Finnish modern metal band Awake Again are entering a heavier chapter with their new single “Middle Man,” the first taste of their second studio album, set for release next spring.

Fast, chaotic and deliberately unpredictable, “Middle Man” pushes the band’s modern metalcore foundation into darker territory, combining crushing riffs and explosive dynamics with unexpected twists inspired by System Of A Down. According to vocalist Matti Österman, the band’s guiding idea for the upcoming record has been “epic and melancholic SOAD-style chaos with hairy sounds.”

The shift isn’t only musical. The upcoming album will tell a larger story centred around the end of the world, with “Middle Man” serving as its opening chapter.

“The song tells the story of the first signs of the apocalypse, when evil no longer has any consequences for those responsible, while the narrator acts as an indifferent middleman for those committing it,” Österman explains.

The lyrics also hide references to several films and television series, with bassist Ville Loukola challenging listeners to discover how many they can identify. The track was created collectively by the band, with Österman handling production and longtime collaborator Rami Nykänen responsible for mixing and mastering.

The new era follows a period of growing international momentum for Awake Again. Tracks including “PARAS!TE,” “shitwreck” and “violins” have helped push the band’s catalogue beyond 11 million streams, while recent highlights have included touring Europe with Lost Society and taking over the tent stage at Tuska this summer.

Awake Again will next appear at Unholy Winterfest in Joensuu on November 27, before heading to Germany with Mister Misery in March 2027. With “Middle Man”, the first signs of the band’s apocalypse have officially arrived.