Day Eleven
The Finish 5-piece Day Eleven made up of Janne Aleksi Pajari; vocals, guitar, Sopanen Olli; guitar, Matti Lötjönen; guitar, Kimmo Kärkkäinen; bass and Luca; drums.
They first came to media attention following the release of their debut album ‘Almost Over Everything’, a record that earned them a strong fan base across Europe and the US due to their unmistakeable Finnish style.
Since then they’ve been away for two years and have come back with a record that is stronger and more diverse than their previous effort, produced by Jens Bogren who has worked with Opeth and Disco Ensemble, the result is Sleepwalkers. When released in Europe, the album earned the band some rave reviews and a great deal of radio and TV airplay in their home country. This has provided them with a sufficient platform to break into the UK scene.
The album encompasses their Finnish style of harmony and synthesisers, with progressive rock, 90’s grunge and elements of punk. It’s a mysterious and dark sounding record, which concentrates on the energy and attitude of punk rock, blasting guitars and Aleksi Pajari’s gritty melodic vocals. His lyrics are thought provoking, powerful and poetic and he croons, screams and spits them out with the obvious passion that the band shares. It doesn’t sound forced or fake like other bands can, instead it sounds genuine and from the heart. I think this is because they’re not attempting to fit into a popular genre but doing what feels right to them and what they like as a band. The fact that they have been playing music together for 10 years may be responsible for this.
Highlight tracks for me would have to be the first single released in Finland ‘Whenever You Say You Love Me’ due to its melodic, catchy style and aggression. While opening track ‘Dissonance Fading’ provides the pace and energy of a punk track.
Sleepwalkers, is overall a very accomplished piece of work and it has all the right elements to make it a pop record without sounding contrived. With the perfect amount of attitude, aggression and melody alongside the prog and punk elements it’s bound to appeal to many. It’s also a refreshing change to hear a band that has its roots firmly in a scene that’s been slightly ignored in recent times.
Day Eleven are a unique and obviously talented band and I am in no doubt that Sleepwalkers will provide them with the recognition and popularity they deserve.