Finnish heavy alternative band Ceresian Valot (feat. ex-Ghost Brigade members) releases debut album »Uumen«; out today via Prophecy Productions!

Finnish alternative rockers Ceresian Valot (feat. former members of Ghost Brigade) stream their debut album, »Uumen«, which was just released this Friday, May 23rd, 2025 via Prophecy Productions.

Tracklist:
01. Ajattomuus / Rajattomuus
02. Taivaankatsoja
03. Uumen
04. Pohjavirtauksia
05. Karavaaniseralji
06. Hyöky
07. Valojuovat

Courtesy of Prophecy Productions:

Finnish heavy alternative group Ceresian Valot release their debut album, »Uumen«, on May 23, 2025 via Prophecy Productions.

Pre-order »Uumen« HERE.

“When Ghost Brigade disbanded in 2020, 4/6 of its members wanted to continue playing together. New music started coming fast as the main songwriter and guitarist Wille Naukkarinen found a new creative phase. But it took a few years before the missing members of the band were found and Ceresian Valot was truly born. We wanted to commit to a stronger DIY-ethos than before, which meant recording, mixing, mastering and creating all cover art, photography and layout by ourselves. It took some time but here we are proudly with our debut album »Uumen«, a full length record with 44 minutes of progressive heavy alternative music.” — Tapio Vartiainen, guitar

“Musically speaking I would say »Uumen« shows all the different sides of Ceresian Valot quite extensively and reveals a band that refuses to play it safe. It has the doomy heavy riffing and cold northern melancholia but also a lot of fragile, quieter parts, some progressive elements and occasionally even darker trip hop-py soundscapes. I’m really happy with the end result and can’t wait to hear what people think about »Uumen«. It’s most certainly not the easiest album to digest, but I think in these modern times where a lot of new music is just disposable fast entertainment, almost like a bubblegum that you chew for five minutes and then throw away, albums like this are needed. Maybe more than ever?” — Wille Naukkarinen, main songwriter and guitarist

“The initial idea for the two mini-songs »Uumen« & »Hyöky« was to have instrumental passages within the album. However, after composing these passages and hearing vocal melodies in my head I just couldn’t help myself but to sing on them. I’m a fan of contrasts in art in general so I really love the fact that this record consists of either pretty long or very short songs.” — Joni Vanhanen, keyboards, vocals & programming

“The lyrics on this album circle around the theme of insecurity. The insecurity created by the unstable state of the world but on the other hand also the insecurity of self. Another main theme on the album is the importance and uniqueness of nature and how we should show more respect to it. The lyrics are gloomy but it’s important to take note that they’re not hopeless. There is light at the end of the tunnel, even though the light is not very bright.” — Panu Perkiömäki, vocals

“For my part there’s also a layer of acceptance in the lyrics. Surrendering to the unknown and finding beauty in it.” — Joni Vanhanen, keyboards, vocals & programming

When four former members of much loved but sadly disbanded Finnish metal act Ghost Brigade got together for a conversation in their hometown Jyväskylä in late 2020, things escalated quickly into an unexpected direction that ultimately led to the birth of Ceresian Valot. With multiple songwriters in their new band as well as two vocalists singing in Finnish, guitarist and main songwriter Wille Naukkarinen was confident that the musical style of the new band would change all by itself.

Time proved him right, with the sound of the debut album »Uumen« (“Depths”) turning out as stylistically very dynamic and multidimensional with a broad range of sound and vision that include alternative, rock, progressive, and various genres of metal among others. Written in Finnish language, the lyrics on this album circle around the theme of insecurity. While the album often sounds bleak and melancholic, its lyrics do not only dwell in doom and gloom, but they also offer some hope and a light at the end of the tunnel – although it might appear to be rather dim.

As Ceresian Valot include songwriters, graphic designers, producers, mixing & recording engineers, and even a mastering engineer in their ranks, it is hardly a surprise that the band employs a strong DIY-ethos. With »Uumen«, Ceresian Valot embark on an exciting new musical journey that weds something old, something new, something borrowed, something dark, and a golden talent for captivating melodies in their hands: Surrender to the unknown and enjoy its beauty!

Ceresian Valot is:
Panu Perkiömäki – Vocals
Wille Naukkarinen – Guitars, Programming
Veli-Matti Suihkonen – Drums, Percussion
Joni Vanhanen – Keyboards, Vocals, Programming
Tapio Vartiainen – Guitars
Ville Angervuori – Bass

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well