Dyecrest has released the fifth studio album. The Defying Gravity album redefines not only the laws of gravity, but also a band that has taken quite a leap in a new direction. The newly released Defying Gravity is not only the first studio album with the gorgeously voiced Heidi Aaltonen, who joined the band a couple of years ago, but also the first full-length under the protection of their new label partner, Art Gates Records.
The roots of the Christian band, which combines power metal, traditional heavy metal and progressive flavors, date back to 2004, but along the way they also took a ten-year break between 2008 and 2018. According to the band, the newly released Defying Gravity is the most cohesive whole in Dyecrest’s career to date, which has included four studio albums and a tour with W.A.S.P. around Europe.
“This album has both the heaviest and lightest material that Dyecrest has ever done. Heidi’s touching and emotional interpretation and the band’s powerful sound create a whole that simply worked,” the band says.
The soundscape of the Defying Gravity album was completed by the duo Miitri Aaltonen – Mika Jussila, one of the country’s top names. The traces of their skilled sound hands can also be heard on the Enceladus single from the album, whose music video was directed and written by Sami Romppainen.
“The lyrics of the song immediately brought to mind a lot of visual imagery, and intuition led us to choose this kind of ‘playing with shadows’ as the style,” says Romppainen.
There was something special about the song even when Henri Arola brought it to the attention of others. However, it took a while to find the right direction.
“Gradually, piece by piece, it grew into a powerful and finished whole, which I think is one of the best songs on the upcoming album. The atmosphere of the song is floating and infinite, like drifting on the edge of the unknown, where the infinity of the mind, longing and quiet, tenacious hope echo. It takes the listener towards something unknown but fascinating. The end result is powerful and captivating”, says Pirkka Ohlis.
Guitarist-composer Henri Arola adds that the keyboard-based arrangement and the forward cadence of the verses are an important element in the song’s tension.
“The guitars were deliberately left more stripped down in places, and it creates space for dynamics and the beautiful vocal melodies that are Heidi’s handiwork. Of course, an honest guitar solo had to be included! On the scale of Dyecrest, Enceladus perhaps represents a slightly more straightforward, easily approachable expression. In other words, in Finnish: It’s a hit song”, Arola sums up.
Dyecrest is celebrating the album today in Lappeenranta with an album release gig, and other upcoming performances announced now are:
24.04.2026, Lappeenranta, Bar Totem, w/ Deathropy
25.04.2026, Mikkeli, Kulttuuritalo Tempo, Dinosaurock Club, w/ Diablo
22.05.2026, Helsinki, Lepakkomies, w/ Memoira
05.06.2026, Joensuu, TBA
04.07.2026, Ristiina, Varkaantaipale, w/ Deathropy
08.08.2026, Imatra, Patruunafest
Dyecrest is:
Heidi Aaltonen: Vocals
Matti Pasanen: Guitar, vocals
Henri Arola: Guitar, vocals
Pirkka Ohlis: Keyboards, vocals
Jukka Matilainen: Bass
Niko Takala: Drums