Hilltops Are For Dreamers return with “The Darkest Winter,” a deeply personal new single featuring Jesse Heikkinen of The Abbey and Iterum Nata. Blending Gothic Metal, melancholic melodies and a darker atmospheric edge, the track draws inspiration from a difficult period marked by uncertainty, emotional strain and personal upheaval, yet also by focus and purpose.
“The Darkest Winter” continues the band’s focus on emotionally Heavy songwriting, combining dense guitars,
cinematic textures and Heikkinen’s distinctive vocal delivery. The single will be accompanied by a self-sabotaging, plot-twist-filled video that balances drama with a sarcastic edge.
Premiere in exclusive the official lyric video for “The Darkest Winter” feat. Jesse Heikkinen via the YouTube player below:
Alongside the exclusive lyric video premiere, we caught up with the band for a quick 3-question Q&A to dive deeper into the concept and creation of the track, read it below:
“The Darkest Winter” has a strong Nordic Gothic Metal vibe, drawing inspiration from iconic acts like Sentenced, HIM, and The 69 Eyes. How did these influences shape the melancholic and Atmospheric core of this specific track compared to your previous, more Rock-oriented releases like “A Soulless Drive”?
“With “The Darkest Winter,” I wanted to lean much more into that Nordic sense of melancholy. Bands like Sentenced and HIM have always had this ability to make something dark and emotional without losing melody, and that definitely influenced the way the song developed.
Compared to “A Soulless Drive,” which was more direct and Rock-oriented, this track is much more about mood and emotional weight. The guitars are still heavy, but they are there to support the atmosphere rather than dominate it. The melodies, vocal delivery and overall production were shaped around that feeling of romantic misery, and melancholy.
I also wanted it to feel something cold, dramatic and melancholic, but still memorable. We take that emotional language and filter it through the sound and identity of Hilltops Are For Dreamers.“
The track features Jesse Heikkinen (The Abbey, Iterum Nata) on vocals. Can you tell us more about how this collaboration came together and how Jesse’s distinctive delivery helped capture the themes of devotion and emotional upheaval?
“I’ve known Jesse for a few years now. We first met in Finland while attending a Poisonblack concert, and since then we’ve stayed in touch. I’ve also been a big fan of The Abbey, so I was already very familiar with his voice and the atmosphere he can bring to a song.
We later had the chance to share the stage in Greece, when Jesse played here with The Blackwall, so there was already a personal and musical connection before “The Darkest Winter” came together.
When I started working on the track, I felt that Jesse’s voice would fit it perfectly. He has a very distinctive delivery that can sound dark, vulnerable and powerful at the same time, which was exactly what the song needed. The themes revolve around devotion and decay, and Jesse managed to give those emotions a real sense of weight without overdoing them. His performance helped make the song feel much more personal and dramatic.“
The music video is a balancing drama with a sarcastic edge and a self-sabotaging plot twist. How does this visual narrative connect with the Dark, Heavy concepts behind the lyrics?
“The video tells a story that is inspired by real events, but it has been heavily reshaped and fictionalised to create a darker, more Gothic atmosphere around the song.
Rather than following reality literally, we pushed the narrative into something much more dramatic and unpredictable, with multiple plot twists, black humour and a strong sense of irony running throughout. That contrast was important, because although the themes behind the lyrics are genuinely heavy and emotional, we didn’t want the visual side to become overly sentimental or completely serious.
The result is a story that moves between tragedy, absurdity and self-sabotage. In that sense, the video reflects the darker emotional core of “The Darkest Winter,” but looks at it through a slightly twisted and sarcastic lens.“
Pre-Save “The Darkest Winter” HERE
Hilltops Are For Dreamers is a Europe- and US-based Metal project formed in 2018. Since their debut EP in 2020, the band has developed a diverse sound combining Post-Hardcore, Black Metal, Progressive, Gothic and Atmospheric influences with a strong Melodic focus. Their 2022 debut album, “In Disbelief,” received strong reviews. This was followed by the melancholic EP “The Tragedy of Being Human” in 2024 and “A Soulless Drive” in 2025, which embraced a more direct, Rock-oriented approach. Their latest release, “The Darkest Winter,” features Jesse Heikkinen of The Abbey and Iterum Nata, continuing the band’s Darker and more Atmospheric direction.
Single Lineup:
Jesse Heikkinen / Vocals
Vasileios Papageorgakopoulos / Guitars, Bass, Keys and Programming
Fernando Guerrero / Drums