Flying saucers, open graves, mind pollution, mushroom clouds and evil villains with a smile on their face. Meet The Ghoulstars, a fresh - and frightening blast from pop-culture’s past. Since beaming down onto their native haunt of Finland, this White Zombie-loving group of horror punks have captivated press and tantalized crowds without releasing a single bloody track. Until now! On their blockbuster debut album, The Dark Overlords of the Universe, no tome is too sacred for these ghouls to summon back to life!
“Fans of The Misfits, Wednesday 13, and White Zombie should swarm to this like freshly turned corpses sniffing out warm flesh”, Black Angel Promotion writes in an early review of The Dark Overlords of the Universe. “This isn’t Horror Punk done to death. This is Horror Punk resurrected - stitched together, jolted with lightning, and set loose on an unsuspected world”.
Pavillon666 howls in agreement. “This is a very strong debut for The Ghoulstars, sure to please fans of Misfits, White Zombie, or Murderdolls. If you enjoy music steeped in pop culture and horror films, grab this album and devour it like the vile creatures you are”.
Today, The Ghoulstars are thrilled to announce the second advance single from The Dark Overlords of the Universe. “Graverobbers from Outer Space” pays faithful homage to Ed Wood’s 1957 cult classic Plan 9 from Outer Space, but the band spin off a few spooky twists of their own.
“‘Graverobbers from Outer Space’ is one of my favorite songs on The Dark Overlords of the Universe”, The Ghoulstars guitarist Markus “Daddy Ghoul” Laakso says. “Horror movies are practically in my blood flow, especially quirky classics like Plan 9 from Outer Space. This song was written as a straightforward pile-driving tribute, though I can’t think of many punk rock songs that have a doomy C-part and güiro”.
Watch the fun and frightful music video for “Graverobbers from Outer Space” below:
The Dark Overlords of the Universe comes out May 15, 2026 on Season of Mist.
Pre-order & Pre-save
Despite their ghostly appearance, The Ghoulstars are a collection of real talent. The band features an all-star cast of current and former members of death-doom royalty and Season of Mist labelmates Hooded Menace, stoner rockers Thermate and Finland’s Top Ten charting Kuolemanlaakso.
What bands these ghouls together on “Graverobbers from Outer Space” is their morbid fascination with classic cult cinema. Filmed in grainy black and white after Ed Wood’s own heart, the song’s music video leaps off the screen. Fellow horror aficionados will spot plenty of Easter eggs: Beetlejuice’s threads, the dashing and deadly Vampira, a flying saucer cited from a thinly veiled piece of string. The song’s infectious chorus will have even the crustiest of old metalheads barking at the moon. But it’s the dark and doomy riffs, followed by a mysterious presence of güiro, that add a delightfully unexpected twist to this monstrously catchy mash-up.
“The Dark Overlords of the Universe is a love letter to everything that blew our minds as kids”, Laakso says. “The album is loaded with huge riffs, big choruses, surprising curve balls and Easter eggs from old horror, sci-fi and coming-of-age movies. Holding it all together is our sheer joy in watching all the pieces fall into the right place.
The video for “Graverobbers from Outer Space” was directed, filmed and edited by Toni Hiltunen.
Additional video credits
An Anti-Teatteri Production
Written by Toni Hiltunen and Markus Laakso
Set design by Sami Kokkonen
Lighting and UFO by Toni Hiltunen
Starring Emilia Matilainen, Sami Kokkonen, Kalle-Pekka Salmela & The Ghoulstars
The Ghoulstars may be undead, but there’s nothing pale or lifeless about The Dark Overlords of the Universe. The title track crosses surf beats, heavy riffing and a hair-raising transition into a chorus that’s absolutely to die for. “We can’t wait to unleash this delightful horror upon the world”, Laakso says with an ominous glint in his bloodshot eye. “As V. Santura told me: ‘The record is unique, catchy and a really fun listen’”.
With The Dark Overlords of the Universe, The Ghoulstars direct a monstrously catchy mash-up between metal, punk and B-horror.
Lineup
Markus "Daddy Ghoul" Laakso - Guitars
Toni "Ghoulio" Ronkainen - Drums
Arthur "LL Ghoul A" Thure - Vocals
Markus "Hella Ghoul" Makkonen - Bass
Guest musicians
Mathias "Vreth" Lillmåns (...and Oceans, Finntrol) - Backing Growls
Tommi "Tuple" Salmela (Tarot, Raskasta Joulua, Lazy Bones) - Backing Vocals on "The Dark Overlords of the Universe")
Production credits
Produced by Markus Laakso
Guitars recorded by Markus Laakso and Erkka Närhi
Vocals recorded by Markus Laakso and Mathias "Vreth" Lillmåns
Drums recorded by Erkka Närhi
Bass recorded by Samu Männikkö and Markus Laakso
Percussion recorded by Markus Laakso
Mixed & Mastered by V. Santura at Woodshed Studio in Germany
Cover art
Niko Anttila
Pre-order & Pre-save
https://orcd.co/theghoulstarsdarkoverlords
Available formats
Digital Download
CD Digipack
12" Vinyl Gatefold (Black)
12" Colored Vinyl Gatefold (Yellow, red and white marbled)
Booking info
info@theghoulstars.com
Follow The Ghoulstars
Official website: http://www.theghoulstars.com
Bandcamp: https://theghoulstars.bandcamp.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Pr3ThFZK0tnUDqDSlMuBX
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-ghoulstars/1872811142
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGhoulstars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theghoulstars/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theghoulstars/