Rotten Sound Blast the Alarm on New Single “Idealist”

Few grindcore bands have enjoyed the shelf life of Rotten Sound. After outrunning the apocalypse on their last long-player, the Finnish grindcore vets are back with another politically-charged EP. The latest single from Mass Extinction is slightly more optimistic about our future than its initial discharge, but “Idealist” gets its message across with such blunt force, that it’s impossible not to heed the band’s charge.

“‘Idealist’ is a cynical D-beat anthem about our fight for a better future”, says the band’s vocalist Keijo Niinimaa. “I do believe that better times are ahead, but it feels impossible to find a new level in humanity. The transition seems to take forever. That frustration led me to write the lyrics to this song. Mika’s riffs and Sami’s grooves open the circle into a mosh pit”.

Listen to “Idealist” on the Season of Mist YouTube channel

https://youtu.be/9nUcqlpKSLs

Pre-save on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/4GjDqqrZi7TTEjCmvvXq5f?si=maLSpuYJTP-Vqs4RmsTaUA

Available formats

All of the songs on Mass Extinction mutated out of the same radioactive Petri dish that spawned Rotting Sound’s prior LP Apocalypse. But even though it clocks in at a freakishly fast nine minutes, the band’s new EP is no half-life mutation. As they recently demonstrated while touring Latin America with Crypta, Baixo Calao and Season of Mist labelmates DVRK, their time-tested blend of D-beat punk and Swedish death metal has only grown more dangerous after two decades. “Idealist” marches at a spirited pace toward a new state of light and glory before Niinimaa’s screaming commands launch the song into a downright hostile groove.

“Wake up!” At this earth-shaking volume, ignore Rotting Sound if you dare.

Next year, Rotting Sound will return to the grind with a fresh set of European headline dates in support of Mass Extinction. Following this blistering ride with Repulsive Feast and Teething, the band will return to the U.S. for a special set at Maryland Death Fest celebrating their classic albums Murderworks and Exit.

Rotten Sound European Tour 2026
with Repulsive Feast & Teething

January 9 – Hamburg, Germany @ Bambi Galore+
January 10 – Göttingen, Germany @ Freihafen +
January 11 – Maastricht, Germany @ Muziekgieterij+
January 12 – Herford, Germany @ Kulturwerk+
January 13 – Essen, Germany @ Don’t Panic Club & Pub+
January 15 – Portugalete, Spain @ Groove#
January 16 – Madrid, Spain @ Barracudas#
January 17 – Lisbon, Portugal @ Xapada Fest#
January 19 – Murcia, Spain @ Garage Beat Club#
January 20 – Perpignan, France @ Perpignan#
January 21 – Saint-Jean-de-Védas, France @ Secret Place#
January 24 – Barcelona, Spain @ Winds of Metal Festival#
+with Repulsive Feast
#with Teething

Rotten Sound North American Dates 2026
May 23 – Baltimore, Maryland @ Maryland Death Fest

more dates coming soon…

More praise for Rotten Sound
“Rotten Sound are yelling in hopes that someone listening will look down and notice the shackles worn by all of humanity” – Burning Ambulance

“Their execution and talent is on par with the best in the genre and their songwriting shows depth and genuine creativity” – Lambgoat

“…they are daring anyone to knock the chip off their shoulders” – Invisible Oranges

“The Finnish grindcore veterans have been at it for over 30 years now, and they show no signs of slowing down” – Metal Sucks

“These guys are taking misanthropy to another level” – New Noise

“…Rotten Sound have become one of the go-to pillars of the grind scene” – No Clean Singing

“…perfect and ugly and pissed-off and beautiful and I cannot stop listening to it” – Last Rites

“Rotten Sound is a vintage act, returning to the fold sounding inspired and raging as hard as ever. Proceed with caution” – Angry Metal Guy

“If you consider yourself a fan of grindcore and you’re just discovering Rotten Sound, you’ve been missing out but there also couldn’t be a better time to find them” – No Echo

Recycle Ride of the Future Gone Polarized Brave New World Empty Shells Idealist Mass Extinction