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Inkakai

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Inkakai
OriginRovaniemi, Finland
GenresAlternative rock[a]
Years active1997 (1997)–2009 (2009), as Bleak
2009 (2009)–2009 (2009), as Flamer
2009 (2009)–2021 (2021), as Fireal
2021 (2021)–present, as Inkakai
2024 (2024)–present, as Bleak
LabelsWarner Music Finland
Websiteinkakai.com, bleakofficial.com

Inkakai is a Finnish-Japanese-American rock band founded in 2021 by singer-songwriter Caleb Daniel Lit. The group became an anonymous masked collective in 2013. They originally formed as Bleak in 1997, briefly performed as Flamer in 2009, and as Fireal from 2009 to 2021. Lit regrouped Bleak with their original guitarist in 2024. As of 2025, both Inkakai and Bleak are active and share similar lineups.

In recent interviews[2][3] and on the Bleak website[4], Lit asserted that over the past 15 years, former members and producers who became ghostwriters have plagiarised the band and used his material in new label-backed acts.

History

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Bleak (1997–2009, 2024–present)

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Bleak was founded in 1997 in Rovaniemi by singer Caleb Daniel Lit together with local musicians. The band was active at the grassroots level and in 2005, they signed a recording contract with Helsinki Music Company. Bleak released one studio album, Burns Inside (2006).[5] The band's first hit was the song "Fate", performed by Lit and Ana Johnsson for the Jade Warrior movie soundtrack, and co-written by Lit, Johnsson, and Tomi Malm.[6] On 19 January 2007, "Fate" won the NRJ Radio Award for "Best Nordic Song".[7] Bleak performed around Finland, including at Kokkola Rock Festival in 2007[8] and received regular radio play. Burns Inside peaked at #12 on the Finnish Top 50 Album Charts and stayed on for 8 weeks.[9]

Members:

  • Caleb – vocals
  • Madu – guitar, vocals
  • Crab – guitar
  • Zeta – bass
  • Junior – drums[10]

Fireal (2009–2021)

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Bleak announced on their website that after 12 years, the band was breaking up due to internal and musical disagreements.[11] In 2009, they began performing under the name Flamer and were the opening act for the band HIM at Helldone Festival.[12] They later changed the name to Fireal.[13] On 9 September 2009, Fireal released their first single titled: "The Imperial".[14] In 2010, they released their video for "Halo".[15]

Fireal's debut album The Dark Side was released on 27 April 2011, under the label Warner Music Finland. The album debuted at number 41[16] on Finland's official charts[17] and was selected as YleX's Album of the Week.[18] The song "Breathe" was composed together with Max Martin.[19] The song "Ariel" was placed in rotation on Finnish radio station YleX and was voted as one of YleX's "most coveted"[20] songs in 2011.

The band has cited musical influences such as grunge bands Alice in Chains and electronic groups The Prodigy. In interviews, they have pegged their musical style as "imperial".[21] Their style has also been called "cinematic", and they were featured in the movie soundtrack for Priest of Evil.[6] Additionally, the film includes footage of Fireal performing.[22]

Fireal announced that in 2012, they would be taking a break from touring.[23]

In 2019, Fireal returned from a seven-year break with a new single "The Smoke" and announced they were preparing a new album.[24]

Members:

  • Caleb Daniel Lit
  • Teijo Jämsä
  • Hepe (Antti Eräkangas)
  • Waino (Tuomas Wäinölä)
  • Jay (Jari Ilomäki)[25]

Inkakai (2021–present)

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In 2021, after a lineup addition, the band announced they were changing their name to Inkakai.[26] The Japanese-American-Finnish band members[27] are anonymous and wear black katanas, masks and hooded clothing with red fire symbols. All this is done to represent the meaning of the new name 陰 火 会 INKAKAI (shadow, fire, society).[28]

Keeping in line with the musical styles of previous bands Bleak and Fireal, Inkakai's style is described as "imperial" or "imperial core", blending alternative rock with influences from nu-metal and electronic music of the 1980s and 1990s.[1]

The first single from the band was "The Smoke".[29] Previously recorded under Fireal and then re-released, "The Smoke" was one of the first songs the band ever wrote. Written in 1993 and then recorded as a demo 10 years later, it finally reached the studio and nearly became an album release in 2013.[24] "The Smoke" has hit over 700k streams on Spotify[30] since its release, along with second single "Drown" that was mixed by Tim Palmer[31].

In keeping members anonymous, Inkakai wanted to keep the focus on the musical group as one single entity or concept, rather than on individual band members or their personal lives. Since their inception, they have always cited Star Wars and sci-fi as a huge artistic influence. The masks not only keep members anonymous, but also align with their core visual and musical vision.[21]

In 2024 Plastic Magazine interview, Inkakai announced they had regrouped Bleak with the band's original guitarist.[32] Bleak released their new single "The Wave" in 2025. Lit further confirmed in Bleak's Indie Boulevard interview that both groups were operating simultaneously with similar lineup.[33]

Members (known only by their symbols):

  • △ – voices, strings, keys
  • ◻ – noises, samples, keys
  • ○ – drums, voices
  • ◇ – base, voices
  • ● – strings, voices
  • ▮ – strings

Discography

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Singles

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Year Name Album Band
2010 "Halo" The Dark Side[34] Fireal
"Breathe"
2011 "Ariel"
2019 "The Smoke" Single release[1] Inkakai
2022 "Drown" Single release[35]
2023 "Drown" (Shadow Version) Single release[36]
2025 "The Wave" Single release[37] Bleak

Albums

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Year Album Band Record label
2006 Burns Inside Bleak Helsinki Music Company[5]
2011 The Dark Side Fireal Warner Music Finland[38]

Notes

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  1. ^ Inkakai's style is described as "imperial" or "imperial core", blending alternative rock with influences from nu-metal and electronic music of the 1980s and 1990s.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "INKAKAI - Share New Single "The Smoke"". Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  2. ^ https://indieboulevard.com/2025/06/24/the-blueprint-survived-bleak-returns-the-way-it-was-always-meant-to-exclusive-interview-with-the-bands-frontman/
  3. ^ https://plasticmag.co.uk/2024/04/interview-inkakai-shares-drown-shadow-version/
  4. ^ https://bleakofficial.com/
  5. ^ a b Burns Inside - Bleak | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 12 October 2021
  6. ^ a b "Fireal: Beyond the Gothic idiom with Finland's hottest alternative act". Maximum Rock Magazin (in Romanian). 26 July 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Ana Johnsson biography, informations, listen titles, links to the artist - Electra Radio". electraradio.com. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Kokkola Rock: Neverstore (SWE), Agnes, Bleak, Hanna Pakarinen, Maj Karma, Sturm und Drang ym. @ Kokkola, 04.08.2007 {3} - keikkatiedot ja liput | Meteli.net". METELI. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Finland Albums Top 50 (July 26, 2006) - Music Charts". acharts.co. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Bleak", Wikipedia (in Finnish), 11 January 2021, retrieved 10 November 2021
  11. ^ "www.bleakmusic.com - Official Bleak website". 6 December 2009. Archived from the original on 6 December 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Flamer performing at HELLDONE FESTIVAL 2009, Tavastia Dec 28-31 - News - Tiketti". Tiketti.fi. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  13. ^ "FLAMER Changes Name To FIREAL". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Fireal". Rock Scene. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  15. ^ "Fireal "Halo" Video Released". blabbermouth.net. 22 August 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  16. ^ "finnishcharts.com - Top 50 albums for the 18th week of 2011". finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Suomen virallinen lista Albumit". ifpi.fi. IFPI Finland Ry. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  18. ^ "YleX Albums of the Week, December 2011". yle.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Max Martin | Credits". AllMusic.
  20. ^ "Soittolista | YLEX". 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  21. ^ a b "Fireal - Interview". PETE'S ROCK NEWS AND VIEWS.COM. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Fireal New Single Available for Streaming". blabbermouth.net. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  23. ^ "FIREAL: Touring break update". Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ). 4 September 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Interview with Fireal 2019". Eatmusic. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  25. ^ "Fireal". maxmartinfansite.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Facebook.com: Fireal Changes Name to Inkakai". Facebook. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  27. ^ Pete (18 May 2021). "Inkakai". PETE'S ROCK NEWS AND VIEWS.COM. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  28. ^ "Inkakai Interview with metalworld.com" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  29. ^ "Inkakai". PETE'S ROCK NEWS AND VIEWS.COM. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  30. ^ https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Rdwo8CHG9REDyjqnbmXb0
  31. ^ https://music.apple.com/us/song/drown/1719806695
  32. ^ Conway, Sarah (12 April 2024). "INTERVIEW: Inkakai shares "Drown (Shadow Version)"". Plastic Magazine. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  33. ^ Reed, Michael Filip (24 June 2025). "The Blueprint Survived — Bleak Returns the Way It Was Always Meant To: Exclusive Interview with the Band's Frontman". Indie Boulevard. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  34. ^ The Dark Side - Fireal | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 12 October 2021
  35. ^ "INKAKAI - Share New Single "Drown"". Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  36. ^ "Inkakai shares "Drown (Shadow Version)"". Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  37. ^ "Track Premiere: Bleak - "The Wave"". Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  38. ^ "Fireal Albums and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
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