Finnish symphonic metal stalwarts Amberian Dawn are throwing the gates wide open. The band has just unveiled “Unchained,” the third single from their forthcoming album Temptation’s Gates, which arrives June 26, 2026 via Napalm Records. It’s a release that doubles as a formal introduction to new vocalist Nicole Willerton — and based on this track, the band has found a frontwoman ready to push them into bold new territory.

“Unchained” is the moment Amberian Dawn show their teeth. Built around a traditional, riff-driven guitar foundation — a notable departure for a band typically led by lush, keyboard-soaked arrangements — the song lets Willerton flex muscles longtime fans likely didn’t expect. Her seraphic, soaring cleans give way to genuinely powerful growls, marking a first for the Finnish quintet. It’s dynamic, tight, and capped off by a guitar solo from Emil Pohjalainen that more than earns its spotlight.

Main composer and guitarist Tuomas Seppälä said the track came together quickly once the main riff was in place, and that it “challenged our vocalist on multiple levels.” Willerton, for her part, described “Unchained” as a song about breaking free from inner pain — the struggle of feeling trapped by fear and judgement, and the reminder that we all deserve the space to simply be ourselves.

That thematic depth runs through Temptation’s Gates as a whole. Across ten tracks — including the title cut, “The Vision of Dreaming,” “Moon,” “Eternal Flame,” “Life is Art,” and the irresistibly modern “This Night is Waiting for Me” — Amberian Dawn pivot toward a heavier, more guitar-forward sound without abandoning the symphonic grandeur that defined records like their 2022 ABBA tribute Take a Chance. Seppälä has said working with Willerton reignited the same creative spark he felt when writing the band’s 2008 debut, and the renewed energy is palpable.

Watch the official music video for “Unchained” here: https://youtu.be/0-2AXlpYRMQ

Temptation’s Gates will be available on digital, CD digipak, black gatefold vinyl, and a strictly limited marbled translucent red/black vinyl edition (capped at 100 copies worldwide via Napalm Mailorder). Pre-orders are open now — and if “Unchained” is any indication, Amberian Dawn’s next chapter is going to be their most fearless yet.