Apocalyptica unveils “Upperhand,” a newly composed track written for Control: Resonant, Remedy Entertainment’s action-adventure game. To bring this dark, cinematic piece to life, the Finnish trio enlisted Katrine Stenbekk, the singer from Kalandra!
Originally, “Upperhand” began as an instrumental track conceived by Eicca Toppinen to accompany the game’s opening sequence. The founder of Apocalyptica then wished to develop the composition into a full song, with lyrics and a voice capable of extending the unsettling atmosphere of Control’s universe: “The first version of “Upperhand” was written as the opening music for the game’s introductory sequence. It reflects the troubling emotions of the main character as he steps into the unknown,” explains Eicca Toppinen. “I wanted to turn it into a complete song with words, and we were fortunate to have Katrine from Kalandra, with her distinctive voice, to take it where it needed to go.”
The melancholic cellos of Apocalyptica, its powerful rhythms, and the ethereal voices of Katrine Stenbekk thus converge in a track that feels as much designed for a soundtrack as for the stage. “Upperhand” musically expresses the tension between fear and discovery that runs through Control: Resonant, while adding a new dimension to the game’s main theme: “This song brings together several distinctive qualities of Apocalyptica, and ensuring these qualities serve the Control universe was a demanding, yet thrilling and rewarding journey,” continues Toppinen. “I sincerely hope that fans of Control and Apocalyptica will find this track as special as we do.”
Control: Resonant takes place seven years after the events of the original Control, released in 2019. Players now embody Dylan Faden, Jesse Faden’s older brother, and explore a Manhattan transformed by a paranatural threat. The game will be available from September 25 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Music plays a central role in this new adventure. Creative director Mikael Kasurinen recently explained that he intended to employ it to reinforce key moments, create contrasts and sometimes tell a story without relying on dialogue: “Sometimes, you don’t need to say anything. All you need is a good song.”
With “Upperhand,” Apocalyptica fully embraces this approach by transforming a theme designed to accompany the game into a true song. Blending cinematic metal, majestic cellos and captivating vocals, the track thus offers a new entry point into the strange and paranatural universe of Control: Resonant.
