Following the roaring success of their latest album “A Dream of Wilderness” (2021), Toulouse-based melodic death metal powerhouse Aephanemer strikes again with their fourth studio offering, “Utopie”, slated for a release on October 31st, 2025, via Napalm Records.
Today, the trio has unleashed the opening single, “La Règle du Jeu”, a blistering ripper with frantic tempos, carnivorous growls from frontwoman Marion Bascoul, and an epic balance of death metal and classical influences!
Watch the official video for “La Règle du Jeu” below.
The band comments:
“We’re really proud of ‘La Règle du Jeu’ – it’s one of the most energetic and catchy songs on the album, and we feel it captures the balance we’ve been aiming for between our favorite melodic death metal influences and classical music arrangements. We hope listeners will like it”!
Blending ferocious melodic death metal with cinematic grandeur, Utopie sees the trio unleash an ambitious, razor-sharp assault of epic melodies, relentless speed, and philosophical depth, pushing their sound into bold new territory. Led by the commanding presence of Bascoul, the band delivers a fiercely technical and emotionally immersive record — lyrically exploring the uniquely mythic urgency of modern times.
With “Utopie”, Aephanemer recalibrates their formula, surging with heavier classical influences, blistering riffage, majestic orchestrations, and Slavic folk undertones — etching a sound equally ancient and futuristic.
“With ‘Utopie’, we set out to create a sound that brings together the elements we’ve always loved — the intensity of melodic death metal and the depth of classical music”, Aephanemer reveals. “We spent a lot of time shaping melodies, drawing inspiration from polyphonic writing, and building orchestral arrangements that feel both powerful and natural to us. It was a challenging but fulfilling process, and we sincerely hope listeners will connect with what we’ve crafted”.
Lyrically, the record engages with the concept of utopia not as escape, but as confrontation — dissecting philosophical ideals with their refined sonic scalpel, and pushing for a world of harmony between living beings.
Actively bucking genre conventions, Aephanemer continues to reinvent their path in the melodic death metal landscape. “Utopie” is more than just an album — it’s a storm of sound, an ideological reckoning, and a powerful new chapter from one of Europe’s most vital and visionary metal bands!
Available formats:
• 1CD Digipak
• 1LP Gatefold BLACK
• 1LP Gatefold ORANGE / BLACK Marbled
• Digital Album
Pre-order & pre-save “Utopie” here.
Tracklist:
1. Échos d’un Monde Perdu
2. Le Cimetière Marin
3. La Règle du Jeu
4. Par-delà le Mur des Siècles
5. Chimère
6. Contrepoint
7. La Rivière Souterraine
8. Utopie (Partie I)
9. Utopie (Partie II)
In support of Utopie, the band will embark on a European tour in early November, with special guests Valhalore, Dark Oath and Waldgeflüster. Find all upcoming live dates listed below!
European Tour Dates 2025:
06.11.25 DE – Weinheim / Cafe Central
07.11.25 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser
08.11.25 DE – Berlin / War Against War Festival
09.11.25 DE – Kassel / Goldgrube
10.11.25 DE – München / Feierwerk
12.11.25 AT – Wien / Escape
13.11.25 HU – Budapest / Dürer Kert
14.11.25 PL – Kraków / Klub Gwarek
15.11.25 CZ – Praha / Black Pes
16.11.25 PL – Warszawa / Voodoo Club
18.11.25 LT – Kaunas / Klubas Lemmy
19.11.25 FI – Turku / Nirvana
20.11.25 FI – Helsinki / On The Rocks
21.11.25 FI – Tampere / Varjobaari
22.11.25 FI – Turku / Nirvana
26.11.25 DE – Hamburg / LOGO
27.11.25 DE – Oberhausen / Helvete
28.11.25 DE – Oldenburg / Cadillac
29.11.25 BE – Ghent / Asgaard Gentbrugge
30.11.25 NL – Harlem / Patronaat
02.12.25 UK – London / The Underworld
03.12.25 UK – Manchester / Rebellion
Line-up:
Marion Bascoul – Vocals
Martin Hamiche – Guitars, Bass, Orchestrations
Mickael Bonnevialle – Drums
