Counting Hours to release their new EP of melodic doom »Dreaming In The Mire« this Friday through Ardua Music!
Vantaa, Finland based melodic doom/death metal band Counting Hours will release their new EP »Dreaming In The Mire« this Friday, September 26th, 2025 through Ardua Music.
To celebrate the release, Counting Hours premiere a brand new music video for the title track »Dreaming In The Mire«.
Tracklist:
01. Dreaming In The Mire
02. Wintry Insight
Courtesy of Imperative PR:
Counting Hours were founded in Vantaa, Finland in 2015 by guitarist Jarno Salomaa Petrushevski (Shape Of Despair) and vocalist Ilpo Paasela (The Chant) and since those formative days they have established themselves as revered exponents of deeply emotional, melodic doom metal. Their two full length albums, The Will (2020) and The Wishing Tomb (2024) have been hailed by fans and critics alike, with the notoriously hard to please Angry Metal Guy declaring The Wishing Tomb to be a “heartbreaking work of staggering genius” and naming it one of their albums of the year. Now Counting Hours have announced the release of a new EP, »Dreaming In The Mire« – another breathtaking addition to their flawless catalogue of grief.
»Dreaming In The Mire« is essential listening for fans of Counting Hours’ reflective, melancholy magic, steeped in the early traditions of melodic doom/death metal. Its exquisite guitar lines create an atmosphere like drfting snow, enfolding you in its gently freezing embrace…achingly beautiful as it stills your blood and slowly stops your heart.
Despite being a new song, »Dreaming In The Mire« has its roots in the very first days of Counting Hours, as Jarno Salomaa Petrushevski explains:
“I started writing this song about ten years ago when on the verge of bringing Counting Hours to life. At that point it wasnt that clear to me which band this song belonged to and I recall thinking it might be used for Shape of Despair. But time has now proved it to be more than fitting for Counting Hours, a small transition from one level to another. Even though this song was written some time ago, we got to breathe new life into it with the current line up. So, Counting Hours it is…but with an even doomier touch.”
Ilpo Paasela also comments on the new EP:
“There’s an unexpected comfort in this nothingness in which we dwell. However, that comfort comes from our inner explorations, not from anything outside that circle. It’s like we’re dreaming in the mire…”
»Dreaming In The Mire« comes backed with a wonderful re-recording of »Wintry Insight«, a track which originally appeared on Counting Hours 2016 demo – an addition which makes this new EP an even more essential item for fans of the band.
Ardua Music will release »Dreaming In The Mire« on September 26th, with an accompanying video being unveiled the night before. Watch the video at the Ardua Music YouTube channel!
Pre-order at:
arduamusic.com
arduamusic.bandcamp.com
countinghours2.bandcamp.com
The EP will be available on black and white 7″ vinyl with a CD in cardboard sleeve and as a digital download. Counting Hours will celebrate the new release with two live performances alongside label mates Marche Funèbre:
October 3 – Kuudes Linja, Helsinki
October 4 – Kotelo, Tampere
Don’t miss out on this outstanding invocation of emotive, melodic doom metal.
Line-up:
Ilpo Paasela (The Chant) – Vocals
Jarno Salomaa Petrushevski (Shape Of Despair, ex-Rapture) – Electric Guitars
Tomi Ullgrén (Shape Of Despair, Rapture) – Electric Guitars
Pekka Loponen (The Chant, Minutian, Aryokal) – Electric Guitars & Backing Vocals
Markus Forsström (The Chant) – Bass
Sameli Köykkä (Colosseum) – Drums
with Jussi Hämäläinen (The Chant, Mercury Circle, Hanging Garden etc.) – Keyboards and Arrangements
FFO: early Katatonia | Rapture | October Tide | Hanging Garden
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well