Finnish modern metal band Blind Channel have announced their sixth studio album, "Painstream", due for release on 30 October via Century Media Records. It marks the group's first new music since vocalist Joel Hokka left in April 2025, reducing the band to a five-piece, and follows their previous record "Exit Emotions" from March 2024. The band describe the twelve-track album as their most mature and ambitious work yet, exploring pain as a shared human experience across personal, societal and existential themes, while also finding hope.

To mark the announcement, the band released a short film featuring two new tracks, "Diana" and "No Encores In A Swan Song", with further singles due on 3 September and 1 October. The tracklist includes a feature from Aaron Pauley of Of Mice & Men on "Into The Void". Blind Channel will also play a debut headline show at Helsinki Ice Hall on 14 November, two shows in Japan, and an extensive European headline tour in early 2027, with tickets for the Helsinki show and tour going on sale on 11 August and 3 September respectively. Formed in Oulu in 2013, the band represented Finland at Eurovision 2021 and won six Emma Gaala awards in 2022.