Finnish heavy/doom metal trio Occult Master releases self-titled debut album; out today via Inverse Records!

Oulu, Finland based heavy/doom metal trio Occult Master presents their self-titled debut album, which was just released this Friday, August 14th, 2026 via Inverse Records.

Tracklist:
01. Just Another Nail In The Failier’s Coffin
02. Island Of Leper
03. Heavy Metal Madness
04. Lucifer’s Henchman
05. Ground Of The Damned
06. WHO Is Our Enemy
07. Sorry Soul
08. Soothing Swamp
09. Gnarly Geezer

Courtesy of Inverse Records:

The Finnish Occult Master released their self-titled debut album on August 14th 2026 via Inverse Records.

Listen to the album on streaming services HERE.

In their heavy music, Occult Master combines elements of 1970s and 1980s heavy and prog rock. The album’s tracks range from more straightforward rockers to massive epics. Running through the entire album is an uncompromising attitude to create harsh and honest heavy rock, with a good song at its core.

Photo by Emil Risto

The album’s soundscape is raw and pleasantly authentic. You can hear that the music was played live in the studio, as a band. Unnecessary fussiness and extreme polishing have been left out. This results in the album breathing, sounding fresh and invigorating, and human. However, the music itself is not simple ; on the contrary, progressive, complex, and surprising parts flow seamlessly, forming an interesting musical journey. Thoughtful lyrics, deviating from the run of the mill, create a mystical aura for the dark-toned music.

The lineup features Ari Eskola (guitar and vocals), Toni Mäki (bass and backing vocals), and Jussi Risto (drums). The debut album from the Occult Master trio, signed to Inverse Records, does not disappoint and promises quality music in the future: the next album’s worth of material is already almost ready.

Biography:

Occult Master was founded in 2012 in Oulu, Finland, first starting as a heavy rock/doom band. After a line‑up change in 2020, the musical style turned faster, more rhythmic and more complex. Occult Master’s music is heavy, versatile and full of nuances, ranging from full‑throttle metal blasting to quiet, subtle and beautifully eerie musical landscapes. The band’s roots lie strongly in the classic heavy metal of the 1970s and 1980s. The songs are delivered in a hardy, straightforward and no‑nonsense style. In the dark‑toned music, the lyrics deal with different matters of life and the world in general, and at times even horror stories told with a devilish grin.

CD pre-orders available HERE.

Composed & lyrics by Ari Eskola.
Recorded by Jussi Risto.
Mixed & mastered by Kimmo Lukkari.
Album cover art by Jarno Vesa.

Occult Master are:
Ari Eskola – Guitars and Vocals
Toni Mäki – Bass and Backing Vocals
Jussi Risto – Drums

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