Finnish symphonic metal mainstays Amberian Dawn are stepping boldly into a new era, and their latest single “Moon” makes it crystal clear: this is not the same band that once metal-ified ABBA. It’s darker, faster, and — dare we say — a little dangerous.

Out now, “Moon” is the fourth single from the band’s forthcoming album, Temptation’s Gates, arriving June 26 via Napalm Records. It’s also the first full-length to feature new vocalist Nicole Willerton, whose arrival has clearly lit a creative fire under founder, guitarist, and chief composer Tuomas Seppälä.

Watch the official music video for “Moon” here: https://youtu.be/viezLcuoe0o

“Moon” cranks the tempo into blast-beat territory while still leaving plenty of room for the sweeping keyboard flourishes and searing guitar solos that have long defined Amberian Dawn’s sound. The real jaw-dropper, though, comes at the end: growled vocals — a first for the band — courtesy of Willerton, who delivers them with the exact intensity Seppälä was chasing.

“I composed this song just a few weeks after we had recruited our new vocalist,” Seppälä says. “From the very beginning, it carried an exceptionally dark and haunting atmosphere, and I wanted to preserve that exact feeling throughout the entire process. For the first time in my career, I decided to introduce growling vocals into the arrangement. It felt completely natural in this song, and I knew Nicole could deliver it with the right intensity and emotion.”

Willerton, for her part, frames the track as a beacon in the dark. “The song ‘Moon’ is about finding hope, tranquility, and inner peace in a world filled with destruction, greed, and suffering,” she explains. “The moon serves as a guiding light and a symbol of beauty, reminding us that even when life feels overwhelming or full of misery, it’s important to cherish the simple beauties of life, such as nature and the freedom of the spirit.”

Temptation’s Gates spans ten tracks that swing from epic hymns (“Eternal Flame,” “Life is Art”) to modern, dark-tinged bangers (“This Night is Waiting for Me”) to the irresistibly danceable closer “Phantasmagoria.” It’s an album that leans harder into metal without abandoning the whimsical grandeur that made Amberian Dawn a symphonic metal staple in the first place.

Fans in Helsinki can catch the band live at their record release show on June 28, the official afterparty of Tuska Festival.

Temptation’s Gates will be available on gatefold vinyl (including a mailorder-exclusive marbled translucent red/black edition strictly limited to 100 copies), CD digipak, and digital formats.

Amberian Dawn are:
Tuomas Seppälä — Keyboards, Guitar
Nicole Willerton — Vocals
Emil Pohjalainen — Guitar
Joonas Pykälä-aho — Drums
Jukka Hoffren — Bass

Pre-order Temptation’s Gates now and step through the gate — the moon is waiting.