Hailing from Helsinki, Finland, Unén is a modern melodic metal band, whose music also incorporates elements ranging from progressive to pop, blending intensity with sensitivity in its sound. Earlier this year, they released the single and video ‘Forever Winter’ and it’s now been revealed that’s the title track of their debut album due out 29th August via Frontiers Music Srl.
They’ve just followed through on their next single, ‘Black Heart, with vocalist Stina Girs commenting: “’Black Heart‘ was the first song I was given to shape with lyrics and vocal melodies, and it instantly resonated with me. The title had been echoing in my mind for a while, and the moment I heard the music, I knew – this was it. The song dives deep into the darkness of a toxic relationship, one ruled by manipulation and control at the hands of a narcissist. But at its core, the song is about reclaiming your strength. It’s the breaking point – the moment you rise, take back your power, and refuse to be broken.”
Talking about the album, the band said: Forever Winter began to take shape in the spring of 2023, marking a real turning point for us with the arrival of our lead vocalist, Stina Girs. At the time, we had a handful of instrumental tracks in progress – including an early version of what would become ‘Black Heart‘ – but when Stina started working on the material, her passion and emotional depth brought everything to life”.
“The creative energy between us took off, and with multiple composers in the band, the songs came together quickly. Musically, the album moves through driving melodic rock, cinematic progressive metal, and moments of haunting stillness – tied together by Stina’s powerful, expressive voice”, they added.
Unén continued: “Lyrically, Forever Winter is deeply personal. Stina poured her own lived experiences into every song, transforming pain into melody and storytelling. Each track is a chapter in a journey of catharsis, resilience, and rebirth. Over the following year, we focused on shaping the sound and capturing the heart of the album – an intense but rewarding process that led to our signing with Frontiers Music, who believed in our vision from the beginning. Now, Forever Winter is ready to meet the world, and we couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve created.”
Vocalist Stina Girs commented on previous single ‘Forever Winter’ by saying: “When the mind sinks into darkness and no light is in sight, the inner landscape can feel like an eternal winter. Also, the loss of a loved one can feel like a desolate midwinter. ‘Forever Winter’ can be either one for the listener – a personal battle toward brighter days, or a message to a loved one, on the other side”.
You can stream it here and check out the video out here at RAMzine. It follows the band’s previous release, ‘Sky’, about which Girs commented:“A dream of a secret door leading to a world where no one judges, there is no concept of time, you can be everything you want and fantasies are real. You dare to let go of reality. This is all what ‘Sky’ is about.” If you need further explanation, try listening to the video below at RAMzine, and stream or download ‘Sky’ here.
Originally founded in late 2021, where the foundation for the band’s musical style was established, come 2022 Unén focused on composing and refining production independently, resulting in the release of two self-published tracks. However, after a rollercoaster year, there was a need to change the lineup to accelerate production.
The word “unén” was derived from the band’s original idea that lyrics would be based on the world of dreams. However, due to lineup changes, this concept took a different direction, but the name remained. In the beginning of 2023, a change in lead singer, notably accelerated all activities. The band members coming together was a series of fortunate coincidences and determined searches, including encounters with old acquaintances. The right people had found each other.
Unén released their first single ‘Made of Stone (Cover)’ in May 2023 with new lead singer, Stina Girs – She became known during the IDOLS competition in 2011 and subsequently released two albums as a solo artist. The original song by Evanescence inspired this evolved lineup of Unén to showcase their unique sound and overall direction. Following this, the band focused solely on creating their own songs.
Stina Girs (Vocals), Kimmo Pitkänen and Harri Moilanen (Guitars), Petteri Sinervä (Keyboards), Tomi Kallava (Bass) and Saska Ketonen (Drums) each bring their own expertise and input to the band. Every song created is a sum of its creators, and there is no specific leader. The band members are apparently united by their passion for making music, even though their day jobs are completely different.
Unén signed with Frontiers Music in February 2024, thus enabling the band to achieve the channel they sought to release their music to the world.
Forever Winter features the tracks: ‘Prelude For The Wicked’, ‘My Love’s Broken’, ‘In My Bones’, ‘Black Heart’, ‘Forever Winter’, ‘Sky’, ‘Game Over’, ‘Ice Queen’, ‘Spoil Me’, ‘Rose’ and ‘Disappear’ – It can be ordered here.
