Having spent a year deep in the throngs of creative focus, Symphony of Sweden has set themselves up to indulge in a new chapter with their album Stand My Ground. Building directly on the musical roots of their acclaimed album Haunted, released in 2023, but stronger, bolder, and more energetic than ever before.

After a year of deep creative focus, Symphony of Sweden is preparing to enter a powerful new chapter with their new album Stand My Ground, a release that builds directly on the musical foundation of their acclaimed 2023 album Haunted, but with renewed force, energy, and refinement.

Producer and keyboardist Evan claims the band deliberately chose continuity over reinvention when shaping the new album. The goal was evolution rather than disruption: “People will not get a nasty surprise. We focused on improving the songwriting, the performances, and the production, making each album better than the previous one.”

A Year in the Studio: 2025 as a Creative Turning Point – in 2025, Symphony of Sweden made the strategic choice to step away from the spotlight and commit themselves fully to work in the studio. However, in choosing to be studio-bound, the band pivoted to allow themselves to build their musical creation and explore imagination without deadlines or external pressure.

“It was a good choice,” Evan explains. “We had the time to finish the album without too much stress.”

Front-man Lee echoes this sentiment, describing the new songs as the strongest material the band has ever created: “We are always creating, always pushing. These songs are the best we’ve ever made.”

Sound Evolution: Faster, Heavier, and More Powerful – while holding true to their signature cinematic sound and organic energy, the band transitioned, if only slightly to define the melodies that would be introduced on Stand My Ground.

Lee pushed for a more aggressive direction: “I wanted faster and more power. More upbeat and more rock. Evan and I put our heads together and created something awesome.” The result is a sound described by Evan as “organic, powerful, and epic”, larger than life, yet grounded enough to avoid artificial excess.

The title track “Stand My Ground” introduces us to Symphony of Sweden‘s new chapter. This holy-like introduction blends Symphony of Sweden‘s classic foundations with their raw, rock vibes to create a cinematic masterpiece once more. The beat is catchy and the melody is always mounting, rising into a simple, yet impactful chorus that gets you singing a-long by the second round. It’s the perfect entrance into this new saga, combining classic comfort with a quick hit that lingers and makes you come back for more.

“Get Lost In The Feeling” binds elegance to bass lines to once again create a masterful release of epic proportion. It’s a song that has you deep in your own mind, letting yourself truly be immersed in your own reflection to feel every feeling, to feel every emotion and let those motions ride. It isn’t insanely heavy, or calm but a perfectly quirky combo that has you turning the volume up and embracing every single verse from end to end. Tack on a ridiculously wicked guitar solo and you have a perfect track that had me going back again and again.

The soprano operatics that bring “Don’t Let It Be A Dream” into existence is stunning. A ballad-like creation that soars into a high and steps across clouds for it’s entire 3-minute length. The backing vocals had me hooked on this track immediately, captivated by the melody in an instant to linger on every note. Delicate piano keys meld with fragile drum beats to create a song that’s passionate and unwavering, yet still so tranquil in its haunting undertone.

From Studio Precision to Live Energy – throughout production, perfection was a concept but not a need. Defining moments for this album often erupted from early takes rather than over-saturation. “Sometimes the first raw mix is the best one,” Evan admits. “Don’t fix what isn’t broken.”

This rings true for tracks like “The Mistress of Sin” that takes on an EDM or Trance-like sound in its origins to simply carry through like a natural production. It’s a track that seems effortless, one that comes with a melody that makes you lose yourself in every beat. It’s an anthem-like melody; a song that doesn’t go over the top to send a message or bring you to your knees, but linger on your mind to keep you in wonder. One of the easiest going tracks on the album, it’s a manifestation of pure inspiration rather than over-thought, allowing it to become a song I easily adore.

“You Fooled My Heart” brings raw emotion back to the forefront, reminiscent of tracks like “EXIT – When There’s Nowhere Else To Run” in its roots. That dynamic melody is strong and solid, taking heavy bass and blending it with exquisite vocal execution, topped by angelic keys to compose a song built on nothing less than true, heart-felt passion. The guitar solo just before the 2-minute mark of this track is killer, amplifying this track’s energy tenfold to have you screaming out loud.

We ride those EDM vibes with “We Go Off Tonight” that gets you dancing in an instant. It’s quick-hitter at under 3-minutes in length and an absolute banger! With head-banging bits and bass pumping riffs it’s an infectious track that has you on your feet singing along with an easy chorus. There’s no surprise that it’s got more than 300k in streams with this track easily sweeping you off your feet and onto the dance-floor before you’ve got a moment to breathe.

To be honest, “The Novel Of The Past” caught me completely off guard. While on brand for Symphony of Sweden, especially as a closing track, the vibe of this song sits in a manner I did not expect for this album at all. While it has that classic Symphony of Sweden touch, it’s a track that really did not jive with me at all. Even as a closing track, I felt this was better left as a stand alone single, rather than something to be placed on this album. Shifting from the heaviness throughout the album, even with calmer tracks like “Don’t Let It Be A Dream“, there was still an element of intensity and rigidness that as admirable. Coming into this track as a component of this album just felt off to me, especially with the random swearing. While vocals and piano are as passionate as always atop a personally reflective moment, this track deserves to be in a realm of its own.

Now, as the studio moments have come to an end, the band looks, once more, toward the stage. 2026 will mark the return of Symphony of Sweden live, with Sweden as its starting point for many upcoming performances.

Live Return Confirmed: May 30, 2026 – Platens, Linköping

Symphony of Sweden confirms an intimate, but energetic live performance on May 30, 2026 at Platens in Linköping, Sweden. Though the stage is small, the energy has never been more prominent: “It will be personal and intimate, combined with full blast energy from the stage,” says Evan. Lee adds with a grin: “Bigger, better, harder, faster.”

Also confirmed is the open air rock festival Skogsröjet in Finspång Sweden  30 July- 1 August, 2026.

What Symphony of Sweden Expects From 2026

Looking toward the future, both Evan and Lee stand united:

• More live performances
• More songwriting
• Audience growth through real, human, connection

“We want our fans to like what they hear, want to see us live, and be our missionaries,” Evan says.

Lee’s message is just as direct: “Build with us. Share the love of music with us.”

With Stand My Ground, Symphony of Sweden is not simply releasing a new album, they are reinforcing their identity, refining their sound, and preparing for their most powerful live era yet.

Contributing to the album were musicians Henrik Bodin-Sköld (Guitars), Niklas “Bullen” Bengtsson (Drums) and Erik Arkö (Bass).

You can follow Symphony of Sweden via their website, or stay up-to-date on news, releases, and concerts via their socials!

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