Punk rock collective 20 Eyes out of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, released the tracks “Sharpened Hearts” and “I Think I Found a Pulse” on October 2. The compositions connect to the band’s horror-centered origins, only this time based on real life.
The songs’ creation spans 2024–2025, the period following their debut LP Summer Camp. Over roughly a year, the band’s activity slowed down due to guitarist and vocalist Ryan Van Winkle leaving Charlottetown. However, Ryan and the band’s other vocalist and guitarist, Matthew Ford, kept working on new material. On the current single, their contrasting songwriting styles collide.
“I began writing “I Think I Found a Pulse” in March of 2025 while living in Toronto. I knew the foundation of the song was strong, so I sat with it until I was back in PEI. […] In October of 2025 we were able to get together as a band to bring it to life. The song evolved even more when we began recording it in June 2026. Using some studio tricks we gave it a psychedelic finishing touch,” Ryan Van Winkle tells Musiknights.
“The common theme [the songs have] is the dark imagery present in our lyrics. Our earlier work was much more horror punk, taking inspiration from movies, books etc. The horror aspect is still present on these two tracks, though, they are based on reality rather than fiction,” he adds.
The musicians spent the fall-winter period of 2025–2026 playing shows and perfecting the material before recording it. Since then, the band has been the musicians’ number one focus, and they’re already working on a new album.
The band will celebrate their single release by playing a Halloween show on October 30 at John Brown Grill, Charlottetown, PEI.
20 Eyes are a punk rock collective that lifelong friends Ryan Van Winkle (guitar & vocals), Matthew Ford (guitar & vocals) and Jackson Boulter (drums) founded in 2020 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. In 2023, they brought in Drew Cassibo on bass, with whom they released the debut album Summer Camp (2024). Recently, they introduced a fifth member, Nick Johnston, on Hammond organ.
20 Eyes online:
https://www.instagram.com/2o_eyes
Cover photo — Bandcamp