Svart Record

Turku-based sludge metal force Sunniva was formed in 2016 out of a shared hunger for the raw sonic power of heavy music. The band's name, derived from the Old English Sunngifu, meaning "gift of the sun", hints at the layered darkness and light woven into their sound. Blurring the lines between death doom, sludge, and post-metal, Sunniva summons the same seismic intensity as titans like Amenra, Neurosis and Dark Buddha Rising. Their past releases – The Holy Mountain (2017), self-titled EP (2020), and the sprawling single This Reality Only Speaks In Blood (2018) – have cemented their reputation for crafting immersive, soul-crushing soundscapes.

Havukruunu's third album UINUOS SYÖMEIN SOTA is widely praised for its epic and melodic black metal, combining heavy metal influences with folk music. The album is celebrated in particular for its catchy melodies, powerful atmospherics, lush guitar solos and choral vocals, which create a unique blend of bleak heavy metal and other genres. The album has been compared to the works of Bathory and Moonsorrow, but critics have put Havukruunu on their own level for having such a unique style. True Finnish Forest Metal.

Svart Records continues to re-release the works of Havukruunu, bringing their highly sought after 2017 album KELLE SURUT SOI back in print in September 2025. Havukruunu's sophomore album Kelle surut soi is known for its immersive atmosphere, evoking imagery of Finnish paganism and nature's force. While rooted in black metal, the album incorporates folk melodies and acoustic elements, adding depth and texture to the sound, yet it doesn't shy away from aggressive, blackened riffs and powerful drumming, providing a satisfyingly heavy experience. The songs are individual journeys, with the album as a whole creating a larger, more impactful experience.