Finnish heavy metal pioneers Zero Nine have released new material after more than two decades. The single “Dreaming” is out on music streaming services today on September 9, 2026.
“We’d been talking for a long time about wanting to release something new. Talk of a Zero Nine book came up a year and a half ago, and with that, the idea of releasing a couple of new songs began to take shape. We came across a newspaper article about a new record label in Oulu and got in touch with them.” says the band’s drummer Mikko Korpela explaining the band’s return to the studio.
Zero Nine now has a rougher, edgier sound that connects the band’s roots to the present day. Founded in Kuusamo, Finland as early as 1978, the band has come a long way—from Oulu to England to the Jääli’s Studio Vanhatie. In addition to the single release, fans can learn about the band’s journey through the book Zero Nine (Like), written by Tero Karjalainen and set to be published on September 17, 2026.
Listen to the single on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, YouTube Music etc.): https://push.fm/fl/zeronine-dreaming
Tracklist / Info:
- Dreaming – FI6PR2600042
- Shake Off The Hound – FI6PR2600043
Composers: Timo Käsmä & Kepa Salmirinne
Lyrics: Edu Kettunen
Arrangement: Jarkko Viinamäki, Mikko Korpela, Timo Käsmä
Producer: Jarkko Viinamäki
The years show in a good way in the band’s new music. “Dreaming” is a multifaceted ballad carried by the band’s vibrant playing and singer Kepa Salmirinne’s powerful vocals. The B-side showcases the band’s edgier side, which has truly come into its own. “Shake Off The Hound” hits the listener’s ears with a convincing intensity that reflects the band’s 48-year journey.
“Zero Nine is a long-standing band that has sometimes been categorized as one thing or another, but we can’t be compared to anything else. We have our own style and sound, which has evolved over the years. There are many songwriters in the band, so we don’t get stuck in a rut. Over the years, we’ve released all kinds of music, but for us, the category has always been Zero Nine.” drummer Korpela explains.
The band continues to perform with nearly its original lineup. Korpela joined as drummer even before the release of their debut album, Visions, Scenes and Dreams, in 1982, and Jarski Jaakkola joined as bassist in 2002. The band’s albums have been produced by Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan as well as T.T. Oksala, and production is now in the hands of Jarkko Viinamäki from Oulu, whom Korpela credits.
“At some point, T.T. Oksala and I managed to find our own sound. Time brings all kinds of positive things, and our style has evolved over the years. Now we’ve managed to capture that on record in an exceptionally good way. Working in the studio was inspiring, and Jarkko and I have mutual trust.
‘Dreaming’ and ‘Shake Off The Hound’ originated from demo sessions recorded 10 years ago and were based on rough drafts by guitarist Timo Käsmä. There is more material in the works.” the drummer Korpela hints at more to come.
“Around the time the Zero Nine book is released, we’ll be playing a few shows—at least at Tavastia (Helsinki), in Oulu, and in Kuusamo. These songs were the first ones we worked on, but there’s more material to come. The vibe during the studio sessions was really great, and things went smoothly with Jarkko. So if things keep going like this, we’ll be making some pretty relentless music in the future, too.”
The single is being released by Oulu-based Palabell Records and distributed by Playground Music Finland.
Zero Nine @ Encyclopaedia Metallum
Zero Nine Wikipedia page (In Finnish)
