Exclusive album premiere of ‘II’ by Gnäw, slated for release March 7 via Centripetal Force (North America), Stoned to Death (CZ), Radio Khiyaban (NL), and Ramble Records (Australia).

‘II’ is a head-spinning dive into electronic landscapes and fractured Iranian tradition. Limited to 300 copies, this heavy dose of sonic alchemy drops on March 7, with a digital release alongside it.

Gnäw is the duo of Finnish modular synth explorer Simo Hakalisto and Iranian multi-instrumentalist Arash Ghasemi. Their first encounter in Milan planted the seed, but it took root in the Czech underground, where their warped take on Persian and Finnish folk instruments—setar, santoor, kantele—collides with throbbing bass, film-noir guitar lines, and Hakalisto’s deep synth arsenal. The result? A drone-fueled, borderless sound that reshapes traditional music into something unrecognizable yet eerily familiar.

“We draw a magic circle and accept a new set of rules that reigns from there,” says Arash Ghasemi in describing the foundation of Gnäw, his duo with Simo Hakalisto.

Their 2021 debut, ‘I,’ first released via Cruel Nature and later reissued by Radio Khiyaban, set the blueprint. Now ‘II’ expands the vision—sprawling, hypnotic, and full of unearthed frequencies. Whether channeling desert heat or northern isolation, Gnäw crafts a ritual of sound. Limited vinyl pressing. Get it before it vanishes.

Gnäw Instagram / Bandcamp
Centripetal Force Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp
Stoned to Death Records Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp
Radio Khiyaban Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp / YouTube
Ramble Records Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp