The Ghoulstars Conquer Pop Culture Galaxy on “The Dark Overlords of the Universe”
A monstrously catchy mash-up of metal, punk and cult classics
Featured by CNN, Metal Hammer + more
Ghostbustin’ proton streams, blaster-packing astro clones, creatures from a galaxy far, far away, an astro clone army, and a hit song to die for. Meet The Ghoulstars, a fresh – and frightening blast from pop-culture’s past. Since beaming down onto their native haunt of Finland, these horror punks have tantalized crowds and captured the attention of CNN and other international press. Their blockbuster debut album, The Dark Overlords of the Universe, hits shelves on May 15.
“A monstrously good opening move that’s sure to invite repeated listens”, Soundi wrote about The Dark Overlords of the Universe in a 4/5 review. “This is a band you’ll definitely want to hear more from in the future”.
Today, The Ghoulstars are beaming with excitement to release the third and final advanced single from The Dark Overlords of the Universe. While a reference to an ‘80s cult classic, the title track is destined for instant world domination with its stellar mash-up of metal and punk.
“The Dark Overlords of the Universe are an evil alien race from the 1986 film Howard the Duck”, The Ghoulstars guitarist Markus “Daddy Ghoul” Laakso says. “The movie bombed at the box office, but I’m glad those many-teethed mutants never left my brain. Not only did they give us the perfect name for our first album, they also spawned the title track, which is probably the catchiest song I’ve ever written. We are excited to finally unleash it upon the world!”.
Watch the fun and far-out music video for “The Dark Overlords of the Universe”, written and directed by Daddy Ghoul himself, on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.
The Dark Overlords of the Universe comes out May 15, 2026 on Season of Mist.
Pre-order & Pre-save https://orcd.co/theghoulstarsdarkoverlords
Digital Download
CD Digipack
12″ Vinyl Gatefold (Black)
12″ Colored Vinyl Gatefold (Yellow, red and white marbled)
Despite their ghostly appearance, The Ghoulstars are a collection of real talent. The band features an all-star cast of current and former members of death-doom royalty and Season of Mist labelmates Hooded Menace, stoner rockers Thermate and Finland’s Top Ten charting Kuolemanlaakso.
What bands these ghouls together on “The Dark Overlords of the Universe” is their expansive knowledge of the pop-culture galaxy. With its opening crawl, the music video quickly displays its admiration for George Lucas’ longest-running franchise. Fellow film buffs will marvel over the visual cues to Barbarella, Kill Bill, Sin City and the Swedish buddy cop romp Kopps. The song itself is an irresistible crossover. The ingenuous combination of surf beats, heavy riffs and a cameo from Finnish star and Fly-Eyed master Tuple Salmela produces a chorus that shall never ever grow old.
“The Dark Overlords of the Universe is a love letter to everything that blew our minds as kids”, Laakso says. “The album is loaded with huge riffs, big choruses, surprising curve balls and Easter eggs from old horror, sci-fi and coming-of-age movies. Holding it all together is our sheer joy in watching all the pieces fall into the right place.
The video for “The Dark Overlords of the Universe” was written and directed by Markus “Daddy Ghoul” Laakso.
Additional video credits
Cinematography, editing and VFX by Riku Jokinen
Lighting by Sami Kokkonen
Set design and villain wardrobe by Markus Laakso
Starring
The Ghoulstars feat. Tuple Salmela as the Dark Overlords of the Universe
Miika Kinnunen as the Astro Clone Army
Pasi Kankkunen as the Fly-Eyed Master
Tuple Salmela as the Fly-Eyed Master reincarnated
Toni Hiltunen, Kalle-Pekka Salmela, Sami Kokkonen, Maasu Matilainen and Pasi Kankkunen as the Unfortunate Five
Tracklist
1. Too Ghoul for School (3:57) [WATCH]
2. The Dead in Purgatory (4:04)
3. Zombie Apocalypse (2:52)
4. The Dark Overlords of the Universe (3:43) [WATCH]
5. The Brain That Wouldn’t Die (3:16)
6. Graverobbers from Outer Space (3:46) [WATCH]
7. The Wolfman (2:48)
8. The Ballad of the Cursed Bandits (2:19)
9. Vampire (2:58)
10. They Dance Upon Our Graves (3:52)
Origin: Finland
Style: Horror punk, Metal
FFO: The Misfits, White Zombie, Murderdolls, cult cinema
Old crusty metalheads can be stuck in their ways, but The Ghoulstars are a fresh — and frightening — blast from the past. Since invading the land of the living back in 2021, the horror punk supergroup has captivated press and tantalized crowds in their native haunt of Finland without releasing a single bloody track. Until now! Evil mastermind Markus “Daddy Ghoul” Laakso and his fellow pop-culture junkies are raising the cobwebbed curtain from their blockbuster debut album. On The Dark Overlords of the Universe, no tome is too sacred for these ghouls to summon back to life!
“The Dark Overlords of the Universe is a love letter to our fifteen-year-old selves”, Laakso says. “It’s crammed with headbanging metal riffs, shout-along punk rock choruses, B-movie easter eggs, ‘80s aesthetics, surprising curveballs and the sheer joy of all the pieces falling into the right places. Move over, Rover, and let the ghouls take over!”.
Despite their ghostly appearance, The Ghoulstars are a collection of real talent. Axeman Laakso and goose-bumping drummer Toni “Ghoulio” Ronkainen shared a past life together in the Top Ten charting Finnish death-doom band Kuolemanlaakso. Bassist Markus “Hella Ghoul” Makkonen formerly haunted the low end for Season of Mist labelmates Hooded Menace while moonhowler Arthur “LL Ghoul A” Thure croons for the stoner rockers Thermate.
Banding The Ghoulstars together is a freaky obsession with the classic metal, punk and movies that blew their minds as kids. The Dark Overlords of the Universe is named after the many-teethed mutants from the 1986 cult classic Howard the Duck. “I grew up during a time when movies in Finland were censored, so my hobby was collecting uncensored VHS tapes of horror and sci-fi movies any way I could”, Laakso reveals. As a young skeleton, he frequently raided European record store crates for The Misfits, Bad Religion and obscure metal finds, though the album’s lead single spun off from his schooling in the U.S. With Mötley Crüe’s pomp and the can’t-do attitude of Twisted Sister roaming its halls, lead single “Too Ghoul for School” is jam-packed with more fun-filled ‘80s antics than Saturday afternoon detention.
“Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Lost Boys and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off are some of my favorite movies”, Laakso applauds. “I love the cliched characters: the nerds, the jocks, the cool kids and the rebels. They remind me of my junior high school days”.
To bring their ingenious creation to life, The Ghoulstars summoned V. Santura of the mighty Triptykon for the mixing and mastering of The Dark Overlords of the Universe. “Graverobbers from Outer Space” pays homage to Ed Wood’s B-horror classic Plan 9 from Outer Space with a straight-up headbanging chorus, though not many clear-cut punk rippers are enlivened by a doomy C-part and güiro. “That’s one of my favorite moments on the album”, Laakso recalls. The Wolfman, a zombie apocalypse, the brain that wouldn’t die and other cultishly beloved touchstones jump out during the album’s crisp 34-minute runtime. Though the band also enter original plots to horror’s hallowed crypt. Set amidst the cruel unfeeling world of the Wild West, “The Dead in Purgatory” rides a galloping melody after Morricone’s heart into a sunset that’s colored by the fifty shades of Volbeat.
“No spoilers, but all cowboy hats aside, that song deals with feeling hopeless and abandoned by someone close to you who needs but refuses your help”, teases Laakso.
The Ghoulstars may be undead, but there’s nothing pale or lifeless about The Dark Overlords of the Universe. The title track crosses surf beats, heavy riffing and a hair-raising transition into a chorus that’s absolutely to die for. “We can’t wait to unleash this delightful horror upon the world”, Laakso says with an ominous glint in his bloodshot eye. “As V. Santura told me: ‘The record is unique, catchy and a really fun listen’”.
With The Dark Overlords of the Universe, The Ghoulstars direct a monstrously catchy mash-up between metal, punk and B-horror.
Lineup
Markus “Daddy Ghoul” Laakso – Guitars
Toni “Ghoulio” Ronkainen – Drums
Arthur “LL Ghoul A” Thure – Vocals
Markus “Hella Ghoul” Makkonen – Bass
Guest musicians
Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns (…and Oceans, Finntrol) – Backing Growls
Tommi “Tuple” Salmela (Tarot, Raskasta Joulua, Lazy Bones) – Backing Vocals on “The Dark Overlords of the Universe”)
Production credits
Produced by Markus Laakso
Guitars recorded by Markus Laakso and Erkka Närhi
Vocals recorded by Markus Laakso and Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns
Drums recorded by Erkka Närhi
Bass recorded by Samu Männikkö and Markus Laakso
Percussion recorded by Markus Laakso
Mixed & Mastered by V. Santura at Woodshed Studio in Germany
Cover art
Niko Anttila
Pre-order & Pre-save
https://orcd.co/theghoulstarsdarkoverlords
Follow The Ghoulstars
Official website: http://www.theghoulstars.com
Bandcamp: https://theghoulstars.bandcamp.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Pr3ThFZK0tnUDqDSlMuBX
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-ghoulstars/1872811142
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGhoulstars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theghoulstars/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theghoulstars/
