On November 6th, SURMA will release their full-length debut, The Light Within, via Metal Blade Records. For a preview of the album, a video for the new single, “Until It Rains Again”, can be viewed at:

The previously released single, “Reveal The Light Within”, can be heard at: metalblade.com/surma – where The Light Within can be pre-ordered in various formats.

Soaring, dramatic and moving, The Light Within introduces Surma as one of the most riveting symphonic metal bands on the contemporary scene. Spread out across 13 tracks in 47 minutes, there is not a moment wasted as they weave their epic stories of optimism around music that is suitably gigantic but compressed into relatively short songs. “I think the real message of the album is to give hope to everyone, no matter what they are struggling with,” states vocalist Viktorie Surmøvá, best known for her work with Bohemian Metal Rhapsody.

Teaming up with guitarist/vocalist Heri Joensen of Týr, the band began in 2018 and spent most of 2019 writing, arranging and recording the music that would comprise their debut. Starting from vocal melodies and building the songs up around them, all are very dense, rich with orchestrations and searing guitar and propelled by driving rhythms. Alongside the core duo, the record features performances by Rens Bourgondiën on bass, drummer Andrey Ischenko (ex-Arkona), and Lars Vinther arranged most of the orchestrations with Joensen contributing a little to this side of recording too. Maintaining overall control over proceedings, Surmøvá and Joensen produced the record themselves in the guitarist’s home studio with the drums tracked in Moscow. With touring commitments with Týr and other interruptions, the recording process was broken up, but Joensen asserts it was a “walk in the park”, again confirming the chemistry that comes when the two work together. Looking ahead, the general positivity that exists around them is once more pushed to the fore. States Surmøvá: “I believe we can make something good in this world, and we can help people through hard times and inspire them to have hope in the future, and generally inspire a better mood and a better feeling in those who listen to our music.”

Artwork by: Guyla Havancsák and Cambier Julien.

The Light Within track-listing
1. Rendition
2. Reveal the Light Within
3. Like the River Flows
4. Fire and Wind
5. Desire
6. The City of Winds
7. The Selkie (Kópakonan)
8. Until It Rains Again
9. Emptiness (Is No More)
10. Cages of Rage
11. Downfall
12. Lost to Time
13. Deconstruction

Photo credit: Krystof Peterka

Metal Blade Records is proud to welcome SURMA to its worldwide roster! Founded in 2018 by Viktorie Surmová (Bohemian Metal Rhapsody) and Heri Joensen (Týr), Surma is symphonic, progressive heavy metal at its finest. Fans can expect the debut album from this group to be released in 2020 via Metal Blade Records.

Surma comments: “We are overjoyed to announce that we have signed a contract with Metal Blade Records for three albums. We have been working on the music for a year now and we are very satisfied with the results. We take this great opportunity very seriously and we look forward to unleashing our music upon the world.”

Viktorie Surmová is a member of the theater ensemble of Divadlo Na Vinohradech in Prague, where she performs in a play called “Její Pastrokyňa”. She has also collaborated with the Czech band Rosa Nocturna, singing on two separate singles, plus the whole album Za Hradbami Času (2017). Additionally, Viktorie was a founding member, lead singer and songwriter in the Czech band Surmata, who recorded a few singles in 2016. Since 2018, Viktorie has been part of Bohemian Metal Rhapsody, a very unique Czech metal project. She has also appeared as a guest singer for bands such as Drunk With Pain (on 2016′s Hail The Monsters), Victorius (on 2017′s Heart of the Phoenix), Kilmara (on 2018′s Across the Realm of Time), Cruadalach (on 2018′s Raised by Wolves), among many others.

Heri is a Faroese professional musician, educated at The Alternative Rhythmic Conservatory (D.A.R.K.) in Copenhagen in 2003. Starting in 2002, Heri has released 8 studio albums with Týr and one with his side project, Heljareyga. He was also featured on records by Ensiferum (2009′s From Afar), Wintersun (2012′s Time I, 2017′s The Forest Seasons) and Alestorm (2011′s Back Through Time).

For a preview of Viktorie and Heri’s new project, Surma, fans can check out the live video for the track “Like the River Flows” – featuring session members Kevin van den Heiligenberg (drums) and Jakub Janků (bass). Filmed at Barga Negra, Budapest and directed by Viktor Nagy & Péter Lerch of Mihaszna Film (facebook.com/mihasznafilm), “Like the River Flows” can be seen here: youtu.be/c-czY3LfX_o

Stay tuned for more Surma news coming soon!