After years of reimagining other artists’ songs, Nicole Alexis finally put her own stories front and center. We talked about her EP ‘Mirrors and Smoke’, vulnerability, independent artistry, Nashville and finding the confidence to trust her own voice.
More guitars. Less orchestration. Unexpected harsh vocals. And a new chapter that feels surprisingly natural.
We sat down with Amberian Dawn’s Tuomas Seppälä and Nicole Norton to talk about their new album ‘Temptation’s Gate’ (out this Friday June 26 with Napalm Records), Nicole joining the band, the journey that brought this new era to life and the future of the band. Make sure to catch their very first show together this Sunday at Tuska’s afterparty at On The Rocks!
Glasgow Kiss released their debut album ‘Down In Flames’ with Eclipse Records last year, and we sat down with the band to talk about the overwhelming response to the record, their unusual approach to production, the emotional story behind “One Last Time”, and how songwriting became therapy for vocalist Charlotte.
Kælan Mikla don’t see themselves as a band that created a world. They see themselves as people who were invited into one. At Ankea Festival 2026, we sat down with the Icelandic trio to talk about the long-awaited new album, stepping away from constant touring, their shared creative “hive mind”, and why Kælan Mikla has always felt like an ever-expanding universe rather than simply a band.
From almost quitting music to signing with Napalm Records and conquering their first European tour, Black Spikes have entered a remarkable new chapter.
We caught up with the entire band in Helsinki on the final night of their tour with Butcher Babies and Infected Rain to talk about their breakthrough, representing metal at Lithuania’s M.A.M.A. Awards and why they are determined to keep singing in Lithuanian.
Fresh off the release of ‘Prima Bailarina’, we caught up with Finnish artist Nenerchy at her sold-out release show to talk about her genre-defying sound, punk philosophy, anime influences and her upcoming appearance at Tuska next week, that you definitely should go check out!
Lindsay Schoolcraft sat down with us to discuss the long road behind her new album ‘Harrowing’ (out tomorrow June 19th), rediscovering heavy music, unexpected concept album connections and why healing and reclaiming power became central themes throughout the record. She also reveals how a late-night encounter with an Alphonse Mucha artwork helped everything finally click into place.
Tomorrow is a big day for SLIFT. Not only does their new album ‘Fantasia’ see its release via Sub Pop Records, they’ll also take the stage at the very first edition of Ankea Festival in Finland. In our interview, Jean Fossat discusses the new record, evolving songs through live performances and how excited they are to be part of the excellent line-up of the Finnish festival.
Australian “couture metal” band ANA joined us to discuss debut full-length ‘Motivated by Death’, out tomorrow with Eclipse Records, mortality as motivation, emotional songwriting and why they want to create something timeless rather than trend-driven.
Rioghan turned their new EP ‘Frozen’ into one continuous emotional journey and preparing their most ambitious live show yet for Ankea Festival. We sat down with the band to talk storytelling, visual art, Finnish metal identity and why music should always make you feel something.
