Finnish melodic death metal band Beyond The Hate releases first single “The Lighthouse” from their upcoming debut album “Darkest Times”!

Photography by Tuomas Scholz

The Finnish melodic death metal band Beyond The Hate is set to release an anticipated debut album Darkest Times on March 8th 2024 via Inverse Records. The first single ‘The Lighthouse’ is released today with lyric video which can be seen here: https://youtu.be/BU-BYhb_o-s  

Guitarist Kimmo Perälehto states:
“In the pre-production and early stages of the album, we wanted something a little different, so we ended up writing the song in 3/4 time signature. At the same time we combined the song our trademark tremolo saw picking alongside a slower pedal stroke – the result was what we felt was the perfect song”
 

Bass player Mikko Monto adds:
“As for the chorus, the song is one of the fastest played on the upcoming album, with the slower interludes bringing a nice moody lift to the song. 
Symbolically and metaphorically, the lighthouses stand in their lofty solitude and soar towards the sky, taking on the storms of the seas and leading 
travellers safely to their destination. This time, however, the listener is left to ponder the darknesses of the story.”

Vocalist Niko Kalinainen sums:

“Lighthouses usually provide shelter for sailors and guide them past the reefs, this lighthouse is something quite different. It lures its prey towards its inevitable end, like a flame to a moth. This monument of death swallows up all light in its path and steers towards destruction – let those who can still be saved!”

LISTEN on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/bth-lighthouse 

PRE-SAVE album: https://music.imusician.pro/a/fXgthIe9 

BIOGRAPHY:
Beyond The Hate’s beginnings date back to the summer of 2016, when guitarist Kimmo Perälehto and bassist Mikko Monto started writing songs together. Second guitarist Jyrki Karhu joined in early autumn and singer Niko Kalinainen in late 2016. The band was officially founded in 2017, when Tommy Uhtio took over the drumming duties and the first practice sessions were held.

In the beginning, the band’s songs were more straightforward metal but in late 2018, the band started to find their musical direction in melodic death metalsuch, as an good example the single “This Cold Morning” was released in 2019. In 2018 and 2019, the band participated in the Emergenza Finland band competitions, reaching the finals at the both times.

The first taste of the new style came with the 2020 EP “Betrayal Of Time”, which received good reviews and created expectations for the band’s future. – Miika Manninen / Metalliluola 2020: “Beyond the Hate’s name is worth remembering for the future, because you can expect a lot from the next release.”. – The band also participated in the 2022 Tuska-Torstai competition, reaching the semi-finals.
 

After the songs on the EP, the band focused on writing even more atmospheric and melancholic songs. More orchestral and choir elements were added to the songs, as well as acoustic guitar playing to create a new melodic mood. From this creative process came the twelve-track debut album “Darkest Times”, which will be released in March 2024 via Inverse Records. The album will also feature guest vocalists Katri Hiovain-Asikainen from Numento on “Black Within” and Jaakko Mäntymaa from Marianas Rest on “In Memoriam”.

Line-up:
Niko Kalinainen – vocals
Kimmo Perälehto – guitars
Jyrki Karhu – guitars
Mikko Monto – bass
Tommy Uhtio – drums

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/BeyondTheHate 
https://www.instagram.com/beyondthehate_band 
https://beyondthehate.bandcamp.com  

(review) INSTILL – ‘Demo’ (AMBUSH! Records)

INSTILL released this new demo with five songs and it is a blast! I mean really, a lessson in fastcore, hardcore punk powerviolence with all songs being under a minute reminding me of Senata Fox and similar bands. Screaming vocals, blasting drums, distorted bass and thundering sound, this one has it all. There is not much to write about this one, because it is such a short one, but if you are a fan of powerviolence hardcore punk you won’t regret if you check out this demo.

Bandcamp

UK punks, DARKO, release Lifeforms Live at Signal House Studios.

In May 2023, DARKO (UK) tripped to Signal House Studios, Hatfield to record a live session with Tim Kramer, the result was two brand new tracks, and one re-imagined from the 2017 album, Bonsai Mammoth.

“The guys had just finished working on some new material and they were keen to try it out live in the studio. DARKO and I go way back from when I was playing in Drones and it was revitalising to hear them bring so much fresh energy to the table. I was stoked to hear the new songs, and you all should be too.” says producer Tim Kramer.

“We had heard Tim’s top work on the Drones and Midwich Cuckoos records and knew he would knock this out of the park, however, it was then down to us to get a solid performance of the tracks. Whilst we wanted to focus on new material, we thought it would be nice to include a track from our back catalogue that we had been performing in our live set and ‘Life Forms’ seemed like a great choice. It was good to be given the challenge and the payoff of a great recording we can share with our friends.“ says guitarist Rob Piper.


‘Life Forms (Live at Signal House Studios)’ is streaming now on YouTube and listeners can expect more tracks from this session coming late 2023 showcasing brand new material, following the band’s 2022 EP SPARKLE.

BAND BIO

Over a raucous decade, DARKO have by definition, become veterans of the UK Punk scene and it is not uncommon to see them standing as an essential name within the intricate and complex world of contemporary Punk and Hardcore.

The band, urgent and charged with conviction, are set to continue championing and contributing to the health of the very scene that birthed them as they pen the narrative of their new chapter.

In 2020, longtime voicebox Dan Smith returned to his native Australia and parted ways with the band after so long in the vox seat. Dan’s evocative, emphatic and emotional lyricisms have left quite the legacy throughout the band’s releases. Darko’s four other noisemakers have curated a backdrop of vicious, hybridised Skate Punk and Melodic Hardcore that has been pushed beyond itself across thirty countries.

Darko have now enlisted longtime touring compadre Tom West of UK shredders, Almeida. The band have never hid from what ails them or the society they inhabit but with West at the vocal helm now and forgoing the complacent societal padding forced upon us all, his lyrical discomfort has spurred the band’s most unbarred barrage yet. There is nothing hidden here, nothing soaked in distracted metaphor or softened non-confrontational rhetoric, Darko are making full use of their scene privilege and challenging people who look akin to them to unleash their own salvos. But what of the backing? These are stops that have also been beyond pulled.

Darko’s evolution is tied to their past but with threads so long that there is an abundance of slack to play with. Notes of Polar Bear Club, Mastodon, A Wilhelm Scream, Protest The Hero, Rise Against and Propagandhi can all be savoured in their contemporary flavour profile. Serrated, lacerating Thrash and metallic digressions contrast the meandering guitar lines rooted in Skate Punk classicism. Writhing, emotive and complicated Post-Hardcore structures supplement the “techy” displays they are known for as an overarching and indisputably Punk-charged Prog-aesthetic allows the versatile and varied vocal range to seamlessly traverse the entirety.

Rob, Chris, Karl, Andy and now Tom have come together to the highest degree, poised and proud to show you a reimagined, powerful and determined Darko.

Links:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Darkoband

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/darko_band/

Spotify        https://play.spotify.com/artist/3A7XJB48UZEoAFhVHWa93v

Twitter        https://twitter.com/Darko_Band

YouTube        https://www.youtube.com/user/Darkoband

Lockjaw Records http://www.lockjawrecords.co.uk

Thousand Islands https://thousandislandsrecords.com/

Records

Darko are:

Tom West Vocals

Rob Piper Guitar / Backing Vocals

Chris Brown Guitar / Backing Vocals

Karl Sursham        Bass / Backing Vocals

Andy Borg Drums


Lockjaw Records is an independent European punk and hardcore label. We are proud to be part of a thriving international music community, built on friendship, social-responsibility and a mutual love of punk rock.