Apocalyptica releases 'Upperhand' as the theme song for CONTROL Resonant – featuring Kalandra's Katrine Stenbekk

The Finnish game studio Remedy Entertainment has launched its latest work, CONTROL Resonant, further strengthening its reputation as a creator of moody, atmospheric digital worlds. An extra dimension to this new title is the collaboration with one of Finland's most renowned music exports: Apocalyptica. The band is behind the game's theme song, "Upperhand", which premiered today together with a visually striking music video.

Apocalyptica, internationally recognized for its unique blend of classical strings and metal, was tasked with capturing the tense and mysterious mood of CONTROL Resonant. The result, "Upperhand", features Katrine Stenbekk, singer in the Norwegian alternative folk band Kalandra. Her ethereal voice adds a captivating and emotionally charged dimension to the track, which harmonizes with Apocalyptica's characteristic mix of melancholy and grandeur.

An artistic fusion of music and game storytelling

"Upperhand" began as the instrumental main theme for the game, originally composed by Apocalyptica's Eicca Toppinen for the gripping opening sequence of CONTROL Resonant. This part of the game is designed to reflect the protagonist’s unease as they step into a creepy and unpredictable world—a world defined by Remedy's ability to portray the paranormal.

As the significance of this introduction became clearer, Toppinen developed the piece into a fully-fledged song, complete with lyrics that deepen the game's themes of fear, discovery, and the search for understanding in chaos. Toppinen has expressed his gratitude for being able to include Stenbekk’s unique voice, which in its delivery brings both vulnerability and intensity—a mirror of the game's main character’s surreal journey.

The collaboration is remarkable not just for uniting international musical talents, but also for how it transforms the game's charged narrative into its own independent piece of music. The combination of Apocalyptica’s expressive cello arrangements and Stenbekk’s dreamy vocals enriches the creative process and emphasizes the mood of CONTROL Resonant's dark universe.

The music video, directed by Jens de Vos, amplifies the song’s atmosphere and the game’s mysterious aura in a visually suggestive way. The video was released at the same time as the single and takes the viewer into the dark, moody landscapes inspired by Remedy’s latest game. Here, the boundaries between game storytelling and musical interpretation are further blurred.

This collaboration exemplifies the growing trend of deep partnerships between game developers and musicians, where the goal is to create multimedia experiences that touch both emotions and senses. The participation of Apocalyptica and Stenbekk adds an extra artistic dimension to CONTROL Resonant and strengthens Remedy Entertainment’s vision of creating not just games—but multifaceted cultural holistic experiences.