In an electrifying exclusive, we’re amped up to premiere Stoned Statues‘ sophomore album, “Guardian”. This gem, a pristine production of Sakara Records, strikes the chords today, 3rd November 2023, with its UK physical release slated for a cool February 2024.
The long-awaited vanguard from the Land of a Thousand Lakes, Stoned Statues are an alt-metal trio demanding justice for all and standing their ground; never more so than on their new album Guardian. Brimming with punk attitude, catchy melodies, and breathtakingly powerful vocals courtesy of Jenna Kosunen, Stoned Statues deliver their own brand of melodic metal influenced by anything from the 60s to the modern day, to their Finnish heritage adding “its own weird mix”.
Guardian guides the listener through a melange of emotional conquests on a journey to meet said Guardian. Through Within Temptation meets Karnivool-infused tunes, Guardian is packed full of emotion and questions surrounding addiction, empowerment, and self-reflection, all accompanied by visionary songwriting, killer riffs, and soaring vocals. These questions come to head on the concluding title track; some are answered, some are not, departing with a bigger question being posed: do we really need to know anything?
Attention must be turned towards one song in particular – ‘Be My Guest’ – a track the three-piece have been eager to share. Placed at the heart of Guardian’s narrative, ‘Be My Guest’ details the narrator’s attempts to guide the character through an emotional transition of building walls. These walls surround the character as to not let anybody in, a relatable concept for many with the band highlighting the lyric “don’t belong when curtains fall” as the emotional mantra of the track.
Speaking of their musical offering, Stoned Statues said:
Guardian’ is a character that appears in different situations and perspectives throughout the album. Each of us is longing for some kind of guardian, but sometimes it can also be something or someone who will hurt us the most.” The Finnish three-piece added recording Guardian was their first time in a “proper recording studio”: “Our debut was recorded in a gymnasium at the school where we met and formed the band, so going into the studio, we were really excited about the sounds that we could get with not so limited resources. Don’t get us wrong, limiting ourselves is sometimes good when making music, but having the ability to explore with proper gear brought out the best on Guardian. We ended up in a studio called Lammaskallion audio, which is located at a farm and the atmosphere there is amazing; a lake and a sauna really boost the creativity!!
The story of Stoned Statues began in 2019, when 20-year-old childhood friends Allu Tanskanen and Markus Hakala met their counterpart Jenna Kosunen at Ahlman’s music school in Tampere, Finland. The trio rehearsed intensively, started booking gigs themselves across Finland, and gained a nationwide following.
In 2022, they released their eponymous debut album followed by some extensive touring all including sets at almost all major Finnish festivals, including Ruisrock, Rockfest, Provinssi, Sideways, Tammerfest, Qstock, Kuopiorock, Knotfest, Lost In Music, garnering nothing but praise for their live performances, both in Finland and abroad.
Their debut album, Stoned Statues, received a full 5/5 rating in Soundi Magazine, as well as the group being nominated for the Best Metal Album of the Year category in Emma’s (Finnish Grammys) and as the Best New Act. Stoned Statues won the Best New Act award in Indie Awards 2023 (award gala for independent labels).
TOUR DATES
04 NOV | Turku, Finland | Radio Rock Sakara Risteily
11 NOV | Lappeenranta, Finland | Holiday Club Saimaa Areena w/ Stam1na
24 NOV | Kuopio, Finland | Sawohouse Underground w/ Stam1na
01 DEC | Helsinki, Finland | On the Rocks
08 DEC | Seinäjoki, Finland | Rytmikorjaamo w/ Stam1na
09 DEC | Oulu, Finland | Tullisali w/ Stamina
16 DEC | Tampere, Finland | Tavara-asema w/ Stam1na
12 JAN | Turku, Finland | Logomo w/ Battle Beast
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