Discovery of the Week: The Holy
A dystopian reality, deep melancholy, and profound music
The alternative indie rock band The Holy was destined to emerge in the capital of Finland in the summer of 2014, thanks to the friendship and shared creative vision of five people. The musicians emphasize their commitment to Nordic melancholy, but this does not prevent their stage performances from being colorful and energetic.
From the very beginning, a distinctive feature of the band has been the presence of two drummers, as well as the unique vocals of Eetu Iivari.
The members of The Holy described their foundation in an interview with my portal Northern Rock Religion, explaining that they thought every member of their band brought their own influence, which was slightly different from the others, but perhaps their music was the unity of all their musical visions. They noted that they liked to think so, at least. The musicians added that Finland was a very dark place where the sun appeared for only a few hours during autumn and winter, which was why their songs were so melancholic.
From the very beginning, a distinctive feature of the band has been the presence of two drummers, as well as the unique vocals of Eetu Iivari.
The members of The Holy described their foundation in an interview with my portal Northern Rock Religion, explaining that they thought every member of their band brought their own influence, which was slightly different from the others, but perhaps their music was the unity of all their musical visions. They noted that they liked to think so, at least. The musicians added that Finland was a very dark place where the sun appeared for only a few hours during autumn and winter, which was why their songs were so melancholic.
The result of the beginning of their collaboration was the debut EP More Escher And Random Notes, released two years after the band's formation. The release turned out to be very profound, serious, and filled with a pleasant, nostalgic sound. It felt as though the band had taken the best of modern indie rock and added the missing puzzle pieces to it. Songs like “Can't Remember Your Name” and “This Will Be The Day That I Die” will touch the soul of even the most sophisticated listener.
In addition to their music, The Holy placed a heavy emphasis on the visual component, which is why their music videos already stood out back then for their aesthetic approach. Starting from small venues in Helsinki, The Holy came a long way, playing over a hundred concerts, including all the major Finnish festivals, as well as European tours in Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Austria.
The Holy's debut album Daughter was released in 2018 and received praise in both Europe and Finland, resulting in a nomination for the Emma Gaala award in the Critics' Choice category. Reviews praised the honest songwriting and the album's lyrical themes, which touched upon the economic recession in Finland during the 1990s and its impact on the youth of that era. The band's vocalist also noted that this album had become a way for him to cope with what he had felt and seen during his childhood during the Great Depression in Finland.
According to the band, recording the album was difficult for them. Some songs had been written a long time ago, while others emerged during the studio work itself. Mostly, The Holy worked in an old wooden schoolhouse in Tyrväntö, which is located near the city of Hämeenlinna, where all the band members had spent their childhood. They stayed there and lived in a nearby house, setting up their own studio and working on the album inside it.
Regarding the title of the album, in an interview with my portal Northern Rock Religion, the members of The Holy explained that when they wrote the song “Triumph of Love,” where Eetu sings the words “I wanna be somebody's daughter,” that specific word immediately stood out as the album title. They added that it summarized the entire lyrical concept of the record, noting that for them, the album itself had become like a daughter, so the name fit completely naturally.
In my opinion, one of the most striking songs on this album is “Land Before Time,” which is accompanied by a truly amazing and well-thought-out music video. The Holy strive not only to convey their musical vision but also to help listeners see the world through their eyes. Other songs that should also be highlighted on this album are “Obi Bate Opiate,” “There Is A House,” and “20XX Tomorrow.”
The Holy’s second album, titled Mono Freedom, was released in the spring of 2020, after which the band, like everyone else, faced COVID-19 restrictions. The Holy returned to performing a year later and once again embarked on a large-scale tour.
The second album became a kind of concept, initially based, according to the band, on the idea that humanity had been a plague upon the Earth for so long that Mother Nature was finally reclaiming control and destroying the destructive race. They explained that the only idea that came to the mind of the last remaining human was to build a rocket and fly it toward the nearest black hole, hoping for the best, even though it was obviously clear that nothing good would happen. The release was envisioned as a utopian and romantic space odyssey, but the pandemic made its own adjustments.
Mono Freedom raises the theme of freedom. In an interview with the MusicFinland portal, Eetu Iivari described the album by noting that for most people, freedom meant the opportunity to buy whatever they wanted, eat whatever they wanted, and fly wherever they wanted, meaning simply enjoying the pleasures the world had to offer. However, he added that to achieve all of this, one had to participate in the rat race, which the era of social media heavily emphasized. He concluded that such freedom was truly one-dimensional.
From this album, the tracks “The Rocket Song,” “No Trial In The Dark,” and “Museum Of Modern Hearts” are particularly worth noting.
Currently, the band is preparing for the release of their third album, titled Ländmark, which is scheduled to come out on February 16. At the moment, three of the nine singles from it have been presented: “Famlia,” “The Incredible Ibex,” and “Any Given Day”. Judging by their sound, something special awaits us once again.
In addition to their music, The Holy placed a heavy emphasis on the visual component, which is why their music videos already stood out back then for their aesthetic approach. Starting from small venues in Helsinki, The Holy came a long way, playing over a hundred concerts, including all the major Finnish festivals, as well as European tours in Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Austria.
The Holy's debut album Daughter was released in 2018 and received praise in both Europe and Finland, resulting in a nomination for the Emma Gaala award in the Critics' Choice category. Reviews praised the honest songwriting and the album's lyrical themes, which touched upon the economic recession in Finland during the 1990s and its impact on the youth of that era. The band's vocalist also noted that this album had become a way for him to cope with what he had felt and seen during his childhood during the Great Depression in Finland.
According to the band, recording the album was difficult for them. Some songs had been written a long time ago, while others emerged during the studio work itself. Mostly, The Holy worked in an old wooden schoolhouse in Tyrväntö, which is located near the city of Hämeenlinna, where all the band members had spent their childhood. They stayed there and lived in a nearby house, setting up their own studio and working on the album inside it.
Regarding the title of the album, in an interview with my portal Northern Rock Religion, the members of The Holy explained that when they wrote the song “Triumph of Love,” where Eetu sings the words “I wanna be somebody's daughter,” that specific word immediately stood out as the album title. They added that it summarized the entire lyrical concept of the record, noting that for them, the album itself had become like a daughter, so the name fit completely naturally.
In my opinion, one of the most striking songs on this album is “Land Before Time,” which is accompanied by a truly amazing and well-thought-out music video. The Holy strive not only to convey their musical vision but also to help listeners see the world through their eyes. Other songs that should also be highlighted on this album are “Obi Bate Opiate,” “There Is A House,” and “20XX Tomorrow.”
The Holy’s second album, titled Mono Freedom, was released in the spring of 2020, after which the band, like everyone else, faced COVID-19 restrictions. The Holy returned to performing a year later and once again embarked on a large-scale tour.
The second album became a kind of concept, initially based, according to the band, on the idea that humanity had been a plague upon the Earth for so long that Mother Nature was finally reclaiming control and destroying the destructive race. They explained that the only idea that came to the mind of the last remaining human was to build a rocket and fly it toward the nearest black hole, hoping for the best, even though it was obviously clear that nothing good would happen. The release was envisioned as a utopian and romantic space odyssey, but the pandemic made its own adjustments.
Mono Freedom raises the theme of freedom. In an interview with the MusicFinland portal, Eetu Iivari described the album by noting that for most people, freedom meant the opportunity to buy whatever they wanted, eat whatever they wanted, and fly wherever they wanted, meaning simply enjoying the pleasures the world had to offer. However, he added that to achieve all of this, one had to participate in the rat race, which the era of social media heavily emphasized. He concluded that such freedom was truly one-dimensional.
From this album, the tracks “The Rocket Song,” “No Trial In The Dark,” and “Museum Of Modern Hearts” are particularly worth noting.
Currently, the band is preparing for the release of their third album, titled Ländmark, which is scheduled to come out on February 16. At the moment, three of the nine singles from it have been presented: “Famlia,” “The Incredible Ibex,” and “Any Given Day”. Judging by their sound, something special awaits us once again.
- Tuuli TalvinenFounder & Editor-in-ChiefInterviewer