Paws, Pets & Metal is Metal Insider’s ongoing column on bands with pets, discovering who watches them on the road, and more. Get to know more about these metal furbabies. Finnish progressive metal act Canvas of Silence, who recently released their debut album, As The World Tree Fell, are next sharing the fur babies behind the scenes. Canvas of Silence founder, guitarist and programmer, Tatu Hanhikoski reveals how his cats move closer to the speaker when Ozzy Osbourne’s vocals hit. 

Tell us more about your pet(s) and their names?

We have two Siberian cats with my wife, their names are Nokinenä and Tormund. Though we never call them by their real names, but by all kinds of silly names that first come to mind. Maybe that’s the reason why they don’t come to us when we call them by their names..? Fun fact: they are father and son, but the other one is black (father) and the other one is orange (son), and they are very different in nature. You could never guess they were related.

Have you ever taken your pet on tour?

We are going to do our first “tour”, a mini-tour, in Finland after the release of our debut album, but I don’t think I will take the boys with me. They are not that excited about traveling.

Who looks after your pet while on the road?

My wife or our neighbor.

What’s your pet’s favorite song or album?

Nokinenä likes Black Sabbath from Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath. He goes near the speakers when he hears Ozzy Osborne’s voice. Tormund relaxes over peaceful piano music.

How did you introduce your pet to metal?

They just had to get along with the fact that I play and compose metal music in our home.

What animal charity means most to you?

Since we humans have the ability to be good and help other animals on this planet, we absolutely should. I sincerely appreciate people who engage in charitable work.

Zenae Zukowski

See Full Bio