One of Canada’s most unique bands during the early 2000s, Finger Eleven made waves in the Hard Rock and Alternative Metal scene long before the mainstream success of hits like 2003’s “One Thing.” Initially calling themselves Rainbow Butt Monkeys (which is quite humorous), they debuted as Finger Eleven in 1997 with the impressive album Tip. From here, the 2000’s The Greyest of Blue Skies became an Alternative Metal favorite, with standout tracks like “Suffocate,” leading up to the massive success of 2003’s self-titled album, which made them internationally known.
Following up in a big way with 2007’s Them vs. You vs. Me, 2010’s Life Turns Electric, and 2015’s Five Crooked Lines, found them still topping charts in Canada. From here, taking a pause, many wondered if and when they would hear new Finger Eleven music again. Then in 2023, seven years later, they surprised fans with the single “Together Right” (which was included on their Greatest Hits compilation. Something that sparked a flame, now in 2025, ten years after Five Crooked Lines, Finger Eleven returns with the new album Last Night on Earth.
Released on November 7, 2025, through the Better Noise Music label, Finger Eleven’s eighth overall studio album is a sonorously triumphant reawakening from a band that has extensively worked for more than two decades, molding the emotional backbone of Modern Rock. Known for knitting melodic brooding into muscular guitar work, the group, which remains as follows – Scott Anderson (lead vocals), James Black (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Rick Jackett (guitar), Sean Anderson (bass), and Steve Molella (drums) – returns with a record that stabilizes familiarity with growth, demonstrating that there remains fresh stories to tell.
From the firecracker first seconds of the first track and lead singer, “Adrenaline,” it is evident that Finger Eleven has not lost their ignitive skills and tightly-knit cohesion. The song rockets off with a rush of frenzied riffs and chugging rhythms, a hard-hitting track built to get crowds jumping and eardrums ringing. Scott Anderson’s voice holds the dynamic groove with both grit and rhythm, collecting a sense of bantering momentum that sets the mood for the album’s emotional expanse.
Venturing further into the album, “Lock Me Up,” dances into a different gear without losing the album’s forward motion. Here, pensive takes center stage. Rather than the floored-pedal approach of the opener, this track reveals its magic through ethereal guitars and an insightful vocal performance that leans into vulnerability. It’s a slower burn, one that welcomes the audience to marinate with the lyrics and reflect. The shift from the earlier atmosphere makes the reflective payoff even more intense, showing a group confident enough to pair softer fabrics with their signature pulse.
Back in the fast lane with “Perfect Effigy,” Finger Eleven flips to a heavier punch, but with a more layered and intricate approach. This track features guitars bouncing off each other, almost at play, propulsive drums, and a river of melody that feels both classic and immediately contemporary. It is the type of song that spans the eras of the group’s resonant sound, richly-layered and heavy yet cerebral and melodic; the band is entirely at ease with their identity, unrestricted by expectations and at ease blending power with sophistication.
Rounding out the album is “Body and Mind,” an introspective finale that fits snugly with the journey that preceded it. Bare-boned when compared to the album’s previous anthems, it shoulders into fabulous depths of lyricism and delicate instrumentation. The track’s softer rhythm and tone create space for the center of Finger Eleven’s songwriting to burst through once again: powerful emotion tucked into a thoughtful arrangement. It is a fierce whisper of a finale that lingers, the kind of gate-shutting that brings about a deep breath and a moment of thought before all sound is erased.
As a complete work, Last Night on Earth is a kaleidoscope of power and heart. With fantastic musicianship from all the band’s members, the album feels familiar yet adventurous, reflective, but forward-looking in a way that signals there may be plenty of story left for Finger Eleven. Whether it is in the growl of “Adrenaline,” the brooding of “Lock Me Up,” the heaviness of “Perfect Effigy,” or the calm introspection of “Body and Mind,” Finger Eleven demonstrates they still have much more to say, and much more to make us feel. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Last Night on Earth 4 out of 5 stars.
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