Introduction
Some songs arrive quickly; others need years to reveal their full scale. Finnish cinematic progressive metal band EGRES return with “Sammal,” released on September 18, 2026, fifteen years after Henrik “Tiisu” Illikainen first wrote its music and lyrics. What began as a composition for the Finnish trio Kärkky has now become an expansive progressive metal work shaped by atmosphere, orchestration, cello, piano, choir and powerful dynamics. Rather than merely revisiting the past, EGRES have given the song a convincing new musical life.
Artist background
The story begins with Kärkky, the alternative rock, punk and progressive trio active from 2011 to 2017. It featured Illikainen — also known as the frontman of Tiisu — alongside current EGRES bassist and composer Pekka Virtanen and drummer Henry Isberg. “Sammal” became one of Virtanen’s personal favourites from that period. Years later, EGRES introduced it into their live repertoire, where the arrangement proved a natural fit for the band’s six-piece format. Their current lineup is Hanna Lahtinen on vocals; Tristan Lumme on vocals and keyboards; Juuso Tolonen on vocals and guitar; Vilma Peltokangas on cello; Sami Sutinen on drums and backing vocals; and Virtanen on bass and programming.
Review of the song
EGRES preserve the original composition, lyrics and many melodic elements while transforming the world around them. A song conceived for three musicians now moves through a considerably broader landscape, carrying delicate passages into heavier metal sections through cello, piano and extensive orchestration. The straightforward quality of the earlier form has become a continuously evolving journey with sharper dynamic changes and a powerful cinematic climax. Crucially, the expansion never feels like spectacle added for its own sake: every additional layer supports the song’s melodic foundation and emotional movement.
Musical analysis
“Sammal” reflects EGRES’ intuitive approach to composition, allowing intimacy and weight to coexist without forcing either into a fixed formula. Female vocals sit within the larger ensemble rather than above it, interacting with multiple voices, guitar, keyboards, rhythm section, cello and orchestral textures. The arrangement by EGRES and Mikko Aaltio does more than make the song heavier; it enlarges its emotional dimensions. Influences including Nightwish, Haken, Leprous, Myrkur, Earthside and Soen help frame the progressive and metal vocabulary, while the cinematic scale also connects with the work of film composers Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore and John Williams. The result moves, builds and changes its weight with purpose across its 6:10 running time.
Why listeners should pay attention
The Finnish title means “moss,” and the music video directed by Heikki Sulander makes that image tangible without closing down the lyrics’ deliberately open meaning. Filmed in a moss-covered forest in Karkkila, Finland, it is EGRES’ first official video clearly built around the full band performing together. Its natural setting mirrors the song’s combination of delicacy, darkness, heaviness and raw instinct. The release also connects several eras of the band’s development, following the 2022 debut album Introspection, the 2023 single “Higher Beings” and 2024’s “Retrieval.” After already earning its place onstage, “Sammal” now stands as both an archive recovered and a forward-looking statement.
Conclusion
“Sammal” is compelling because its history remains audible without limiting what the song has become. EGRES honour Illikainen’s original writing while placing it unmistakably inside their own cinematic progressive metal identity. The orchestration, cello, piano, choir, multiple voices and heavier dynamics create scale, but the melody and emotional contrasts keep the track grounded. Fifteen years after it was written, this is not simply an old song finally recorded. It is a continuation, a reinterpretation and proof that a composition can grow alongside the musicians who carry it.
Recommended for fans of
Nightwish, Haken, Leprous, Myrkur, Earthside and Soen, alongside listeners drawn to progressive metal with orchestral depth and the cinematic imagination associated with Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore and John Williams.
Follow the artist
Artist: EGRES. Track: “Sammal”. Released: September 18, 2026. Genre: Cinematic Progressive Metal. Country: Finland. Music and lyrics: Henrik Illikainen. Arrangement: EGRES and Mikko Aaltio. Label: Virtaset. Distribution: All Tracks Tracks.
Baltic Bloodstained Metal Tour 2026 with Memoira: September 24 — The Krypt, Tallinn; September 25 — Klubs Depo, Riga; September 26 — Klubas Lemmy, Kaunas. Organised by Bloodstained Metal Community.
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© Tomi Perrakoski / Metal Madness Weekly
