The circle is closing. Today, THE HALO EFFECT unveils the fifth and final song from their highly anticipated cover EP We Are Shadows, released today. Each member of the band selected a personal favorite and classic track to reinterpret, and this last choice comes from drummer Daniel Svensson.
Svensson’s pick is a heartfelt tribute to Gothenburg legends Broder Daniel – their 2003 alternative pop anthem ‘Shoreline’.
Needless to say, THE HALO EFFECT have made the song entirely their own, delivering a powerful and emotional rendition where frontman Mikael Stanne once again shines, seamlessly blending clean vocals with his unmistakable growls.
Reflecting on his choice, Daniel Svensson comments: “Broder Daniel were one of the bands that created the Gothenburg indie-pop scene in the late ’90s. There are several parallels to the ‘Gothenburg Sound’ — both scenes were driven by a strong DIY ethos and comradeship while gathering international attention.”
Swedish melodic death metal collective THE HALO EFFECT continue to reveal tracks from their forthcoming cover EP We Are Shadows, out November 21.
Each band member has chosen a personal favorite song to reinterpret, and this time it’s guitarist Niclas Engelin’s turn. His choice: the 1985 classic ‘Dance With The Devil’ by the legendary “supergroup” PHENOMENA, featuring Glenn Hughes, Mel Galley (Whitesnake), and Cozy Powell, among others.
THE HALO EFFECT’s version transforms the iconic track into a crushing, melodic storm — with Mikael Stanne’s ferocious growls and the band’s trademark guitar-driven intensity breathing new life into the timeless song.
Niclas Engelin recalls the song’s lasting impact: “I got hit by lightning in the 7th grade when I got to borrow the album by Phenomena from my friend Emil Olsen. The song Dance With The Devil struck me hard, and I recorded the whole album on cassette — which I played into dust.”
We Are Shadowswill feature unique reinterpretations personally chosen by each member of THE HALO EFFECT, showcasing the diverse influences behind one of Sweden’s most acclaimed modern metal acts.
THE HALO EFFECT will join German metal outfit HEAVEN SHALL BURN along with The Black Dahlia Murder and Frozen Soul on tour early next year. Check out the dates:
27.02.2026 DE Hamburg – Inselpark Arena 28.02.2026 DE Köln – Palladium 01.03.2026 NL Tilburg – Poppodium 013 03.03.2026 FR Villeurbanne – Le Transbordeur 04.03.2026 FR Paris – Élysée Montmartre 05.03.2026 BE Bruxelles – Ancienne Belgique 06.03.2026 DE Stuttgart – Porsche-Arena 07.03.2026 DE Wiesbaden – Schlachthof 08.03.2026 CH Zürich – Halle 622 10.03.2026 IT Trezzo sull’Adda – Live Club 11.03.2026 LU Esch-sur-Alzette – Rockhal Main Hall 13.03.2026 DE Berlin – Columbiahalle 14.03.2026 DE Jena – Sparkassen-Arena 15.03.2026 CZ Brno – Sono Centrum 17.03.2026 HU Budapest – Barba Negra Csepel 18.03.2026 PL Kraków – Klub Studio 19.03.2026 AT Vienna – Gasometer Raiffeisen Halle 20.03.2026 DE Dresden – Messe Halle 1 21.03.2026 DE München – Zenith
Swedish metal powerhouse THE HALO EFFECT return with their electrifying new single – a blistering take on WASP’s 1984 anthem ‘I Wanna Be Somebody’. The track, handpicked by guitar hero Jesper Strömblad, marks the band’s third cover version and continues their celebration of iconic heavy metal influences.
Alongside the single, the band proudly announce that these reinterpretations will culminate in a brand-new EP, We Are Shadows, set for release on November 21. The new single is accompanied by a striking visualizer, further amplifying the raw energy of the track.
Jesper Strömblad reflects on the choice of song: “WASP’s aggressive sound and eccentric stage presence has always been fun. The shock of songs like ‘I Fuck Like a Beast’ and fun anthems like ‘I Wanna Be Somebody,’ and ‘L.O.V.E. Machine,’ are powerful and heavy. Extreme and dramatic, controversial and fun, WASP’s ‘I Wanna Be Somebody’, off their debut album, was my first introduction into the band”
With ‘I Wanna Be Somebody’, THE HALO EFFECT once again channel their roots while shaping their own sonic path—setting the stage for We Are Shadows this fall.
The EP will be released digitally and on a limited vinyl version. The track list is as follows:
1. How The Gods Kill 2. If You Were Here 3. I Wanna Be Somebody 4. Dance With The Devil 5. Shoreline
THE HALO EFFECT will join German metal outfit HEAVEN SHALL BURN along with The Black Dahlia Murder and Frozen Soul on tour early next year. Check out the dates:
27.02.2026 DE Hamburg – Inselpark Arena 28.02.2026 DE Köln – Palladium 01.03.2026 NL Tilburg – Poppodium 013 03.03.2026 FR Villeurbanne – Le Transbordeur 04.03.2026 FR Paris – Élysée Montmartre 05.03.2026 BE Bruxelles – Ancienne Belgique 06.03.2026 DE Stuttgart – Porsche-Arena 07.03.2026 DE Wiesbaden – Schlachthof 08.03.2026 CH Zürich – Halle 622 10.03.2026 IT Trezzo sull’Adda – Live Club 11.03.2026 LU Esch-sur-Alzette – Rockhal Main Hall 13.03.2026 DE Berlin – Columbiahalle 14.03.2026 DE Jena – Sparkassen-Arena 15.03.2026 CZ Brno – Sono Centrum 17.03.2026 HU Budapest – Barba Negra Csepel 18.03.2026 PL Kraków – Klub Studio 19.03.2026 AT Vienna – Gasometer Raiffeisen Halle 20.03.2026 DE Dresden – Messe Halle 1 21.03.2026 DE München – Zenith
As the summer festival season winds down after a string of unforgettable performances, THE HALO EFFECT surprise fans with a brand-new release — a cover of the beloved 1997 hit ‘If You Were Here’ by Swedish alternative pop-rock icons Kent (originally released in Swedish as “Om du var här”).
Handpicked by bassist Peter Iwers, the track is a heartfelt tribute to a band that helped shape Sweden’s musical landscape. The Halo Effect’s rendition blends Mikael Stanne’s rich, emotive clean vocals with a hypnotic, pounding bass line and soaring melodic guitars, honoring the song’s essence while infusing it with the band’s signature sound.
Peter Iwers reflects: “Kent was a band that left a mark on many, weaving together pop rock and synth in a way that deeply moved me. This song remains one of my personal favorites. Out of respect for their artistry, we aimed to create our own version without straying too far from the soul of the original.”
Is there more in store…..?
THE HALO EFFECT live: 29.08. RO Campulung Muscel – Posada Rock Festival 30.08. GER Schramberg-Tennenbrom – Metalacker Festival 21.11. BU Sofia – Joy Station 22.11. TUR Istanbul – If Besiktas 25.11. JP Osaka – Bigcat 26.11. JP Tokio – Toyosu Pit 29.11. FI Joensuu – Unholy Winterfest
After the highly successful release of their second album March of the Unheard in January 2025 and their celebrated first European headlining tour, melodic death metal stars THE HALO EFFECT return with a powerful interpretation of DANZIG’s iconic track ‘How the Gods Kill’—originally released on the classic 1992 album Danzig III: How the Gods Kill.
This cover version was handpicked by front man Mikael Stanne, who shares: “During my teenage years the darkness and allure of the early Danzig albums introduced me to a whole new way of thinking about what rock and metal could be. Glenn’s vocals and lyrics were also incredibly influential on this aspiring vocalist/lyricist.”
The band brings a new weight and urgency to the track while preserving the brooding mystique of the original. With soaring guitar harmonies, thunderous rhythm, and Stanne’s commanding vocals, THE HALO EFFECT reinvents the classic through the lens of the Gothenburg sound.
THE HALO EFFECT will hit the road for summer festivals and some club shows. Here are the dates: 26.06. GR Thessaloniki – Rockwave Festival 28.06. FI Helsinki – Tuska Festival 17.07. DE Neunkirchen Vlyn – Dong Open Air 18.07. DE Weil am Rhein – Baden in Blut 07.08. ES Alicante – Leyendas del Rock 08.08. GER Büdesheim – Krawall ‘O’ Open Air 09.08. CZ Jaromer – Brutal Assault 10.08. SLO Bratislava – Majestic Music Club 12.08. LUX Luxembourg – Dem Atelier (**Machine Head support) 13.08. GER Dinkelsbühl – Summer Breeze 14.08. GER Lindau – Club Vaudeville 15.08. GER Sulingen – Reload Festival 16.08. GER Cudrefin – Rock the Lakes Festival 29.08. RO Campulung Muscel – Posada Rock Festival 30.08. GER Schramberg-Tennenbrom – Metalacker Festival 21.11. BU Sofia – Joy Station 22.11. TUR Istanbul – If Besiktas 25.11. JP Osaka – Bigcat 26.11. JP Tokio – Toyosu Pit
After proving to be a force to be reckoned with through the critical and commercial triumph of their latest album March Of The Unheardand a massively successful, sold-out European tour, Swedish melodic death metal powerhouse THE HALO EFFECT return with a brand new offering.
The band proudly releases ‘Not Yet Broken’ — a heavy, hypnotic, and deeply melodic anthem that until now was exclusively available as a Japan-only bonus track. Fueled by crushing riffs, haunting melodies, and the unmistakable energy that defines THE HALO EFFECT’s sound, ‘Not Yet Broken’ stands as a testament to the band’s unwavering creative fire.
Guitarist and main songwriter Niclas Engelin comments:”I think we are fortunate to have this flood of creativity going since day one. Here is another song we have been waiting for you all to hear, it’s been talked about for a loooong time and now the time is right to unleash this riff/melody – monster for you all! This song was written during the long inspiring sessions we had for the album Days Of The Lost. We hope you will enjoy this song as much as we do, let’s bring it on the set list for this summers festivals!!”
Talking about summer festivals…catch THE HALO EFFECT live at following festivals and club shows:
26.06. GR Thessaloniki – Rockwave Festival 28.06. FI Helsinki – Tuska Festival 17.07. DE Neunkirchen Vlyn – Dong Open Air 18.07. DE Weil am Rhein – Baden in Blut 07.08. ES Alicante – Leyendas del Rock 08.08. GER Büdesheim – Krawall ‘O’ Open Air 09.08. CZ Jaromer – Brutal Assault 10.08. SLO Bratislava – Majestic Music Club 12.08. LUX Luxembourg – Dem Atelier (**Machine Head support) 13.08. GER Dinkelsbühl – Summer Breeze 14.08. GER Lindau – Club Vaudeville 15.08. GER Sulingen – Reload Festival 16.08. GER Cudrefin – Rock the Lakes Festival 29.08. RO Campulung Muscel – Posada Rock Festival 30.08. GER Schramberg-Tennenbrom – Metalacker Festival 21.11. BU Sofia – Joy Station 22.11. TUR Istanbul – If Besiktas 25.11. JP Osaka – Bigcat 26.11. JP Tokio – Toyosu Pit
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