‘Hard As Stone’ is the second single taken from the double live album Erja Lyytinen – 50th Birthday Live 2026, due for release on 9th October through Tuohi Records.
Taking on a doomier rock stance than the studio recording, the odd snatch of lyrics on Erja Lyytinen‘s live rendition of her new single ‘Hard As Stone’ seems to imply some sun-shirking troll extolling pithy tunnel visions, thus suitable to the slow heavy grinding music. Listen closer and it’s about a ride on an underground train, with possibly creepier connotations about potentially being stalked, or at least there being unwelcome intrusions on one’s privacy. If so, the last minute is where that train ascends into daylight as Lyytinen speedily flies free, her guitar soaring far and wide.
Reflecting on why she made ‘Hard As Stone’ a part of the set list on her 50th Birthday album, Erja Lyytinen said: “‘Hard As Stone’ is the second single from the live album, and I’m thrilled to have it back in the set list. It has a force and personality all its own and stands apart from the rest of the songs.”
“In 2019, ‘Hard As Stone’ first appeared on my studio album Another World, and it’s always been a track I’ve loved,” she continued. “Since then, my guitar playing has evolved so much that I started to feel the original version was a little too sweet. I knew it was time to give it a tougher edge.
“I changed some of the chords and drove them harder to give the track more punch, to make it truly hard as stone. I recently bought my first Floyd Rose-equipped guitar, a 1989 Kramer Nightswan, and it proved to be the perfect weapon for this song, especially for the Whammy Octave solo section and the heavier refrain.”
The ninety minute set featured on Erja Lyytinen – 50th Birthday Live 2026 was recorded at the prestigious House of Culture, known as Kultsa, in Helsinki, Finland, on 21st March this year.
Joining Erja Lyytinen on vocals and guitars were Harri Taittonen (Hammond, backing vocals), Heikki Saarenkunnas (bass, backing vocals) and Jesse Lehto (drums). There were also guests in the form of bass player Sami Yaffa (Hanoi Rocks, New York Dolls, Joan Jett) and Swedish banjo punk/blues group Baskery.
‘Hard As Stone’ is available on all streaming platforms, and you can check out the official live video for it here at RAMzine.
Erja Lyytinen – 50th Birthday Live 2026 is available to order on CD and vinyl, and digitally.
For more about Erja Lyytinen and her October UK tour at RAMzine, head here.
