Lineup – Gary ‘Smith’ Zeus (Drums), Eric Aittala (Guitar/Vox), Dane Taylor (Bass)
"Ill‑Gotten Gains" continues AITTALA’s long‑standing tradition of blurring genre boundaries, weaving together elements of traditional metal, doom, groove, progressive influences, and hard rock to create a cohesive and immersive listening experience. Lyrically, the EP explores the darker corners of human behavior, focusing on the creation of chaos for personal benefit, the inevitable consequences that follow, and the difficult search for redemption. The EP’s artwork features an updated interpretation of the band’s mascot, Frank, a cartoon pig head in a pentagram originally created in 2014 for the song “Pigs” from the album Effigy. In the world of AITTALA, Frank represents the shady figure who can acquire any “ill‑gotten gains” for the right price, making him the perfect symbol for the EP’s themes.
Across the EP, AITTALA delivers a series of songs that reflect both musical evolution and lyrical depth. “Isolation” opens with a doomy, heavy atmosphere that shifts between crushing riffs and clean passages while confronting the consequences of past decisions. The title track, “Ill‑Gotten Gains,” drives forward with a powerful eight‑string riff before descending into a darker, doom‑laden interlude, lyrically exploring the exploitation of chaos for personal advantage. “Blacklisted” counters the themes of the earlier tracks by calling out manipulative personalities with a sludge‑infused groove, while “Ever After” offers a modern metal ballad steeped in internal conflict and the longing for redemption that may never come. The EP culminates with “Ashes,” a traditional heavy‑metal burner that now takes visual form in the band’s newest music video, capturing the emotional descent at the heart of the song.
AITTALA, pronounced EYE‑tah‑la, has long been recognized for a sound that refuses to fit neatly into any single metal subgenre. Their music blends classic heavy metal, doom, progressive elements, power metal, thrash, and hard rock, all tied together by lyrics inspired by the darker side of the human condition. This unique combination has earned the band a reputation for crafting a sound that is distinctly their own, a rare achievement in today’s crowded metal landscape. The band’s origins trace back to 1991 in the Netherlands, where founder Eric Aittala first formed the group with American and Dutch bandmates. Their early EP, "Selling Heaven," gained traction in the European underground scene and led to opening slots for acts such as The Gathering and Sadist before Eric’s return to the United States brought the project to a temporary close.
AITTALA was revived in 2008, leading to a prolific run of releases that includes "Bed of Thorns" (2009), "Haunt Your Flesh" (2011), "Effigy" (2014), "American Nightmare" (2016), "False Pretenses" (2019), "Live to Regret" (2022), and "Machines" (EP, 2025). Each release reflects the band’s continued growth while preserving the unmistakable core of the AITTALA sound.
Today, AITTALA is anchored by founder Eric Aittala on guitars and vocals alongside drummer Gary “Zeus” Smith, known for his work with The Fifth and formerly with Mr. Blackwell. The pair continues to write, record, and tour with the goal of delivering AITTALA’s unmistakable brand of metal to audiences everywhere. The band has also expanded its live lineup with the addition of bassist Dane Taylor, whose arrival brings a renewed surge of energy and chemistry to the stage. His presence strengthens the group’s momentum as they push their sound forward while remaining true to the identity that has defined AITTALA from the beginning.
"Ill-Gotten Gains" (released Nov 21, 2025) is available from Exitus Stratagem Records - https://hypeddit.com/aittala/illgottengains
Music Video - “Isolation” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Y_azlkGLg
Music Video - "Ill-Gotten Gains" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjlP92y_sQg
Lyric Video - "Ever After" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipo98unZUoQ
Track Listing:
Across the EP, AITTALA delivers a series of songs that reflect both musical evolution and lyrical depth. “Isolation” opens with a doomy, heavy atmosphere that shifts between crushing riffs and clean passages while confronting the consequences of past decisions. The title track, “Ill‑Gotten Gains,” drives forward with a powerful eight‑string riff before descending into a darker, doom‑laden interlude, lyrically exploring the exploitation of chaos for personal advantage. “Blacklisted” counters the themes of the earlier tracks by calling out manipulative personalities with a sludge‑infused groove, while “Ever After” offers a modern metal ballad steeped in internal conflict and the longing for redemption that may never come. The EP culminates with “Ashes,” a traditional heavy‑metal burner that now takes visual form in the band’s newest music video, capturing the emotional descent at the heart of the song.
AITTALA, pronounced EYE‑tah‑la, has long been recognized for a sound that refuses to fit neatly into any single metal subgenre. Their music blends classic heavy metal, doom, progressive elements, power metal, thrash, and hard rock, all tied together by lyrics inspired by the darker side of the human condition. This unique combination has earned the band a reputation for crafting a sound that is distinctly their own, a rare achievement in today’s crowded metal landscape. The band’s origins trace back to 1991 in the Netherlands, where founder Eric Aittala first formed the group with American and Dutch bandmates. Their early EP, "Selling Heaven," gained traction in the European underground scene and led to opening slots for acts such as The Gathering and Sadist before Eric’s return to the United States brought the project to a temporary close.
AITTALA was revived in 2008, leading to a prolific run of releases that includes "Bed of Thorns" (2009), "Haunt Your Flesh" (2011), "Effigy" (2014), "American Nightmare" (2016), "False Pretenses" (2019), "Live to Regret" (2022), and "Machines" (EP, 2025). Each release reflects the band’s continued growth while preserving the unmistakable core of the AITTALA sound.
Today, AITTALA is anchored by founder Eric Aittala on guitars and vocals alongside drummer Gary “Zeus” Smith, known for his work with The Fifth and formerly with Mr. Blackwell. The pair continues to write, record, and tour with the goal of delivering AITTALA’s unmistakable brand of metal to audiences everywhere. The band has also expanded its live lineup with the addition of bassist Dane Taylor, whose arrival brings a renewed surge of energy and chemistry to the stage. His presence strengthens the group’s momentum as they push their sound forward while remaining true to the identity that has defined AITTALA from the beginning.
"Ill-Gotten Gains" (released Nov 21, 2025) is available from Exitus Stratagem Records - https://hypeddit.com/aittala/illgottengains
Music Video - “Isolation” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Y_azlkGLg
Music Video - "Ill-Gotten Gains" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjlP92y_sQg
Lyric Video - "Ever After" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipo98unZUoQ
1. Isolation - 4:22
2. Ill Gotten Gains - 4:20
3. Black Listed - 3:35
4. Ever After - 4:29
5. Ashes - 3:50
2. Ill Gotten Gains - 4:20
3. Black Listed - 3:35
4. Ever After - 4:29
5. Ashes - 3:50
For more info:
Thanks to Asher Media For All Of The Details