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The Finnish symphonic black metal band …And Oceans released their latest full-length album, ‘The Regeneration Itinerary,’ on May 23, 2025, via Season of Mist. The release arrives as a noteworthy entry in the international metal calendar, presenting a project that has already drawn attention for its detailed production and conceptual framework. Issued through a label widely recognized for supporting experimental and genre-defining acts within extreme music, the album’s publication coincides with the group’s three-decade anniversary—lending the event additional historical and cultural weight.
Originally formed in 1995, …And Oceans has long occupied a distinct position in Scandinavian metal, known for alternating between black metal, electronic-infused experimentation, and a more traditional symphonic approach. Over the years, the band has undergone several stylistic transformations and lineup changes, ultimately consolidating its current configuration with a renewed focus on genre conventions rooted in atmospheric aggression and complex orchestration. ‘The Regeneration Itinerary’ is the first studio album released since their 2020 effort, continuing a recent trajectory grounded in the band’s early musical identity.
The timing of this release also aligns with heightened international interest in Finnish contributions to extreme metal, a space where …And Oceans remains one of the more historically durable entities. By issuing the album through Season of Mist—an independent label known for its global distribution reach and genre-spanning catalogue—the band situates this project within a broader discourse on modern black metal’s stylistic and conceptual directions. The album’s rollout, which includes a new music video for the track ‘Prophetical Mercury Implement,’ reinforces its positioning as a culturally relevant release in 2025.
…And Oceans: Three Decades of Stylistic Shifts
Since their founding in 1995, the Finnish band …And Oceans has undergone a series of stylistic transformations that reflect the broader shifts within the metal genre over the past three decades. Emerging at a time when Scandinavian black metal was gaining significant visibility, the band initially aligned itself with a symphonic sound grounded in harsh vocals, melodic keyboards, and fast-paced guitar work. These early releases established their reputation for ambitious compositions that blended aggression with orchestration, situating them alongside acts experimenting with the expressive limits of extreme metal.
In the early 2000s, …And Oceans diverged sharply from their original approach, incorporating industrial, electronic, and experimental elements into their music. Albums released during this period displayed a conscious break from convention, at times integrating digital textures and rhythmic variations atypical of traditional black metal structures. This era of the band’s output polarized some early listeners but gained the attention of others interested in the genre’s boundary-testing potential. After a lengthy hiatus and subsequent reformation, the group reoriented their work toward the symphonic black metal format that had initially distinguished them. This return was neither nostalgic nor conservative; rather, it reflected a consolidation of the band’s earlier experimentation within a more structurally familiar framework.
The present configuration of …And Oceans reflects both continuity and adaptation. Vocalist Mathias Lillmåns, known for his role in Finntroll, provides a commanding presence that links the band to a broader network of Nordic extreme metal. Guitarists Timo Kontio and Teemu Saari contribute layered instrumentation that complements the sonic density of the band’s compositions. Bassist Pyry Hanski and drummer Kauko Kuusisalo maintain a rhythmic foundation that supports the dynamic shifts in tempo and texture, while Antti Simonen’s keyboard work evokes the atmospheric qualities characteristic of the symphonic style. Together, this lineup demonstrates a cohesion that has supported the production of ‘The Regeneration Itinerary,’ a project distributed by the French label Season of Mist, which has long played a prominent role in disseminating avant-garde and extreme music across international platforms.
‘The Regeneration Itinerary’: Structure and Production of the Album
‘The Regeneration Itinerary’ presents a tightly constructed sequence of ten primary compositions, supported by two additional tracks available through deluxe editions. Produced by Juho Räihä and finalized by Tore Stjerna at Sweden’s Necromorbus Studio—an established facility within the sphere of black and death metal—the album reflects a deliberate attention to sonic balance and atmosphere. The technical team’s involvement situates the release among a lineage of extreme metal projects shaped by precision mastering and nuanced mixing, reinforcing its adherence to production standards prevalent in the genre.

Across the album, the track titles—such as ‘Chromium Lungs, Bronze Optics,’ ‘The Fire in Which We Burn,’ and ‘The Terminal Filter’—suggest a conceptual coherence rooted in physical and chemical references. While avoiding explicit narrative structures, the naming conventions and sequencing convey a recurring engagement with ideas of transformation and mechanized embodiment. The lead single, ‘Prophetical Mercury Implement,’ anchors this pattern with a composition that juxtaposes orchestral passages with rapid instrumental transitions, indicative of the band’s approach to arrangement. This balance between clarity and complexity defines the listening experience across the record.
The expanded editions of the album include ‘Copper Blood, Titanium Scars’ and ‘The Discord Static,’ tracks that extend the album’s runtime without disrupting its thematic continuity. These versions are available in limited physical formats—including black, marbled, and translucent vinyl pressings—issued in defined quantities through Season of Mist. The decision to offer multiple editions reflects a distribution strategy aimed at collectors and long-term followers of the band, while maintaining availability across digital platforms. This multi-format rollout, managed by a label recognized for its specialized catalog, situates ‘The Regeneration Itinerary’ within both niche and accessible listening environments.
Visual Concept and Artwork
The visual identity of ‘The Regeneration Itinerary’ is shaped by French artist Adrien Bousson, whose cover art encapsulates the album’s exploration of dualities—light and dark, chaos and order, transformation and stasis. The artwork features a central silhouetted figure suspended within a luminous circle, surrounded by intricate cosmic patterns and mechanical motifs. This imagery reflects the album’s thematic focus on the interplay between opposing forces and the journey toward self-realization.
Bousson’s design aligns with the band’s sonic landscape, which blends symphonic black metal with avant-garde and industrial elements. The cover art serves not only as a visual representation of the album’s themes but also enhances the listener’s immersive experience, offering a visual narrative that parallels the music’s complexity and depth.
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Video Release for ‘Prophetical Mercury Implement’
The music video for ‘Prophetical Mercury Implement,’ released in advance of the album’s publication, extends the aesthetic of ‘The Regeneration Itinerary’ into a visual medium. Shared via the band’s official YouTube channel and distributed through Season of Mist’s promotional networks, the video was released publicly on May 21, 2025. It features a sequence of abstract, atmospheric imagery set against a performance backdrop, employing stark contrasts and kinetic editing techniques that align with the sonic characteristics of the track.
While the video does not follow a traditional narrative, its direction reflects the broader tonal elements present throughout the album—mechanical visuals interspersed with organic deterioration, structured around the interplay between the band’s performance and symbolic visual motifs. The editing rhythm corresponds closely to the track’s structural shifts, integrating tempo changes and instrumental layering with sharp visual cuts and slow-motion effects. This approach situates the video as a complementary extension of the album rather than a standalone concept, maintaining consistency with the record’s broader stylistic framework.
Its release two days prior to the album launch functioned both as a promotional tool and as an audiovisual reference point for media coverage and audience engagement. Viewership figures across major platforms indicate that the video has served as a focal point for the album’s reception, consolidating audience interest ahead of the full release. The video’s distribution strategy—focused on high-visibility digital channels—further reflects Season of Mist’s emphasis on accessibility within the genre’s specialized audiences, providing a platform for sustained interest beyond the initial release window.
Public and Press Reception
Since its release, ‘The Regeneration Itinerary’ has been met with favorable attention from both critics and listeners within the symphonic and extreme metal communities. Early reviews emphasize the album’s compositional discipline and the band’s ability to balance aggression with atmosphere. The established Finnish outlet Inferno Magazine highlighted the record’s clarity of intent, noting how …And Oceans maintains coherence across its runtime without sacrificing intensity or structural complexity. Meanwhile, international coverage has acknowledged the band’s continued relevance in a genre often dominated by either legacy acts or emerging innovators.
Fan commentary on platforms such as Metal Storm and Rate Your Music reflects a general appreciation for the album’s production values, lyrical consistency, and layered instrumentation. Particular mention has been made of the track ‘Prophetical Mercury Implement,’ which has emerged as a focal point for discussion due to its orchestral depth and arrangement dynamics. Listeners also commended the cohesive sequencing of the album, viewing it as a testament to the band’s maturity and self-assured creative direction.
While broader industry assessments are still emerging, the early reception of ‘The Regeneration Itinerary reinforces’ …And Oceans’ position as a durable presence within the black metal discourse—one that continues to contribute meaningfully to the genre’s evolution without relying on stylistic reinvention. The album’s alignment with established production standards and conceptual consistency further solidifies its status as a noteworthy release in the 2025 metal calendar.
Live Performances and Touring Schedule
In support of ‘The Regeneration Itinerary,’ …And Oceans have announced a series of live performances across Europe and North America throughout 2025. These appearances are set to reinforce the album’s themes and showcase the band’s dynamic stage presence.

The tour will commence with an album release show on May 30 in Helsinki, Finland. Subsequently, the band is scheduled to perform at the Kaaos Festival in Vaasa, Finland, on July 26, followed by the Saarihelvetti Festival in Tampere, Finland, on August 1–2. They will then appear at the Party.San Metal Open Air in Obermehler, Germany, from August 7–9. In October, …And Oceans will make their first-ever United States of America appearance at Metal Threat Fest in Elgin, Illinois, on October 2. The tour will conclude with a performance at the Eindhoven Metal Meeting in the Netherlands on December 12–13.
Conclusion
The release of ‘The Regeneration Itinerary’ consolidates …And Oceans’ current phase of activity, shaped by a stable lineup, renewed artistic focus, and an established relationship with Season of Mist. It reflects a methodical approach to production and distribution, underpinned by familiarity with the genre’s structure and audience expectations. This clarity of direction has enabled the band to contribute a release that engages with black metal’s symphonic dimension without relying on redefinition or stylistic departure.
Within the broader context of Finnish metal, the band’s continued presence—now spanning three decades—illustrates a model of longevity built not on repetition but on periodic recalibration. The album neither introduces a new trajectory nor isolates itself from prior work; rather, it evidences an understanding of the genre’s compositional architecture and a measured confidence in its application.
As ‘The Regeneration Itinerary’ enters circulation and continues to draw media and listener attention, its role as a representative work within the band’s catalogue and the broader symphonic black metal tradition becomes increasingly apparent. It reinforces …And Oceans’ ability to contribute meaningfully to a specialized musical discourse, grounded in familiarity with the genre while responsive to the conditions of contemporary production and dissemination.
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