Earlier this spring, Nocturnal Machines made a striking first impression with their debut single Temple. Now the Finnish duo returns with Machine — a dark and immersive new track accompanied by a visually cryptic music video that pulls the viewer deep into its strange world.

Blending elements of electronic rock and alternative metal, Tommi Suomala and Jussi Turtiainen continue shaping a sound that feels both cinematic and unsettling. The new video, directed by Christian Lairikko, follows a bizarre journey where the dress code is simple: put a bag over your head and follow the unknown.

“We wanted a story-driven music video, and the final result directed by Christian became really cryptic and visually powerful,” the band explains.

For Lairikko, discovering the band’s vision opened up layers beneath the surface.

“At first I understood what the song was about, but gradually a whole new world opened up once I learned about all the references and deeper meanings in the lyrics,” he says. “We quickly realized our ideas matched well — we wanted strong visual storytelling and symbolic elements, while still keeping the execution simple.”

Rather than filming in a traditional studio setting, the team ended up shooting most of the video in a parking garage during freezing winter temperatures — a choice that only added to the cold, bleak atmosphere.

“Personally, I think the video turned out sad and ugly, but that’s exactly why it’s so damn cool,” Lairikko adds.

Musically, Machine balances hypnotic electronic textures with explosive heaviness. Jussi Turtiainen reveals that the song began with a minimalist synth bass idea that gradually evolved into something much larger.

“The verse theme was simple but hypnotic,” he explains. “Then the guitars are fully unleashed in the chorus, and it became massive.”

Despite its title, Machine is not about technology itself.

“Rather than focusing on the relationship between humans and machines, the song deals with themes of power and manipulation,” Tommi Suomala says.

Recorded at Sonic Pump Studios and finalized once again by producer Lauri Hämäläinen, Machine further establishes Nocturnal Machines as one of the more intriguing new names emerging from Finland’s darker alternative scene.