A conflict fought through dreams forms the narrative of Escape to a New Empire, the debut album from Finnish progressive metal band END OF ABYSS, released October 23, 2026. Combining progressive metal and symphonic arrangements, the ten-track record places questions about escapism, power and institutions inside a medieval-inspired fantasy setting.
The protagonist joins a group able to battle its enemy through dreams, before discovering that the world's darkest forces are embedded in society itself. According to the announcement, that fictional framework explores contemporary societal structures and the individual's relationship with them.
Composer and producer Petrus Syvänperä describes the connection between the setting and those concerns: “The goal was to create a progressive metal album without sonic or artistic compromises. We wanted to build music that transports the listener to another world while also encouraging reflection on our own time.”
The announcement cites Kamelot, Ayreon, Symphony X and Stam1na among the musical influences, alongside Queen's melodic ambition. Guitarist Juha-Matti “Masa” Berg emphasizes the relationship between the arrangements and the narrative: “What stands out most about the album is its versatility. Every song reveals new details with each listen, yet the overall journey remains cohesive from beginning to end. The compositions and arrangements have been carefully crafted to serve the story and atmosphere.”
The album's development reaches back well before its production sessions. Syvänperä started END OF ABYSS as a one-person project in Jyväskylä in the early 2000s, releasing a self-recorded demo in 2010. Years of work in his home studio developed both the music and its story universe, with various collaborators participating before a permanent lineup took shape.
When album production began in 2024, guitarist Alpo Pöytäkangas joined and contributed to the songwriting. Bassist Janne Koskenkorva, associated with Baulta and Portrait of Beyond, followed shortly afterward. Vocalist Mikko Herranen subsequently joined, helping shape the record's melodic and symphonic character as the project became a full band.
Additional performances include solos by Antti Koivistoinen, who had also participated during the demo years, and rhythm guitars by Berg of Remastered. Most recording took place at Syvänperä's home studio, with further sessions at Herranen's Noise Floor Studio and Berg's Musakonttori. Herranen also mixed and mastered the album.
“During the making of this album, I learned more than I could ever have imagined at the beginning of the project. Looking back, there are many things that would have been useful to know in advance,” Syvänperä says. Pöytäkangas offers a shorter assessment of how listeners might respond: “The music speaks for itself. One person swipes left, another finds a lifelong friend.”
The running order is “Vultures,” “Astral Dreams,” “One For The Broken,” “Parasites of the Stream,” “Incomplete,” “Fraudulent Rant,” “Veritas,” “Island of Isolated Minds,” “Sound Of Soul” and “Escape to a New Empire.”
The accompanying band photograph is credited to END OF ABYSS.