Finnish metal band The Ghoulstars gains US exposure through CNN feature
A Finnish metal band from Kuopio has received international attention after its music video was featured on US news network CNN, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle. The Ghoulstars, a group blending punk, metal, and horror themes, described the exposure as a significant breakthrough for an independent act.
The band’s latest single, Graverobbers from Outer Space, from their upcoming debut album The Dark Overlords of the Universe (due May 2025), was highlighted in CNN’s entertainment segment over the weekend. Guitarist and founder Markus Laakso called the coverage a rare acknowledgment of smaller bands in mainstream media.
“Often, only big names get massive attention while smaller bands struggle for visibility,” Laakso told Yle. “This feels like CNN tipping its hat to all the lesser-known acts out there.”
The video also earned a spot on German publication Metal Hammer‘s list of best recent releases last week. The band’s album will be distributed by Franco-American indie label Season of Mist, known for its work in alternative metal and previous collaborations with Finnish artists. The label will handle global marketing and distribution of the self-produced record.
Laakso, a music historian who has written books on Finnish metal, sees the deal as a career milestone. “Internationally, this opens doors—we’ve got the keys to something big now,” he said. The band, formed a few years ago, draws inspiration from classic horror and sci-fi films. Its lineup includes vocalist Arthur Thure, drummer Toni Ronkainen, and bassist Markus Makkonen, all veterans of groups like Hooded Menace, Thermate, and Kuolemanlaakso.
While Finnish metal acts like HIM, Children of Bodom, Nightwish, and Amorphis have achieved global success, Laakso noted a gap in newer breakout stars from Finland this decade. “The 2020s haven’t yet seen fresh Finnish names rise to that level,” he said. “The world still respects Finnish metal, but we need new stories.”