#smackbound

LAURENNE/LOUHIMO — the collaboration between powerhouse Finnish vocalists Noora Louhimo (BATTLE BEAST) and Netta Laurenne (SMACKBOUND) — will release its sophomore album, "Falling Through Stars", on April 18, 2025 via Frontiers Music Srl. The official music video for the LP's first single, "Damned", can be seen below.

On the single, Laurenne comments: "'Damned' is our first single release, and it represents the most classic style of melodic metal and hard rock on the album. Full of energy and attitude, we wanted to create a video that shows us performing alongside the musicians who played on the album. The song explores the struggles of battling inner demons, depression and self-doubt — while also capturing the determination to rise above them."

LAURENNE/LOUHIMO is one of the most exciting projects on Frontiers Music Srl and, in this second chapter, deliver a full force metal assaults with the power to blow you away.

LAURENNE/LOUHIMO offers listeners a mix of heavy metal and hard rock tracks that explores the variety of the genre, while maintaining a straightforward, easy-to-enjoy appeal.

"Falling Through Stars" has shades of all eras of RAINBOW here and there, as well as JUDAS PRIEST and many other 1980s icons of the style. All of these influences are expertly filtered into Netta and Noora's way of composing music.

The idea of a possible collaboration between Netta and Noora became a reality once the pandemic started and cleared out calendars for both artists. It felt like a perfect time to start the project and share all the things they have in common, from the same original town to similar idols and influences.

The main highlights of the album are, naturally, the vocal melodies created and shared by Netta Laurenne and Noora Louhimo.

"Falling Through Stars" has been once again produced at the Sonic Pump studio under the guidance of Nino Laurenne (who also played the guitars and contributed to the songwriting). The production is clear and powerful and gives the deserved value to the two stars here.

Songs like "Falling Through Stars", "Damned", "Loud And Clear" and "Wait" are just a few of the highlights of a great album that will please all melodic metal fans.

Commenting on the album, Laurenne states: "'Falling Through Stars' is the second collaborative album with Noora, and it gave us the opportunity to step in and out of our comfort zones to meet halfway. We had a great time writing and recording the album, which I co-produced with my husband, Nino Laurenne. This album takes us on a journey through both the past and future of metal. We've aimed to incorporate styles, instruments, and emotions spanning from the '70s to the present day. It's a dynamic album that showcases both raw power and delicate moments, and we're excited to share it with everyone"

"Falling Through Stars" track listing:

01. Falling Through Stars 02. Damned 03. To The Dark 04. All For Sale 05. The Cradle 06. Rotten Gold 07. FTS 08. Let The Light Be Free 09. Loud And Clear 10. Wait 11. David Bowie & Clyde

LAURENNE/LOUHIMO recording lineup:

Netta Laurenne - Lead & Backing Vocals Noora Louhimo - Lead & Backing Vocals Sampo Haapaniemi - Drums Pasi Heikkilä - Bass Vili Itäpelto - Keyboards & Programming Mikko Kosonen - Solo/Acoustic/Lead & Additional Guitars Nino Laurenne - Rhythm & Solo Guitars

September was full of great jams, so let's have a look at them starting with the honorable mentions as always.

Evanescence - Use My Voice Oceans of Slumber - The Colors of Grace feat. Mick Moss (Antimatter) Aleah - Sacrifice feat. Anilah Talanas - Ananta (The Portrait) Sacrificed - Vertigo Bleeding Gods - Tripled Anger Persefone - The Majestic of Gaia Glasya - Cancao do Mar Anaya - Everything & Anything Black Rose Maze (Rosa Larcchiuata) - In the Dark Volturian - In a Heartbeat I Miss My Death - Маргарита Sevdaliza - Joanna Distorted Harmony - Natural Selection Psychotic Waltz - Devils and Angels

Lost in Separation - If There is Love Amaranthe - Strong feat. Noora Louhimo (Battle Beast) Leaves' Eyes - Dark Love Empress Little Big - Hypnodancer The Hardkiss - Кобра feat. Monatik Maruv - Sad Song Aeonian Sorrow - My Solitude Aly & AJ - Attack of Panic Reasons Behind - Binary Stars Snow Tha Product - On My Shit Freestyle Ayreon - This Human Equation Qveen Herby - Mission The Big Jazz Duo - Red Pyramid The Longing - No Time to Die (Billie Eilish cover) Cult of Lilith - Cosmic Maelstrom

Now let's see the songs I really obsessed over.

Smackbound - Wall of Silence

This song is full of so much fun energy. It's my first time hearing them and I need more from them. Right from the start it pulls you in and gets you jamming. I bet this song is amazing to drive to.

Purple Nail - World in Flames

This is a new song of theirs featuring their new front woman. Her voice is the most different out of all the singers they've had and I definitely look forward to the new dimensions and elements she's going to bring. This song is such a great introductory track for her since it doesn't give away too much, but shows enough of her voice to get you excited.

Loreen - My Heart is Refusing Me

I love sad songs disguised as happy songs and this is one of those songs. The lyrics are so sad, but the chorus just makes you want to dance since it's an electronica track. It's like if Cascada made a sad song. I'm definitely am gonna check out more from her. And before anyone asks, yes I do know she won Eurovision with her song Euphoria.

Vintersea - Fiery Tongue

After checking out Illuminated and being obsessed with it, I had to check out more from this band. This song definitely did not disappoint. It shows so much diversity and versatility with this band's sound and the talents of Avienne's voice. The exit is probably my favorite part thanks to those vocal lines. So freaking good.

Vintersea - Befallen

I did a reaction video to Fiery Tongue for my music channel and Vintersea saw it and recommended I check out this song and do a reaction video to it too, so clearly I had to. Holy tits is this song amazing. It really pays homage to early days when they were a progressive black metal band under a different name. The power, the rawness, the intensity; it's all there and is absolutely brilliant. Don't you dare sleep on these guys.

Mikaela - Bring Me Blood

I learned about this track thanks to learning that she parted ways with Martyrium, an abusive black metal band that treated her like shit. She ditched them and dropped this amazing solo track. It's so intense and so raw. Yeah it's a bit cheesy, but the sheer power of her growls and those meaty guitars are absolutely everything. I'm super excited to hear what other amazing jams she's going to bring.