Following personal loss, burnout and a period of profound uncertainty, Finnish alternative metal band Volucrine’s mastermind Jupe Velin found himself facing a question that would eventually shape the band’s fifth album: How do you build a new life from nothing? In an interview with Voice of Noir, Velin opens up about the experiences behind “Chapter V: Renewal“, the importance of artistic freedom, and why the band’s most personal record to date represents both an ending and a new beginning.

Released on September 25, 2026, through Inverse Records, “Chapter V: Renewal” marks a significant chapter in the history of Finnish modern metal band Volucrine. It is an album built on contradictions: darkness and hope, aggression and vulnerability, endings and new beginnings.

For vocalist, lyricist and songwriter Jupe Velin, however, the record represents something far more personal than another milestone in the band’s discography. It documents a period of his life that nearly broke him, and the creative process that helped him find his footing again.

Rather than following a predetermined musical direction, Velin allowed the songs to develop instinctively, resulting in what he considers Volucrine’s most honest work to date.

When Music Becomes a Lifeline

The story behind “Chapter V: Renewal” begins in late 2023, when Velin experienced a series of deeply personal setbacks.

What started with the end of a relationship lasting more than twelve years developed into a prolonged period of emotional exhaustion, professional burnout and loss.

“For me, writing music is and always was the only therapy that has ever helped me through hard times throughout my life. So definitely yes!” he explains when asked whether creating the album helped him heal.

“It was a long streak of hardships for me that started in late 2023. Dismantling a relationship that had been a big part of my life for over twelve years started it all. From that point on, I experienced burn-out in a personally important job that I really loved, but couldn’t manage anymore.”

The difficulties continued, affecting both his personal relationships and his sense of identity.

“After I could barely keep myself together, I started to look for attention from the wrong places and burned myself even worse. On top of it all, I lost my father during those years and was diagnosed with ADHD, so there are so many raw, real life factors that have influenced this album to form and without the process I wouldn’t be here writing this.”

For Velin, songwriting became a way to confront experiences that were otherwise difficult to process.

“Now that all is crystallized in the music on the album and every time I look at the cover or hear a song from it, I remember how music saved me once again.”

Yet the idea of renewal did not necessarily mean leaving everything behind. Instead, it involved learning to accept himself without constantly trying to meet the expectations of others.

“I think it is more about acceptance than moving forward. I am always going to be in conflict with myself, so I have been practicing to have a bit more mercy.”

That change in perspective also forced him to reconsider how he had approached his life.

“Previously, I could judge myself harshly for failing in relationships or burning out in a dead-end job. Looking back now, I understand that I was never really that person and I always built myself up to suit other people’s expectations and eventually broke down under that pressure.”

Today, his definition of a meaningful life has become considerably simpler.

“I don’t know how much I have learned in that regard, but for a few years now I have come to terms with what life is for me. It can be slow and small, but it is all mine. I don’t have to be ‘like everybody else’ and that thought is quite liberating.”

The Songs That Were Hardest to Write

Each track on “Chapter V: Renewal” represents a different stage of Velin’s emotional journey. Some confront his darkest experiences directly, while others reflect the possibility of finding peace after prolonged suffering.

“The album turned out quite dark overall, so it is hard to pinpoint songs out of the entirety of it,” he admits.

“But to be honest, at times, I found myself actually having serious self-destructive thoughts during the writing process. I decided that no matter how horrible they were, I needed to be honest with myself and include them in the lyrics.”

Two songs in particular capture those moments of desperation.

“‘Rendered Obsolete’ and ‘Heavy’ are cries for help in that regard and have some of that horrifying ‘death-wish’ mentality.”

While those tracks reflect some of the most difficult aspects of the writing process, another song remains particularly challenging to perform.

“The hardest song especially to sing during a live show is ‘Renewal’, because it is a song about disappointment. After losing so much in life, you put all your hopes blindly in one person to put things on track again, but it turns out the person was merely an onlooker.”

For Velin, this emotional directness is precisely what distinguishes the record from Volucrine’s previous releases.

“So there is pure and raw emotion like that spread across the album and that’s why I think ‘Chapter V’ is our most honest album.”

However, the album is not solely defined by despair.

Its closing sense of hope is particularly evident in “The Sum of Changes”, a song Velin wrote as a personal reminder that suffering does not have to last forever.

“‘The Sum of Changes’ was written to be a reminder for myself that in the end, all of this pain is only temporary, and I am also worthy enough to experience solace and love again in this life. And so I eventually did.”

Why Volucrine Refuse to Be Defined by One Genre

Musically, “Chapter V: Renewal” moves between contrasting extremes, incorporating crushing metal passages, atmospheric arrangements and more delicate compositions.

Velin describes it as both the band’s heaviest and lightest album, a contrast that directly reflects the emotional experiences behind its creation.

“Definitely yes. I personally hate being boxed into a certain genre, because it limits the ability in music to express different emotions.”

For him, different musical styles serve different emotional purposes.

“Sometimes life feels like a never-ending nightmare, so, for example, in ‘Borderline’, you really need that raw, churning metal to hit home with your message. Or if you want to bid farewell to someone important to you, you need a ballad like ‘Drift’ to really make the story stand out.”

Rather than trying to maintain a consistent level of heaviness, Velin hopes listeners will embrace the album’s emotional contrasts.

“I hope that our audience can really grasp that roller-coaster of emotions and enjoy it regardless of the styles or genres.”

Despite the musical experimentation, he does not consider the record a departure from Volucrine’s original identity.

“I think no, because Volucrine was always meant to be a ‘safe space’ for boundless self-expression and I have always referred to our albums as diaries. They are all soundtracks of a certain period in my life and have been built intuitively.”

That philosophy also means the band’s future musical direction remains open.

“Sure, at heart, we are a metal band, but I am not ruling out that we could still make, let’s say, an electronic album or an indie rock album and make it sound awesome and familiar because there will always be that Volucrine DNA when I am writing.”

He adds:

“That is the power of alternative music and I love the freedom in it.”

Taking Creative Control and Discovering New Confidence

Although Volucrine have been active for nearly two decades, the making of “Chapter V: Renewal” presented Velin with new challenges.

For the first time, he took extensive responsibility for planning, recording and producing his own vocal performances, allowing himself greater freedom to experiment.

“On this album I took a huge responsibility to plan and record all the vocals myself. I had time to do things at my own pace and that led to experimentation and pretty huge arrangements that I am quite satisfied with.”

The experience also changed how he viewed his own abilities.

“I feel that the vocals really are the crown of our music and I put a lot of care into them, and this time I sound the best I ever did.”

Perhaps most importantly, the process provided a sense of accomplishment during a period otherwise defined by uncertainty.

“So what surprised me this time was that, despite all the insecurities, I could manage to produce myself and still achieve desirable goals.”

The album’s production was once again handled largely by bassist Joni Kyynäräinen, who recorded the drums, bass and some guitars, in addition to mixing the record.

Velin is particularly appreciative of his bandmate’s contribution.

“A huge factor on why the songs turned out sonically the way they are, is that our bassist Joni Kyynäräinen did an unbelievable job on producing and mixing the album. We are blessed to have him in the band.”

Bringing New Voices into Volucrine’s Musical World

The album’s expanded musical palette also created opportunities to collaborate with other musicians.

Among them is Otto Närhi, known for his work with Psychework and Nestruction, who contributed piano performances to “Moving Mountains” and “The Sum of Changes”.

The collaboration was a natural continuation of a longstanding musical relationship.

“We go a long way back with Otto Närhi since he played piano and keyboard on ‘The Lead Heavens’ album too.”

Although Velin had already composed the piano parts, he felt they needed the interpretation of an experienced pianist.

“I couldn’t nuance or phrase them like a real pianist would, so I texted Otto again and he was on board immediately.”

The result exceeded his expectations.

“I really feel like the intro for ‘Moving Mountains’ came alive when Otto played the part. You need a human for such a delicate part. The same goes for the main theme in ‘The Sum of Changes.’”

Another important collaboration came through Sanni Teitto of KuuDelta, whose vocals appear on the duet “Drift”.

From the beginning, Velin envisioned the song as a conversation between two characters.

“For ‘Drift’, I knew from the start that it needed a female vocalist to create the feeling of dialogue between the characters in the text.”

After an initial collaboration with another singer failed to materialise as intended, an unexpected social media post led him to Teitto.

“Then I saw Sanni’s post on social media by chance that she was looking forward to doing a duet with a male vocalist and the rest is history.”

Velin was immediately impressed by her approach.

“She has long experience as a singer and builds her unique style on such a variety of nuances and details that just blew me away. And the way our voices blend together in the final mix really surprised me.”

What convinced him most was her ability to make the composition her own.

“I knew that choosing her was the right choice when I saw how she made the song her song too, with vision, precision and otherworldly presence.”

He also encourages listeners unfamiliar with Teitto’s work to explore KuuDelta, where she handles the vocals.

The Challenge of Being Too Heavy — and Not Heavy Enough

While Volucrine’s musical diversity is one of the band’s defining characteristics, Velin acknowledges that it also creates challenges when trying to reach the right audience.

“To have such a large musical palette is at the same time a blessing and a curse, because directing and marketing our music to the right audience is always difficult.”

Some listeners gravitate towards the band’s heavier material, while others prefer its melodic and atmospheric side.

“There are people on the heavier side expecting more of the growl vocals and heavy riffs, but then, on the other end, there are people with a taste for softer or lighter songs and don’t care that much about breakdowns or more extreme approaches.”

Rather than choosing one audience over the other, Volucrine are looking for listeners willing to embrace the full range of their sound.

“So we are constantly looking for the perfect niche where people are open-minded and can enjoy the whole package.”

Velin is equally clear about his response to those who believe the band should abandon certain musical elements.

“Comments like ‘ditch the clean vocals’ always feel like an unnecessary thing to say without any constructive criticism, and I usually leave that kind of comment unanswered.”

His position is uncompromising.

“Just because an isolated minority doesn’t get what we are aiming for, doesn’t mean we have to change anything. This is our unique voice, so take it or leave it.”

Closing One Circle and Beginning Another

Although “Chapter V: Renewal” represents a deeply personal new beginning, Velin also sees it as the conclusion of a longer creative journey.

“The album is a representation of both, I think. We were quite relaxed to push boundaries on the album, and it seems this far that the old and the new audience alike have been embracing that as well.”

Interestingly, he sees a connection between the circumstances surrounding the band’s debut and the experiences that inspired their fifth record.

“In a way, I also see this album closing a great circle that started on our first record, which too was born out of a similar crisis.”

As for what comes next, Velin is deliberately avoiding making immediate decisions.

“So what I think about the future of the band is quite a blank slate at the moment.”

For now, his attention remains on promoting the new album, while allowing himself some distance from songwriting.

“I am trying to distance myself from writing a bit for now to fully concentrate on the promotion for the new record, but when things slow down a bit, I will have a deep look in the mirror and ask myself: what kind of music or a record I personally want to make, and what is the message or story that drives it?”

He is also interested in experimenting with composing on different instruments, potentially opening further possibilities for the band’s sound.

A Message for Anyone Struggling to Find Their Way

Given the deeply personal nature of “Chapter V: Renewal“, it would be easy to assume that Velin hopes listeners will interpret the album exactly as he intended.

In reality, the opposite is true.

“I hope it becomes a tool for self-reflection and recovery for anyone who listens to it.”

He believes the most meaningful connection occurs when listeners discover something of their own lives within the songs.

“And I really hope that people can, and feel free, to interpret the songs as their own and even remove my narrative from it if it means that.”

For Velin, that is one of the greatest rewards an artist can experience.

“It is the largest, most heartfelt compliment if someone out there experiences our songs that way.”

He summarises the power of music in one particularly memorable observation:

“The best thing about music is that it doesn’t need words to talk or hands to touch people.”

When asked what he would say to the version of himself who was struggling in 2024, Velin avoids offering conventional reassurance.

Instead, he turns to a line from “Moving Mountains“:

“This ain’t the first time the sky came crumbling down, but you knew how to stand like the mountain that you truly are”

The words reflect the album’s central message: resilience does not necessarily mean avoiding hardship, but discovering the ability to endure it.

Redefining Success After Nearly Two Decades

After years of creating music, Velin’s understanding of success has become increasingly focused on genuine human connection.

“To me, success comes from the small streams and then forms a bigger river. And it is always a relative thing.”

While reaching larger audiences remains an ambition, he is far more interested in building a meaningful relationship with the people who connect with Volucrine’s music.

“We are not looking for a fake following on social media, but a real connection with real people. So one honest comment from a dedicated person means more to us than 100 000 passers-by on our content.”

Nevertheless, his ambitions for the band remain strong.

“Of course, I would be lying if I said I don’t care about playing more shows or bringing our music in front of larger audiences, because I truly believe we have earned a chance to show everyone what we are capable of.”

He hopes the new album might help Volucrine reach another level.

“And maybe ‘Chapter V: Renewal’ is the stepping stone for us to go further than ever before. Who knows?”

After everything that went into creating the record, Velin remains both ambitious and grateful.

“So I guess we still dream big after all these years, but are humbled by every nice comment and person who arrives at our show. You mean the world to us.”

Picture by Marko Orava