FALLEN SANCTUARY have just announced their second album, “The Gathering Of Dreams”, due for release on September 18, following the success of Terranova.
The new album from the duo Georg Neuhauser (Serenity) and Marco Pastorino (Serenity, Temperance) will be released completely independently.
Ukrainian modern progressive metal leaders JINJER unveil a brand new live video for their steamrolling anthem “Tantrum,” the opening track of their latest full-length studio album, Duél, released in February 2025 via Napalm Records. The video was recorded on February 28 at the sold-out Sentrum Scene in Oslo, where JINJER delivered another top notch performance on their World Duél Tour.
The footage captures JINJER at the absolute top of their game, showcasing the unmatched intensity that sets them apart from most bands in today’s modern metal scene. While crushing grooves and razor-sharp instrumentation drive the performance forward, frontwoman Tatiana Shmayluk commands the stage with a magnetic presence, fully immersed in every second and every note of the track.
JINJER’s breaking live demonstration arrives only a few weeks before the band’s return to North America for their first headlining tour since 2024. The run will see the four-piece perform in 37 cities across the United States and Canada, joined by Crystal Lake and Entheos as special guests. The tour also includes appearances at major festivals such as Vans Warped Tour in Washington, D.C., and Long Beach, California, as well as Inkcarceration, Upheaval Festival, and Festival Au Lac, alongside a string of headlining shows across the continent.
“After a hugely successful run across Europe, Latin America and Indonesia, we’re beyond excited to bring the Duél album cycle back to North America for our first headline tour there since 2024,” says JINJER bassist Eugene Abdukhanov. “This final tour in support of Duél feels like the perfect way to close this chapter, and we’re coming with our biggest production to date to make these shows truly special. We can’t wait to bring this experience across the U.S. and Canada, reconnect with longtime fans and welcome new faces into the JINJER family. With Crystal Lake and Entheos joining us, this lineup is going to be absolutely crushing from start to finish.”
See below for all JINJER live dates and visit jinjer-metal.com/tour for tickets and additional information.
JINJER LIVE 2026
NORTH AMERICAN DUÉL TOUR plus special guests CRYSTAL LAKE ENTHEOS 05.06.26 CA – Ottawa, ON / Bronson Centre ** 06.06.26 CA – Granby, QC / Festival Au Lac 07.06.26 CA – Toronto, ON / Danforth Music Hall ** 09.06.26 US – Boston, MA / Big Night Live 10.06.26 US – Wallingford, CT / Dome at Oakdale 12.06.26 US – New York, NY / Palladium Times Square 13.06.26 US – Washington, DC / Warped Tour 14.06.26 US – Philadelphia, PA / The Fillmore 16.06.26 US – Pittsburgh, PA / Roxian 17.06.26 US – Charlotte, NC / The Fillmore 18.06.26 US – Atlanta, GA / Buckhead Theater 19.06.26 US – Nashville, TN / Brooklyn Bowl 21.06.26 US – Orlando, FL / House of Blues 23.06.26 US – Houston, TX / House of Blues 24.06.26 US – Dallas, TX / House of Blues 25.06.26 US – San Antonio, TX / Aztec Theatre 27.06.26 US – Austin, TX / Emo’s 28.06.26 US – Oklahoma City, OK / Diamond Ballroom 30.06.26 US – Tempe, AZ / Marquee 01.07.26 US – San Diego, CA / House of Blues 02.07.26 US – Los Angeles, CA / The Wiltern 03.07.26 US – San Francisco, CA / The Fillmore 05.07.26 US – Sacramento, CA / Ace of Spades 07.07.26 US – Portland, OR / Roseland Ballroom 08.07.26 CA – Vancouver, BC / Commodore Ballroom 09.07.26 US – Tacoma, WA / Temple Theatre 10.07.26 US – Boise, ID / Revolution 13.07.26 US – Des Moines, IA / Val Air Ballroom 14.07.26 US – Madison, WI / The Sylvee 15.07.26 US – St. Louis, MO / The Pageant 17.07.26 US – Mansfield, OH / Inkcarceration 18.07.26 US – Grand Rapids, MI / Upheaval 19.07.26 US – Chicago, IL / House of Blues 21.07.26 US – Denver, CO / Summit ** 22.07.26 US – Albuquerque, NM / Revel ** 24.07.26 US – Las Vegas, NV / House of Blues ** 25.07.26 US – Long Beach, CA / Warped Tour
** w/out CRYSTAL LAKE
Looking ahead, JINJER will return to Europe in fall 2026 as special guests on Spiritbox’s Tsunami Sea UK + EU Tour 2026. The run spans 18 shows across the UK and mainland Europe, kicking off September 12 in Glasgow and wrapping up October 9 in Paris. Bringing together two of modern metal’s most forward-thinking bands, the tour promises a powerful pairing on stage. From groove-driven heaviness to soaring atmospheres and unrelenting intensity, the lineup delivers a night built to shake venues to their foundations.
TSUNAMI SEA EU + UK TOUR as Special Guest for Spiritbox w/ Dying Wish 12.09.26 UK – Glasgow / SEC Centre Hall 3 14.09.26 UK – Nottingham / Motorpoint Arena 16.09.26 UK – Manchester / Co Op Live 17.09.26 UK – Cardiff / Utilita Arena 19.09.26 UK – London / OVO Arena Wembley 22.09.26 DE – Berlin / UFO im Velodrom 23.09.26 PL – Gliwice / Gliwice Arena 25.09.26 CZ – Prague / Forum Karlín 26.09.26 AT – Vienna / Gasometer 28.09.26 CH – Zurich / Halle 622 29.09.26 DE – Munich / Zenith 30.09.26 DE – Frankfurt / Jahrhunderthalle 02.10.26 DE – Hamburg / Sporthalle 03.10.26 NL – Amsterdam / AFAS Live 04.10.26 DE – Dusseldorf / Mitsubishi Electric Halle 06.10.26 LU – Luxembourg / Rockhal 08.10.26 BE – Antwerp / Lotto Arena 09.10.26 FR – Paris / La Seine Musicale
Finnish symphonic metal band AMBERIAN DAWN reveal the third mesmerizing single from their upcoming album, Temptation’s Gates. Releasing June 26, 2026 via Napalm Records, it is their first offering with new singer Nicole Willerton. “Unchained” shows how different the band sounds with her on vocals: the single has the new leading lady unleash her full potential in powerful growls contrasting her seraphic vocals—a first for AMBERIAN DAWN! By taking a bold step forward, the Finnish quintet has created something different but equally fitting to their style. In this, they are truly unchained.
Tuomas Seppälä about “Unchained”: “It was exciting to start writing a song built around a true, traditional guitar riff. Over the years with the band, I haven’t focused much on that kind of classic riff-driven approach—but this time, it felt exactly right. The main riff came together quickly and naturally, and the rest of the song just fell into place around it, carried by the feeling that riff created. The track is very dynamic and has many different elements, and it challenged our vocalist on multiple levels. She handled it with ease brilliantly and delivered an outstanding performance. This could easily have grown into a much longer song, but I wanted to keep the structure focused and tight. The song absolutely demanded a world-class guitar solo—and Emil delivered it with complete confidence and excellence.”
Nicole Willerton about “Unchained”: “‘Unchained’ is a song that talks about breaking free from inner pain. It describes the struggle of feeling trapped by fear and judgement. The song challenges the tendency to degrade others out of fear or insecurity and reminds us that we are all human and need to be able to be ourselves. The song explores the importance of finding freedom and letting go of our demons.”
Rising from the home of symphonic metal are AMBERIAN DAWN: the Finnish five-piece is set to open Temptation’s Gates, their new album, out on June 26, 2026 via Napalm Records. The band’s first release with new singer Nicole Willerton takes them onto a more modern, occasionally even surprisingly rough path. With it, AMBERIAN DAWN, led by founder, guitarist, and main composer Tuomas Seppälä, slowly emancipate themselves from being “just” the band who—gloriously!—covered Swedish pop legends ABBA with their previous album, Take a Chance – A Metal Tribute to ABBA (2022).
Infusing their epic keyboard sounds with guitar-driven melodic metal, AMBERIAN DAWN reach into a world unknown and prove their versatility while their catchy anthems remain strong and charming as ever. Temptation’s Gates has the band determined for a future sparkling temptingly bright—and they’re ready to step through that gate.
Tuomas Seppälä about Temptation’s Gates: “When I started working with our new singer, I felt the same kind of excitement I had years ago when I began creating our debut album back in 2007 and 2008. At that time, AMBERIAN DAWN were still newcomers to the band world, even though we were already experienced musicians. With Temptation’s Gates, I felt that same spark of creating something new for the first time in a long while. I hadn’t composed many songs yet when I began collaborating with our new vocalist. Most of the material came together surprisingly fast once I realized how easy and natural it was to work with her. I was deeply inspired by Nicole’s enthusiasm, dedication, and efficiency. I truly feel that the band has been reborn with her joining us. Musically, our style has evolved once again, perhaps moving slightly back toward a heavier, more metal-driven direction. At the same time, elements of our classic sound and identity are naturally still present. In many ways, creating this album felt like going back to my roots. For the first time in a long while, I also took on a bigger role as a guitarist. I focused more on crafting guitar riffs, played roughly half of the guitar leads on the album, and even performed one full guitar solo myself.”
Nicole Willerton about Temptation’s Gates: “Temptation’s Gates is the first album I’ve sung on and recorded with AMBERIAN DAWN, and it has been a beautiful experience. While writing the lyrics, each song was inspired by feelings, memories, and moments that were especially prominent during the creation of the album. Writing the lyrics felt like diving into the subconscious, bringing these emotions to the surface. It was wonderful to explore the creative process of arranging the backing vocals. I especially love how AMBERIAN DAWN’s music makes strong use of backing vocals, helping to create a fuller, richer sound around the lead vocals. It’s definitely a fiery album that combines a broad spectrum of emotional depths, ranging from love and melancholy to darker elements such as fear and inner struggles. A recurring message throughout the album is to embrace one’s true desires and to accept and acknowledge one’s honest feelings.”
AMBERIAN DAWN introduce their new voice with the album’s title track. “Temptation’s Gates” sweeps in fast, filled to the brim with epic keyboards and charming storytelling. The band’s increased determination equally seeps through “The Vision Of Dreaming”, whose poignant riff spirals right into long-term memory and which first hints at Willerton being more than an angelic fairy gently guiding listeners through languorous realms. The following invocation to the “Moon” turns up the speed to blast beat intensity, remaining magical up until its unexpected end. The final screams fittingly reverberate in “Unchained”, which has the new leading lady unleash her full potential in powerful growls contrasting her seraphic vocals—a first for AMBERIAN DAWN! It is here at the very latest that Temptation’s Gates demonstrates that this is no longer ABBA, but that the Finnish quintet has boldly created something different but equally as fitting. “Eternal Flame” and “Life is Art” are epic hymns with beautiful guitar work, further having AMBERIAN DAWN rewrite their destiny. Another testimony of the band’s changed direction, “The Night is Waiting for Me” makes heads nod and feet tap from the first note with its captivatingly modern sound infused with a dark metal atmosphere. More in line with previous work, the ballad “Undying Colours” transports listeners to a multilayered dreamscape that is, just as “The Garden” frames it, self-directed. “Phantasmagoria” wraps up the album as an irresistibly danceable track, leading the way for symphonic metal to become more modern while losing none of its whimsical grandeur.
Temptation’s Gates tracklisting:
Temptation’s Gates
The Vision of Dreaming
Moon
Unchained
Eternal Flame
Life is Art
This Night is Waiting for Me
Undying Colours
The Garden
Phantasmagoria
AMBERIAN DAWN are: Tuomas Seppälä – Keyboards, Guitar Nicole Willerton – Vocals Emil Pohjalainen – Guitar Joonas Pykälä-aho – Drums Jukka Hoffren – Bass
Multi-GRAMMY® award-nominated New York heavy metal titans Anthrax – Scott Ian (guitar), Charlie Benante (drums), Frank Bello (bass), Joey Belladonna (vocals), and Jonathan Donais (guitar) – will unleash their long-awaited 12th full-length studio album Cursum Perficioon September 18th via Nuclear Blast Records and Megaforce Records (North America). It marks the band’s first record in ten years since 2016’s For All Kings, which debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. Cursum Perficio will be available in various physical configurations to pre-order/pre-save; click HERE. The phrase Cursum Perficio is Latin for “My journey has come to an end,”“My journey is over,” or “I complete my journey.” It proves apropos for such a complete body of work.
For Cursum Perficio’s first single and video, ‘It’s For The Kids‘, the quintet bulldoze the way for the album’s impact. It’s a classic Anthrax ripper locked and loaded with buzzsaw-sharp riffs, explosive drumming, and a howling and head-banging hook. It undoubtedly has all the makings of a future live staple. Listen HERE. See the quotes below from the band about the single and album.
Anthrax have now released a high-octane video for ‘It’s For The Kids‘, harking back to the infamous video for their 1985 smash hit ‘Madhouse‘.
The band dove into recording Cursum Perficio in earnest during 2022, working out of Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 in Los Angeles. They carefully pieced together what would be this magnum opus, mining their history with reverence, delivering on fan expectations tenfold, and broadening the scope of their signature sound. Produced by Jay Ruston and Anthrax, the result is an album that’s as angry, aggressive, and alive as their most celebrated fare.
“It was quite a journey from the inception of this album to its completion,” Ian says. “We were supposed to make this in 2020, but the universe had other plans for everyone. After the Pandemic, we got to be a band again. When we started working on the record, we were just happy to be in a room together. It was so exciting that it was like being reborn in a way. All of that energy and emotion went into the music. The fear of being forced out of our lives and the joy of coming back together are present. The title ‘Cursum Perficio’ feels like ANTHRAX. It resembled what we went through to get to the point of finishing the record.”
“There was an awful lot of growth between Worship Music in 2011 and CURSUM PERFICIO,”Benante elaborated. “This album is a culmination of everything we’ve learned. I was watching a Marilyn Monroe documentary, and I saw ‘Cursum Perficio’ written on a tile in her last home. When I found out what the phrase meant, it immediately clicked with me. We aren’t saying this is our last record, but our journey has come to an end. I believe we’ve completed the task.”
“We had to make Fistful Of Metal and Spreading The Disease to be able to write Among The Living,”Ian goes on. “In the same respect, it took Worship Music and For All Kings for us to be able to write CURSUM PERFICIO. I very much compare this record to Among The Living.”
“We left it all on the table,” agreed Bello. “We really know who we are as ANTHRAX, what turns us on, and what we need to do. I don’t think anybody knows what’s next, but we’re hungrier than ever. From here on out, we’re going to go full throttle for every fucking minute.”
“A friend of mine said, ‘It’s For The Kids’is a straight-up love letter to your fans,’” Ian says. “That’s exactly what I wanted it to be. The album needed a four-minute thrash song that harkened back to our first era. Whether it’s the aggression or the big chorus, it represents all the best parts of ANTHRAX in a very angry four-minute package. For the video, we wanted to throw back to our ‘Madhouse’ video–thematically it just made sense and this idea opened the door for us to share the experience with our fans. For all of us!”
“The video for ‘It’s For the Kids’ turned out really well,” Benante says. “I don’t necessarily like doing videos and this one had elements of things that I really love. There were fans in it, they showed up, they enjoyed it, it made me enjoy the video just seeing them enjoy it. Hearing the song for the first time, their reaction to it, and just the interaction with them was just great. I think the director did a great job on it. It’s kind of a throwback to our first ever video, ‘Madhouse.’ So I think fans are gonna see it and think ‘oh look at that, I see what they did.’ But yeah, great song and a great video. ‘It’s For the Kids’ is one of the songs that I felt was so strong, and the riff behind it and the rhythm behind it was almost like a tug of war, it’s like a push pull. It has this tension to it where the drums are just playing at a high pace speed, and the guitars are doing pretty much quarter notes with it. And the drums are just going full speed ahead. One of my favorite songs on the record and one of my favorite riffs. I really think this song is a gift to ANTHRAX fans who have been with us throughout the years. This basically is ANTHRAX at its best. Fast paced, thrashing, melodic fucking metal.”
“When I hear certain tracks, I immediately go, ‘I want to do this song. It might have a shot,” Belladonna notes. “Even the first time I started singing a tune like ‘Madhouse,’ I figured it was going to be a strong one. You just know. There’s a lot of variety to each of our records. To me, ‘It’s For The Kids’ is nice, straight-up ANTHRAX. It has a lot of fire and a punch to it. Vocally, it’s really cooking. It was definitely fun to hammer down on this one and put a lot of drive into it.”
Donais adds, “‘It’s For The Kids’ is a right to the point thrasher. It’s fast, aggressive, catchy and definitely going to be a fun one live. I love the ‘madhouse’ inspired throwback vibe of this video. Involving the fans and capturing their reactions to a new song adds some energy that really stands out.”
“I’m psyched for people to hear ‘It’s For The Kids!’”Bello comments. “This is a heavy, driving song with a big hook chorus-a combination of classic ANTHRAX and current- I can’t wait to play it live! Had a (cold!) blast filming the video too. It’s a great, energy packed video with a bunch of amazing ANTHRAX fans having a good time on a freezing day in Pennsylvania. The metal kept us all warm.”
Their journey has brought them to Cursum Perficio – a powerful, pummeling, and poetic milestone in Anthrax’s 45-year career.
The CURSUM PERFICIO track listing is as follows:
01. Persistence of Memory 02. The Long Goodbye 03. It’s For the Kids 04. Everybody’s Got A Plan 05. The Edge Of Perfection 06. Infectious 07. NYC93 08. Cursum Perficio 09. T.O.M.B 10. Watch It Go 11. My Victory
HELLMETALL unveil “Gemona Btg. Doesn’t Exist Anymore”, the second single taken from their forthcoming album “Mgla“, set for release on September 4th, 2026, via Rockshots Records.
Emerging from the isolated mountain valley of Resia, on the border between Italy, Austria, and Slovenia, HELLMETALL continue to forge a deeply personal vision of Thrash/Death Metal rooted in memory, identity, and cultural heritage. What sets the band apart is not only the violent fusion of razor-sharp Thrash riffs, Death Metal aggression, and dark melodic undertones but also their uncompromising decision to perform entirely in Resian – the ancient Slavic language still spoken in Val Resia.
Far beyond a stylistic choice, the use of Resian represents the very core of HELLMETALL’s artistic identity. Through this endangered and highly distinctive language, the band forges local history into something visceral and immediate, preserving the voice, memory, and spirit of their homeland through extreme music. As vocalist and founder Daniele Micelli explains, “the project was born from the desire to merge aggressive metal with the folk traditions and cultural heritage of the valley where I grew up“.
Musically, “Gemona Btg. Doesn’t Exist Anymore” perfectly embodies the band’s evolution toward a darker, heavier, and more mature sound. While early HELLMETALL material incorporated stronger folk elements and violin arrangements, “Mgla” pushes the band deeper into Death and Black Metal territories while retaining the melodic sensibility inherited from the musical traditions of Val Resia. The result is a sound defined by crushing riff work, relentless rhythmic intensity, and haunting melodic passages, balancing violence and memorability with remarkable authenticity.
Lyrically, the single continues HELLMETALL’s exploration of the traumatic events that scarred the mountains and borderlands surrounding their homeland during the First and Second World Wars. “Gemona Btg. Doesn’t Exist Anymore” is dedicated to the Alpini soldiers of the 8th Regiment Julia Battalion Gemona. After surviving the Albanian campaign against Greek forces, the battalion was struck by tragedy when the steamship Galilea, carrying the soldiers back toward Italy, was sunk by a British submarine. Most drowned at sea, while many of the survivors were later sent to die on the Russian front.
This historical and emotional depth lies at the heart of “Mgla” – a record whose title, meaning “Fog,” reflects the oppressive atmosphere surrounding the stories narrated throughout the album. Across its tracks, HELLMETALL channel the brutality of war, the oral memories passed down through generations, and the harsh reality of mountain life into an uncompromising sonic assault sung entirely in the language of their ancestors.
Following the release of the album’s title track “Mgla” earlier this year, “Gemona Btg. Doesn’t Exist Anymore” further confirms HELLMETALL as one of the most distinctive and culturally unique acts emerging from the contemporary extreme metal underground.
With an intense live activity already extending beyond Italy into Eastern Europe, including appearances at Austria’s Kaltenbach Open Air and a dedicated Polish mini-tour later in 2026, HELLMETALL are steadily expanding their presence while remaining fiercely connected to the identity and traditions of Val Resia.
HELLMETALL lineup (“Mgla” era / until October 2025):
Daniele Micelli: Vocals
Damiano Biasutto: Guitar
Matteo Cameran: Guitar
Luca Fumagalli: Bass
Gabriele Barbarino: Drums
Current lineup:
Daniele Micelli: Vocals
Damiano Biasutto: Guitar
Matteo Cameran: Guitar
Luca Fumagalli: Bass
Federico Zuin: Drums
About: HELLMETALL is a Thrash/Death Metal band from Resia (Udine), a remote mountain valley located at the crossroads between Italy, Austria, and Slovenia. Since their formation, the band has developed a distinctive artistic identity by combining aggressive extreme metal with the cultural heritage and historical memory of their homeland. Their most recognizable trait is the use of Resian – the ancient Slavic language spoken in Val Resia – as the exclusive language for their lyrics, giving their music a unique and deeply authentic character.
Musically, HELLMETALL blend the violence and speed of Thrash Metal with the heaviness of Death Metal, enriched by dark melodic textures inspired by the blend of traditions of their valley. Originally featuring stronger folk elements and violin arrangements, the band has progressively evolved toward a heavier and darker sonic direction, incorporating stronger Death and Black Metal influences while preserving the melodic sensibility that has always defined their sound.
The lyrical concept behind HELLMETALL is deeply rooted in the history of Val Resia and the surrounding border territories. Their songs recount real events connected to the First and Second World Wars, drawing inspiration from local memories, stories passed down through generations, and the personal experiences of their ancestors. Through their uncompromising musical approach and the evocative power of the Resian language, the band transforms historical trauma and mountain folklore into a raw and visceral extreme metal experience.
HELLMETALL released their debut album “Sa Naso Semjo” in 2015, establishing the foundations of their aggressive and culturally distinctive sound. In early 2026, the band unveiled “Mgła“, the title track from their forthcoming second studio album “Mgla“, scheduled for release on September 4th, 2026. The new material marks a significant evolution in both songwriting and production, presenting a darker, more mature, and focused incarnation of the band.
Alongside an intense live activity throughout Italy, HELLMETALL has increasingly expanded its presence across Eastern Europe. Their 2026 schedule includes an Eastern European tour, an appearance at Austria’s Kaltenbach Open Air festival, and a dedicated Polish mini-tour later in the year, further strengthening the band’s growing reputation within the underground extreme metal scene.
More info: https://www.rockshots.eu https://www.instagram.com/hellmetall_official/ https://www.facebook.com/HellMetAll.Resia
Progeny of Sun released their second full-length album, “Prophets of the Void,” in September 2025 and immediately began working on new material. Although the third album is still in the composition phase, the band decided to give a small taste of what’s to come in the form of a single. The new track ‘Unified Light’, along with its music video, is released today and it’s available here: https://push.fm/fl/progeny-of-sun-unified-light
The third album is planned for release sometime in 2027, and the new songs dive even deeper into the depths of dark death metal in the band’s signature genre-blending style. Alongside writing the new album, the band continues to perform actively, and at the end of May they will embark on their first small international tour, which includes Finland as well as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Guitarist Joni comments: “Our drummer Juha was staring out the window on a stormy evening, thinking to himself, ‘It would be nice if, just for once, I could play some fun grooves in at least one song.’ As composers, Jaakko and I somehow picked up on Juha’s thoughts and let him loose in the studio on his own. The result was a track with nothing but drums recorded, without any bigger vision behind it. ‘We’ll figure something out for this,” I said confidently, and tuned my guitar even lower than usual. Tuomo (the bassist) struggled with the new tuning, remarking, ‘Isn’t my job supposed to be playing these low frequencies?’ Niko (the vocalist) nodded along with a grin, an orange drink in his hand: ‘Boys, It’s kickin’ really nicely’”. I assume he was talking about the song.”
–Composed by Joni Kiviniemi, Jaakko Hautamäki, Juha Peura, Tuomo Tolkki –Lyrics by Niko Aromaa –Mixed and mastered by Jonathan Mazzeo –Single cover by Joni Kiviniemi & Niko Aromaa –ISRC: FI3FC2699901
Finno-Baltic Havoc Tour 2026: (w/ Denominate)
28.5. RockNeck, Jyväskylä, Finland 29.5. Lepakkomies, Helsinki, Finland 30.5. Konservatoorium, Viljandi, Estonia 31.5. The Lodge, Riga, Latvia 2.6. Lemmy Music Club, Kaunas, Lithuania
BIOGRAPHY:
In the beginning, Progeny of Sun was a two-man band formed by Jaakko Hautamäki and Niko Aromaa. Jaakko was responsible for the instrumentals, mixing, and mastering, while Niko handled the vocals, lyrics, visuals, etc.
The songs Jaakko introduced were very versatile. Some had speed, some were slow, some painted a picture with their atmosphere, and some were more straightforward bangers. Despite the diversity in style, everything worked exceptionally well in tandem, and from this premise, the band started to develop and pave its own way forward.
To start with, Progeny of Sun created a 6-song self-titled EP and discovered that their music was met with great reception. The duo behind the band did all the mixing, mastering, videos, and artwork themselves. The project as a whole was very fun and rewarding to work on.
After the EP release, Jaakko and Niko began to think that something more was still needed. They still had a burning desire to spread their music around the world, but with just two people, it would have been impossible.
Subsequently, Jaakko found two local musicians from the Seinäjoki area: Joni Kiviniemi (guitar) and Juha Peura (drums). Joni and Juha were initially brought on board just to offer their vision and play their assigned instruments for new material. Soon, however, it began to feel like they were part of the family, and so it was decided that they would become full-fledged members of the squad and a part of the band’s story. Not long after, Tuomo Tolkki (bass) was also welcomed to join, and in a matter of a few months, the full lineup was formed.
The first release with the full lineup, a 3-track EP ‘Dark Wanderer’, was released in 2021. Next in line were the single releases ‘Worthless’ and ‘Anguish’, which were released in 2022. Thanks to the aforementioned experimental phase, Progeny of Sun has gained self-confidence and started to understand its own identity. The band worked hard on the debut album ‘Throne of Desolation’, which was released at the end of 2023. Progeny of Sun’s second album ‘Prophets of the Void’ was released in September 2025. Following their debut album, the band has identified their strengths, which are utilized and showcased even more prominently on the second album. The third album is currently in progress and is planned to be released sometime in 2027.
Line-up: Niko Aromaa – Vocals Jaakko Hautamäki – Guitar Joni Kiviniemi – Guitar Tuomo Tolkki – Bass Juha Peura – Drums
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
