The roots of Dharma Guns’ music revealed in Pete’s Rockhopper playlist; debut album »Ex-Generation Superstars« out now via Rockhopper Music!

Photo by Marek Sabogal

The Finnish action rock band Dharma Guns released their debut album, »Ex-Generation Superstars«, on November 1st, 2024. While the album showcases their high-energy sound, the roots of Dharma Guns’ music can be explored through a special Rockhopper playlist curated by lead singer and guitarist Pete. Titled »Gotta Get Some Action«, the playlist offers a glimpse into the influences that shaped the band’s music.

Accompanied by an article written by Pete, the playlist is part of the Presshopper Rockhopper series, inviting fans to dive deeper into the inspirations behind the songs. Both the playlist and article can be found on Presshopper.

The band’s debut album, »Ex-Generation Superstars«, is available to stream on Spotify, Deezer, and Apple Music. The album includes singles like »Life Choices«, »M.I.D.L.I.F.E. Crisis«, and »Love Bug«, each with accompanying music videos available on YouTube.

Discover the roots of Dharma Guns’ music and their high-octane debut through Pete’s playlist and »Ex-Generation Superstars«.

»Ex-Generation Superstars«, the debut album by Dharma Guns, is set for release on November 1st, 2024, via Rockhoper Music. Just a couple of bums, shooting Dharma Guns, the Helsinki-based band is ready to make their mark. Dharma Guns, the self-proclaimed “bastard child of Jack Kerouac and Guns N’ Roses”, aims for stardom with this first full-length release, delivering raw, high-energy action rock.

Helsinki’s own Dharma Guns brings a dose of relentless rock ‘n’ roll with »Ex-Generation Superstars«. As Turn Up The Volume puts it, “Do you need a badass booster today to get you through the outside rat race? Here it comes.” The album contains ten sleazy action rock anthems, filled with singalong choruses and fiery guitar riffs. The British rock magazine Vive Le Rock recently premiered the music video for the third single, »M.I.D.L.I.F.E. Crisis«, describing the band as “the latest in a grand Scandi tradition fusing glam, sleaze, and action rock.”

The story of »Ex-Generation Superstars« began in the summer of 2023. With his previous bands on hiatus and their vocalists pursuing solo projects, guitarist Pete found himself in a creative period. By the fall, he had written a dozen new songs but didn’t have a band to play them with. Instead of waiting, Pete made the bold choice to step up as the singer and formed a new group around his vision—a band that mixed the raw power of Iggy and the Stooges, the high energy of MC5, and the rebellious attitude of Hanoi Rocks. He found his bandmates quickly, gathering a group of dandy punks who shared his passion for rock ‘n’ roll. Thus, Dharma Guns was born – taking its name from Jack Kerouac’s »Dharma Bums« and the fiery spirit of »Appetite«-era Guns N’ Roses.

The band’s rehearsal sessions were electric, capturing the raw energy of being sixteen again. Songs like »Psychobabble« and »Love Bug« brought a punkish punch, while mid-tempo tracks like »The Vipers« and »New Generation Revisited« gave some space to breathe before diving back into the action-packed numbers like »Far Out«, »Life Choices«, and »M.I.D.L.I.F.E. Crisis«. The album ends on a high note with their self-titled anthem, »Dharma Guns«.

»Ex-Generation Superstars« revolves around a central theme: the generation gap. The lyrics explore everything from nightmares to broken dreams, the love of rock ‘n’ roll, and the life choices we make. As Pete puts it, “It’s a perfect headline for these songs and lyrics. It also sounds pretty damn good!”

Line-up:
Pete – Vocals & Guitar
Edu – Bass
Jussi – Guitar
Olli – Drums

Courtesy of Against PR

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