Rising from Jyväskylä, Nameles have carved out a sound where melodic death metal’s dark beauty collides with the crushing weight of groove metal. Built on sharp rhythms, heavy yet memorable riffs, and an intense vocal presence, the band balance raw aggression with strong emotional pull, both on record and on stage.

After turning heads at Tuska last summer, Nameles continue to build momentum with “Ei hätää“, the latest single from their upcoming debut EP “Malum ineo orego“, due out this March. With the band stepping into a more focused and uncompromising phase, we spoke with Nameles about their sound, their message, and what lies ahead.

For readers meeting Nameles for the first time: who are you as a band, and what kind of feeling do you want your music to leave behind?

Joni Pakarinen (bass): A welcoming and warm feeling. We hope that every listener finds relatable elements in the midst of our heavy and dark sound.

You caught a lot of attention live at Tuska last summer. How important is the live setting when you’re writing songs?

Riku Myllymäki (vocal and rhythm guitar): Taking the audience into account begins already at an early stage of creation. In our songwriting, we aim to think about the songs from the audience’s perspective, because Nameles is above all a live band. Come and see for yourselves.

Your new single “Ei hätää” dives deep into emotional turbulence, but also highlights friendship and community. Why was this the right message for you to release now?

Henrik Bister (keyboard): Here in the cold northern parts of Finland, we live through the dark and sorrowful season of winter. With this song, we wanted to bring a piece of comfort into the darkness and remind everyone that no one has to be alone, and that everything will work out in the end.

The title “Ei hätää” suggests calm, yet the song itself feels intense and dramatic. What does that contrast mean to you?

Joni Pakarinen (bass): The structure of the song is built so that the verses portray a dark inner struggle, while in the choruses everyone can find a comforting message—if they dare to ask for help. We encourage everyone to lean on someone close rather than remain alone in the darkness.

Compared to your previous single “Tuhkaksi poltettu maa,” how do you feel you’ve evolved musically or emotionally on this new track?

Aapeli Peuraniemi (lead guitar): The previous and the latest single were on the drawing board at the same time, which is why the musical bar is set at a very similar level in both. However, the use of sentimental elements is more open and relatable in the newest release, and for that we give it the edge.

Your upcoming EP Malum ineo orego drops on Friday the 13th. Coincidence, or intention?

Riku Myllymäki (vocal and rhythm guitar): The release date, dramatic as it turned out, was a total accident—but all the better, since it’s pretty marketable.

The EP title feels ominous and philosophical. What does Malum ineo orego represent in the wider story you’re telling?

Joni Pakarinen (bass): Malum ineo orego is rough Latin and means ‘evil begins here.’ In short: we come in tougher and harsher than ever before, both live and on record.

How do you avoid losing emotion when the sound gets heavy?

Riku Myllymäki (vocal and rhythm guitar): The stories behind our releases almost without exception stem from the artists’ personal feelings and experiences, so conveying raw, naked emotion through our music comes very naturally. Most recently, our band welcomed a live keyboardist, who adds melodic firepower to our storytelling.

2026 will focus heavily on live shows, with hints of more studio work later. What do you feel the band still needs to experience or learn before the next release?

Joni Pakarinen (bass): Our lead guitarist finished his military service in December, and, as I mentioned earlier, our keyboardist has been welcomed into the band. Ahead of us lies a long journey to achieve smooth collaboration and songwriting. Work on compositions has already begun—more on that later.

Finally: if someone walks away from their first Nameles show knowing only one thing about you, what do you hope that is?

Aapeli Peuraniemi (lead guitar): We pondered this last question for quite a while and decided to call a fan. We asked them what their first impression was after the very first Nameless concert, and the answer was, “How can metal vocals sound this good in Finnish?” A brilliant response, because clear articulation and consistently fierce vocal delivery are our frontman’s trademark.