Sometimes it’s the album artwork…and other times it’s the band name. Both elements attracted me to Canvas of Silence, from Finland. Like NoSound and so many other band names, Canvas of Silence, is just something I, and probably others, will wonder about, and want to hear. Well, this band is ready. They are about to release their debut album, As the World Tree Fell, on Halloween Day; October 31st, of this year.
Canvas of Silence, describe As the World Tree Fell, as “an emotional journey through vivid contrasts of heavy and melodic, complex, and catchy, alluring female vocals and energetic riffs; all entwined with symphonic elements. Listeners can expect intense atmospheres, proggy twists, and larger-than-life choruses. Close your eyes, take a deep breath and embark on a cathartic sonic voyage. Silence will never sound the same.”
The band, Canvas of Silence, is made up of members: Hanna Uimonen, on lead vocals; Tatu Hanhikoski, on guitars and programming; Jaakko Puusaari, on guitars and backing vocals; Mikael Minkkinen, on bass; and Iiro Vuori, on drums.
Canvas of Silence started as a solo project by Tatu Hanhikoski, (guitars, programming, and songwriting). It became a full band including: Aino Vuorenmaa (vocals), Jaakko Puusaari (guitars and vocals), Mikael Minkkinen (bass) and Iiro Vuori (drums). The music of Canvas of Silence paints its pictures on silence with complementary colors. The drummer, Iiro Vuori put it best, “The music can be described as, “Prog-influenced Chorus Metal.”
As the World Tree Fell, is a concept album, with the title As the World Tree Fell, signifying “the feeling of everything falling apart, be it in personal life or the world around you. And you are just someone who watches it from afar and cannot affect it, holding on to the edge for dear life. But then again, as the album draws to an end, you start to see the light, you hear a promise in the wind, that spring is there; on its way. You let go of the edge… and let the World Tree fall. Maybe to start the cycle again, maybe to find yourself in some place better.” Wow! Poets and musicians!
The album opens with the title track, and one of the band’s singles, off the album, “Watching the World Tree Fall.” It opens with silence, as you might have immagined. Then, the beat of a heart, and some orchestration and choir sounds. Then, a full set of keyboards fills the soundscape. Electric guitar, bass, drums and Dream Theater – like keyboards charge ahead to take the stage, with a roar! Absolutely elevating this band into the top ten of my favorite metal prog bands, from the opening title song. Then, the voice you were all hoping for, Hanna Uimonen’s. Imagine Björk singing metal. Yes, that good. Where on earth did, they find her? Spectacular. She sings the poetic lyrics that fill this album. “These ruins were once my home. Your lap once my throne. Like ghost I roam alone. Waiting. How could I just decide. To let go, forget it all. From this edge I hold tight. Watching the World Tree fall. How could I just deny. That I once had it all. Leaving Eden behind. Watching the World Tree fall.” Perfect singer, perfect lyrics, perfect sound. Prog magically matched with metal like the early days and genius of Dream Theater. Wish we could have got them back this year. Instead we are going down a new road…with Canvass of Silence! Let’s go! As Hanna Uimonen sings, “Now that we’ve come this far. We must let go, forget it all. Traveling to our new Home Stars. Leaving the World Tree fall!” An anthem for us all and any new fans that join me in following Canvass of Silence!
“Humanimal,” comes at you like a metal freight train, filling up the soundscape with metal progressive rock. This band is gonna be one of those bands I look forward to hearing with every new release. They know how to write the lyrics we are all thinking, but just didn’t write down, somewhere. Hanna Uimonen returns and sings those emotional and expressive lyrics, “We are the living vessels. Filled to the top. With hate and fear. We share the same reality. The feeling that we are here. We live to see it all. Inside our being, in this world. We are the Human Animal. We have our love. To destroy the beast we see in the mirror. We are all those places we know that exist. But we’ve yet to find. We are all the paths we’ve taken. And the crossings we’ve left behind. We live to see it all. inside our being, in this world. We are the Human Animal. We have our love. To destroy the beast we see in the mirror.” Off to an amazing start for a debut. I can’t wait to see how many metal and progressive record labels run to sign this band. I would, in a heartbeat.
How could you possibly top what has already come before. Well, an, “Anthem for Ashes,” will do. The soundscape is full of metal roar. And to provide relief and substance, we hear Hanna Uimonen. The singer, who paints the silence, of this canvass. Tatu Hanhikoski wrote the lyrics to all of these masterpieces, so give credit, where credit is due. But it is Hanna Uimonen, who brings them to life, with amazing emotion. She sings, with a choir supporting, “The distant children’s choir. The dancing of the fire. You’re invited to the masquerade. Mother Earth wearing the mask of plague. We were One. We were none. We’re gone; damage is done. We ring-a-round the roses. Pockets full of posies. Ashes, ashes. We’re all falling down. In the dead hands of our maker. Hourglass filled with our, ashes, ashes. Running out of time. Now we’re seeking your guidance. Mother Earth. From the silence of this endless universe. We cannot run; we cannot hide. Every one of us will die. Mother Earth sings us a lullaby. “Sleep tight humankind. This is a lullaby. For you my ugly, beloved child.” Forget your flags and nations We join our hands together. Hope we’ll live forever. Hope it wasn’t just a lie. The Salvation we couldn’t buy.” I could write a separate review just on how pertinent all of these lyrics are to the world today. Or I could copy them all down for you here. But no, you need to buy this album and hear how they make these lyrics endearing for us all.
“Drown,” is another of the early singles, off the album. It opens with echoing electric guitar, from afar. Then, choirs, keyboards, percussion, bass, and those undeniable drums. The soundscape launches like a rocket off Cape Canaveral! A powerhouse of drums that would make Mike Portnoy smile. Yes, very “Pull Me Under.” In fact even Hanna Uimonen sings the words, “pull me under.” Hanna sings, “From the emptiness I mold. A figure I know, I long for. My dead bride, dressed up in white (skin). Let me undress it. Let me in. Your apathy is drowning me. As you pull me under. Your cold hands comforting me. As I suffocate. Please, stay here. Cure me from this disease. Inject me with our memories. Visible light is fading out of me. If I’ll survive till morning. what’s there left to see? Watching the night sky falling down. Pouring its coldness to the ground. Reaching this shelter I have found. For this emptiness I will drown. My wretched consciousness. As lonely as the whole universe. Together we sing the silent song of longing. For someone to hear. Can you hear? Am I still here?” Breathless, keeping up with the sound and imagination in these lyrics. One of the most spectacular albums I’ve heard this year!
“One With the Wind,” is another of the singles released for the album. And by the way; all of the singles have cool, accompanying music videos. It opens with soft keyboards and strings, before the metal soundscape returns, with Hanna. She sings, to rocking metal guitar and drums, “As you read this I’m already gone. I’ve woven my shroud out of the beams of the dying sun. Tonight we will descend as one. Here I run. Before this disease would drain me hollow. I had to leave somewhere you just cannot follow. This path I must go alone. Time is now. the road ends here. All directions disappeared. Wind rises, go on, you must dare to live. In dying light. We laugh and cry. Feel the flow, take a leap and dive. Celebrate this chance of being alive!” Then, more great lyrics, “Take what is left. All you have inside. Let the storm pass you by. Wind rises. Shout your heart out, up to the sky.” Then, the power, stops for a moment to take in Hanna softly singing, “See through horizon. I am the clouds. Rain pouring down. Forming the flood. Let it flow free. Back into the sea. Walk by the shore. And you can hear me. Time is now. The road ends here. All directions disappeared. Wind rises, go on, you must dare to live!”
“Wayfarer,” opens with cool programming and orchestration, before the legions of hammering drums, bass and electric guitars shine forth on the soundscape. Hanna puts it all back in perspective as she sings, “There goes summer again. But I, I can’t be gone. I am not gone. I’m right here where you left me. ‘Cause I, I can’t be gone. Without your love. Searching the memory. You, you are not gone. You can’t be gone. You’re right there where I laid you. Sleeping in my arms. Here. Nature’s taken its toll. Never did I see. the beauty of it all.” They slow the pace and deliver a wonderful peaceful and mind wondering segment of music.
“The Great Unknown,” opens with piano and electric guitar rushing forward, bringing the massive drums and bass to fill the soundscape again. Hanna sings, “Unknown ahead. I’m on this path that just parted. With the one that walked by my side. No fear for this journey I started. With Death as my guide. I’m on the quest to the Great Unknown. Searching the path through horizon to lead me home. In the search of I. I must gaze further. Further from my own seeing. To embrace this feeling of being in being. Unknown ahead. All that is left is this freedom. To choose my direction to roam. Reminding me. I’m alive, and that I’ve got anywhere to go. I’m on the quest to the Great Unknown.” Another powerhouse song, full of great lyrics and sounds.
How do you close a masterpiece like this album? Canvas of Silence chose to do it with, “Garden of the Fallen.” This one closes with dreamy orchestration, acoustic guitars, bass, soft drums, and soft strings. Unlike the rest of the album. Perfect! Hanna sings, “We were the only ones knowing the way in our fairytale, our secret vale. You were the one always gazing far. For me, the only one under these stars. I was the one building our home. Guilt on the soil of youth and lust. Once imprisoned you in, by distrust. Now watching it all crumbling to dust. Now you’ve found your new way. Without me questioning every single day, if you love me. Here I try to forget. How I loved you for being so perfect. Autumn has come to this garden. All withered, gone and ceased. Dead as Our Tree that has fallen. Fallen its worn out leaves. My love is here to stay. In this garden. Like a God of Decay. Watering all things fallen. Here I try to forget. How I hate you for being so perfect. But in all this demise. There’s still a seed of new life. Within its decay. In the wind I hear a promise. That spring is there. On its way.” This song took me back to one of my favorite songs from the band Procol Harum, “The Worm and the Tree.” Now I know this band is probably too young to know about this song, but I highly recommend they YouTube it and listen. You should too. It is a wonderful song, that like this album teaches a lesson to the entire story. They have made something comparable here, for the modern age. The band closes this incredible symphony of music with strings and acoustic guitar, before the finale.
Album Track List:
- Watching the World Tree Fall (6:20)
- Humanimal (4:02)
- Anthem for Ashes (4:54)
- Drown (5:41)
- One With the Wind (4:33)
- Wayfarer (8:32)
- The Great Unknown (4:38)
- Garden of the Fallen (4:46)
Canvas of Silence’s As the World Tree Fell, is the album that I bet Dream Theater wish they would have released this year. This is gonna be high on my list of favorite albums of the year. Now I just have to get the CD! I just can’t decide, do I want to put this on the Prog top ten or the Metal list? This album can go either way. As the World Tree Fell, is a symphonic masterpiece of an album. To be celebrated and listened to at important times during the year. Like we all used to do with our favorites. Everything is here. Do not go looking. You can find it all here. Beautiful and powerful music. Great lyrics and stories. An incredible singer and band. The artwork is top of the line. The mixing, mastering and the performances are professional and well-rehearsed. There are very few times when everything comes together perfectly; and so, it did for Canvass of Silence. Even that name makes you want to go and buy the album. So, why are you still here reading this? Go get Canvas of Silence’s As the World Tree Fell, and listen to the stories, anthems, and lessons of life that we all need to hear and acknowledge. And yes, as the band said, “Silence will never sound the same.” Kenny Loggins said it so well, “This is it! The waiting is over.”
As the World Tree Fell, was composed by Tatu Hanhikoski. The lyrics were also written by Tatu Hanhikoski. All arrangements were created by: the band – Canvas of Silence. The album was recorded at various studios in Jyväskylä, Viitasaari and Helsinki, Finland. The album was produced by Tatu Hanhikoski, Jaakko Puusaari and Joonatan Jaakonaho. The album was mixed by Joonatan Jaakonaho. Mastered by Miro Kiiski at MIRO MASTERING. Cover Art by Kim Kupiainen. Band promo pictures: Juho Virinkoski.
Band Website and Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/canvasofsilence
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNF9rOQtMWY
YouTube and Music Video Links:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcQl7II1zzTow-urXSIp4_A