Finnish up-and-coming prog-metal squad CANVAS OF SILENCE not only has one of the most evocative band names I’ve come across in a long while, but they have also christened their debut full-length with nothing short of a thought-provoking title, “As the World Tree Fell,” released on October 31st, 2025, via Rockshot Records. A world tree is a colossal, symbolic tree that serves as a central pillar of the cosmos in many ancient mythologies, connecting the heavens, earth, and underworld. One of the most famous examples is Yggdrasil in Norse mythology, which has inspired numerous Nordic Noir songwriters over the years. In Islamic tradition, the Sidrat al-Muntaha is a lote tree that marks the boundary of the seventh heaven. Similar motifs also appear in Siberian and Native American religions. So, when the title refers to the collapse of such a cosmic stronghold, you know something’s up – and it’s definitely something massive in scope. Befittingly, the music on this debut is crafted with great cinematic depth and progressive grandeur – and the band’s frontlady Hanna Uimonen is a real powerhouse vocalist to boot! The band’s name comes from a quote by Leopold Stokowski, who was one of the leading conductors of the early 20th-century classical music; he once said, ”A musician paints pictures on silence.” The sonic painting that unfolds across these eight new songs would surely deserve to be hung on the walls of Ateneum, Finland’s best-known art museum in Helsinki.
Although the band is a newcomer in the symphonic prog-metal realm, it has already been compared to such diverse monoliths as DREAM THEATER, NIGHTWISH, and IN FLAMES, and you can indeed hear subtle echoes of these in the songs, but these metal rogues have distilled influences such as these into a unique whole that sounds essentially like CANVAS OF SILENCE. The production leans toward a somewhat 1990s-tinted, almost thrash-metal-esque aesthetic, albeit the songs are way too convoluted to be thrash pastiches. “Anthem For Ashes,” even with its mellow, acoustic flourishes, nods toward that delicious, vintage Gothenburg sound (its follow-up, “Drown,” even more so), and the vocals add their unique magic on top of it all, resonating with an almost LACUNA COIL-like air. Speaking of “Drown,” the more I listen to it, the more I am attracted to its subtle IN FLAMES vibes. I guess this speaks in the band’s favor as they seem to honor the traditional virtues of good songwriting: strong melodies. This banger was released as a single ahead of the album – and for a bloody good reason, too! It is by far one of the darkest and strongest tracks in this selection.
Given the somewhat conceptual nature of this endeavor, “Drown” marks the point where the world tree has finally fallen, and you’re holding on to nothing, at the edge for dear life. Then, as the album draws toward the end, new rays of light start to shimmer upon the horizon. “One With the Wind” and “Wayfarer” are airbrushed with softer and more atmospheric passages among the high-octane riffs. The former echoes Anette Olzon-era NIGHTWISH in passing rather nicely, and the latter layers the vintage Gothenburg riff-template with more progressive flair – the off-kilter middle section stands out, in particular. “The Great Unknown” is a nice sonic sequel to this banger, with some of the strongest vocal hooks on the album. Lastly, “Garden of the Fallen” wraps up the journey with proggy chamber pop, sprinkled with dreamy strings and all. So, bringing closure on such a high note suggests that, even with the world tree fallen, everything is not yet lost, but rather that now is the time to carve out a new way out from the ashes of the old.
Originally, CANVAS OF SILENCE was conceived as a solo project by guitarist Tatu Hanhikoski, which probably explains the debut’s strong and cohesive artistic vision. While the band has no doubt helped these songs to evolve into their glorious, final shape, the selection is characterized by a strong sense of direction, which is typically a tell-tale sign of one band member’s unifying vision – or, if that’s not the case, CANVAS OF SILENCE should congratulate themselves for finding nothing short of a cohesive unit. I mean, despite the vast palette of influences, from prog to cinematic soundscapes and even to “the emotional clarity of pop,” as the band likes to put it, “As the World Tree Fell” is an exceptionally strong entrée into the scene of contemporary prog metal with symphonic leanings. They say that silence teaches you how to sing – and it has certainly taught this bunch to sing like an angel.
Written by Jani Lehtinen
Tracklist
- Watching the World Tree Fall
- Humanimal
- Anthem For Ashes
- Drown
- One With the Wind
- Wayfarer
- The Great Unknown
- Garden of the Fallen
Lineup
Hanna Uimonen – vocals
Tatu Hanhikoski – guitars
Jaakko Puusaari – guitars, backing vocals
Mikael Minkkinen – bass
Iiro Vuori – drums
Label
Rockshot Records
