and Katatonia |

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 23, 2024

Out Now! DECROWNED’s New Album “Persona Non Grata” + Music Video “Rainworld”

Rockshots Records is proud to present melancholic Finnish metallers Decrowned’s first full-length “Persona Non Grata”, now available as of February 23rd. For this record, every member brought something to the table, but guitarists Jaakko Kauppinen (guitars) and Simo Puustinen composed most of the songs. Musically, the band takes a turn into heavier waters from its predecessors (EPs “Hansel’s Nightmare” (2019) and debut “Weight of The Dark Sky” (2018)), still keeping in mind the essence of Decrowned. Lyrically “Persona Non Grata” is a very dark album, reflecting things that pass through the generations, consuming us from the inside. It is a description of a haunted future and the past that took wrong turns on personal and universal levels. This undefined black matter that flows ignoring time and reason is the unwanted entity… Persona non grata.

“We are so excited that our debut album “Persona non grata” will finally be released. Recordings started already in 2022 and the first intention was that album, but there were some roadstops here and there. We had to record bass tracks twice and also our mixing wizard Tero “TeeCee” Kinnunen had timetable changes because of his big contribution to Nightwish. This is also time to say huge thanks to Tero, for arranging time for us on his busy schedule and doing remarkable work for us.”

For the full-length’s release day, the band is sharing their next music video for the track “Rainworld”, a track that almost ended up on the cutting room floor, the band explains:

“Rainworld was almost going to be dropped from the album. It is one of the oldest songs and Jaakko didn’t like it so much in the beginning and it is a song that he composed. Luckily we talked Jaakko over and now the song has risen as one of our favorites and strongest songs from the album. Lyricically it paints up a rainy and gray landscape of a depressed mind. Seasons go too slowly for this individual. He wants them to pass faster so that eternal sleep and rest would finally take place.”

Watch the video for “Rainworld” – https://youtu.be/CO_SpG5c9tg

Recommended for fans of Amorphis, Insomnium, In Flames, and Katatonia, “Persona Non Grata” is available for at https://bit.ly/DecrownedCD

Spotify – https://sptfy.com/Q4mB

Track Listing:
1. Folklore pt.1 (intro) – 0:48
2. Mouth Leaks Black – 4:20
3. Rainworld – 4:16
4. Stonewing – 3:56
5. Mindparasite – 4:44
6. Scarred – 5:02
7. Awaken – 3:30
8. Faceless – 3:50
9. The Bird and The Tree – 4:51
10. The Vigorian Man – 4:09
11. Persona Non Grata – 4:52
12. Folklore pt.2 (outro) – 0;42
Album Length: 45:05

PERSONA NON GRATA was:
Produced by Decrowned with help of Tero Kinnunen
Recorded at Crown Crusher studio/Joensuu
Kantele recordings at Guru studio/Joensuu
Engineered by Antti Venäläinen
Mixed by Tero “TeeCee” Kinnunen
Mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox
Artwork and layout by Jukka Turunen (www.jukkaturunen.com)
Band photography by Harri Säynevirta (www.saynevirta.fi)
Keyboards and synths by Jukka Turunen
Kantele by Sari Puustinen and Saila Kinnunen
Guitar solo on “Mindparasite” by Euge Valovirta
Finnish vocals on “Mindparasite” by Tuomo Huurre

Decrowned is:
Miikka Hulmi, Vocals and bass
Antti Venäläinen, Drums
Jaakko Kauppinen, Guitar
Simo Puustinen, Guitar

More info: Rockshots.eu | Facebook.com/rockshotsrecords | Instagram.com/rockshotsrecords

Facebook.com/decrownedtheband | Instagram.com/decrownedtheband | Tiktok.com/@decrownedofficial

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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 16, 2023

Exitus Stratagem Records To Re-Release AITTALA’s Album “False Pretenses” Out Feb 28th

+ Tour Dates (FL, GA)

L-R – AITTALA – Gary ‘Smith’ Zeus (Drums), Eric Aittala (Guitar/Vox), Ali Lugo (Bass)
Photo Credit – Formont Photography

Originally unleashed in September 2019 on Curtain Call Records, Raleigh, NC’s Aittala will be re-releasing their fifth album via Exitus Stratagem Records, who also recently released the band’s follow-up and sixth full-length “Live To Regret” this past November.

Led by vocalist and guitarist, Eric Aittala, with bassist Ali Lugo and drummer Gary ‘Zeus’ Smith, “False Pretenses” features the trio’s unique stamp of infused classic rock licks, thrash, doom, and sludge along with progressive layers and hard rock grooves.

“When we offered up this album, I still believe it is one of the best Aittala recordings we have done,” Eric Aittala states. “Of course, all bands make that claim when their new album is released, but I still really mean it. If nothing else, it is one of the best-sounding Aittala albums. When we wrote it, we used an entirely different approach for recording, mixing, and mastering. Even with its re-release, I’m still really excited for people who have still not heard it yet.”

Rounding out the album’s track listing is “Different Day”, “Disowned”, “Infamy”, “How Much Longer”, “Nemesis”, “Afterthought”, “They Live”, “Funeral Procession” and “Debt”. Eric notes, “The album’s title comes from the idea that the songs have an underlying theme of misrepresentation”.

Drummer Gary Smith believes those who have not listened to the album, are in for a treat.

“When we made this album, we really stepped it up and I truly believe it is a record for a much larger audience than the previous four we released. There’s something for everyone on it that’s a fan of good metal.”

Recommended for fans of Baroness, Crowbar, and Katatonia, the re-release of “False Pretenses” is due out on February 28th via Exitus Stratagem Records and can be pre-saved at https://hypeddit.com/aittala/falsepretenses.

Music Video – Black Coffin – https://youtu.be/a1R6GpxvvGg

Music Video – Nemesis – https://youtu.be/DQJogfBlLmM

Aittala‘s latest album “Live to Regret” released on November 7, 2022, via Exitus Stratagem Records available at the following link: https://hypeddit.com/aittala/livetoregret

Music Video – War of Attrition – https://youtu.be/-QX5Tvspq2U

Music Video – Collateral Damage – https://youtu.be/Foh__WSHD4o

In additional news, Aittala will be doing a mini tour during March 2023 in Florida and Georgia (dates listed below).

Tour Dates:
March 1 – Rain Dogs – Jacksonville, FL
March 2 – Propaganda – Lake Worth, FL
March 3 – Uncle Lous – Orlando, FL
March 4 – Sweetwater Bar and Grill – Duluth, GA

Track Listing:
1. Different Day (Explicit Version) – 3:21
2. Black Coffin – 4:34
3. Disowned – 4:51
4. Infamy – 3:17
5. How Much Longer – 5:04
6. Nemesis – 3:09
7. Afterthought – 4:17
8. They Live – 3:38
9. Funeral Procession – 6:53
10. Debt – 4:02
Bonus Tracks for digital release
Forsaken – 4:02
Different Day (Clean Version) – 3:21

Album Band Line Up:
Eric Aittala – Guitar/Vocals/Bass
Gary ‘Zeus’ Smith – Drums

Live Band Line Up:
Eric Aittala – Guitar/Vocals
Ali Lugo – Bass
Gary ‘Zeus’ Smith – Drums

For more info:
https://www.exsrmusic.com
http://www.aittala.com
https://www.facebook.com/aittalamusic
https://www.instagram.com/aittalamusic

About: The music of AITTALA (pronounced ‘EYE-tah-la’) crosses many metal genres; it’s hard to put it into just one category. The sound infuses elements of classic heavy metal, doom, progressive, power, thrash, and hard rock with lyrics drawing inspiration from the darker side of the human condition. The AITTALA sound has been cited for being unique which is no easy feat in the metal genre.

The first version of AITTALA was formed in 1991 while Eric Aittala was living in Holland. With fellow American Tim on vocals and Dutch bandmates Ed (drums) and Jon (bass), the band became a staple of the Dutch metal scene.

With the release of the 3-song EP ‘Selling Heaven’ in the summer of 1993, AITTALA opened for such bands as THE GATHERING and SADIST. Unfortunately, as the demo started to create a buzz in the underground European metal scene, Eric had to return to the US and disbanded AITTALA.

Over the next decade or so, Eric played in numerous bands (TRIBE, MAGNETHEAD, DWELL) and lost focus on AITTALA.

Near the end of the 00s, Eric decided it was time to refocus his efforts on the AITTALA brand. From 2009 to 2016, AITTALA released 4 full-length albums: ‘Bed of Thorns’ (2009), ‘Haunt Your Flesh’ (2011), ‘Effigy’ (2014), and ‘American Nightmare’ (2016). Each album showcases a natural progression of songwriting and lyrical content but retains the core AITTALA sound and evolves it.

In 2019, AITTALA signed with Curtain Call Records and released the band’s fifth full-length album ‘False Pretenses’. It was ten brand new songs that not only continued the songwriting evolution of heavier but catchy songs but also sonically. AITTALA used an entirely different approach for recording, mixing, and mastering to create the best AITTALA album to date.

The current lineup of AITTALA consists of Gary ‘Zeus’ Smith (THE FIFTH, ex-MR BLACKWELL) on drums and Ali Lugo (ex-AGE OF DESPAIR) on bass.

They continue to write, record, and tour to bring AITTALA to the masses, recently unleashing their sixth studio album entitled “Live To Regret” via label Exitus Stratagem Records on November 7, 2022, and the re-release of their 2019 album “false Pretenses” out on February 28, 2023, also through Exitus Stratagem Records.

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“Their new album, “False Pretenses”, leans heavy on the Doom and Goth side of their listed influences but makes some interesting style choices within the genre.” – Metal Temple (False Pretenses)

“In my opinion, this is by far their best effort. Highlight tracks for me are: “Different Day”, “Black Coffin” and “Debt”. In the metal world, bands can start to sound the same and Aittala steps outside of the box. With clear crisp vocals, grinding rhythms and well executed leads, this band is definitely in a league of their own.” – That Metal Channel (False Pretenses)

“The common element in all the songs is the potent groove. On tracks like “Black Coffin” and “Afterthought” stoner/doom is at the forefront, while songs such as “Disowned” have a more traditional metal vibe. There are progressive influences on “How Much Longer,” while the closer “Debt” is a piano based ballad. Even with so many disparate styles, Aittala bring everything together into a cohesive whole.” – Heavy Music Headquarters (False Pretenses)

“Aittala Offer Powerful Pandemic Post-Mortem on ‘Live to Regret’… Stick it on a playlist with Apostle of Solitude, Crowbar, Famyne, and Paradise Lost, with a dash of Slayer for good measure.” – Doomed and Stoned

“One of the best albums for 2022” (Live to Regret) – 666MrDoom YouYube Channel

“This platter is heavy melodic ear candy that drips with deep and mesmeric face-melting tones and grinding rhythms.” (Live to Regret) – The Metal Gods Meltdown

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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations | Instagram @AsherMedia | Tweet @AsherMedia
(Rockshots Records, Extreme Metal Music, Armstrong MF, Loud As Hell, Metalocalypstick, Decimate MF, Electric Highway Fest, Wacken Metal Battle Canada/USA, Hyperspace MF, Le FestEvil)

Tag: and Katatonia

0 Exitus Stratagem Records To Re-Release AITTALA’s Album “False Pretenses” Out Feb 28th + Tour Dates (FL, GA)