Arched Fire is back with a banger! The new single “So Far” reveals a rarely seen side of the Finnish metal band. 

LISTEN to ‘So Far’ single: https://push.fm/fl/arched-fire-so-far

“I went through Kristian’s demo folder and found this gem of a song that had been lying there for a while already”, says Ari Väntänen. “I thought it had a great hook and that it would be cool to release something different for a change. I mean, we aren’t really known for pretty ballads, are we?” 

More mournful than pretty, the song weighs on you like a looming storm until it exploding into a thundering middle part followed by cathartic final choruses, a gem of a song indeed. 

And the lyrics, you ask, what are they about? This is not a love song, that’s for sure.

“The is song about the difficulties in communication. It relates to the false consensus effect, individualism, conformism and neurodiversity”, says Kristian Herkman, the man behind the music and the lyrics.

“In some societies you have to be like the others to cope,” the singer elaborates. “Some people are neurotypical and some are not. Sometimes neither have the best social skills.”

There certainly is room for improvement. Maybe emotional intelligence and structured communication should be subjects in school.

“People like different things and usually they like familiar things,” Kristian continues. “People fear uncertainty, so they want to be in control. Money is power and conformity makes the masses easier to control. The more you know, the more you know what there is yet to understand.”

The temporary line-up on “So Far” is Kristian Herkman (vocals, lead guitar, kantele, 12 string acoustic guitar), Ari Väntänen (rhythm guitar), Mika Rytilahti (bass), Miika Niemelä (keyboards) and Fabio Alessandrini (drums).

Line-up:
Kristian Herkman: vocals
Ari Väntänen: guitar
Mika Rytilahti: bass
Miika Niemelä: Keyboards
Fabio Alessandrini: drums

Links:
https://archedfire.com
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialArchedFire
https://www.instagram.com/arched_fire_official
https://archedfire.bandcamp.com

Finnish metalheads Arched Fire return with a new single! Following their two acclaimed albums Remote Control (2021) and Trust Betrayal (2024), “Northbound Train” is a tribute to their roots and their journey and also a mark for an end of an era. The single was released in cooperation with Finnish Inverse Records on November 27th 2024.

WATCH Northbound Train lyric video: https://youtu.be/QdMR2otS_gI

Aggressive, old school and borderline chaotic, “Northbound Train” is a thrashy heavy metal song to bang your head and break your neck to.

“It’s an old song resurrected and running onward like an unstoppable train, much like Arched Fire”, says Kristian Herkman, the singer. “A train to the north of Finland, back to where Arched Fire started.”

“And what a train it is”, rejoices Ari Väntänen, the rhythm guitarist. “I love the cover art by Umar Setiawan, it’s like Thomas the Tank Engine from hell! We also have a beautiful lyric video by Jussi Hevander that fits the mood perfectly.”

Originally formed in the Finnish Lapland in 1989, the band hibernated for thirty years until reforming in the late 2019 and starting to work on new music. Now, a five-year phase seems to be nearing its end.

“Things are about to change,” says Ari. “It may be that Northbound Train is the very last release with this Arched Fire line-up. Who knows what the future holds, but for now, it is what it is. As a song, it is a fitting conclusion to this era in the band’s story. It’s about the journey we’ve taken while making two albums in the 2020s. For us, it’s been both a strong progression in this current time we live in, and also a return to where we’ve come from. There’s something very beautiful and raw in it all.”

And that’s how the song goes. “Spend a night in a northbound train… Spend your life in a northbound train”.
LISTEN ‘Northbound Train’ single on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/arched-fire-train