The Honeycut: Petteri Scythe talks Scythe of Sorrow, debut record, playing Tuska, and more

Over in Finland, there is a band kicking down the door to the metal world.

Scythe of Sorrow has the spirit of bands like Children of Bodom with their technical shredding and ferocious attitude.

Formed in 2021, they quickly got to work, putting out their debut album, “Raven’s Cry of Despair,” just two years later. Since then, they have released several singles, including their latest, “B.P.D. (Broken, Psycho, Dead).” This summer, they reached a major milestone, playing the iconic Tuska Open Air Metal Festival in Helsinki, Finland.

The man at the helm, lead guitarist, vocalist, and main composer, Piotr “Petteri Scythe” Krysiak, took the time to answer some of my questions about Scythe of Sorrow and everything they’ve accomplished thus far.

R. Jacob Honeybrook: Scythe of Sorrow began fairly recently, about five years ago. How did this band come together?

Petteri Scythe: In 2021, I moved from Poland to Finland solely for this purpose—to start this band. I had played in a few projects in Poland before, but it was never strictly melodeath, and I wanted to play this specific genre. I knew that to do that, I had to be right here, in the heart of melodic death metal, which is Finland.

RJH: How would you describe Scythe of Sorrow to someone unfamiliar with your band?

PS: Scythe of Sorrow is modern melodic death metal that draws heavily from the best era of melodeath, the turn of the 90s and 2000s. It’s inspired by Children of Bodom, but also has elements of hair metal and hard rock. It’s an explosive mix!

RJH: When I was getting into more extreme metal in the early 2000s, Finnish bands like Children of Bodom, Norther, and Kalmah really captivated me. Being a band from Helsinki, how did these bands, or similar artists, influence you and your music?

PS: Like I said, I moved here because exactly this kind of music was playing in my soul. Being here, walking the very streets where my idols grew up, you can truly feel the spirit of this place. When I moved here, the material for the first album was actually already done—but the new songs written here sound definitely more mature and are much better thought out.

RJH: What is your process for writing a Scythe of Sorrow song? Do you start with a lead, a riff, or the lyrics?

PS: You know, it varies—sometimes I come up with a riff, sometimes a drum groove, and sometimes a lead. But one thing never changes: I only work on the lyrics and vocals after I’ve recorded a demo. Only then do I sit down to write the lyrics and vocal melodies. Of course, I usually have a rough outline in my head beforehand of where the chorus and verse will be, but I don't think I've ever written a song with a preconceived idea of what it would be about. That always comes after putting the song together, when I can actually feel its vibe.

RJH: Your debut album, “Raven’s Cry of Despair,” has more than 300,000 streams on Spotify. Your music video for the latest single, “B.P.D. (Broken, Psycho, Dead),” has more than 20,000 views on YouTube. What do you think it is about your music that people are latching onto?

PS: Honestly? I have no idea! There are a thousand bands out there playing more or less similarly to what we do, and yet, for some reason, we are the ones generating almost the most controversy and interest. I'm not complaining, though; personally, I believe there is no such thing as bad press.

But it's true, the new song has been received incredibly well, and we are all very proud of it! Honestly, I think that since CoB stopped playing, people just need to feel what they felt when those guys were on top. Nostalgia is a powerful feeling, and I guess in some way, we are hitting exactly that spot.

RJH: You recently reached a milestone when Scythe of Sorrow played at the Tuska Open Air Metal Festival. How did this come about and what does this mean to you?

PS: Well, this wouldn't have happened if it weren't for our manager, who is also my wife. She kept her finger on the pulse, and as soon as the option to apply opened up, we were among the first in line. Thanks to her, we made it. 

Playing there was a massive dream come true, and I think it was a breakthrough moment for this band—we proved to ourselves and to others that we are ready for big stages and festivals. It definitely gave us a huge confidence boost. I will never forget that show!

RJH: Do you have any plans for upcoming shows or tours?

PS: We have a few gigs lined up. In December, we are playing a fifth-anniversary birthday show in Warsaw, Poland. However, we'll be announcing more dates once we finish working on the new album and release it.

RJH: Can we expect that new album soon?

PS: That's the plan. Right now, we are going full steam ahead into writing and recording new material. It's moving slowly because we do absolutely everything ourselves and fund it out of our own pockets, but I think it will be well worth the wait.

RJH: I came across you guys from an Instagram post and then went and listened to all your music. How important is social media to growing Scythe of Sorrow? And how do you utilize it?

PS: Nowadays, being a musician is just a tiny fraction of what you actually have to do when you're in a band. You literally have to be everywhere and do everything. Without social media, there is zero chance for a wider audience to even hear about you. These aren't the days where bands were discovered playing in local dive bars anymore—today, your whole life happens online. 

I won't hide it: our tactic involves provocative Reels and TikToks that force a reaction from the viewer. It has brought us massive reach and a huge influx of new listeners.

RJH: Everything we’ve talked about, you have done on your own, without the backing of a major label. It’s truly impressive and I congratulate you on all of your success. What are you most proud of with Scythe of Sorrow?

PS: I am proud of how the band has evolved from our very first demos to performing at Tuska. I consider the current lineup to be the best we've ever had; we are incredibly tight both on and off stage. Everyone is massively talented, and the music we create is truly great. Of course, I believe the best is yet to come, but playing Tuska to a packed crowd is definitely one of the biggest highlights of our career so far.

Thank you to Petteri Scythe for answering these questions. You can check out Scythe of Sorrow’s music on all streaming platforms. Follow them on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Bandcamp.