Establishing the mood with a super dynamic guitar soundscape and textured drums, Bad Valentines open November Shadows with drama, intrigue and poetic prowess with the lyrics, “November shadows, walk beside me everywhere I go, November shadows play the songs with words they rewrote…”
We immediately connect with the metaphorical depth, the vulnerability and the chord progressions. The vocal harmonies are sublime and the high octane, minor key energy that transmutes feels cinematic, tapping into a high emotional quotient. There’s a power-pop sensibility at play, but we could also imagine that fans of Garbage and No Doubt would absolutely be able to vibe with what Bad Valentines have created.
What particularly vibes with us is the conscious connection with the darkness. Rather than sharing that the shadows are something that must be conquered, the band taps into a philosophy that seems to understand that we exist alongside them. It is the idea that we don’t always need to escape the difficult parts of ourselves. Instead we are “never alone” and we can acknowledge them. This part really resonates like a mantra for peace and mental health acceptance. Guitarist and songwriter Pekko Mantzin explains, “Shadows can be friends. There’s no need to avoid them or run away from them.”
We can easily imagine November Shadows landing a sync placement in a movie like The Crow, or a TV show like Wednesday. It could also fit well in Yellowjackets, Jennifer’s Body, or Stranger Things. The minor-key propulsion gives the track a natural cinematic quality.
There is also a wonderful sense of lineage here. Bad Valentines are Helsinki rockers drawing from British and American punk pioneers, 1970s arena rock and 1960s pop-rock. They have most certainly taken those influences and channelled them into something defiant, intelligent and melodic.
Most members have deep roots in the Finnish indie scene, having previously played in acts including Daggerplay, Plastic Tears and Flush, whilst their earlier Memory Tattoos EP was recorded with producer Petri Majuri, whose credits include Franz Ferdinand, Michael Monroe and Hanoi Rocks.
We learn that November Shadows is the first glimpse into their forthcoming debut album, with eleven tracks recorded during spring 2026 and the full release scheduled for 2027. Needless to say, we are in awe and have added November Shadows to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of the band and anticipate their album!