Helsinki-based Brymir make a strong case for melodic death metal with “What We Leave Behind”, coming on October 2nd, 2026, via Napalm Records!
In a darkening world full of existential dread, the Finnish band—singer Viktor Storm Gullichsen, guitarist Joona Björkroth, bassist Jarkko Niemi, and drummer Patrik Fält—takes a stand with their most sinister album yet. Again heavily influenced by their singer’s main job as a movie sound designer, Brymir create vast cinematic soundscapes around their sometimes bleak, sometimes hopeful, but always honest messages.
Along with the album announcement, Brymir share the title track as the first single. The keys-driven “What We Leave Behind” reveals the theme of the Finnish melodic death metal band’s darkest album to date: between an ever-so-catchy chorus and aggressive high-speed verses, Brymir make a strong case against war and for humanity. Painting the world in flames, the four-piece takes a leap into outer space as a result in the accompanying music video while diving into existentialism on their way.
Brymir about “What We Leave Behind”:
“There are defining moments in our lives when we need to choose if we keep walking along the same trajectory or take a leap into the unknown. These choices, sometimes life-changing, often need to be made in an eyeblink, and the consequences can only be cherished or despised when viewed in retrospect. This is a song about our regrets—may these haunting melodies help you reflect on yours and hopefully show some solace in the beauty of the journey.
For this music video, we wanted to boldly go into the sci-fi aesthetic we’ve been hinting at for a while now. It may seem drastic to some of our fans, but the undercurrents have definitely been there for a long while already, and this video and lead single we feel is the final ripping off of the proverbial band-aid. We’re bending and breaking our boundaries and definitely any preconceptions of Brymir as just a ‘folk metal’ band. Thematically and musically, the title track, of course, is the summation of the whole of the very diverse upcoming album, stretching through epochs of time and the very core existential drive of humanity. What do we leave behind? What is the legacy we wish to leave for those who come after? Or is our obsession over legacy the poison pill for our present? Our blindness to make the progress that truly matters in the end, so very near us… We boldly engage the warp-drives, but maybe we leave the truly important things back home after all”.
Watch the official music video for “What We Leave Behind” below.
Strongly tied to current societal developments, Brymir deliver an equally raw and fantastical album. Their darkest output yet, the band’s fifth album hits especially hard—and leaves absolutely no open questions behind. As introspective as it is outspoken, “What We Leave Behind” is an epic plea for humanity.
Brymir about “What We Leave Behind”:
“Since our previous album, the world certainly hasn’t gotten any lighter—and as art reflects life, our fifth album, ‘What We Leave Behind’, is the darkest creation we’ve made so far. Both musically as well as thematically… ‘What We Leave Behind?’ is the core question explored from many perspectives: from personal hopes, dreams, and fears to societal developments to dark sci-fi and existential despair. Join us on this dark emotional journey, at times violent, at times beautiful, and always honest in baring the soul of what is Brymir – no compromise, everything raw and real”.
The atmospheric instrumental intro, “Slaying Star”, moves right into its faster counterpart, “Sleipnir”, opening up the album with the speed and fury of the eight-hooved horse companion to Allfather Odin it is named after. Keyboards and choirs carry Brymir’s epic death metal to new heights. Following “Tempestbound” shifts the focus to speedy guitar work while unveiling the overarching theme of “What We Leave Behind”. Wrapped in the cloak of mythology, Brymir deliver a message clearly translatable into our society: No matter the belief system, the Gods are all the same—and none of them is worth dying for at the hands of moribund mankind. The keys-driven title track, “What We Leave Behind”, hammers in the pacifist message: “Midgard lies in flames”, the four-piece exclaims regretfully about the realm of people, the reason following right behind in the ever-so-catchy chorus, whose calmness serves as a stark contrast to the high-speed verses: “Vanity paves the road to Hel”, the meaning of which is clear even without knowledge of the Edda. “True Darkness” moves down a gloomier path, taking a particularly creative approach to Brymir’s signature orchestral sound: following the stages of grief, it offers its chorus only in melody to keep up with the progression of the lyrics. After dismal passages, it closes with hopeful clean vocals and a bittersweet spoken word outro—truly cinematic. Aptly named instrumental breather “Moment of Silence” beautifully prepares for “Buried Legion”, a contrastingly sweeping song powered by choirs that paint a martial image. Inspired by German composer Johann Sebastian Bach, “Thy Self The Highest Love” serves as a liturgical prelude to “The Roaring King”, in which Brymir turn down the speed while losing none of their vigor. The lengthy epic “Broken Dawn” picks up right where the preceding track left off: a waltz, this track closes the album majestically, showcasing the band’s knack for film-like build-ups. For everyone wanting to end on a lighter note, the band adds an out-of-the-box bonus cover to “What We Leave Behind”. Scooter’s eurodance classic “How Much Is The Fish” is reworked into a rousing melodeath track—an additional nod to Brymir’s stance against ocean pollution, “Herald of Aegir”, from the previous album, “Voices in the Sky” (2022), live performances of which regularly see salmon plushies in the audience.
“What We Leave Behind” will be available in the following formats:
• 1LP Gatefold Splatter Grey Black Red, incl. Booklet – strictly limited to 200 copies (Napalm Shop exclusive)
• 1LP Gatefold Clear – strictly limited to 200 copies (Napalm Shop and Finland exclusive)
• 1LP Gatefold Trans Red, incl. Lyric Sheet
• 1CD Digipack, 6p Digipack
• Digital Album
Pre-order & pre-save “What We Leave Behind” here.
Tracklist:
1. Slaying Star
2. Sleipnir
3. Tempestbound
4. What We Leave Behind
5. True Darkness
6. Moment of Silence
7. Buried Legion
8. Thy Self the Highest Love
9. The Roaring King
10. Broken Dawn
11. How Much is the Fish
Festivals 2026:
07.08.26 FI – Helsinki / Hellsinki Metal Festival
12.08.26 DE – Dinkelsbühl / Summer Breeze Open Air
04.09.26 CH – Hüttikon / Meh Suff!
06.11.26 FI – Kempele / ZRock Winter Fest
Finland Tour Dates 2026:
18.09.26 FI – Vantaa / Skenesali
25.09.26 FI – Seinäjoki / Rytmikorjaamo
26.09.26 FI – Oulu / 45 Special
02.10.26 FI – Tampere / Olympia
03.10.26 FI – Lahti / VNUE
08.10.26 FI – Jyväskylä / Lutakko
09.10.26 FI – Turku / Apollo
16.10.26 FI – Kouvola / House of Rock
17.10.26 FI – Kuopio / Circus
24.10.26 FI – Vaasa / Fanny
30.10.26 FI – Hämeenlinna / Suisto
31.10.26 FI – Helsinki / Korjaamo
(Special Guests: Horizon Ignited + Omnivortex)
Line-up:
Viktor Storm Gullichsen – Vocals
Joona Björkroth – Guitars
Jarkko Niemi – Bass
Patrik Fält – Drums
Weblinks:
www.brymir.com
www.facebook.com/Brymir
