18/07/2024
Founded in 2017 in Helsinki, Finland by music aficionados Pete Erkintalo and Panu Pentikäinen, Darkness Is My Canvas has redefined Classic Melodic Rock with a contemporary edge. Their vision merges the rich narratives of Classic Rock with modern rhythms, producing an authentic sound that avoids the mechanised precision of current music production.
The band, comprising of Pete Erkintalo - lead vocals, Panu Pentikäinen - guitar/backing vocals, Joonas Fellman – bass/backing vocals, and Juuso Grönmark on drums, masterfully blend Rock and modern Prog offering a melodious and immersive musical experience. Their music delves into themes of resilience, introspection, and hope, resonating deeply with listeners.
In early 2022, they released three captivating video singles on YouTube, paving the way for their ‘Monsters’ EP. The standout track "Bleed" - a poignant reflection on self-harm - garnered over 50,000 streams. Spring 2022 saw the band embark on a successful tour of Southern Finland, performing over 30 shows and significantly expanding their fanbase with a sound that was likened to bands like Ghost and My Chemical Romance.
Their subsequent single, ‘Fade Into The White Noise,’ explored the impact of depression on relationships and maintained their Melodic Rock ethos, achieving over 50,000 streams. Their unique rendition of Bring Me The Horizon’s ‘Drown’ amassed over 170,000 streams.
October 2023 marked the release of their ‘White Noise’ EP, featuring popular singles and new tracks like ‘Tilted Vision.’ The EP's tracks collectively surpassed 500,000 streams, showcasing the band’s powerful message and distinctive sound, where "Inverted," a tribute to 70s Prog Rock, drew Live comparisons to Uriah Heep and Santana.
As 2024 dawned, the band signed with Rockshots Records, paving the way for a series of highly anticipated releases. With new tracks scheduled to drop every six weeks, they promise to reveal fresh aspects of their evolving artistry. Here, we catch up with the band on their second release, "Bleed," featured below from their forthcoming 10 track album "The end of times" to be released in October.
In a recent interview, I asked Pete how the song came to be, he told me:
"This track was originally featured on our debut EP, "Monsters," in 2022, but because of its popularity Live we re-recorded it. Most of our stories are quite grim and mostly based on reality. Bleed is one of my favourites from our catalogue. The stories that I heard when I interviewed people who had problems with self-harm were quite disturbing, but very relatable."
And that brings me nicely to the single in question here - “Bleed.”
This track delivers a raw, unflinching exploration of pain and the desire to feel. The intense lyrics convey a powerful narrative of self-destruction and longing for relief, underscored by the recurring theme of being slaves to change. The chorus resonates with a haunting plea to escape suffering, making the song both deeply personal and universally relatable. This track, beautifully performed by Bulgarian dancer "Anita Emphis," stands out with its stark honesty and emotional depth, leaving a lasting impact on the listener.
This single won’t gather dust in any collection, and will keep heads bouncing and feet tapping from sofa to stage. So why not clear a space, and give Darkness Is My Canvas a try for 2024.
Star Rating – 10/10
Ian Davies International Music Journalist – Stargazer Music Magazine.
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VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Az_Z4fwZwmw
SINGLE: https://open.spotify.com/album/34bn4c2JW0l3pB3ZRchk6P
Darkness Is My Canvas was brought to Stargazer Music Magazine by Asher Media Relations, Canada, in association with Rockshots Records, Italy.
