Life for the metal band Perkeros begins to change when Aksel's bandmates decide they want a new singer so he can focus on just playing the guitar. Hoping to dominate the Finnish metal scene, they think a shift in the lineup will bring the success they crave. Aksel, worried about losing his place as frontman, begins spending more time with Lily, the keyboardist. His wife is resentful of his relationship with the beautiful musician, so Aksel ends up moving in with the drummer (an actual brown bear who lives in Perkeros's rehearsal space).
Though Aksel's singing sounds like a "bloody, violent barfing," his guitar playing is transcendent. Kervinen, the bearded old bassist, knows that the true, raw power of music is within Aksel's grasp, but cautions him against connecting with the demonic forces his songs can unleash. Once their charming new lead singer is in place, Aksel can focus on learning to control the mystical energy of his music and rearranging his life into something more consistent with his aspirations. When a rival metal band full of actual demons threatens Lily, Aksel must choose between the wife from whom he's growing apart and the keyboard player who seems to be a kindred spirit.
Finnish artists JP Ahonen and KP Alare, who met in metal bands when they were younger, wrote and illustrated this graphic novel in English. The authenticity of their voice is impressively matched with the solid, realistic style of the artwork. The warm earth tones of every panel help ground the more fantastic passages depicting supernatural connection through the power of the vibration of music. --Rob LeFebvre, freelance writer and editor