Helsinki-based BRYMIR make a strong case for melodic death metal with What We Leave Behind, coming October 2, 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. 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 focusto 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. 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

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