardcore exports, delivering a crushing blend of modern metal, electronic grit and emotional vulnerability. Their latest album, The Only Heaven You’ll Know, marks their darkest chapter yet, an eruption of massive riffs, cinematic tension and vocals that feel both wounded and defiant.
With momentum carrying them from UK clubs to major international festivals, the band have built a reputation for shows that are equal parts chaos and catharsis. Just before unleashing that energy at Finland’s Tuska Festival, frontman Matthew Flood and drummer James Lazenby joined The Offering to reflect on the moments before stepping onstage, the craft behind their songwriting, the rhythm of life before, during and after a show, and the challenges of maintaining mental and physical health on the road.
Category: Interviews 2026
The Funeral Portrait Video Interview
The Funeral Portrait emerged from Atlanta in 2014, forging a world where theatricality, sharp visual style, and an uncompromising creative attitude collide with intensely hard‑hitting songs. Their sound, an evocative blend of emotional hardcore, punk rock, and musical theater, has drawn comparisons to My Chemical Romance, Ghost, and Motionless In White while remaining unmistakably their own. In 2024, the band released Greetings from Suffocate City, a darkly cinematic and meticulously crafted album that quickly became a defining milestone. A year later, they expanded that universe with a deluxe edition featuring several guest appearances, further enriching the album’s narrative and sonic depth.
Onstage, The Funeral Portrait transform performance into ritual. Their live shows, known as Devotion Ceremonies, immerse audiences in elaborate, visually captivating stage worlds inhabited by symbolic characters called The Icons. These ceremonies have become central to the band’s identity and the profound connection they share with their fanbase.
After The Funeral Portrait’s first‑ever Finnish Devotion Ceremony at Tuska Festival, we sat down with frontman Lee Jennings to discuss Greetings from Suffocate City, life on tour, the band’s relationship with their devoted followers, the evolution of their songwriting, and their plans for the future. Jennings spoke with disarming openness, offering heartfelt reflections while also leaving room for lighter moments, including conversations about food, that revealed the warmth and humor behind the band’s theatrical facade.
Bloodred Hourglass Video Interview
Following the success of “We Should Be Buried Like This,” Bloodred Hourglass returned last May with “After the Burial,” an EP combining two previously unreleased songs and two stunning live recordings captured during their performance with St. Michel Strings.
Fresh from their performance at Tuska, we sat down with drummer Jarkko Hyvönen to delve into the rhythmic backbone of this period. Our conversation explored the album’s creation from a drummer’s perspective, the story behind the EP, his collaboration with Erja Lyytinen, and how years of touring, recording, and personal growth have shaped his musical craft. Hyvönen also shared his evolving vision for music, the band’s future plans, and more, offering a candid look at the drive that drives Bloodred Hourglass.
Nenerchy Video Interview
Nenerchy has created a sonic identity that defies classification: her music is an electrifying collision of rap, rock, and drum ‘n’ bass that bears the unmistakable imprint of her punk beginnings, when counterculture ignited her at sixteen. And that fuse has never died.
Before her show at the Tuska Festival, she spoke to us about how she shaped her debut album, Prima Bailarina, without any genre restrictions, the unconventional sources that fuel her creativity, from movies to weird noises, and her striking stage look, which amplifies her presence even before the first note is played.
Lunarsea Video Interview
Born from the remnants of Hollowearth in the early 2000s, Italy’s Lunarsea built their reputation on ambitious studio work long before stepping onto a stage. Their debut Hydrodynamic Wave (2006) became Burning Star Records’ best‑selling release, followed by Route Code Selector (2009), Hundred Light Years (2013), and the acclaimed Earthling‑Terrestre (2019). Their latest offering, ELEMENTI – Live in Tokyo (2025), showcases a band fully matured and live‑driven.
Ahead of their first ever Finnish show at Tuska, Lunarsea spoke with us about their musical evolution, the energy behind their live performances, and the mindset required before beginning work on a new album. The ideas are already flowing, now they are waiting for the right moment to ignite.
Bloody Falls Video Interview
Bloody Falls, the metal quintet formed in 2017 in Valkeakoski, Finland, just released their fourth studio album, “IV,” via Art Gates Records. The album delves into classic metal territory, drawing on themes ranging from the horsemen of the Apocalypse to the rise of the devil and the darker sides of humanity. The band considers “IV” a decisive step in their evolution, with the final sound shaped by producer Max Morton, known for his work with Jinjer, and evocative cover art by Jesus Lhysta (The Rotted Artist). Collaborating with this creative team has helped Bloody Falls hone their identity and perfect their style.
We at The Offering had the opportunity to sit down with guitarist and founding member Stavros Mathios to discuss the making of “IV.” In this interview, we explore the album’s writing and recording process, relive their releaseshow at Bar Kotelo in Tampere on June 13, and take a look at the band’s upcoming shows around Finland.
Folkrim Video Interview
After igniting the scene with Embers in 2024, Folkrim reemerge from the Finnish coast with a new offering steeped in myth and malice. Their latest EP, Näkki, named after a haunting creature from Finnish folklore, was born almost by accident: a spontaneous spark that blossomed into something powerful. Since forming in Rauma in 2020, the band has captivated the metal community with their tempestuous blend of folk melodies and uncompromising heaviness. We had the opportunity to delve into their world, retracing the band’s origins, learning more about their music and writing process, and what led to this unexpected new chapter.
Katatonia Video Interview
Before their performance at the Ankea Festival in Finland, we had the opportunity to meet Niklas Sandin, Sebastian Svalland, and Nico Elgstrand of Katatonia. What was supposed to be a chat about the band’s history turned into an engaging conversation, full of insights, humor, and reflections. From pre-show tension to career milestones, from the stress of touring to celebrating the twentieth anniversary of “The Great Cold Distance,” the band opened up about everything, including their latest album, “Nightmares as Extension of the Waking State,” and the exciting projects that await them after the festival season and their fall tour of Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.
Rioghan Video Interview
Fresh off the release of their EP Frozen last spring, Finnish band Rioghan, a genre-bending band constantly shifting between alternative metal, progressive rock, and dark pop, delivered one of the most intense and emotionally charged performances at the Ankea festival. On stage, Rioghan Darcy was joined by a dancer who embodied her dark side, a physical manifestation of the darker undercurrent that pervades her music. The result was an intimate and evocative dialogue between light and shadow, which deeply moved those who witnessed the performance.
In our interview, Rioghan Darcy spoke to us about how the Frozen EP marked a turning point in her approach to songwriting, pushing her toward new creative horizons compared to previous releases. She also shared a funny anecdote from behind the scenes of a recent music video. And perhaps the most exciting news of all is that Rioghan revealed that new music is already in the works, hinting at further evolution on the horizon.
Kælan Mikla Video interview
Shortly before their performance at the Ankea Festival in Finland, we met Kælan Mikla, the Icelandic trio whose music seamlessly transitions between genres and moods, defying any attempt at easy classification. Emerging from Reykjavik’s underground poetry scene and establishing themselves as one of the most exciting forces in modern darkwave, the band has constructed an entire sonic universe: evocative, atmospheric, and charged with emotion.
In this interview, we retraced their evolution, from their experimental beginnings to the ever-changing identity that defines their work today. They gave us a sneak peek at their upcoming album, reflected on their tour with Ville Valo, and opened up about the realities of life on tour; from caring for their well-being to the rituals that help them find balance before going on stage.
We also talked about what happens once they are on stage and what happens after the show is over.
A rare and intimate glimpse into Kælan Mikla, captured moments before they enchanted the festival crowd.
https://www.instagram.com/kaelanmikla
https://www.facebook.com/Kaelanmikla/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/28meEMqGpDrolyQ9OVoDAH
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