Ceased Sunfire erupted onto Helsinki’s metal scene in the dead of winter 2021, with vocalist-guitarist-songwriter Ale leading the charge. Fresh off the breakup of his previous band, Ale auditioned his fair share of hopefuls before clicking with bassist Fellu and drummer Juza – players who brought raw intensity to Ale’s crushing new riffs.
Once they hit CBH Recordings with producer Juho Karenko, the sparks flew. Their initial rehearsal in autumn 2021 crackled with fresh inspiration, and by January and February of 2022, the band was holed up in the studio, cutting tracks for their debut EP, Sleepless. Despite pandemic setbacks, the trio wouldn’t be denied, and the resulting brew of heavy stoner grooves and melodic introspection put them firmly on the map.
Drawing influence from Alice in Chains, Pink Floyd, and Finnish heavyweights like Swallow the Sun, Kaiser, and Amorphis, Ceased Sunfire’s sound is as massive as an oncoming storm. Lyrically, Ale digs deep, tackling themes of struggle and self-reflection, believing music should be both cathartic and transformative.
September 2023 marked the release of their first full-length, The Divide. This time around, Ceased Sunfire took a headlong plunge into doomic stoner depths: thick, churning riffs, swirling beneath Ale’s haunting vocal lines—reminiscent of Electric Wizard in their most ominous moments. Fellu’s snarling bass and Juza’s thunderous beats form the backbone of this sonic behemoth, melding stoner doom and southern sludge into a potent attack.
Songs like “The Bridge” strike fast and fierce with hammer-blow riffs wrapped in murky psychedelia, while “Sunny In Your Head” flexes ritualistic harmonies that roll into bursts of metallic fury – proof that Ceased Sunfire can push boundaries without losing their anchor in the almighty riff.
Come early 2024, though, the lineup shifted: Juza parted ways with the band, passing the torch to new drummer Jakke. With The Divide still thundering in speakers across the globe and fresh blood behind the kit, Ceased Sunfire stand poised to take their scorching, rebellion-tinged stoner metal to even heavier heights.
Keep an ear to the ground. This Helsinki powerhouse is just getting started.