Swedish metal powerhouse THE HALO EFFECT return with their electrifying new single – a blistering take on WASP’s 1984 anthem 'I Wanna Be Somebody'. The track, handpicked by guitar hero Jesper Strömblad, marks the band’s third cover version and continues their celebration of iconic heavy metal influences.
Alongside the single, the band proudly announce that these reinterpretations will culminate in a brand-new EP, We Are Shadows, set for release on November 21.
The new single is accompanied by a striking visualizer, further amplifying the raw energy of the track.
Jesper Strömblad reflects on the choice of song: “WASP’s aggressive sound and eccentric stage presence has always been fun. The shock of songs like ‘I Fuck Like a Beast’ and fun anthems like ‘I Wanna Be Somebody,’ and ‘L.O.V.E. Machine,’ are powerful and heavy. Extreme and dramatic, controversial and fun, WASP’s ‘I Wanna Be Somebody’, off their debut album, was my first introduction into the band”
With 'I Wanna Be Somebody', THE HALO EFFECT once again channel their roots while shaping their own sonic path—setting the stage for We Are Shadows this fall.
Listen to 'I Wanna Be Somebody': https://thehaloeffect.bfan.link/iwbssg
Watch the visualizer: https://youtu.be/yyjjReVKK_E
Pre-order the EP We Are Shadows: https://thehaloeffect.bfan.link/waslp
The EP will be released digitally and on a limited vinyl version.
The track list is as follows:
1. How The Gods Kill
2. If You Were Here
3. I Wanna Be Somebody
4. Dance With The Devil
5. Shoreline
The Halo Effect on tour 2026
THE HALO EFFECT will join German metal outfit HEAVEN SHALL BURN along with The Black Dahlia Murder and Frozen Soul on tour early next year. Check out the dates:
27.02.2026 DE Hamburg - Inselpark Arena
28.02.2026 DE Köln - Palladium
01.03.2026 NL Tilburg - Poppodium 013
03.03.2026 FR Villeurbanne - Le Transbordeur
04.03.2026 FR Paris - Élysée Montmartre
05.03.2026 BE Bruxelles - Ancienne Belgique
06.03.2026 DE Stuttgart - Porsche-Arena
07.03.2026 DE Wiesbaden - Schlachthof
08.03.2026 CH Zürich - Halle 622
10.03.2026 IT Trezzo sull’Adda - Live Club
11.03.2026 LU Esch-sur-Alzette - Rockhal Main Hall
13.03.2026 DE Berlin - Columbiahalle
14.03.2026 DE Jena - Sparkassen-Arena
15.03.2026 CZ Brno - Sono Centrum
17.03.2026 HU Budapest - Barba Negra Csepel
18.03.2026 PL Kraków - Klub Studio
19.03.2026 AT Vienna - Gasometer Raiffeisen Halle
20.03.2026 DE Dresden - Messe Halle 1
21.03.2026 DE München - Zenith
