Ola Englund is thinking big. The Swedish guitarist, producer and metal innovator has released “The Ember Saga,” the first single and video from his forthcoming solo album ‘The Neverending Story,’ due October 15, 2026. The track wastes no time announcing its ambitions, drawing on classic fantasy adventures, retro gaming, cinematic soundtracks and heavy riff-driven metal.
The response from metal media has been immediate. Outlets including BraveWords, Burn, Lambgoat, Metal Anarchy, Metal War, Eternal Terror, The Metal Mag and The Metallist have all picked up the song, helping carry it to fans worldwide. The Metal Mag went furthest, calling the upcoming album a masterpiece that will leave a trace in music history while singling out its powerful riffs, melodic depth and world-class musicianship.
“Inspired by classic fantasy adventures, retro gaming, cinematic soundtracks and heavy riff-driven metal, ‘The Ember Saga’ sets the tone for what is by far my biggest and most ambitious solo album to date,” Englund says.
The guest list reflects that ambition. ‘The Neverending Story’ features a guest solo from legendary guitarist Jeff Loomis on “World Rift,” alongside Johan Niemann on bass and Jon Skäre of Delta Empire on drums. Jocke Skog handled mixing and mastering, with artwork by Sylvain Lucchina. The melodic firepower on display here makes a strong case that this is Englund’s most exciting solo statement yet.
Englund’s footprint on modern metal reaches well beyond his own records. He founded Solar Guitars and has played with influential acts like The Haunted, Six Feet Under and his own project Feared. His standing in the community has put him among elite company, earning a Grammy nomination and a spot on the shortlist as a potential guitarist for the Pantera reunion.
He’s also one of the most-watched guitar personalities online, with a YouTube channel of gear demos, reviews and trademark humor that has pulled in hundreds of millions of views. That digital reach fed directly into the Escape The Internet project, a collaboration with Bernth, Mike Dawes and Charles Berthoud, and he’s toured with the likes of Accept along the way.
Looking ahead, the Escape The Internet Part 2 Tour returns in 2027, again pairing Englund with Bernth, Mike Dawes and Charles Berthoud for a run across Europe built around live performance, jaw-dropping musicianship and interactive fan experiences. VIP packages will include meet and greets, exclusive merch, early venue access and artist hangout experiences.
The Neverending Story Tracklist:
The Ember Saga
Game Over
The Astral Gate
Dogma Progma
The Guillotine
Means to an End
World Rift
The First of its Kind
Artax Reborn
Sun & The Moon Part 2