Finnish melodic metal band Unén have announced the release of their debut album, Forever Winter, scheduled for August 29, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl. The band has shared a new track, Black Heart, available today with an accompanying official video. Vocalist Stina Girs described the song, saying, “Black Heart was the first song I was given to shape with lyrics and vocal melodies, and it instantly resonated with me. The title had been echoing in my mind for a while, and the moment I heard the music, I knew – this was it. The song dives deep into the darkness of a toxic relationship, one ruled by manipulation and control at the hands of a narcissist. But at its core, the song is about reclaiming your strength. It’s the breaking point – the moment you rise, take back your power, and refuse to be broken.”
The album began taking shape in spring 2023 following the arrival of Stina Girs as lead vocalist. The band noted, “Forever Winter began to take shape in the spring of 2023, marking a real turning point for us with the arrival of our lead vocalist, Stina Girs. At the time, we had a handful of instrumental tracks in progress – including an early version of what would become Black Heart – but when Stina started working on the material, her passion and emotional depth brought everything to life.” They added that the album blends driving melodic rock, cinematic progressive metal, and haunting stillness, tied together by Girs’ powerful voice, with lyrics reflecting personal experiences of catharsis, resilience, and rebirth.
Unén, formed in late 2021 in Helsinki, Finland, consists of Stina Girs (vocals), Kimmo Pitkänen (guitars), Petteri Sinervä (keyboards), Harri Moilanen (guitars), Tomi Kallava (bass), and Timo Larjo (drums). The band evolved with a lineup change in 2023, accelerating their creative process. Their first single, Made of Stone (cover), released in May 2023, featured Girs, who gained recognition after placing fifth on the Finnish TV show “Idols” in 2010 and later releasing two solo albums with Sony Finland. The band’s name, derived from an original concept of dream-based lyrics, shifted with their evolving sound.
Pre-orders are available at ffm.to/unenforeverwinter.
The Forever Winter tracklist includes:
- Prelude for the Wicked
- My Love’s Broken
- In My Bones
- Black Heart
- Forever Winter
- Sky
- Game Over
- Ice Queen
- Spoil Me
- Rose
- Disappear
Further details are available on their Facebook, Instagram, and website website.