FINLAND – Metal band Blind Channel have won the final of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) Finland’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, with their song ‘Dark Side’. The group will now compete against 40 other acts in Rotterdam.

Teflon Brothers x Pandora, Oskr, Danny, Laura, Aksel and Ilta all walked away empty-handed in what was a spectacular edition of UMK, featuring memorable performances by the host Antti Tuiski and last year’s finalist Erika “Cicciolina” Vikman.

ABOUT BLIND CHANNEL

The metal outfit is made up of Joel Hokka (vocals and guitar), Niko Vilhelm (vocals), Joonas Porko (guitar), Olli Matela (bass), Tommi Lalli (drums) plus recent addition and sixth member Aleksi Kaunisvesi (keyboards), giving the band the perfect number of members for the Eurovision Song Contest stage.

Blind Channel describe their style of music as “violent pop” and have been likened to the British alt-metal band Bring Me The Horizon. Having honed their craft on the Finnish underground scene the band believes the time has finally come for them to bring their sound to the world. As seen in UMK, these rockers love to put on a show and are no strangers to crazy antics and big gestures.

Formed in 2013, without hesitation, the band set their sights on global domination. In 2014 they were invited to play at Wacken Open Air in Germany, the largest outdoor heavy metal festival on the planet, and soon after they signed their first recording contract.

“It’s time for Finland and the world to see, hear and understand what Blind Channel is made of.”

While these boys might enjoy pyrotechnics, loud vocals and ‘sign of the horns’ hand gestures, they picked Loreen’s Euphoria as their favourite Eurovision song of all time over Hard Rock Hallelujah.

LYRICS

Put your middle fingers up
Take a shot, throw it up and don’t stop
I’m, I’m, I’m living that life on the dark side
Every psycho in the scene
Hands up and follow me saying (hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo)
Empire of the freaks, all drinks on me
Just another night in my pitch black paradise
Don’t wanna cry, so I gotta get paralyzed
My body is my weapon, so I keep it loaded
‘Til I’m all over the place like my head exploded
Don’t waste your prayers, they can’t save us
Lifestyles of the sick and dangerous
Put your middle fingers up
Take a shot, throw it up and don’t stop
I’m, I’m, I’m living that life on the dark side
Likе the 27 Club, headshot
We don’t wanna grow up
I’m, I’m, I’m living that lifе on the dark side
Life on the dark side
Every psycho in the scene
Hands up and follow me saying (hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo)
Empire of the freaks, all drinks on me
I’m in a cave of man-made misery
Digging a grave for myself and my enemies
Of all the dark things that keep me wasted
You’re the sweetest I’ve ever tasted
Put your middle fingers up
Take a shot, throw it up and don’t stop
I’m, I’m, I’m living that life on the dark side
Like the 27 Club, headshot
We don’t wanna grow up
I’m, I’m, I’m living that life on the dark side
Life on the dark side
Just another night in my pitch black paradise
Don’t wanna cry so I gotta get paralyzed
Don’t waste your prayers, they can’t save us
Lifestyles of the sick and dangerous
Put your middle fingers up
Take a shot, throw it up and don’t stop
I’m, I’m, I’m living that life on the dark side
Like the 27 Club, headshot
We don’t wanna grow up
I’m, I’m, I’m living that life on the dark side
Life on the dark side
Every psycho in the scene
Hands up and follow me saying (hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo)
Empire of the freaks, all drinks on me