TRACK-LISTING: 01 Night Closes In 02 Legion of Fire 03 Dynasties Fall 04 Where Cauldrons Burn 05 Shadow Slave 06 Crimson Shores 07 Valhalla is Calling 08 Worlds to Conquer 09 Death’s Immortal Flame (Bonus Track)
LIVE & TOURING LINE-UP: Andrew D’Cagna – vocals Jesse Scott – guitar Quinn Lukas – guitar James Babcock – bass Noah Skiba – drums
Andrew D’Cagna performed all the music and vocals.
Live guitarists, Quinn Lukas and Jesse Scott composed and recorded their own guitar solos.
Finnish band VAAJA have released their second single Abalon on July 17. The music video will follow on July 31. The song is an epic, atmospheric gothic metal track drawing from Finnish mythology and tied to an upcoming original VAAJA dark horror-fantasy novel series.
The single is an explosive track, taking its name from a central character in the upcoming first book: Abalon, the elven ancestor of foxes. The lyrics delve into how Abalon steps in as a surprise ally to turn the tide for the story’s main protagonist, a vulnerable young vampire, and his human friends.
“All songs of Vaaja are designed to carry Finnish mythology with a unique horror-fantasy twist beyond Finland’s borders,” says Malphas Miserable, the lead singer, songwriter and author of VAAJA.
VAAJA is a fully realised concept. Music is the first chapter of a larger dark fantasy universe that spans both the band’s work and forthcoming novels set in the same world. The band and the books are one universe. “I carried the idea of VAAJA for many years, but it was not until 2025 that I started to write the first book. After that, everything happened very fast and effortlessly.“, Malphas Miserable explains.
Sonically, Abalon occupies the space between the emotional depth of Sleep Token, the atmospheric darkness of HIM, and the devotional, theatrical identity of Opeth and Ghost.
Vaaja – Abalon (Single 2026) Cover art by Malphas Miserable
Composed & lyrics by Malphas Miserable -Arranged by Malphas Miserable, Garn Eir, Fenris Fuzz, Vor, Magni -Recorded, Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Malphas Miserable
“We think the category of “Nordic gothic dark metal” fits us the best, but we are very flexible in a wide array of musical genres. However, with VAAJA, we don’t want to restrict ourselves too much musically. Instead, aiming to maintain a playful, even blasphemous spirit-just like the old gods. The old gods are dear to us, and we feel that Finnish mythology is one of the richest yet still most underrepresented mythologies in metal,” the band states.
“Vaaja is not Viking imagery borrowed from our neighbours. It is ours, ancient, magical, and largely unknown to the world – until now.“
The Band: Vocals: Malphas Miserable Guitar: Garn Eir(The Sorcerer) Guitar: Fenris Fuzz (The Berserker) Drums: Magni (The Seer) Bass: Vor (The Warrior)
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