Dharma Guns play rock ’n’ roll infused with protopunk and Scandi action influences. Sing-along choruses, fiery guitar licks, and a dirty groove remind you of what rock ‘n’ roll is all about. The lyrics proclaim the madness of the world, nightmares and shattered dreams like slogans spray-painted on concrete walls.
Bursting onto the Finnish action rock scene, Dharma Guns released their debut album Ex-Generation Superstars in November 2024. The album gained international attention, earning an 8/10 review from the UK’s Vive Le Rock magazine, while France’s Rock’n Force praised it for its “explosive energy!”
Now known for their high-energy live shows, Dharma Guns’ story has moved on to its next chapter. Their second album Nightmares and Broken Dreams, set for release in April 24, 2026, has been preceded by the singles “King of Action Rock,” “Devil’s Beat,” “Scale of the Universe” and “The Voice of the Underdogs” each accompanied by a music video. The album release tour will reach as far as the British Isles, with the band performing in four cities on a run from Scotland to London.
It was a pleasure to have this interview with them, check out the below chat on the new album.
Greetings from Metalheads Forever Magazine. How are you today?
Pete: Hello Metalheads! Greetings from sunny (for a change) Hellsinki! We are still recovering from the publication of our second album Nightmares and Broken Dreams, doing some interviews and looking forward to the release parties at the end of the week.
Your new album Nightmares & Broken Dreams was released on April 24, last Friday. Would you like to tell us about the songwriting process and production behind it?
Pete: Writing the second album was a bit more challenging than the first one. When I was writing the songs for the debut album, the band didn’t exist yet. Now we already had one album out, and I felt I needed to top it. I was a bit nervous about how the other guys would react to the new songs.
Luckily, everyone loved the demos and then I knew I was on the right track. We did a lot more pre-production this time so everyone could bring their own ideas into the songs. The recording itself was maybe even faster than with the first album – probably because we were so well prepared. We laid down the basic tracks (drums, bass, and rhythm guitars) in a day and a half for fourteen songs and then moved on to leads, percussion, and vocals. I think you can hear it in the groove – we really played live in the studio.
Lyrically, this album is darker than the first one. You can already see that from the title Nightmares and Broken Dreams. The world has been getting crazier by the minute, and of course that affects my songwriting. The madness I see around me feeds my creativity and makes me want to take a stand.
Does Nightmares have a concept or a theme behind it?
Pete: In a way, yes. The writing started with the opening track “Shock O’clock”, which kind of sets the theme for the whole album. It’s shock o’clock somewhere in the world all the time right now. That idea comes up in other songs too, like “Black Cloud”, “Clowns in the Castles”, “Shame Etc.”, and “The Voice of the Underdogs”.
That said, there’s also some lightness on the album – or at least in one song. You can’t take “King of Action Rock” too seriously, although it definitely shows how we see ourselves.
10 mind-blowing rock ’n’ roll songs with amazing groove, catchy hooks, and a classic touch – a truly awesome album to listen to. As the creator of the music, how do you feel about the outcome?
Pete: I’m really happy and proud of both the band and the album. At one point I felt completely desperate, thinking everything was shit, but I think those feelings are part of every creative process. When I finally got the blue vinyl in my hands, I couldn’t have been more proud. The songs, the title, and the artwork by cartoonist Kari A. Sihvonen on the cover all come together to make it a stunning piece of rock ’n’ roll.
Did you do something special last Friday on the release day?
Pete: Not really. I think we were just trying to wrap our heads around the fact that the album was finally out. We’ll do the partying this week at the release shows – first in Helsinki and then in Turku, where we’ll be playing most of the album live.
Are there any big touring plans for the year?
Pete: After the release gigs, we’ll head to the UK for a short tour starting in Edinburgh and ending in London. We’re booking the fall as we speak and hope to be playing a lot of shows. If the readers of Metalheads Forever have any suggestions, don’t hesitate to contact us directly via our social media channels. 😉
Are there plans for an official music video from this album?
Pete: We’ve released a music video for every single so far – nine in total. Four of them are from this album: “King of Action Rock”, “Devil’s Beat”, “Scale of the Universe”, and “The Voice of theUnderdogs”. Of course, we’ll keep making videos in the future as well. Our drummer Olli is the one with the real talent for that.
https://www.youtube.com/@DharmaGuns
With your second album out now, how do you feel about the road you’ve travelled so far?
Pete: We’ve only been together for about two and a half years, so I think we’ve achieved quite a lot in a relatively short time. Two albums out, nine music videos, plenty of gigs in Finland, shows in Estonia and Sweden, and a UK tour coming up very soon. Little by little, people are getting to know us better and realizing that we’re a live band worth checking out.
Would you like to share some highlights for the band?
Pete: Our very first gig landed us a record deal with the indie label Rockhopper Music. At that point we already had the album recorded and moved straight from the studio to the stage. After that, things started moving fast. Playing in Stockholm in early April 2026 was also a big highlight – as Finns, we’ve always looked up to Swedish rock ’n’ roll bands. I felt like we really won the crowd over there, and I can’t wait to go back.
And of course, the upcoming UK tour is a dream come true. When you’re living the dream, there are plenty of highlights along the way.
Finally, any message for the fans around the world?
Pete: Keep spinning the albums, streaming, and supporting us! We really appreciate every like, share, and comment. And if you want us to come play in your country, harass the local promoters and club owners! When the invitation comes, we’ll be there for sure!
