With their new album In Vertigo set for release on 24 October 2025, which MetalTalk described as “pop rock fusion at its very best,” Shiraz Lane are set to make yet another big statement in their growth as writers. MetalTalk’s Taylor Cameron caught up with guitarist Jani Laine to delve into the songwriting process and the bands love for the Monsters Of Rock Cruise.
Having had the chance to listen to In Vertigo, I think it is some of their best work yet. The album has a more mature rock sound, and it shows that the band has grown since their 2022 release, Forgotten Shades Of Life. “I think it makes sense to say that we wanted to grow as songwriters for this album,” Jani Laine told MetalTalk. “We wanted to try and capture the essence of the songs and songwriting a bit more this time around.
“We focused a lot on demoing songs and trying to develop our sound, while also keeping the groove and hooks of our signature sound. My goal as a songwriter was to keep the songs a little bit shorter and really focus on the main hooks.
“We wanted something that is easy to grasp on the first listen, especially in a live setting. Something an audience can sing along to after hearing one chorus.
“Our goal was to go a bit more modern, fast and heavy, but stay true to our rock roots and the band’s classic sound, and I think we managed to do that pretty well.”
This is something I agree with, and I think Shiraz Lane achieved that perfectly. In Vertigo is what I would describe as the perfect blend of modern and nostalgic rock. A punchy production sound with great guitar licks, vocal melodies, and tasty drum fills and bass lines.
Were there certain bands that Shiraz Lane were listening to while recording that helped influence the sound of In Vertigo?
“I’m not sure about the other guys,” Jani says, “but I was listening to more pop songs, trying to learn more about the songwriting and production. My mindset was to simplify things a little bit, but also have the songs sound bigger at the same time. That was my goal for the songs I helped write for this album.
“We went back to working with the producer Per Aldeheim, who we worked with on Carnival Days and Vibrations, and we actually started writing for the album two years ago. Because he comes from a pop songwriting world, we thought it would be a nice combination, and he’s really easy to work with. I think he’s a big part of our sound on this album.”
It feels like, with In Vertigo, Shiraz Lane really stuck to their roots but also evolved a lot from their earlier material. “We definitely wanted to push ourselves to continue to release unique songs,” Jani says, “and not do the same thing all the time. Still have a distinct sound.”
Shiraz Lane have released Dangerous, Bullshit, Plastic Heart, and Come Alive as singles. What is the process like in choosing what songs to release as singles?
“It was a little bit easier this time around,” Jani says, “because the first three singles were the songs we recorded first for the album in the spring of 2024. The rest of the album we finished about a month ago, we got the final masters of the recordings, so that’s why they were released the way they were.
“There should be one more song coming out before the album does, and I think Frontiers Records has an idea of what they would like it to be. We wanted to put Dangerous out first because it’s strong, easy to grasp and in your face.
“We thought it would be a nice way to start the album cycle. We want to have an input on what goes out as singles, but also want to listen to other people as well on what they think would be perfect for this type of audience.”
Dangerous is a song I have had stuck in my head for a while, so it was definitely a strong choice for the first single. Shiraz Lane have played quite a few live shows this year, with more to come. As Jani says, the fan reaction to the new songs in the setlist has been really amazing.
“It’s been great to see that people are really liking the new songs, especially live,” he says. “Dangerous has been receiving the best reactions overall, but the reaction to Bullshit has been great too. We’ve created a lighter version of it for the live stage, and I think it’s turned out really nicely.
“Plastic Heart has been our set opener, and I think it’s the perfect way to start a gig, and the rest of the songs work really well with it. People seem to like the songs, and there has been mostly positive feedback, which we’re really happy to hear.”
This is the kind of reaction any band loves to see. In Vertigo is pop rock fusion at its very best, and a huge leap in the right direction. Jani says there are two songs on the album that he cannot wait for the fans to hear. “Live A Little More, [since released as a single] everybody in the band really likes that one. Also, Babylon is a little bit surprising. We always try to have a little bit of a surprise moment on our albums. I can’t wait to play that one live because it has a great disco vibe to it.”
Both songs are great. For me, my current favourite on the album is The Ray Of Light. I always love a ballad. “We actually did the instrumentals for that one over two years ago,” Jani says, “but it ended up being the last song we finished for the album. We recorded the drums, guitars and everything, but the vocals and lyrics were still just small ideas.
“The guys finished it in the studio, and it took Hannes two hours to record everything, even though he had never sung it properly before then. I think there’s some great emotion in there and the lyrics turned out really good.
“We always want to have these songs that lift the spirits up and encourage you to believe in yourself.”
Shiraz Lane and the Monsters Of Rock Cruise
Shiraz Lane have played the Monsters Of Rock Cruise a few times now, gaining a lot of North American fans. Can we expect a tour of North America at some point in the future?
“We’re definitely going to be returning to play Monsters Of Rock, that’s for sure,” Jani says. “We hope to play in America a little bit more, but it’s super expensive for European bands.
There are some talks with the promoters of us doing Monsters On The Mountain, but we’re not sure yet if that’s going to happen. I think there should be some plan for us to tour it because visas are for working and playing there. It’s so expensive, so it would be really amazing if we could have at least a couple of gigs there to help cover at least the cost. But we’ll be back playing the cruise for sure.”
I saw Shiraz Lane play the 2023 Monsters On The Mountain, and they were awesome. “It really is a highlight of the year,” Jani says. “Last time [2025] we played on it, we did three sets, so it’s definitely not just a holiday.
“But it’s really great for the fans that we’re able to change up the setlists a bit and not play the same set twice. It’s a good opportunity to hear a lot of the songs live. I think our music suits an American audience well, and it’s been great to visit there.”
Jani Laine – Top 5 desert island albums
“I would probably pick Def Leppard’s Hysteria. That’s one of my all-time favourites. It still feels inspired, like a new album. Maybe Slave To The Grind by Skid Row. The best of Van Halen that came out in the ’90s.
Maybe something from the Police or Sting, I would say Synchronicity or Sting’s solo album Ten Summoner’s Tales, that’s one of my favourites.
The fifth one, probably, Everest Street by Dire Straits. That’s a pretty epic album.
Shiraz Lane release In Vertigo via Frontiers Music Srl on 24 October 2025. For pre-orders, visit ffm.to/shirazlane_invertigo.
