Review BLIND CHANNEL “Painstream”

Finland has a history of sending rock acts to the Eurovision Song Contest, and Blind Channel are among the more successful examples. In 2021, the band took a respectable sixth place with “Dark Side,” earning plenty of support from the public. It would be easy to dismiss them as a commercially minded modern rock/metal act, but that would miss part of the picture.

Formed in Oulu, Finland, in 2013, Blind Channel have built their sound around carefully crafted melodies. Their songs also pack a harder edge, occasionally breaking into screams. The second single, “Stars We See,” gives a clear sense of that balance, while lead single “Diana” takes a more aggressive approach. The track pushes ahead at full throttle, keeping the melodic touches in the background without losing sight of them entirely.

“Into the Void” brings together modern melodic metal, metalcore, and catchy hooks. Aaron Pauley of Of Mice & Men adds growls that give the song an extra kick, sharpening the contrast between its heavier passages and its more accessible side.

One element missing from Painstream is the rap that featured on some of the band’s earlier records. The near-pop sensibility, however, remains intact, particularly on the tearjerker “Scapegoat.”

With Painstream, Blind Channel deliver a melodic album that occasionally edges toward dark pop, while harsher vocal outbursts keep things from getting too soft. The forceful production makes the record an easy listen from start to finish, though relatively few moments leave a lasting impression.