Finland's Blind Channel released their sixth album, Painstream, worldwide on Century Media Records on October 30. It is the first album the band made as a five-piece (Niko Moilanen, Joonas Porko, Olli Matela, Tommi Lalli and Aleksi Kaunisvesi), after a break of about a year and a half from the end of 2024 and the departure of Joel Hokka in April 2025, and it runs twelve songs. In Japan, Sony Music Japan International issued it the same day (SICP-6825, 3,080 yen) with a bonus track only the Japanese edition carries. The band play Shibuya CLUB QUATTRO on November 18 and Umeda CLUB QUATTRO on November 19, and sign records at Tower Records Shibuya on November 20.

A year and a half away, Joel Hokka's departure, and the first album made as five

On October 7, 2024, Blind Channel announced that, after two albums and around 300 shows worldwide in four years, they would stop at the end of 2024 for a break of no set length. On December 16 that year, the five-part documentary Blind Channel: After Dark Side came out on the streaming service of Yle, Finland's public broadcaster.

On April 26, 2025, the band announced the departure of Joel Hokka, one of the two singers the band had had since forming in 2013, after twelve years. Continuing sleep problems had made touring life impossible for him, and the other five said in the same announcement that they would carry on. Joel Hokka has since started a band of his own, HOKKA.

The return and the album were announced on August 5, 2026. The band said the album explores the idea that pain is something everyone shares and that it can bring people together, and the label says the title grew out of a blend of Pain and Mainstream. Speaking to BARKS for its Finland column, the band's singer Niko Moilanen said the word began as a joke he had noted down at a time when people in Finland said the band was neither metal nor rock, that every song was finished during the break with no deadline, and that writing Diana showed that all of them wanted to go heavier.

The Japanese edition, and a signing at Tower Records Shibuya

The Japanese edition (SICP-6825) is a single CD at 3,080 yen including tax. After the twelve songs it adds a bonus track only the Japanese edition carries, and it comes with liner notes, lyrics and translations.

On Friday, November 20 at 19:00, all five members sign records at TOWER VINYL SHIBUYA, on the sixth floor of Tower Records Shibuya. From the day the album arrives, October 30, the store hands out participation tickets, first come, first served, to buyers of the Japanese edition there, with priority for reservations made in store or by phone; each ticket is good for one item signed by all the members. Tower Records Umeda NU Chayamachi gives buyers an original pick while stocks last, hands out a special receipt until November 22 and shows a comment video recorded for the store.

On Monday, November 2 at 23:00, the TV Kanagawa programme Yogaku Tengoku Plus airs a Blind Channel special.

The songs out ahead of the album, and a release-day video

Diana and No Encores in a Swan Song came out together on August 6 with a single music video, and Diana reached No. 86 on Finland's radio chart. Stars We See followed on September 3 with a music video, and Into the Void, with Aaron Pauley of Of Mice & Men, on October 1 with a visualizer.

On release day, October 30, the band posted a music video for the opening track, Messiah, on their YouTube channel.

Shibuya on November 18, Umeda on November 19

BLIND CHANNEL PAINSTREAM TOUR JAPAN 2026 plays Shibuya CLUB QUATTRO on Wednesday, November 18 and Umeda CLUB QUATTRO on Thursday, November 19. Doors open at 18:00 and the show starts at 19:00; tickets are on sale at 10,000 yen including tax (all standing, drink charge extra). The band first played Japan on June 3, 2024, one night at duo MUSIC EXCHANGE in Shibuya.

Before that, on November 14, they play their first show since the return at the Black Box of the Helsinki Ice Hall, and a European tour follows in February and March 2027.

Sources