There are plenty of ways to make a heavy metal video about war, but Crimson Day have gone straight to the source material for War Machine, combining the track’s old-school heavy metal influence with authentic World War II footage of aerial combat between Allied and Axis forces.

Taken from the Finnish band’s album Dark Dimension, War Machine explores humanity’s fascination with increasingly powerful weapons, with the song drawing particular inspiration from the fighter aircraft of World War II. The concept also takes a detour into science fiction, with the Battlestar Galactica episode Scar cited as another influence.

The accompanying video was assembled using footage Ari Balzar discovered from various sources online, with RAF and Luftwaffe pilots featuring prominently in the aerial combat sequences. According to Balzar, the result is intended to complement the song’s nod towards traditional heavy metal while maintaining a more modern edge.

For anyone with an unhealthy interest in vintage aircraft and a weakness for a good metal riff, this one should tick a few boxes.

Dark Dimension is out now through Wormholedeath.

Photo Credits: Katri Kallio Photography