EMQ’s With ATLAS
EMQ’s With ATLAS
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Finnish ‘Northcore’ band, Atlas. Huge thanks to their guitarist, Toumas Kurikka, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
My name is Tuomas Kurikka, and I play guitar in ATLAS. The band was formed in 2016 with the idea of combining heaviness, atmosphere, and strong emotional identity. Since then, we’ve released two full-length albums and are currently in the process of releasing our third. We’ve toured Europe extensively and in 2026, we’ll be heading to North America for the first time.
How did you come up with your band name?
We wanted something strong, simple, and timeless. ATLAS felt right immediately. It’s a word that carries weight both visually and conceptually, with mythological and symbolic associations that resonate without being overly specific. It sounds modern, but it also feels ancient, which reflects our music quite well.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We’re from Finland. The country has a long and well-documented history of metal and rock, with bands like HIM, Children of Bodom, and Nightwish paving the way internationally. The scene is still very much alive, with countless smaller bands and underground shows happening constantly. Finland is a small country with around 5.5 million people, so for bands aiming to do this professionally, international touring is essential. We’re also lucky to have major festivals like Tuska and Provinssi that bring top-tier international acts to Finland every year.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Our new album “Sunder” is coming out on February 20th, 2026.
Who have been your greatest influences?
We grew up listening to everything from black metal to metalcore, as well as darker and more melodic artists like HIM and Type O Negative. While our sound has evolved and incorporated many influences, emotional clarity has always been more important to us than strict genre boundaries. Bands and artists that have shaped us include HIM, Deftones, Chelsea Wolfe, Gojira, and many others outside of metal as well.
What first got you into music?
Discovering metal music and feeling the impact it had on me. That feeling of finding a band or a song that speaks to you on such a deep level is what made me want to create music myself. That’s still the core motivation: creating something that resonates with others the way music once resonated with me.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Ville Valo would be at the top of the list. Chelsea Wolfe would also be an incredible collaborator.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Hellfest. No question. It’s consistently the best festival in the world in terms of lineup, production, and atmosphere.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Nothing too strange so far. Someone once told us that their child was conceived while one of our songs was playing, which is probably the closest thing to a weird gift we’ve received.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Listen to music. Support bands. Go to shows. Experience art.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Alexi Laiho. Easily one of the best guitarists in the world and a childhood hero to everyone in the band.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I was lucky enough to figure out very early that music is what I want to do with my life, so almost everything about the process is enjoyable. Sharing our art with people around the world, whether through recordings or live shows, is incredibly rewarding.
What I hate is the social media aspect and the obsession with virality. There’s a lot of people chasing attention for the wrong reasons, and it often has very little to do with the music itself.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
The dominance of social media trends and the increasing role of AI. Constantly chasing virality discourages originality and pushes artists toward imitation instead of identity. There’s an overwhelming amount of noise, and genuinely unique bands often struggle to cut through it.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“Razorblade Romance” by HIM. A flawless album from start to finish with hits for days.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?
They all serve a purpose. I personally stream almost all of my music, but I still appreciate the visual aspects of vinyl and CDs, especially when it comes to artwork.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Bataclan in Paris on our last European run with Orbit Culture. Paris has always been good to us, but that show was something special. The connection between the band and the audience was so intense, and you could just feel it throughout the entire room. I ended up crying on stage haha.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Alongside music, I run a music video production company called Riivata Visuals, so I’d definitely be doing that full-time.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Gandalf and the hobbits from The Lord of the Rings. That’d be fun.
What’s next for the band?
Touring North America with Orbit Culture and Ov Sulfur, playing Tuska Festival in the summer, and writing a lot of new music.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlasfin/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atlasfin/
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3gHRvIM
There’s a long-standing food-based debate here in the UK. A Jaffa Cake – is it a cake or a biscuit? Discuss.
It’s a cake. No debate.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Stream “Sunder”, come to the shows, peace!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
