Royal Sorrow – Innerdeeps (2025) A Debut That Demands Attention
I’m always chasing new sounds, and Innerdeeps, the debut from Finnish newcomers Royal Sorrow, has quickly climbed near the top of my 2025 favourites. Their blend of progressive, alternative, and modern metal feels both familiar and distinct — a sign of real promise.
Band & Album Background
Royal Sorrow hail from Helsinki, Finland, and they’re signed to InsideOutMusic (a Sony imprint)
Line-up / Credits
Markus Hentunen – vocals, guitars
Eero Maijala – bass
Janne Mieskonen – drums
Earlier, the band included a guitarist, Juha Rapanen, who has since left the lineup (but is credited on earlier works)
They’ve also used guest musicians (backing vocals, additional guitar parts, choirs) and textural layers that suggest keyboards or synthesizer programming, though in some transcripts these are not explicitly credited.
First Impressions & Style
From the very start, Innerdeeps hits with intensity. The opener “Let Go” is a wall of sound: crushing riffs, stop-start dynamics, and a production that makes this feel like it needs to be played on high fidelity speakers—not compressed for cheap earbuds. Your stereo setup will thank you.
Right away, I thought of Soen — especially in the vocal style and emotive delivery. But Royal Sorrow push harder into heavier textures, straddling a line between aggressive and melodic in a way that draws in fans of Leprous, VOLA, TesseracT, and Sleep Token.
Everywhere on the album, you’ll hear shifts in rhythm, unexpected transitions, and layers of subtle detail that reward replaying.
Track Highlights & Impressions
Rather than summarise every track in sequence, here are some of the moments that stood out most to me:
“Metrograve”
Released as a single early (late 2024)
This track immediately sells the band’s mission statement: razor-sharp riffs, shifting grooves, and a huge chorus. You’ll hear a sense of push and pull between drums and guitars so tight it’s hard to tell who’s leading.
“Samsara”
This leans into offbeat funk and heavy rhythm, while giving Markus space to shine. To my ears, this is one of the tracks where the band’s identity feels most fully realized.
“Release Your Shadow”
Creepy stop-start crunch mixed with pulsing atmospheric elements (perhaps keyboard programming or synth backing). The contrast between quiet tension and full-scale riff assault makes it one of the stronger hooks on the album.
“Evergreen”
Slightly more laid back in moments, but still carrying emotional weight and well-balanced instrumentation.
“Survival Complex”
Discordant guitars, ferocious rhythm, and then space for the vocal to soar over the chaos. It feels like the band letting loose their more aggressive edge.
“Bloodflower”
A personal highlight. The song shifts dynamics fluidly: tender passages, brutal riffs, and a solo that breaks through with emotional intensity. There’s a point where the vocal turns almost angry, and it lands hard.
“Looking Glass”
Starts intimate with solo piano and voice, then layers in female backing vocals and builds toward a powerful crescendo. This is one of the more cinematic moments.
“Give In”
A high-energy track bristling with modern rock sensibility. The chorus soars, guitars attack, and the production soundstage is wide and deep.
“Innerdeeps” (title track)
An epic closer. Jangly guitars, layered riffs, stop-start keyboard throb, choir vocals, and emotionally charged crescendos. This one leaves you feeling like you’ve been on a journey!
Themes, Maturity & Artistic Voice
What impresses me most is that Innerdeeps doesn’t sound like a first draft marred by raw ambition; it sounds fully formed. The themes lean inward: shadow selves, confronting darkness, psychological landscapes. In a recent interview, the band said the album is not exactly a concept record, but does carry through introspective motifs.
The vocal performance by Markus is key: whether soaring clean or adding grit when needed, he delivers with emotional clarity. The interplay between rawness and polish in the instrumentation complements that vocal core.
And yes, the album doesn’t always follow classic verse-chorus-solo structure. Many tracks surprise you in placement or direction — which keeps it exciting, never predictable.
Because the album leans modern and heavy, it might be a challenge for listeners who avoid metal entirely. But I believe Innerdeeps has crossover potential — its production is polished, vocals strong, and hooks memorable.
Final Verdict
Royal Sorrow have delivered a record that balances aggression, melody, texture, and emotional weight from first note to last. I’m confident this will rank among my top albums of 2025.
If you’re into progressive and alternative metal with depth — think Leprous, VOLA, Sleep Token — this is absolutely worth your time.
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
