A legendary, hypnotising figure emerges from Rovaniemi, Finland. It is not Santa Claus. Rather, it’s the impactful, striking energy of alt-rock outfit BLEAK, returning from the shadows after a long hiatus. Originally active in the late 90s, the group then disbanded, leaving founder and frontman Caleb Daniel Lit free to pursue other projects (one that particularly stands out is INKAKAI). Yet, good things are worth remembering, and BLEAK suddenly felt like an urgent, expressive outlet again, with Lit reuniting with the band’s original guitarist and delving into old, forgotten demos.
Fast forward to today, and BLEAK is alive and kicking. ‘The Wave’ is their comeback single, a slice of unfiltered rock charisma and potent guitar tones. Originally written in 1994, the track was rediscovered and adapted to the modern world, allowing us all to get familiar with the ground-breaking, transformative BLEAK sound. There’s a great deal of eclecticism in it, with a double lineup of guitars weaving melodies and riffs into each other, only tamed by the occasional Middle Eastern-flavoured vocal lick. Lit does indeed a great job on the vocals.
Speaking about the inspiration behind ‘The Wave’, the Finnish group explains: “‘The Wave’ is what Bleak was before the compromises. If it sounds like resurrection, that’s because something real was buried a long time ago. And now we’re digging it out, claws and all.” Overall, it’s a triumphant comeback for BLEAK, and we can’t wait to discover what more they have to offer.
Recommended! Discover ‘The Wave’ on Spotify:
