Checking out ATLAS from Nokia (near Tampere in the Finnish metal region) - UKKO came out December 2021 on Long Branch Records. They call their sound 'Northcore,' which is modern metalcore built around Finnish mythology and folk themes.
The album title 'Ukko' refers to the Finnish sky and thunder god, and that mythological angle runs through the whole record. Eleven tracks mixing English and Finnish, with most track titles in Finnish: 'Talvi' (Winter), 'Susi' (Wolf), 'Veri' (Blood), 'Joki' (River), 'Uhri' (Sacrifice). The themes touch on death, rebirth, healing, and faith, connecting metalcore structures to Finnish folk-poetry imagery.
Production by Buster Odeholm (mixing and mastering) - heavy on the percussion, with looping rhythms and melodic elements that lean atmospheric. The band is a six-piece, and the arrangements have space for both crushing weight and cinematic moments. There's an official video for the title track that shows the visual approach—cold, dark, mythology-focused.
If you're into metalcore that incorporates regional mythology and folk elements rather than sticking to standard metal themes, worth exploring. Available on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
