The Finnish duo MATD, Marcos Kuusjärvi and Veli Eronen, have a history of crafting catchy tunes, from chart-bothering singles in Finland to a viral Spotify hit with 'Me and My Dog'. Yet, their latest offering, 'Angels Of Rock' featuring the formidable vocals of Johanna Koskiniemi, is less a mere track and more a fully-fledged, stadium-ready, operatic rock event. Submitted for Finland's Eurovision selection, this collaboration is by far the strongest, most energetic anthem the duo has ever produced.
The story behind the track is almost as dramatic as the song itself. What started as a demo with the charming working title, 'Hell Has Lousy Songs', quickly morphed into something monumental. According to Johanna, a former music teacher with a background in piano, saxophone, trumpet, and theatre, the demo hit her “like a defibrillator paddle in the middle of a coffee break.” The subsequent idea of submitting it to UMK (the Finnish Eurovision selection) struck her “like an acute panic attack,” bringing a host of self-doubt about her suitability as a 'first-time mother in the rock world'.
Through and through, 'Angels Of Rock' is a cataclysmic blast of soaring guitar lines, relentless energy, and a powerhouse vocal performance from Johanna that is perfectly suited to the genre. The song’s central message is one of peace, humanity, and happiness, which, as they note, is “everything the world needs right now.” This positive plea for unity is wrapped in a full-throttle rock package, complete with the rallying cry that even “in hell the notes go wrong.”
The production process was no less intense. Recorded at Sound Ateljee in Lohja, the initial session was described by Johanna as an “ER intake,” with the 162 BPM tempo noted as “basically ventricular tachycardia.” The radical treatment plan was a full rearrangement, with a clear focus on live instrumentation—everything played by “real hands, not cold AI prosthetics.” This commitment to authentic sounds shines through; the drums have a thunderous, genuine sound, and the musicians’ fingerprints are well and truly audible on the final mix.
The track is an undeniable invitation to "join the angels’ choir of light and let’s rock together!" MATD and Johanna have delivered a magnificent piece of maximalist, high-energy rock that deserves a stage far bigger than the 'quiet kitchen radio'. This anthem needs pyro effects, a massive crowd, and frankly, a clear path to the main Eurovision stage.
You can stream the new cut above via Spotify, and for more, be sure to follow MATD on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X. For more powerhouse vocals, you can also follow Johanna on Facebook and Instagram now.
