The fourth studio album of Finnish melodic metal highflyers ARION, “The Light That Burns The Sky,” will finally hit the shelves on February 28, 2025 through RPM (Finland: Ranka Kustannus; Japan: Avalon Label / Marquee Inc.). Following the enormously warm welcome of their hard-hitting yet powerfully melodic single “Like The Phoenix I Will Rise,” the band have now released the ultimate teaser for the record. ARION’s latest track, intriguingly titled “Blasphemous Paradise,” masterfully fuses two contrasting musical worlds. On one side, it’s driven by classic metal riffs and powerful, dynamic drumming, while on the other, Lassi Vääränen’s vocals take the spotlight, infusing the song with an unexpectedly pop-like feel.
“Being one of the more simple tracks on the album, Blasphemous Paradise is a hard rocking song mocking the nature of a pathological liar and the endgame of ‘catching’ them for their lies. While I composed it in just a day at the very early stages of writing this album, I intentionally kept it simple, but it took a lot of time to find the final lyrics. Once I found this ‘catching a criminal’ or ‘trial’ kind of theme, it sort of came together smoothly and I felt really happy about it!” comments songwriter/guitarist Iivo Kaipainen.
Listen to “Blasphemous Paradise”: https://arion.rpm.link/paradisePR
Pre-order The Light That Burns The Sky in your preferred format [digipak-CD, coloured vinyl, digital] or pre-save the album on your favourite digital streaming provider (DSP): https://arion.rpm.link/tltbtsPR
In addition, “Blasphemous Paradise” arrives just in time for the start of ARION’s personal 2025 touring year: kicking off with five dates alongside STRATOVARIUS and SONATA ARCTICA in their home country, the group will embark on an 8-date “The Plague That Burns The Sky” co-headline tour with label mates BRAINSTORM with support coming from Italian progressive power metal outfit STRANGER VISION later this month. ARION’s current itinerary and ticket info can be found below!
The Light That Burns The Sky is a collaborative production, featuring songs written by Iivo Kaipainen, production and mixing by Matias Kupiainen of STRATOVARIUS with renowned sound engineers Jacob Hansen and Dan Lancaster collaborating on the song ‘Wings Of Twilight [feat. Melissa Bonny of AD INFINITUM].’ The mastering was handled by Ermin Hamidovic of Systematic Productions (ARCHITECTS, PERIPHERY, DEVIN TOWNSEND etc.), and the album boasts vibrant artwork by Giannis Nakos (Remedy Art Design; DYNAZTY, INNERWISH etc.).
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ARION live:
“Nordic Power Metal Titans 2025”
w/ STRATOVARIUS, SONATA ARCTICA
Presented by Radio City & Grey Beard
14.03.2025 FI Kajaani – Kajaanihalli
15.03.2025 FI Oulu – Tullusali *SOLD OUT*
20.03.2025 FI Jyväskylä – Lutakko *SOLD OUT*
21.03.2025 FI Seinäjoki – Rytmikorjaamo *SOLD OUT*
22.03.2025 FI Kuopio – Sawohouse Underground *SOLD OUT*
“The Plague That Burns The Sky”
ARION + BRAINSTORM
Co-Headline Tour 2025
w/ STRANGER VISION
Presented by Rock Hard, musix, metal.de, powermetal.de, Decibel-Touring & RPM
27.02.2025 DE Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal
28.02.2025 CH Solothurn – Kulturfabrik Kofmehl
01.03.2025 DE Essen – Turock
02.03.2025 DE Mannheim – 7er Club
03.03.2025 DE Munich – Backstage (Halle)
04.03.2025 DE Hamburg – Bahnhof Pauli
05.03.2025 DE Hanover – MusikZentrum
06.03.2025 DE Stuttgart – Im Wizemann
Tickets: https://linktr.ee/brainstormarion
“Nordic Power Metal Titans 2025„”“
w/ STRATOVARIUS, SONATA ARCTICA
Presented by Radio City & Grey Beard
07.03.2025 FI Tampere – Tavara-asema *SOLD OUT*
08.03.2025 FI Helsinki – Kulttuuritalo *SOLD OUT*
27. – 29.07.2025 FI Helsinki – Tuska Festival
About ARION
Founded in 2011, ARION first made a significant mark on the metal scene with their debut album Last Of Us in 2014. Their sophomore effort, “Life Is Not Beautiful,” featuring the breakthrough single “At The Break Of Dawn [feat. Elize Ryd],” solidified their status and earned them major support slots with Finnish bands like BATTLE BEAST, WINTERSUN, and SONATA ARCTICA.
The release of Vultures Die Alone in 2021 during the pandemic propelled their burgeoning career even further, leading to extensive touring in subsequent years. While supporting established metal bands such as GLORYHAMMER and BLOODBOUND, the quintet also performed at a selection of prestigious European festivals and celebrated their US live debut at ProgPower USA in 2022, before closing their Vultures Die Alone live chapter supporting prog metal giants DREAM THEATER in 2023.
With their new album The Light That Burns The Sky ready for release and years of touring experience, including many headlining dates in their home country, ARION are poised to extend the reach of their melodic metal legacy worldwide. The group are set to celebrate the album’s launch with a Central European co-headlining tour alongside their label mates BRAINSTORM.
ARION are:
Lassi Vääränen | vocals
Iivo Kaipainen | guitars
Arttu Vauhkonen | keyboard
Gege Velinov | bass
Topias Kupiainen | drums
More on ARION:
arion.fi | Facebook | Instagram | X | TikTok | YouTube | RPM
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About Reigning Phoenix Music
Founded in 2023, Reigning Phoenix Music is truly the 100% independently owned vision of music industry professional Gerardo Martinez and avionics and tech entrepreneur, Sven Bogner. The blueprint is to continue to help heavy metal, extreme, hard, and heavy music thrive by partnering with an array of well-established acts, new talent, and iconic artists, by offering best services and practices in the industry. But most important is to help the artists amplify their art and talent to a winning formula for success. The label recently opened a new office in London, UK.
Don’t forget to subscribe to Reigning Phoenix Music on YouTube to stay updated and listen to “Blasphemous Paradise” along with other new tracks in the “RPM New Releases” playlist on Spotify. Subscribe here: https://rpm.link/spotifynewreleasesPR.
More on RPM:
reigningphoenixmusic.com | Facebook | Instagram | X | TikTok | YouTube
L-R:
Iivo Kaipainen (guitars), Arttu Vauhkonen (keyboard), Lassi Vääränen (vocals),
Topias Kupiainen (drums), Gege Velinov (bass)
Photo credit: Ville Juurikkala