2020-2017 // OLDER NEWS

August 12, 2024

SIMULACRUM CHANGES BAND MEMBERS FOR FOURTH ALBUM AND WELCOMES NEW DRUMMER INTO THE FOLD

Simulacrum's previous album Genesis was released to worldwide praise, but at a difficult time. The COVID pandemic had just started and venues closed down. In the aftermath, the band chemistry and morale plummeted and we had to re-think how to progress. After a year or two of non-activity, we decided to part ways with drummer Tatu Turunnen, guitarist Antti Karhumaa and singers Niklas Broman and Erik Kraemer. These guys are still, to this day, absolute best friends and it was a hard decision. Tatu decided to take a break from drumming, Antti is occupied with tons of bands and teaching work, Erik is very busy with musical work and Niklas has his family and works as a doctor. Everyone understood that some of us were more motivated to push forward and deliver top quality vintage prog metal in a time when such music is rarely released. Simulacrum is very grateful to our previous members for making the band what it is today, and you will possibly still hear these guys on a recording or two in the future!

But to the actual news... please welcome to the fold Matias Rokio as the new drummer. Matias blew us away from the start with his attitude, spirit and skills that allowed him to perform to perfection the difficult music that Simulacrum is. Here is what he had to say!

”I've always been passionate about metal music, thanks to my dad. At nine, I took my first drum lesson, sparking a lifelong love. For over 15 years, drums have been central to my life, inspired by legends like Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Pantera. I focus on keeping a groove while adding a unique touch. I've played for bands like Sargassus, Frozen Land, and Erase This Earth. Joining Simulacrum, drawn by their technical and modern metal style, has been a rewarding challenge, especially with the upcoming exciting drum work on the fourth album!”

The new singer and guitarist will be revealed during September in the next media splash, and we can say they are well know personas in the metal scene. The new material we have slowly been working on is also sounding fantastic, so stay tuned! Here is how Matias sounds on two songs from our previous album Genesis, also featuring solos from original members Chrism, Solomon & Olli Hakala:

April 20, 2022

LIVE VIDEOS FROM PANIMO

Late 2021 Simulacrum recorded a full live set professionally at Auran Panimo in Turku and ended up releasing four full songs from the set. Simulacrum would like to thank Turku Rock Academy, Auran Panimo, Tero Lahtinen, Sami Hinkkanen Photography, Frans Rinne & Mark Bertenyi. You can watch the videos from this YouTube playlist!

MAY 17, 2021

ANTTI KARHUMAA JOINS AS GUITARIST

We have separated amicably with guitarist Petri Mäkilä, who was a part of the band’s sound on both 2015’s Sky Divided and the new 2021 release Genesis. Petri helped raise the level of the band to new heights with his great musicianship and pristine technique. He also contributed to Simulacrum as a composer, supplying the new album with many killer riffs and and memorable solos. The band cannot state enough what a great journey it has been together, and the new album wouldn’t have come out the same without Petri’s contribution.

"With a heavy heart I have decided to step aside from Simulacrum. This band has meant the world to me and I recorded my first ever commercial album with them. Nonetheless, my energy levels are limited, and I have chosen to focus on my career as an entrepreneur and keep my own music projects as a hobby. I wish the guys all the best in the future and from now on, I will be cheering them on in the audience and looking forward to what they come up with!" -Petri Mäkilä

As soon as Petri decided to step aside, the band started going through their contacts and arranged an audition for several top musicians living in southwest Finland. Because of the nature of Simulacrum’s music, the skillset needed for the new guitarist was very high, and in the end the band decided to move forward with ex-Ahola guitarist Antti Karhumaa. Being the accomplished and versatile musician he is, Antti ticks all the boxes in the band’s requirements list. Antti has already started rehearsing the material for live shows and looks forward to performing with the band as soon as covid permits.

Watch his take on the solo section of "Like You, Like Me", found on the band’s newest album Genesis! The album was released via Frontiers Records in February, gathering very positive reviews within the media!

“I have always been a fan of many kinds of musical styles and have tried to explore the secrets of the electric guitar as much as possible. Besides, I have always been hungry for challenges and joining Simulacrum was an excellent opportunity to expand my musical abilities while getting my technique polished. When Chrism asked me to audition for the band, I was ready for this opportunity! We’ve been friends for many years and have loads of mutual favourite bands such as Symphony X and Dream Theather, so I had a good feel of what I was expected to pull off. Luckily, I got the job and am looking forward to playing on stage in the future to the fans and making some killer music with these guys! Prog'n Roll!” -Antti Karhumaa

The band is now moving forward with rehearsing the setlist for possible Autumn 2021 live shows, and the band’s main composer Chrism has started writing new material for the next Simulacrum album. Chrism also secured the spot as the keyboard player for legendary Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie, so fans of progressive music have a lot to look forward to in the near future!

FEB 12, 2021

THIRD SINGLE AND ALBUM RELEASE

Genesis, our third album is now released via Frontiers Music srl and the initial reviews have been very positive, lifting the band in several articles into the same category as Symphony X, Dream Theater Haken and Periphery. Here are some of those reviews:

'Scorched Earth' is the third single off the new album!

Buy here: https://orcd.co/simulacrum

Album press release: https://bit.ly/2Iy0k9r

JAN 12, 2021

SECOND SINGLE AND MUSIC VIDEO

'Arrhythmic Distortions' is the second single off our upcoming album 'Genesis', out via Frontiers Music srl on the 12th of February 2021.

Pre-orde here: https://orcd.co/simulacrum

Album press release: https://bit.ly/2Iy0k9r

NOV 12, 2020

FIRST SINGLE AND MUSIC VIDEO

First single and video, 'Nothing Remains', from the upcoming album titled 'Genesis', due for release 12th of February 2021 via Frontiers Music srl!

Pre-orde here: https://orcd.co/simulacrum

Full press release: https://bit.ly/2Iy0k9r

FEB 3, 2020

SIMULACRUM SIGN WITH FRONTIERS

Frontiers has always been the top label for us to sign to and we are very happy in this point of our career to have found such a great partner in crime. With a large record company in our corner that believes in what we do, we can continue to produce the high quality music we all love: strong harmonies and melodies without letting the listener off too easy. As a band, we strive to make music that compels the listener long after the first spin of the album. The new album we are diligently working on, will be hard hitting melodic progressive metal. It will pay homage to the great vintage prog bands we all love, without forgetting to blend in the best elements the modern bands are doing. You will find influences by such bands as Dream Theater, Kansas, Symphony X, ELP, Periphery, and Haken, but our music has a very strong self-identity and most of all sounds like Simulacrum. We can't wait to release the new album and we are delighted to do it in collaboration with Frontiers! Read the full press release at Frontiers' website: http://www.frontiers.it/news/11103

JUN 15, 2019

INTERVIEW BY 69X

69X Music Show interviewed Chrism about the band's history and future plans!

APR 30, 2019

OFFICIAL BAND PHOTO FOR 2019!

It took a couple of years for a new official Simulacrum band photo, but when one does pop up, it usually means a new album is close to being completed. Next live shows with Seventh Wonder on the 9.5. in Tampere and the 10.5. in Turku!

FEB 11, 2019

TWO SHOWS WITH SEVENTH WONDER!

Two special evenings this May with Sweden's top prog metal act Seventh Wonder!

Tickets on sale now and we suspect these will be sold out pretty fast...

9.5.2019 - Klubi / Tampere: https://www.facebook.com/events/378816759563827

10.5.2019 - Saaristobaari / Turku: https://www.facebook.com/events/1893023194141460

DEC 31, 2018

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Simulacrum wishes all of our supporters a happy new year for 2019! Even though we have been a little lazy posting news onto our website, we have been on fire on our social media channels with weekly video diaries of how the new album is progressing, so please remember to follow us on Facebook, Instagram & YouTube for killer content. We embedded our YouTube video diary playlist here for you to easily watch all the little video teasers of the material we have been working on.

MAY 2, 2018

HEADLINER SHOW IN TURKU

We will be doing a headliner show at FHMF Club in Saaristobaari, Turku on the 25th of May! The warmup for the evening is the brilliant Fireproven! It will probably be the last show of the year before we fully immerse ourselves on completing the upcoming album. We will be doing 4 new songs so all of you crazy prog metal fans out there who have an opportunity to attend the club, we highly recommend you to do so ;)

FEBRUARY 23, 2018

OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL

We have opened up a YouTube account for the band and the guys are committed to producing each a video per month so there is going to be a lot of cool stuff uploading weekly! Follow us HERE for all the updates!

NOVEMBER 19, 2017

DRUM REHEARSALS

Here is a video of our new drummer 'Tatu Turunen' rehearsing a song that will be featured on our next album \m/

AUGUST 28, 2017

ANNIVERSARY & LIVE PLAYTHROUGH

On today it is two years since our critically acclaimed album 'Sky Divided' was released. To celebrate the date we recorded and filmed a new live version of our song 'Behind the Belt of Orion' with the 2017 lineup. Enjoy!

APRIL 26, 2017

NEW DRUMMER & LIVE VIDEO

Finnish progressive metal band Simulacrum recruited a new amazing drummer, Tatu Turunen for their upcoming third album and live shows. The band decided to change drummers because of scheduling problems and no drama was involved. Simulacrum acknowledges the awesome work Henri Kallio did on the album Sky Divided and pays him the homage he deserves. Henri's playing will definitely be heard in the future regarding various projects!

Tatu Turunen is known for his work with Autere and Jack Over Kings and he has artist deals with F-Music, Yamaha, Sabian, ProMark and Evans. He comments: "I'm very pleased by this new assignment and I'm really looking forward to all the challenges these guys throw at me throughout the years to come!"

Tatu's musical roots lay heavily in acts such as Pantera, Slayer, Megadeth and Lamb Of God, but he is excited in how playing progressive music could take him to new levels as a musician. Take a look at his brutally accurate and metal-infused playing style from this Sky Divided live video recorded and videoed in May 2017 at the Simulacrum rehearsal studio. This clip also features the band's second singer Erik Kraemer on an official recording for the first time!

APRIL 26, 2017

VOCAL REHEARSALS

Today we had a vocal practice at the Simulacrum rehearsal space. Both Niklas and Erik have an equal amount of lead and harmony parts live and sometimes it is good to focus just on rehearsing the vocals without the rest of the band disturbing \m/

MARCH 23, 2017

A NEW DRUMMER?!?

Simulacrum has a new drummer for album number III... Here is a little teaser of the band rehearsing 'Behind the Belt of Orion' from their 'Sky Divided' album \m/ An official statement will follow in the near future of who he is and why the band decided to change their drummer.