The Pyramids

Finland’s rising psych-prog quintet blend vintage influences with a modern attitude that’s all their own.

Though Finnish newcomers The Pyramids have only just released their eponymous debut album, the Helsinki quintet arrive sounding as though they've been chiseling away at their craft for decades. Drawing from classic prog, psychedelia, and hard rock, they’ve produced a record that feels steeped in history without ever becoming trapped by it.

Released in May, 'The Pyramids' follows the band's 2024 instrumental EP, 'Panoptical Origins', and showcases a group comfortable moving between expansive atmospherics and heavy riffs. Echoes of Pink Floyd, The Doors and Soundgarden are apparent across the album's nine tracks, yet the band are keen to stress that imitation has never been part of the plan.

"It's new music with old roots," says vocalist Christoffer Linder. "We're a natural evolution of that branch of music. We like the way older music sounded as well. All of our songs are recorded live with the whole band playing at the same time and then we add further layers. It's important for us to capture that live essence."

That commitment to authenticity lies at the heart of the band's appeal. Rather than consciously setting out to recreate the sounds of their heroes, The Pyramids – guitarists Bruno Ekman and Daniel Feiring, Daniel Westö (bass) and Benjamin Feiring (drums) – allow their influences to emerge organically during the writing process.

"We don't write saying, 'Now we're going to write a Pink Floyd-style song',” explains Linder. “Someone might come up with an idea, and while those influences might be felt, they're worked to make our own sound."

The group's chemistry was forged on stage long before the arrival of their debut album. Building a reputation across Helsinki's underground scene and further afield on European dates through Lithuania, Poland and Germany, the live environment has become central to their identity. "Those shows really cemented us as a live band," says Linder. "Because we record our songs live, we have to be really sharp. Playing in front of an audience gives you extra energy and pushes your talents and your power to the next level."

For new audiences discovering them for the first time, Linder hopes the album's greatest strength is also its simplest. "I hope they feel like they're listening to real music that has its own soul and personality."

Julian Marszalek

For more information, see The Pyramids – Stream Now