The honour of opening Tuska 2025 on the Karhu Main Stage fell to Horizon Ignited. Judging by the respectable crowd already gathered in front of the stage, plenty of festivalgoers were eager to get the weekend started early.

The Finnish melodic death metal outfit has been steadily building momentum in recent years, and their recent album Tides only seemed to accelerate that rise. Unsurprisingly, much of the set focused on material from that release, with tracks such as “Ashes”, “Prison Of My Mind” and “Beneath The Dark Waters” showcasing both the band’s melodic sensibilities and their heavier edge.

What stood out most was the passion radiating from the stage. Vocalist Okko Solanterä in particular threw himself completely into the performance, channeling every emotion into the songs while naturally drawing the audience’s attention. It was a confident and convincing opening statement from a band that feels destined for bigger stages in the future.

Sometimes festivals force difficult choices, and while Finnish hardcore veterans Endstand were certainly tempting, we ultimately found ourselves at the Nordic Energy Stage for Blood Command. It turned out to be exactly the right decision.

The Norwegian outfit has always occupied a unique space between alternative rock, metal and punk, and their live shows remain wonderfully chaotic affairs. Frontwoman Nikki Brumen was in classic form throughout the set, barking orders at the audience, encouraging mosh pits, cracking jokes and generally causing as much trouble as possible. Behind the apparent chaos sits a catalogue filled with ridiculously catchy songs, and tracks such as “Cult Drugs”, “Stay Awake”, “Bare Witness” and “Cult of the New Beat” landed perfectly. Blood Command continue to feel like a gang of lovable misfits somehow making everything work through sheer personality and infectious energy.

Considering the title of their most recent album promised world domination, they’re certainly doing a convincing job of working towards it.

Few bands have experienced the kind of ascent Knocked Loose have enjoyed over the past decade. Having followed the band since the release of Laugh Tracks in 2016, watching them grow from hardcore upstarts into one of the most talked-about heavy bands on the planet has been remarkable. Their recent viral breakthrough, helped in no small part by the now-famous performance of “Suffocate” on late-night television, has introduced the band to a massive new audience. At Tuska, however, the focus remained firmly on what made them special in the first place.

The Karhu Main Stage was treated to a relentless barrage of riffs and breakdowns. The sound felt dense and crushing, while the band attacked every song with an intensity that never let up. The set balanced newer material with fan favourites from across their catalogue, resulting in highlights such as “Deadringer”, “Billy No Mates” and the ever-destructive “Counting Worms” besides the stellar tracks from their most recent album ‘You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To’.

Knocked Loose aren’t merely a band you watch. They are an experience. Every performance carries an unmistakable sense of urgency, and at Tuska they bulldozed their way through the afternoon in spectacular fashion. We can only hope that bookers in Finland took notice and are bringing this revelation back as soon as possible!

Some days simply line up perfectly. Earlier in the afternoon we had the pleasure of sitting down with SKYND, and not long afterwards it was time to watch her take command of the stage once again. Their true-crime-inspired music remains one of the most unique concepts in modern alternative music, and it translates exceptionally well to a live environment. While we generally prefer seeing SKYND in a headline setting where the atmosphere can be controlled completely, the performance at Tuska proved that the project is powerful enough to work anywhere.

SKYND herself was a commanding presence from beginning to end, delivering her distinctive vocals with precision while Father and Deadbeat constructed the dark sonic landscape around her. Songs such as “Michelle Carter”, “Columbine”, “Jim Jones” and “Edmund Kemper” drew sizeable reactions, with many people around us singing along despite the project’s relatively niche concept. The performance stood apart from much of the festival lineup, yet somehow fit perfectly within the broader Tuska experience.

Later in the day, SKYND also participated in a Tuska Forum discussion about confronting darkness through art and storytelling, an almost natural continuation of themes she had explored in conversation with us earlier and perfect way to follow up on the excellent performance she gave us. We also had the chance to briefly meet her again, proving again how incredibly kind and warm she is in person despite the rather violent, dark and cold things she sings about. She and the whole project holds a very special place in our hearts and we can’t wait to see them again hopefully soon. We can only highly recommend to you to not miss out on experiencing this when you can.

By the time Cradle of Filth took over the Karhu Main Stage, the festival grounds had filled significantly. The legendary extreme metal outfit drew one of the largest crowds of the day, proving once again just how enduring their appeal remains.

The set suffered from a few technical hiccups, including a delayed start and occasional issues that resurfaced throughout the performance. Fortunately, they never derailed the show entirely. The sound remained solid overall, the pyro fired regularly into the evening sky, and the band delivered a strong selection from across their catalogue.

Dani Filth appeared to be in excellent form, leading the performance with his unmistakable theatrical charisma. While the stage production felt somewhat stripped back compared to some of the band’s larger headline productions, songs such as “The Forest Whispers My Name”, “Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids”, “Nymphetamine (Fix)” and “Her Ghost In The Fog” more than compensated. Technical issues aside, it was another reminder of why Cradle of Filth have remained one of extreme metal’s most recognisable names for so long.

If there was one performance guaranteed to divide opinions while simultaneously attracting attention, it was Bambie Thug. Arguably the most sexually charged show Tuska has ever hosted, the performance blurred the boundaries between pop, alternative music, occult aesthetics and heavier influences. On paper it may seem like an unusual fit for a metal festival, but in practice it worked surprisingly well.

Supported by two dancers, Bambie Thug commanded the stage with remarkable confidence. Constant movement, striking poses and a seemingly endless supply of attitude ensured there was always something happening. The crowd reaction naturally peaked during “Doomsday Blues”, the Eurovision breakthrough that introduced the artist to a global audience, but the entire set maintained strong engagement.

It was undoubtedly one of the most unconventional performances of the day, yet also one of the most memorable. If Tuska continues embracing artists willing to push boundaries, we would not be surprised to see more bookings in a similar vein in future editions.

If there was one act destined to provide the biggest party of the day, it was Electric Callboy. Taking over the Karhu Main Stage, the Germans wasted absolutely no time getting things started. Recent single “Elevator Operator” kicked off the set amidst bursts of confetti, pyro, sparklers and smoke, immediately transforming the festival grounds into one giant celebration. From there, fan favourites such as “MC Thunder II (Dancing Like a Ninja)”, “Spaceman” and their cover of the Sum 41 classic “Still Waiting” kept the momentum going. The latter felt especially fitting with former Sum 41 drummer Frank Zummo now sitting behind the kit.

At this point everyone knows what to expect from an Electric Callboy show, yet somehow they still manage to make every performance feel like an event. Even the rain that had occasionally passed over Suvilahti throughout the day failed to slow down the party. A couple of surprises helped elevate the set even further. Blind Channel‘s Joonas Porko joined the band on stage for “Hypa Hypa”, drawing a huge response from the crowd. Later on, the band were visibly surprised when they were presented with gold certifications for the singles “Hypa Hypa”, “We Got The Moves” and “Pump It”. Naturally, there was only one way to finish things after that. “Tekkno Train” sent the audience into one final frenzy before “We Got The Moves” turned the entire festival grounds into a massive dance floor.

Having already seen Electric Callboy absolutely dominate as headliners at Alcatraz Festival, it is hard not to wonder whether a future Tuska headline slot might eventually be on the cards as well.

By the time darkness settled over the Radio City Stage tent, the setting was perfect for Imminence. The Swedish band continues to climb rapidly through the modern metalcore ranks, and performances like this explain exactly why. Since the release of The Black, their popularity has exploded, while a string of strong new singles has only strengthened their position. Their production has evolved significantly since the last time we saw them. Behind the band stood structures resembling stained-glass church windows, creating an atmosphere that perfectly complemented the dramatic and emotional nature of the music.

Frontman Eddie Berg remains one of the most captivating performers in the genre. Watching him effortlessly switch between vocals and violin while contorting himself into seemingly impossible positions never gets old. Around him, the rest of the band matched that intensity, throwing themselves fully into every song. Additional musicians and backing vocalists added further depth to the performance, making songs such as “Heaven Shall Burn”, “Death By A Thousand Cuts”, “Come Hell Or High Water” and “The Black” feel even more cinematic.

Having seen Imminence several times over the years, this may well have been the strongest performance we’ve witnessed from them so far.

Closing the first day was a band that hardly requires an introduction. As one of the defining names in melodic death metal, In Flames carried the responsibility of headlining Friday, and they delivered exactly the kind of performance expected from veterans of their stature.

Even persistent rain failed to dampen spirits as the Swedes launched into a set packed with classics and newer material alike. Recent songs such as “The Great Deceiver” and “State Of Slow Decay” from their 2023 album ‘Foregone‘ sat comfortably alongside timeless favourites including “Cloud Connected”, “Only For The Weak” and “Take This Life”. The production itself was relatively straightforward, featuring elevated platforms for drums and keyboards, but the appearance of a giant version of the owl mascot from A Sense Of Purpose added a welcome visual surprise.

Most importantly, the band sounded fantastic. Anders Fridén and company were in top form throughout, delivering hit after hit while maintaining complete control over the enormous crowd gathered in front of the main stage.

As headlining performances go, it ticked every box and provided a fitting conclusion to an excellent opening day.