Turku-based metal band Awake Again, known for their bold and distinctive style, has released their new single “river.” The track highlights the band’s rockier and more melodic side while retaining their signature head-nodding riffs. With a big, singable chorus and infectious verse rhythms, “river” is sure to become an earworm for all who hear it.
The band submitted river to this year’s Finnish Eurovision selection contest (UMK), though it didn’t secure a spot in the finals. Nevertheless, the song has been warmly received by fans during the band’s fall performances, and its studio release has been widely anticipated.
“After our gigs, we’ve heard countless comments from fans saying they can’t wait for ‘river’ to drop,” says guitarist Maron Lahdenperä.
The track also features a full-fledged guitar solo, a rarity for Awake Again. The solo has earned Lahdenperä plenty of admiration: “As someone who looks up to old-school guitar heroes, the praise for the solo has really meant a lot to me,” Lahdenperä shares.
Beneath its catchy hooks, “river” carries a deeper meaning.
“In ‘river’, the river represents the universe. Through my meditation practice, I’ve explored non-dualistic philosophies, especially Zen Buddhism, which teaches that everything is fundamentally one and the same—this moment. A constantly changing, flowing river felt like the perfect metaphor for this concept. I firmly believe that understanding and embracing these fundamental principles of existence could eliminate much hatred, violence, pain, and suffering in the world,” explains bassist Ville Loukola.
The song was entirely written, composed, and produced by the band, with vocalist Matti Österman serving as producer. It was mixed and mastered by Rami Nykänen, one of the leading names in Finnish metal production (One Morning Left, Crownshift). The band previously collaborated with Nykänen on their A Promise of Better Days EP earlier this year.
In 2025, fans can look forward to new music and adrenaline-fueled live performances from Awake Again.
Awake Again is:
Matti Österman – Vocals
Petteri Horn – Drums
Maron Lahdenperä – Guitar
Ville Loukola – Bass