In something of a long-distance digital roundtable, Metal Solstice caught up with three artists whose creations help to bring metal to life in the form of album covers, stage equipment, and merch designs. Niko Anttila has a unique perspective, his creative pursuits including traditional physical media, digital art, and drumming for death/thrash outfit Nemecic. The
Finnish rockers Shereign made a splash in their first year, assembling their ranks in early 2020 then garnering an impressive number of streams on their self-released debut single “Losing Sight”, released in November. The band, comprised of vocalist Sara Strömmer (Fear of Domination), drummer Miikki Kunttu (Fear of Domination), guitarist Joonas Pulkkinen (Black Light Discipline),
If you have attended Helsinki’s Tuska Festival in the past few years, or perhaps admired photos from afar, you’ve likely seen the work of master blacksmith Kirsi Vahtera. The Lahti, Finland-based artist and Routa Design business owner recently earned the title of 2020’s Artist of the Year, a national honor awarded by the Artist Blacksmiths
Nicumo’s Inertia was a 2020 album release not to be overlooked. The Northern Finnish band, including Hannu Karppinen (vocals), Atte Jääskelä (guitars), Sami Kotila (bass), Aki Pusa (drums, percussion), and Tapio Anttiroiko (guitars), delivered a melancholy opus whose sound sits at the intersection of metal, rock, and melodic Gothic-inspired flavors reminiscent of Charon and Sentenced.
Finland’s Ephemerald have announced a debut album, Between the Glimpses of Hope, out on February 19, 2021 via Inverse Records. Although it will be their first full-length endeavor since founding the band in 2016, the symphonic death metal outfit is comprised of seasoned members of Finland’s music community: Joni Snoro (ex-Frosttide) on guitars, Vesa Salovaara
It’s been an eventful period for melodic death metallers Noumena. The seven-piece band released Anima (Haunted Zoo Productions) on September 4, marking their fifth full-length release in their 22-year history. In the same week, the group, comprised of Hannu Savolainen (bass), Ilkka Unnbom (drums), Ville Lamminaho (guitars, mandolin, vocals), Tuukka Tuomela (guitars, vocals), Antti Haapanen
In Sirkuit Preiker’s first-ever interview, Tampere, Finland’s Samuli Peltola explained his project’s origins with striking honesty. Also serving as guitarist-vocalist in alternative death metal outfit Medeia, Peltola poured personal experience and three years’ preparation into “Heijastus”, a single released on May 15, 2020 via Playground Music Finland. The single combines complex sampling with harsh vocals,
Oulu, Finland’s Verikalpa are ready to unleash their freshly brewed “beer-drenched troll metal” with Tuoppitanssi, due in nine days on February 21 via Italy’s Scarlet Records. Verikalpa’s most recent single, “Nalulattujen Vaellus”, will appear on the album, and it gives listeners a taste of what to expect for the group’s sophomore full length. The band’s
