BIOGRAPHY

Decrowned is a Finnish metal band from Joensuu that has carved out its own sound – one where modern melodic metal, heavy riffs, and Finnish melancholy meet. Formed in 2017, the band was an idea of a few friends who had been already involved with previous metal projects and now wanted to create something new. The basic idea was to create catchy and groovy metal that they could truly enjoy and have fun with, on and off the stage with great friends. 

From the very beginning the band was formed as a four-piece. The first lineup was Miikka Hulmi on vocals and bass, Antti Venäläinen on drums, Jaakko Kauppinen and Antti Juuti on guitar. After a few months Antti J. decided to step aside, but luckily Miikka knew Simo Puustinen, who was a perfect fit to fill the empty slot on guitar. Behind the scenes, the band has a fifth "member" Jukka Turunen, who plays synths on most of the tracks. He has also designed the band's logo and created most of the cover art so far.

The band has been active from the start, doing live performances and releasing a few EPs and singles on a steady basis. The first EP "Weight of the Dark Sky" brought success by being awarded "Newcomer of the Month" in Inferno metal magazine. Constantly evolving, Decrowned has seen great progress regarding music and its production, releasing its first full album "Persona non Grata" in 2024. 

Decrowned has performed on stage with Warmen, Sara and Swallow the Sun. After covid you might have seen Decrowned on stage at Unholy Winter Fest, Ilosaarirock and Ilovaari festival.

With a distinct sound now firmly in place and currently working on new material, Decrowned heads into 2026 with momentum – next up is Unholy Summer Fest 2026.

Miikka "Mixu" Hulmi

Lead vocals, bass

  • Musical influences: Many many bands and musicans. Just to mention few, Queen, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Nightwish, In Flames, Diablo. Marko Hietala, James Hetfield
  • Best Decrowned memories: On top there is definetly playing live at Unholy Winter Fest 2022! Releasing debut album 2024. 
  • Equipment: Warwick Corvette Std 4, Warwick Infinity 5. Neural DSP Quad Cortex and LD System wireless in-ear and Soundbrenner Wave.

mixu@decrowned.fi


Jaakko Kauppinen

Guitar/backing vocals

  • Musical influences: I grew up in a musical family. My dad listened old rock music and my mom listened Finnish folk music. My sister is a professional musician so I also heard a lot of classical music. In metal music genre I like for example Covenant, Pantera and Mastodon. I draw influences there.
  • Best Decrowned memories: Many good memories. Cant just pick up one.
  • Equipment: Solar & Schecter guitars, DV Mark amp & Marshall cabinets. Cordoba acoustic. In PNG album we also used ENGL powerball 1 amp & Two notes torpedo systems.

Simo Puustinen

Guitar/backing vocals

  • Musical influences: As a kid my dad got me into ACDC, Santana, Rainbow and so on and that got me into guitar in the first place. I would say that I have a very wide range in music taste, just to mention a few biggest influences: Pantera, Mastodon, Slayer and In Flames.
  • Best Decrowned memories: All the Good times at some recording sessions goofing around, Unholy Winter Fest show and the time we were going to another gig and I was left behind on a gas station when guys somehow forgot me. 
  • Equipment: FGN Mythic and Chapman Ghost Fret Pro guitars, DV Mark amp, LAG Sauvage acoustic.



Antti "Aso" Venäläinen

Drums

  • Musical influences: There is so many. I grew up listening 80's and 90's hard rock and metal music and back then in the 90's when i found these genres, there was thousands of super tight bands. But if i had to name few, then Gnr, Metallica, ACDC, Pantera, Iron Maiden were maybe the biggest influences for me.
  • Best Decrowned memories: Impossible to pick just one. There is so many good ones, like first gig that was in Helsinki, recordind sessions, gigs with Cyhra and Swallow The Sun in Kerubi, Ilosaarirock after club in Marks rock club, Unholy winterfest 2022 with Insomnium, Battle Beast, Scar Symmetry and Trio Niskalaukaus. And many more.
  • Equipment: 3. Varies from time to time but at the time of writing this i use Pearl Masters drums, Sihi cymbals Kaski series, Pearl demon drive pedals and the snare drum that i use most often is Ludwig Supraphonic 14x6,5.