Metal Inside(r) Home Quarantine is Metal Insider’s new column during this time of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We asked artists five questions on what’s been keeping them busy ranging from their favorite movies, food they’ve been eating, music they’ve been listening to and more. We caught up with …And Oceans guitarist Timo Kontio and frontman Mathias Lillmåns as they’ve been spending this time working on new music.
What have you been doing to pass time during Quarantine?
Timo: We don’t have that strict quarantine here in Finland. We are allowed to go outside wherever we want, just no bigger gatherings and have to keep the distance for example in the supermarket. I have been working at home because I luckily have such a possibility. Working while listening to my vinyls, haha. When it’s not recommended to travel and go to public places you spend more time at home of course. So it is more time with your family obviously. I have also started to make new music for …And Oceans so you never know how fast we enter the studio again, haha.
Mathias: Yeah, we have it pretty decent here in Finland. We are in the process of mixing the new Finntroll album and have it set up so I can stream the audio and screen from the studio here at home. Quite handy and keeps the boredom away! Also started to re-record some old songs I made in 98-99. Let’s see where that leads!
Have you been listening to any music or have any playlists worth checking out?
Timo: Of course, I need my daily dose of music. I’ve been ordering new stuff all over the world. There are some countries where you can’t get anything since shipping is not possible. I got the new My Dying Bride so that has been in heavy rotation. Not any particular playlists. Well, Spotify has this Black & Dark Metal, that is always a good place to check some new stuff. Black metal promotion is another one on YouTube. They share more underground stuff!
Mathias: I have so much music related work going on, so I don’t really wanna listen to more music when I finish working for the day. Spinned the new Oranssi Pazuzu a couple of times though!
A lot of people have been spending this time cooking including making their own bread, what food have you been prepping during this time?
Timo: I’m not much of a cook so nothing special from my side. Well, temperatures are finally going up here in Finland so maybe I will ‘fire’ up my gas grill soon, Lucifer that is.
Mathias: I’ve been spending quite a lot more time in the kitchen. Especially since I have this quite strict diet and there’s no ready food for that in the stores. Been doing my own special bread and lots of different food too. I really like cooking otherwise as well!
In terms of entertainment, what movies, TV shows, books, or games have been keeping you busy?
Timo: I like to watch horror movies, well others as well. This week I watched the first Hellraiser and Nightmare on Elm Street. I tend to always have one new Kiss book that I read at home. There are plenty of those. Then I also have this Led Zeppelin Hammer of the Gods book that’s ongoing.
Mathias: Trying to watch some movies and series to relax in the evenings. Have this Star Trek marathon going on. I am on The Next Generation right now!
Going to read the “Folk Metal Big 5” book that just came out next! Full of nostalgia from my last 15 years.
What advice do you have for your fans in isolation during this time?
Timo: Try to keep yourself entertained with whatever you want to do and can do under these circumstances, but after this shit is over go to gigs because it seems that you never know when that is taken from us! Of course we recommend listening to our new album a lot!
Mathias: What he said! This is a great time to write new music, so keep busy and safe!
Want more …And Oceans? Check out our recent interview on their first album in over seventeen years with Cosmic World Mother.
