Gig Reports
It’s been since 2019 that we last caught the Swedish rock/metal sensation that is Normandie on a stage near us. Knowing that they blow the roof off any venue they go to, we knew that this was a show we didn’t want to miss out on. Add to that the fact that this tour was to celebrate the killer ‘Dark & Beautiful Secrets’ album they released back in 2021, and we got really excited. Support came from Finland’s metalcore up-and-comers Balance Breach and gloomy alt-rockers Delta Enigma.
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For a long-time melodic death metal fan like me, a bill headed by In Flames and as supporting guests At The Gates, Imminence and Orbit Culture, celebrating both the originators of the genre and the new generation, is simply something I can’t miss out on. And with In Flames’ recent singles of the upcoming new album sounding more like In Flames of a decade ago, it was getting me even more excited. Not that an In Flames show is ever even remotely bad, but still… So off I went to Helsinki to Jäähalli, ploughing through some decent amount of snow to get there.
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I remember seeing Saor for the first time live at Steelfest 2018, and while I was charmed by the band, somehow I wasn’t completely convinced. I felt something was missing, and I was suspecting that it might have been the fact that they were playing in broad daylight on a bright and sunny afternoon. So, with the announcement of Saor coming back to Finland for a mini tour of 2 club shows, the fact they had just released the brand-new album ‘Origin’ AND that Season of Mist label mates …And Oceans would be special guests, I had to mark this event in my calendar for sure.
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When you happen to be in Tampere on a visit and a major tour like this one makes a stop, how could you say no to this? Having been a huge Volbeat fan in the past, I couldn’t miss out on seeing a big arena show from these guys. And since they brought the ragga metallers Skindred and US rockers Bad Wolves with them, a good night of fun music was a sure thing.
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Heilung has become an absolute phenomenon. Not only they make wonderful music, but live they are an absolute sight to behold. It’s a celebration of everything from our ancestors, the connectivity with nature and each other, and is simply a religious and otherworldly experience. Now, I’ve caught them twice before already, both at Tuska festival in Helsinki. And while those shows were absolutely amazing, I still felt there was something missing. Their performances work best when the whole crowd is there to connect with Heilung has to offer the world and at a metal festival, it just often doesn’t work as well as it could. So I was eager to see what the vibe and atmosphere would be like when catching them at a venue with a headlining show, where everyone there traveled to see and experience Heilung.
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Folk that harks back to the olden days and somehow connects you with something that lives deep inside you, a connection with nature and your ancestors, is something that has been somewhat of an obsession of mine for probably about 15 years. The fact that through popular acts like Wardruna and Heilung, popular series like ‘Vikings’ and even games, this kind of “pagan folk” is starting to become somewhat more popular and more commonplace is something I can only celebrate. Because it means that there is a bigger chance that bands and artists that make this kind of music are coming to a stage near me. Case in point: the French collective Skáld was on tour through Europe and made it all the way to the Finnish shores. No way I would miss this, so off I went to Ääniwalli, looking forward to a great night of folk music and connecting with that something deep in my core.
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Suicide, the New York duo of Alan Vega and Martin Rev, provoke intense emotions within the listener, you either love ‘em or hate ‘em, nothing in-between.
Rev produced electronic music using a synthesiser and primitive drum machine for Vega to perform his sometimes terrifying vocals which ranged from guttural grunts to rockabilly Elvis.
Both the music they performed and the way they performed it was somewhat confrontational and they were billing themselves as “punk music” in the early 1970’s. It is not unkind to say that they were not widely popular and tended to alienate audiences wherever they played.
It must also be said though, that they were so far ahead of their time it was untrue. The band’s first album Suicide (1977) received many poor reviews upon release but is now regarded as a classic containing such songs as Ghost Rider, Rocket U.S.A., Cheree and the truly frightening intensity of Frankie Teardrop.
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When it’s 40 degrees outside, and I’m in Albany, NY there’s nothing I’d rather do than to spend 3 hours outside waiting to get into the MVP Arena to see the Trinity Of Terror Tour III. With a line up this stacked, and my first press pass, I couldn’t help but be excited! Aside from the initial nerves and running on limited sleep, this was an EPIC show! It was packed full of an electrifying atmosphere, unforgettable stage set ups and some laughter in between. All while letting us forget about the outside world for a little while, and let loose with some cathartic music.
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If you are into melodic metalcore with progressive metal and hardcore influences, this was the place to be on November 5th, 2022. Headliner August Burns Red, co-headliner Bury Tomorrow and last minute support Novelists were ready to blow the roof of the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium. Let’s check them out!
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Hellsinki Industrial Festival is back in town, and as usual, that means that on the Thursday night there is a club show with a couple artists of the industrial/EBM/goth music scene to warm up people for the festival the next days. This time, we didn’t get to go to the usual On The Rocks in center Helsinki, but rather the charming Kuudes Linja venue where we’ve seen Elektrik Products bring Nachtmahr earlier this year in April. With Carnal Machinery, Jessi Frey and ESA (Electronic Substance Abuse) on this year’s bill, it was promising to be a quite exciting first little taste of what this weekend was going to hold for us.
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