Category: Press Releases

New single from Finnish industrial metal band Fear Of Domination – “All As One” bursts with 80s-style energy and pure joy

Known for their mischievous attitude, Fear of Domination is about to drop a truly colourful bomb from their upcoming album. “All As One” bursts with 80s-style energy and pure joy – a track that demands you dive in headfirst.

On the music video Lauri Hämäläinen has captured the band’s trademark vision of full-on UV mayhem, a spectacle that has already lit up their live shows. While the rest of the upcoming album explores deeper and darker themes, “All As One” stands out as a radiant explosion of fun. A perfect reminder that Fear of Domination can still throw one hell of a party.

Listen to the single on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music etc.): https://push.fm/fl/fod-allasone

Jessica Salmi, lyrics:
“Once, identity was forged through family, work, culture, and community. Today, social media offers endless ways to shape, stage, and measure oneself against others. This breeds insecurity and shatters the sense of self. The song speaks of humanity’s blindness and the crushing weight of the spirit, yet above all, it stands as a fierce proclamation of unity and liberation.”

Lasse Raelahti, composer:
“All as One started as a very straightforward EDM-style track but our producer (Jarno “Jassi” Hänninen) got a really strong 80’s vibe from the original demo and started pushing everything in the song towards that. 80’s is something that needs to be done full-on or not at all, so the final song has a huge amount of 80’s style elements with some obvious modern twists. As a part of the upcoming album, All as One is one of the tracks that keep up the party-vibes while most of the songs are more dark or even brutal!”

Fear Of Domination are:
Jessica Salmi – voc
Saku Solin – voc
Johannes Niemi – gtr
Jan-Erik Kari – gtr
Lauri Ojanen – Bass
Lasse Raelahti – Synths
Anton Nisonen – Drums

https://www.fod.fi/
https://www.facebook.com/FearOfDomination/
https://www.instagram.com/fearofdomination
https://www.youtube.com/user/FoDofficial

Montreal Brass Metal Trailblazers FALLSTAF Unveils Next Single “Bastard Son” Off New Album “Ode To The Dead” Out On November

Montreal’s brass metal trailblazers FALLSTAF are back with a vengeance, dropping their second single, “Bastard Son,” from the forthcoming album “Ode To The Dead,” set for release on November 14th. The track can be heard via its lyric video that captures its thrash-driven intensity. Fans can also pre-order the album in a limited-edition interactive coffin-shaped USB, an exclusive collectible packed with bonus content.
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​“Bastard Son” is a blistering tale of legacy and redemption, told through the eyes of a hitman father warning his son not to follow in his footsteps. Originally written years ago, the track was reborn with galloping riffs by guitarist Simm, gang vocals, and a fast-paced thrash chorus that perfectly matches its dark theme.

“We wanted a more thrash metal vibe on this one. The energy, the riff, the chorus, it all clicked,” says the band.

Watch and listen to the lyric video for “Bastard Son” via its premiere on MetalUniverse.net HERE.
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Produced by Kevin Jardine (Slaves On Dope, Uplift Recording Studio), “Ode To The Dead” marks FALLSTAF’s first full-length release since their 2011 debut “Bastard Son of a Pure Breed.” The new album dives deep into themes of death, survival, and memory, drawing from frontman Iann’s near-fatal accident in 2016 and the band’s decade-long hiatus. With seven tracks that blend groove, prog, hardcore, and sludge metal, the album showcases a more refined, melodic, and emotionally charged sound. With tracks like “Sunless Friday”, a chilling account of Iann’s accident, “Kings of the West Side”, a gritty homage to Montreal’s criminal underworld, “The Burden”, a powerful reflection on cancer and loss to “Under The Same Sky”, a global meditation on conflict and unity, this comeback record is a story of friendship, therapy and the love for metal.

“We’re just excited to share our new album with the world. We can’t wait to play shows again and have fun. We didn’t make this album to tour the world or to impress anyone. The idea came from wanting to make music out of friendship; we are all friends in the band, music is therapeutic, it brings people together, metal brings people together, and we missed that energy. We believe people will notice our evolution, and what a pleasure it is to work with Kevin Jardine again! Stay Tuned!” adds the band.

FALLSTAF’s live performances are legendary. With suits and ties, a masked trombonist, and a frontman with a robotic leg, the band defies expectations. They plan to hit the stage across Montreal and beyond in early 2026.

“People think we’re a ska band until we hit that first chord. Then they know, we kick ass,” the band adds.
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The album cover, designed by FALLSTAF vocalist Iann, features a layered skull image, symbolic of the album’s lyrical darkness and sonic vibrancy. Fans can also grab the album in a coffin-shaped USB drive, loaded with exclusive content and designed to be as unique as the band’s sound.

(coffin video)
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​“Ode to the Dead” will be available on all major streaming platforms on November 14th, 2025

Album pre-order – https://fallstaf1.bandcamp.com/album/ode-to-the-dead

Lyric Video for “Ode To The Dead” – https://youtu.be/GM4EPsLnMlE

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Track Listing:​
1. Sunless Friday – 2:57
2. Ode to the Dead – 3:27
3. Battered Soul – 3:40
4. Kings of the West Side – 3:31
5. Under the Same Sky – 3:31
6. Bastard Son – 3:45
7. The Burden – 4:41
Album length: 25:37

Album Credits:​
Songs performed by: FALLSTAF
Songs written by: Ian Lavoie/Kevin Jardine
Produced by: Kevin Jardine
Mixed by: Kevin Jardine
Mastered by: Kevin Jardine
Album artwork by: Ian Lavoie
MAPL – Canadian Content

BAND LINE UP:​
SIMM / Guitars
RICKK / Horns
IANN / Vocals
GOYY / Bass
MATT / Drums

More info: https://www.facebook.com/fallstafmontrealbrassmetal | https://www.instagram.com/fallstafmontreal/

Rising rockstar Austen Starr announces debut album ‘I Am The Enemy’ out on February 13th

Following the success of singles “I Am The Enemy” and “Remain Unseen,” rising rocker AUSTEN STARR is proud to announce the release of her debut album, ‘I Am The Enemy,’ due out on February 13, 2026 via Frontiers Music Srl. To celebrate the announcement, AUSTEN also shares the third single from the release, “Medusa,” alongside an official music video, available below.

On the new track, AUSTEN comments:

“‘Medusa’ tells a story where I’m this evil seductress who strings guys along just to break their hearts and ‘turn [them] to stone.’ For the video, we definitely took creative liberties with the myth. Medusa’s mask keeps her power sealed, and she is playing with the guy like a cat plays with a mouse, but she intends to let him go–with a turn when he really falls for her. ‘Medusa’ has a special place in my heart because I wrote the song when I was really young and pretending to be confident, and it became the demo shown to Frontiers that sparked the entire album. I’m still waiting on that confidence, but this one little song from forever ago has cultivated something better than I ever could have imagined. I hope ‘Medusa’ evokes a feeling of power in listeners the way that writing and performing it did for me!”

AUSTEN STARR’s debut album, ‘I Am The Enemy,’ delivers a hard-hitting blend of contemporary rock with classic influences, drawing comparisons to artists like The Warning and Halestorm while infusing a more traditional hard rock sound. Featuring powerhouse musicians, the album songs’ have been written by AUSTEN in collaboration with Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Revolution Saints, Iconic, Cher, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), who also takes care of all guitars on the album. Other musicians appearing include Chris Collier (Mick Mars, Lita Ford) on bass and drums, Steve Ferlazzo (Hugo’s Voyage) on keyboards and Chloe Lowery (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) on background vocals.

On the upcoming release, AUSTEN shares:

“I’m ecstatic to finally be releasing an actual album! This project has been a long time coming–a lifetime in the making, as cliché as that may be. It’s a really wild feeling to be putting music out into the world after being so afraid to for the duration of my existence, and the fact that the first couple of songs have been received well is completely blowing my anxious, self-deprecating mind. With the release of this debut album, I feel like I’m putting my life in your hands just to see what you’ll do with it. It’s terrifying, exhilarating, and freeing. Thank you so much to everyone at Frontiers, thank you to Joel Hoekstra, Chris Collier, Steve Ferlazzo, and Chloe Lowery, thank you to everyone who has made this project possible, and thank you to everyone who listens to the music. I hope you all enjoy it!”

Pre-Order ‘I Am The Enemy’ HERE

‘I Am The Enemy’ Track List:
1. Remain Unseen
2. Medusa
3. I Am The Enemy
4. Read Your Mind
5. Get Out Alive
6. Effigy
7. Running Out Of Time
8. All Alone
9. Not This Life
10. The Light
11. Until I See You Again

About AUSTEN STARR:

AUSTEN STARR is a reluctant Bostonian with a penchant for self-induced misery. A natural contrarian, she was raised in a household where being a musician was the last thing she was encouraged to do—so, of course, AUSTEN recorded an album with the help of some heavy-hitters from Frontiers and beyond. While AUSTEN considers herself to be an “anxious wreck,” she’s channeled her inner turmoil and contradictions into a compelling musical statement. AUSTEN’s penchant for hypocrisy is almost as defined as her narrative voice. After all, she admits to both hating bad grammar and using it in one of her own songs because it fits the meter. When she’s not rocking out on stage or recording, AUSTEN is learning guitar, embracing “emo karaoke nights,” and forging ahead with a relentless, albeit trepidatious, determination to carve out her place in the music world.

BAND LINE UP:
Vocals: Austen Starr
Guitars: Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Revolution Saints, Iconic, Cher, Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
Bass/Drums: Chris Collier (Mick Mars, Lita Ford)
Keyboards: Steve Ferlazzo (Hugo’s Voyage, Avril Lavigne)
Background Vocals: Chloe Lowery (Trans-Siberian Orchestra)

FOLLOW AUSTEN STARR:
Instagram
Website

The Finnish Death Metal band Wounded in Forest released the second single from the upcoming EP

The Finnish death metal band Wounded In Forest is set to unleash their debut EP ‘Antihuman Artist‘ on December 5th 2025 via Inverse Records. The second single ‘Take The Son Of A Bitch’ was just released and it’s available on all essential streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/wounded-in-forest-take

“Take the Son of a Bitch’ throws you into the brutality of early 1700s Finland. Crown soldiers arrive at the antihero’s home to take a man for the army, and his own family gladly gives him up, calling him a waste of food. It’s based on real stories of men dragged from rural farmhouses into war. This is where his descent plunges even deeper — another step further into a life shaped entirely by violence.”

–Miikka Pyykkönen

“The song opens with a skank beat and open-picked chords that nod toward thrash metal before diving into death metal riffing and blast beats. At 200bpm, it moves with the urgency of a forced march, shifting rhythms without losing focus. The dual vocals mirror the story’s tension — rage clashing with inevitability — until you’re marched out alongside him into the jaws of war.”

–Jussi Tuomisto

LISTEN to the first single Godspeed Filthy Warrior: https://push.fm/fl/wounded-in-forest-godspeed

Wounded In Forest is a death metal band from Oulu, Finland, born from tragedy and reborn with a sharpened edge. Formed in 2023 following the death of the drummer from a previous project that had lasted over 15 years, the surviving members regrouped with a stripped-down, more direct musical vision. Every member took on a new role or instrument to forge something raw and uncompromising — an outlet for grief, rage, and reflection.

Musically rooted in old school death metal, Wounded in Forest blends the primal ferocity of early ’90s death metal with a conceptual storytelling approach. Their lyrics, written in English, revolve around one fictional narrative per release, each grounded in a real event or period from Finnish history. Themes of violence, war, trauma, and moral decay are explored with unflinching intensity.

The band’s upcoming debut EP, Antihuman Artist, is set during the Great Wrath in the early 1700s — a time of Russian occupation and widespread atrocities in Finland. The EP tells the disturbing story of an individual shaped by violence — born into abuse, sent to war, and ultimately transformed into a serial killer who expresses himself by creating grotesque art from the remains of his victims.

Wounded in Forest’s dual-vocalist setup deepens their storytelling Joni Moisanen delivers classic low-end death metal growls, while Miikka Pyykkönen unleashes high-pitched shrieks more akin to black metal. This contrast creates a dynamic narrative texture, with each voice representing different facets of the characters and their descent into darkness.

Musically, the band combines relentless blast beats, simple but sinister riffing, and shifting rhythmic patterns that keep listeners on edge. Guitarists Joni Moisanen and Joonas Kokkoniemi mix chugging riffs, open-picked chords, and black metal-style tremolo passages with the occasional technical flourish. Drummer Jussi Tuomisto drives the chaos with aggressive blasts and constantly evolving grooves that mirror the tension in each story.

For fans of old school Death Metal with a conceptual twist, Wounded In Forest offers stories carved from something raw and real. These are stories steeped in blood, rooted in Finnish soil, and delivered straight from the heart of the forest.

Line-up:
Joni Moisanen (guitar, vox)
Miikka Pyykkönen (bass, vox)
Joonas Kokkoniemi (guitar)
Jussi Tuomisto (drums)

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/woundedinforest

https://woundedinforest.bandcamp.com

 

Second single from the Finnish melancholic metal band Mourning Wood’s upcoming debut album out now

Finnish metal band Mourning Wood‘s new single End Of Days introduces catchy gothic vibes mixed in with 80s inspired guitar riffing and melodic hooks. The almost sobbingly eerie vocal atmosphere is accompanied by lyrics of never being content with what you have and therefore feeling that you are on the wrong path which is set in stone.

Listen to the single on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, AmazonMusic etc.): https://push.fm/fl/mourningwood-endofdays

The debut full length album “Murder Of Crows” will be released in late 2025. The album continues with the themes of the debut EP “Fill Your Grave” (2023) but also takes them to a whole new level.

2021 founded Mourning Wood draws heavily on both Nordic melancholy and its influencers like Sentenced, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol and Gary Moore. The band that spreads the joy of sorrow consists of trained musicians with a long history of playing together. That can be heard from the tight musicianship at gigs.

The band also played Sentenced tribute tour around Finland promoting the Sentenced guitar player Miika Tenkula‘s biography (Melankolian Mestari – Miika Tenkula) (LIKE, 2024) written by Nefertiti Malaty. The tour consists three bands paying a tribute to memory of Miika Tenkula and Sentenced.

https://www.facebook.com/Mourningwoodmetal

https://www.youtube.com/@mourningwood2481

Young Norwegian rock star Red Steel releases debut EP

 

The flag of melodic and heavy modern rock is flying high on the Skagerrak coast. Red Steel, who rose to massive success on TikTok in a short time with over 50 million views, released their debut EP We Were Never Here last Friday, which is not afraid to bow relatively deeply to the band’s theatrical rock precedents.

Red Steel already released the single Nuthouse, which is full of youthful attitude and charisma. The band themselves describe the song as a love child of Ghost and Seven Nation Army.

“We are incredibly proud of how the EP – and especially Nuthouse – ultimately turned out. We knew from the beginning that the song had something special, and we worked hard to perfect it. The combination of synth melodies, heavy guitars and thunderous drums works exactly as we had imagined,” says guitarist Marius Andersen.

The band, which gained its current form and a huge new boost in 2024 with vocalist Haakon Holter, has already had time to play impressive gigs in their homeland, including at Tons of Rock, and the Norwegian five-piece has also managed to create their own concoction by borrowing selected spices from Electric Callboy or Sleep Theory. The synth-driven metal pop EP also takes listeners to the edge of emotions.

“The songs on this EP draw from deep emotions, and getting the sound right took a lot of work. I wanted the listeners to really feel both the sadness and the joy that live in these songs – and I think we managed to capture those emotions really well,” says Holter.

Red Steel is:
Marius Andersen – guitar
Jesper Andersen – guitar
Haakon Nilo Holter – vocals
Sebastian Staal – bass
Ola Hansen Rolstad – drums

WEBSITE | SPOTIFY | TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

The Underground Unites: WormHoleDeath Fest Australia Announced

The underground is rising. WormHoleDeath Fest Australia is set to ignite Darling Nikki’s in St Peter’s, NSW, with a brutal night showcasing some of the heaviest acts from the WormHoleDeath roster.

Prepare for raw, relentless, and uncompromising Australian metal. Headlining are KÜNTSQUÄD from Melbourne, delivering crust-infused death metal chaos that leaves no room for the faint-hearted. EVOCATUS follow with a lethal mix of melodic death and thrash, sharp hooks, and crushing intensity. DISTORTA bring their modern metalcore energy with rapid-fire riffs and earth-shaking breakdowns. Finally, DECIMATOR delivers old-school thrash precision and ferocious speed that demands attention.
During the day, DISTORTA will be filming their latest music video with the one and only John Jarratt — and you are invited to be part of it.

Event Details:
📍 Darling Nikki’s — 161 Princes Hwy, St Peter’s NSW 2044
🗓️ Doors open at 7 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Available now via Oztix
🔗 Darling Nikki’s Facebook
Event: www.facebook.com/events/825002520015035

Arrive early, be in the crowd, and become part of the footage before staying for a night of pure, uncompromising metal.

Doors open 7 pm — grab your merch, stake your spot in the pit, and experience the intensity of the Australian underground, brought to you by WormHoleDeath Records and Black Roos.

Canadian Prog PHAETON Unveils Album “Neurogenesis” ft. Album Guest Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo) + Western Canadian Show Dates (BC, AB)

Canadian instrumental progressive metal quartet PHAETON returns with their third full-length album, “Neurogenesis,” a tightly wound sonic journey through melody, muscle, and mind-expanding musicality. Following their acclaimed 2020 release “Between Two Worlds,” this new chapter marks a bold evolution in the band’s sound, more concise yet no less imaginative.
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Formed in the rugged wilderness of Kimberley, British Columbia, in 2017, PHAETON fuses neo-classical melodicism, crunching rifferama, tornado percussion, and contrapuntal basslines, making them not only a captivating listening experience on record but a thrilling and ultra-heavy live band in the flesh. Named after the mythical proto-planet believed to have collided with primordial Earth, PHAETON channels cosmic chaos into meticulously crafted soundscapes that are as cerebral as they are crushing.
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The band, Kevin Thiessen (guitars, keyboards; ex-Azsension, ex-Datura), Daniel Airth (guitars; ex-Chaos Logic), Ferdy Belland (bass; ex-Bif Naked), and Colin Righton (drums; ex-Chaos Machine), has carved out a distinct sonic identity, drawing inspiration from titans like Dream Theater, Rush, Mastodon, and King Crimson. Their music is a wordless journey through shifting time signatures, soaring melodies, and tectonic riffage, designed to ignite the imagination and challenge the ear.
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​“Neurogenesis” represents a left-field shift for PHAETON, an unexpected but thrilling change of pace. While their self-titled debut album laid the foundation for their identity as composers and musicians, and “Between Two Worlds” expanded that vision with heavier, more emotionally resonant compositions, “Neurogenesis” takes a more compact and concise approach, not by design, but by organic evolution.
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Even as an all-instrumental band, PHAETON’s arrangements follow familiar narrative arcs, verse, chorus, bridge, but instead of supporting vocals, the riffs and rhythms become scaffolding for guitar and keyboard melodies. This time, the band embraced a sideways approach, inviting listeners to interpret song titles and let their imaginations roam freely through the music’s unfolding landscapes.
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​“It’s jazz-fusion ears within prog-metal boundaries. And while Neurogenesis isn’t a concept album in the strictest sense, many of the song ideas overlap,” the band explains.
​
Thematically, the album draws inspiration from modern theories of the technological singularity, the looming convergence of biological minds with robotics, cybernetic implants, and microchips. It’s a meditation on what it means to be human in an age of accelerating machine intelligence: part cold warning, part sober observation.
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Engineered and mixed by Kevin Thiessen at The Cube in Kimberley, BC, and mastered by Jamie Sitar at Outtatown Sound in Winnipeg, MB, “Neurogenesis” also features artwork by Calgary-based artist Matt Semenok, capturing the album’s cosmic themes.
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With a growing international following and a reputation for electrifying live performances, PHAETON continues to evolve, fearlessly, relentlessly, and without saying a word. The band has confidently shared stages with such notable artists as Beyond Creation, Anciients, and Bison, and is looking to open musical doorways across the nation and across the oceans.

Upcoming Show Dates:​
Nov 7 – Lethbridge, AB – The Slice w/ Pharm, S.I., Rainbow Patrol
Nov 8 – Edmonton, AB – Divebar w/ Pharm, Excerebration, Spruce Moose
Nov 21 – Cranbrook, BC – Shotties Nightclub w/ Dead Bob, Blind Marc
Nov 29 – Cranbrook BC – Shotties Nightclub w/ ANCIIENTS
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​“Neurogenesis” will be available on digital platforms on October 24 via INB Music, with vinyl editions arriving later this year and more music, including the standalone 22-minute epic “Clouds of Mercury,” coming in 2026, and a fourth full-length album, “Quartum,” slated for 2027.
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​“Neurogenesis” is available at the following links:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/46CVWFcd3u2pSRt0D9pSrV

Bandcamp – https://phaetonband.bandcamp.com/

Previous Singles:

Band playthrough – Arachnid – https://youtu.be/QxyU0U-vSOc

Isochron ft. Derek Sherinian – https://youtu.be/Ri8wXGYJcJg

Tethys Rising – https://youtu.be/mjehuUQS9G8

​

Track Listing:​
1. Tethys Rising (6:25)
2. Discontinuum (6:37)
3. Isochron (4:12) ft. Derek Sherinian
4. Synethesia (6:24)
5. Arachnid (4:48)
6. Augmented (4:37)
7. Neurogenesis (6:16)
Album Length: 39:19

Band Lineup:​
– Colin Righton: Drums & Percussion
– Daniel Airth: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
– Kevin Thiessen: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards
– Ferdy Belland: Electric Bass

For more info: https://linktr.ee/phaetonofficial

Aleksi Kii released his Varjokuvia album

Starting a new musical chapter, guitarist and singer-songwriter Aleksi Kii released his album Varjokuvia last Friday. The album reaches into the deeper side of Finnish rock, and combines rock influences from the 90s and early 2000s in a natural, fresh and unique way. The album is released by the artist’s own label Last Day of the North.

The album’s lead single is the post-punk-influenced song “Kummitustanssi”, which is about a reunion of an old friend. The song is shrouded in a ghostly but warm-hearted atmosphere similar to the works of Tim Burton.

“The song is about meeting an old friend who has passed away as a ghost. You haven’t seen each other in years, the whole night city is yours to use and you’re floating around without any mirrors or shadows. You’re dancing together and no one notices the two invisible partygoers! Sonically, I wanted to mix danceable post-punk with Finnish rock, with a relaxed Keith Richards touch and somewhat meaningful lyrics of course,” Aleksi Kii comments.

The Varjokuvia album also features familiar names from the Finnish metal scene to break genre boundaries. Grave Pleasures bandmate Rainer “Raikku” Willman guest-stars on the album on drums, recorded by Niko Lehdontie (Oranssi Pazuzu). Grave Pleasures bassist Valtteri Arino also brings his recognizable drive to a few songs. Varjo, the album’s most beautiful offering, features beautiful string use by Kimmo Helén (Hexvessel) and grand piano playing by Ville Koivula (Mot Furu). The last tracks of the album are entirely Kiiskilä’s own instrumentation and take the listener to a dark, lonely room.

“I wanted to create the most beautiful and immediate rock album possible, one that gets under the skin and connects with the listener’s emotions. During the writing process, Varjokuvia was like a friend to me, to whom you could tell anything. That’s why the feeling is at the heart of the album. I also got a bunch of wonderful people on the album, with whom I’ve had the chance to collaborate over the years. Everyone stepped in with their own creativity. Cold shivers. If one word could describe this album, it would be connection”, Aleksi says.

Varjokuvia album track listing:

1. Paranirvana
2. Kummitustanssi
3. Avain
4. Varjo
5. Vain kannet siitä kirjasta mitä olin
6. Laulu jota kukaan ei laula
7. Sun ainoo ystävä
8. Pimeässä

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY

Charlotte Wessels’ new release features VOLA’s Asger Myging

Former Delain frontwoman Charlotte Wessels delighted her fans this week with a new single, “Backup Plan,” featuring VOLA singer and guitarist Asger Mygind. Originally released as a bonus track on the vinyl version of The Obsession (2024), the song is now available in a new version, a somber dialogue between beauty and darkness.

“This song haunted me after the album’s release; it felt unfinished. During the tour with VOLA, the pieces suddenly fell into place. Asger’s voice was perfect for providing the song’s much-needed contrast. Backup Plan is about a dialogue between life and death. However, in this case, death isn’t the villain of the story, but rather a place of escape,” Charlotte comments.

“I didn’t think twice when Charlotte asked me to join her. It was an honor to be part of her colorful musical world. ‘Backup Plan’ is a challenging song to sing, but it was fun to use my voice in a slightly different way than usual. This made this collaboration particularly rewarding,” rejoices Asgar Myging.

‘Backup Plan’ (feat. Asger Myging) is included on The Obsession (Deluxe Edition), released by Napalm Records. The release celebrates the album’s first anniversary and also serves as a prelude to next year’s Arcane Dimensions tour, which will see Wessels tour Europe with Epica and Amaranthe.

The Deluxe Edition expands the album’s universe, offering, in addition to “Backup Plan,” three live recordings from Dynamo Metal Fest, an extended version of “Breathe,” and a new, dreamlike version of the single “Dopamine” (feat. Simone Simons / Epica), arranged by Vikram Shankar.

“It’s hard to believe The Obsession is already a year old, but it’s still alive and evolving. The Deluxe Edition breathes new life into these stories and serves as a bridge to the future,” concludes Wessels.

The Obsession (Deluxe Edition) Tracks:

1. Chasing Sunsets
2. Dopamine (feat. Simone Simons)
3. The Exorcism
4. Soulstice
5. The Crying Room
6. Ode To The West Wind (feat. Alissa White-Gluz)
7. Serpentine
8. Praise
9. All You Are
10. Vigor And Valor
11. Breathe; Extended
12. Soft Revolution (2024)
13. Backup Plan (feat. Asger Mygind/VOLA)
14. Dopamine (Dreamscape Version / feat. Simone Simons)
15. The Crying Room (Live At Dynamo Metalfest)
16. Soft Revolution (Live At Dynamo Metalfest)
17. The Exorcism (Live At Dynamo Metalfest)

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE