NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – December 11, 2025
AITTALA Drops Video for “Ever After” – A Modern Metal Ballad of Conflict and Redemption
Welcome New Bassist Dane Taylor
EP Out Nov 21st via Exitus Stratagem Records
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AITTALA Lineup – Gary ‘Smith’ Zeus (Drums), Eric Aittala (Guitar/Vox), Dane Taylor (Bass)
Genre-defying metal band AITTALA (pronounced EYE-tah-la) has released the official lyric video for “Ever After,” the haunting centerpiece of their second EP of 2025, “Ill-Gotten Gains,” out now via Exitus Stratagem Records.
“Ever After” stands apart as a modern-day metal ballad, weaving heavy riffs with melodic textures to explore themes of internal conflict and the elusive search for redemption. It’s a poignant counterpoint to the chaos-driven narratives of earlier tracks on the EP, offering listeners a glimpse into the emotional depth that defines AITTALA’s songwriting.
Watch the video for “Ever After” via its premiere on MetalInsider HERE.
Released in November 2025, “Ill-Gotten Gains” continues AITTALA’s tradition of blurring genre lines. The EP fuses elements of traditional heavy metal, doom, groove, and progressive influences into a cohesive sonic journey. Lyrically, the songs delve into the darker side of human ambition, chaos for personal gain, the inevitable consequences, and the struggle for absolution.
The EP opens with “Isolation,” a doomy, heavy piece that confronts the fallout of past decisions, setting a dark and reflective tone. The title track, “Ill-Gotten Gains,” follows with a riff-driven intensity that shifts into a crushing interlude, lyrically exploring the exploitation of chaos for personal benefit. “Blacklisted” brings groove and sludge to the forefront, exposing manipulators and serving as a counterpoint to the themes of the earlier songs. The mood softens with “Ever After,” a modern metal ballad that wrestles with internal conflict and the elusive promise of redemption. Closing the EP, “Ashes” channels classic heavy metal energy, telling the story of someone in over their head, dragging others down in their descent.
The EP’s artwork resurrects AITTALA’s infamous mascot Frank, a cartoon pig head in a pentagram, first conceived in 2014 for the album “Effigy”. This updated interpretation of Frank embodies the record’s central theme: the shady figure who thrives in chaos, ready to deliver “ill-gotten gains” for the right price. It’s a fitting visual for a release steeped in stories of exploitation, downfall, and the elusive search for redemption.
AITTALA was formed in 1991 in the Netherlands and quickly became a fixture of the Dutch metal scene, sharing stages with The Gathering and Sadist before disbanding in 1993. Resurrected in 2008, the band has since released six full-length albums and multiple EPs, each showcasing growth while retaining their distinctive voice. With “Ill-Gotten Gains,” AITTALA continues their journey of evolution, proving once again that their sound is impossible to confine to a single genre.
“Ill-Gotten Gains” (released Nov 21) is available from Exitus Stratagem Records – https://hypeddit.com/aittala/illgottengains
Music Video – “Isolation” – https://youtu.be/V5Y_azlkGLg
Music Video – “Ill-Gotten Gains” – https://youtu.be/IjlP92y_sQg
In additional news, AITTALA has welcomed bassist Dane Taylor to the live lineup to join founding member Eric Aittala (guitars/vocals) and drummer Gary “Zeus” Smith (THE FIFTH, ex-MR BLACKWELL). Taylor’s arrival injects fresh energy into the band’s dynamic, reinforcing their commitment to pushing boundaries while staying true to their unique sound.
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Track Listing:
1. Isolation – 4:22
2. Ill Gotten Gains – 4:20
3. Black Listed – 3:35
4. Ever After – 4:29
5. Ashes – 3:50
EP Length: 20:37
For more info: Exsrmusic.com | Aittala.com | Facebook.com/aittalamusic | Instagram.com/aittalamusic
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“Six full-lengths, two EPs, strong and steady since 2008. Dang. What keeps North Carolina trio AITTALA going? Sheer compulsion for music making is my guess. There’s nothing like the experience of the real thing, despite the obscene ease and seductive sophistication of AI fakery. To hear and feel heavy music live from their minds and voices and hands of real human beings just like you – well, there’s just nothing like it. Bands with stubborn longevity like Aittala serve as an inspiration to the scene. Pick up an instrument, get to jamming, let your voice be heard. If this is your first encounter with the band, perhaps “Isolation” is as good an introduction as any. Mysterious strumming, powerful emphatic chords, and wall-shaking disruption clears the path for soulful, soaring guitar soloing and somber Gothic intonations.” – Doomed & Stoned (2025)
“Bookended by “Machines (Prologue)” and “Machines (Epilogue)”, the album’s structure feels like a full-circle journey. One that captures the essence of the band’s evolution. The blend of storytelling and heavy music makes it clear why these tracks were worth bringing back. With Machines, Aittala doesn’t just revisit the past. They make it hit harder than ever.” – Amplify The Noise (2025 – Machines EP)
“Captivatingly versatile, genre-connecting with plenty of attitude. An intensely powerful and emotionally captivating Electric Doom/Heavy/Power HouseTrip that is excellent at combining expansive melodies and atmospheric melancholic heavy touch. 8/10” – FFM-Rock (2025 – Machines EP)
“A pure blast of good tunes flying around for life. A retro llike cover artwork, it matches it all. The atmosphere and the old tunes still ringing after so many years like it was yesterday. A very good album to own with pleasure. Aittala is here to stay, get your dose of good tunes 100/100.” – The Metal Mag (2025 – Machines EP)
“Eric Aittala is obviously nostalgic on ‘Machines’. But that in no way means that the sound is frozen in the past. On the contrary, the production is modern and powerful. The individual songs are thus transferred to the here and now. A good album, even if the band is ‘only’ a duo.” – Metalheads Forever Magazine (2025 – Machines EP)
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