Helsinki-based outfit Royal Sorrow signed with InsideOutMusic, part of the Sony Music label family, last year, and issue their latest single ‘Give In’ while announcing they will be touring Europe with label mates Leprous later this year and performing at the ArcTanGent Festival.
Said to reveal Royal Sorrow “at their most exposed”, ‘Give In’ is a raw reflection of anxiety and emotional surrender. The song gives voice to the moments when darkness creeps in quietly and takes over completely, when giving in feels like the only way to endure.
Raw and sonically intense, ‘Give In’ balances hypnotic, low-tuned riffs with cinematic synths and a vocal performance that shifts from whispered vulnerability to visceral screams, inspired in part by band member Markus Hentunen’s guest performance with Vola last fall, it sees the vocalist pushing into harsher territory, adding new emotional weight to the band’s sound.
You can stream the single here while a full music video, directed by Jaro Koho, is imminent.
The band comprising Markus Hentunen (Vocals, guitars), Eero Maijala (Bass), Janne Mieskonen (Drums), and Juha Rapanen (Guitars) can trace their roots back to their childhood when some members met at a very young age and formed their first band.
“When we signed with InsideOutMusic, it also marked the start of a new era,” said Royal Sorrow. “Even though we’ve known each other since childhood, it was time to reimagine everything we knew; the look, the visuals and the music itself. We started to write material with newfound determination. A lot of rounds and sessions were needed for the pieces to fall into place. After all this, it feels amazing to get to release the band and the first song to the world!”
Previously, the band issued ‘Evergreen’ as a single. Available digitally here, you can check out the accompanying music video, directed by Altti Heinilä, featured here at RAMzine.
“This second single ‘Evergreen’ is a hypnotising blend of heavy riffs and infectious melodies,” said the band. “It’s a journey that entices, hits hard and sticks with you. The conception of ‘Evergreen’ was a little different than usual. The song started out as a soulful pop song, that Eero was writing together with Aino Tikkanen, a fellow musician from Helsinki. Eero realised that the chorus had a lot of potential for a heavier arrangement and created the riffs around it. Soon the whole song began to take shape with its lush synths, groovy guitars and extreme moments.”
“The theme of the song revolves around control,” the band commented. “It’s very common that we as humans try to stubbornly control situations, relationships and events to the point that they become toxic and counterproductive. Control is what makes us feel secure in our own insecurities but might eventually become our own downfall. ‘Evergreen’ is about healing from your own destructive behavior patterns–the river must flow.”
Last year, debut single ‘Metrograve’ showcased a group that could blend “alternative metal with a very catchy pop twist”. The hypnotic and driving ‘Metrograve’ takes the listener through a dystopian story, becoming the band’s mission statement.
“We wanted Royal Sorrow’s first single to convey the dynamic and energetic essence of the band,” they declared. “‘Metrograve’ is a crushing yet hypnotising journey through a dystopian setting. ‘Metrograve’ started with a rhythmic idea. We were inspired by the thought of bringing a rap beat to a metal setting, playing with it and creating a full song around it. The song became sort of like a mission statement for the band. The themes revolve around empowerment, fighting for the things that give meaning to you and ignoring the dogmas set by other people.”
You can stream the single here and check out the accompanying music video produced and directed by Jaro Koho here at RAMzine.
Koho, along with lighting designer and location manager Tommi Tiitta, captured the atmosphere of ‘Metrograve’ in the Hämeenlinna Ice Hall and other selected locations.
“It was definitely a unique experience to film at a huge ice rink. The cold locations really help to bring the kinds of atmosphere we were looking for. Jaro Koho did an excellent job in bringing the sights and sounds together! Special thanks to Tommi Tiitta for organising this unique location and designing amazing lights”.
