Rokets Bad Choices Black Vinyl Edition

Crushing riffs, exquisite guitar melodies, and striking choruses – High-speed rockers Rokets’ new album out in May via Svart Records

Known as a ferocious and electric live act, Rokets is a rocking and a rolling band from Helsinki, Finland. They’ve spread the word on their primal and fast rock’n’roll through the constant live shows around the Nordics and Baltic states since their establishment in 2017.

Rokets rose rapidly to the surface of international Action Rock circles when their highly praised EP Speed & Sound was released in 2019 on a limited vinyl pressing, which sold out in a heartbeat. The following debut album Fast Times was recorded in Stockholm at Robert Pehrsson’s (Robert Pehrsson’s Humbucker, Dundertåget, Imperial State Electric, Death Breath) Studio Humbucker, pouring more gasoline in the flames and gaining the band a record deal with The Sign Records. With the help of the Swedish label their sophomore album Break Free reached even further and beyond, with Rokets playing to sold out venues and festivals. Now the band has joined forces with Svart Records and are ready to spread their wings and grab the world by its throat – beware!

“The band’s founding member Jaani called me in 2017 and asked if I’d like to join a band playing fast paced rock in the vein of The Hellacopters and such. Sounded like something to give a go at, even though I wasn’t all that much into rock’n’roll at the time, rather than some good ol’ heavy metal. Nevertheless, I’m very happy I did” comments the band’s vocalist Sami, and continues:

“In the beginning we had only a handful of songs and played some Motörhead and Hurriganes covers on the side. Sakke, our guitarist, kept bringing new songs to every single rehearsal so we got ready to do some live shows pretty soon after we started. Been down that road ever since.”

Rokets have gone through some line up changes in the past, but the recent, already road-tested group of jolly good fellows consist of Sami Mustonen (vocals), Sakke Väntinen (guitar), Elias Laurila (guitar), Lauri Lyytinen (bass), and Otto Bigler (drums). The members are known from playing in more or less underground acts United Seafood, Green King, Tryer, Rusty Triggers, Lazer Sleep, and Black Lizard. Each one has a distinct musical past ranging from heavy metal to hardcore, which has shaped the music and sound of Rokets over the years.

Bad Choices is a half an hour journey into the world of the band. The songs tell stories of anxiety, oppression, horror movies, the long arm of the law, possessive cats, last calls, predators, and the inevitable end. High flying solos, crushing riffs, exquisite guitar melodies, and striking choruses topped off with a rock-solid rhythm section will make sure there’s no lack of speed or dangerous encounters on this trip.