Album Review: Blind Channel – Painstream (Century Media Records)

Blind Channel are back. The Finnish modern metal outfit will release their new album, ‘Painstream’, on October 30th, 2026, via Century Media Records. Their most mature, honest and ambitious album to date, it sees the band examine pain from personal, societal and existential perspectives.

Back and sounding stronger than ever, Blind Channel’s exploration of pain allows them to dig deeper than ever before. Not just from a personal perspective either. It is interesting to hear the band focus on pain in less tangible forms. Yet, what I really like about this idea is that it’s not all about misery, which we naturally associate with pain. There’s hope in pain, if we’re willing to learn from it.

The time away (about a year and a half) hasn’t dented Blind Channels’ confidence in the slightest, and that is reflected in some seriously catchy and heartfelt tunes. Some of which lean towards the alt crowd, some of which lean towards the metal crowd, and some of which leans way out of Blind Channel’s comfort zone. They’re experimenting a bit here, and that is where ambition comes into play.

Sure, not everything works, but they’re hitting way more than they’re missing here and I found the first half flew by in a blur of anthemic sounds. There is Messiah and Youthanasia, two tracks that deliver massive singalong choruses, while being quite different overall. There is the refined Stars We See, the intoxicating Into the Void (a track that features Of Mice & Men’s Aaron Pauley), and the chaotic blend of drama and destructive heaviness that comes from Types of Killing. Although I’m not the biggest fan of the abrupt ending to the latter.

Then, there is Revolution: Now. A track that seems to be one thing at first with its thick, swirling atmosphere and pop vocals, before transforming into a heavy rock powerhouse with the album’s most infectious chorus. One that will be shouted loud and proud at every show Blind Channel play it at.

The second half of the album kicks off in style too. In your face style as vocalist Niko gets a little feral and intense on the punchy Me Versus Me. This is what excites me about the current state of Blind Channel. Letting their emotions run hot and not holding back anything. That is what gives us dramatic efforts like Scapegoat (the ending is startling too), passionate efforts like Villain in Your Story, huge metalcore sounding efforts likes Diana, and lively dance-inducing and head-banging efforts like No Encores in A Swan Song. Here we have some of the album’s most varied tracks and each deliver something absorbing and striking.

This really is a return to be celebrated as Blind Channel cap off one of their most complete sounding records with emphatic pop infusions and plenty of intense alternative heaviness. It’s another absolute anthem, and lives up to its name, Ache.

Blind Channel – Painstream Track Listing:

1. Messiah
2. Youthanasia
3. Stars We See
4. Into The Void (feat. Aaron Pauley of Of Mice & Men)
5. Types Of Killing
6. Revolution: Now
7. Me Versus Me
8. Scapegoat
9. Villain in Your Story
10. Diana
11. No Encores in A Swan Song
12. Ache

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