How a Finnish rock band became the secret musical heartbeat of blockbuster video games
In short: Poets of the Fall built a career on independence and a unique partnership with game developers. By blending cinematic rock with interactive storytelling, they have soundtracked major titles like Control and the Alan Wake series, often performing under the mysterious pseudonym Old Gods of Asgard to match the game's dark atmosphere.
Founded in Helsinki on 25 April 2003 by Marko Saaresto and Olli Tukiainen, the band established their own record label, Insomniac, to maintain full creative control. Their breakthrough came almost immediately when scriptwriter Sami Järvi, a friend of Saaresto working at Remedy Entertainment, requested a song for the game Max Payne 2. The resulting track, Late Goodbye, became a recurring motif and the game's ending theme, launching the band into the Finnish spotlight.
The band's relationship with Remedy Entertainment evolved significantly over two decades. While they maintained a successful career with albums like the platinum-certified Carnival of Rust, they simultaneously cultivated an alter-ego, Old Gods of Asgard. Under this name, they produced heavier, thematic music for games including Alan Wake, Control, and Alan Wake 2. This collaboration reached a global stage at The Game Awards 2023, where the band performed Herald of Darkness alongside the game's voice actors and creative director Sam Lake.
Beyond their gaming contributions, the band has consistently topped Finnish charts. Their debut album, Signs of Life, reached number one in 2005, a feat repeated by subsequent records like Carnival of Rust, Twilight Theater, and Ultraviolet. Their evolution is marked by distinct eras, including a trilogy spanning Clearview, Ultraviolet, and Ghostlight, which the band describes as a journey toward metamorphosis and wholeness. Despite their international reach, they remain deeply rooted in their independent ethos, producing their own work and managing their own label since their inception.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Poets of the Fall
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