Forged in the heart of Finland’s forests, Havukruunu deliver a majestic blend of pagan and melodic black metal that channels ancient rebellion and icy atmosphere into a spellbinding live performance. Their latest album Tavastland tells a story of a 13th-century uprising, with choir-like vocals, haunting melodies, and raw blast-beats that evoke victory and frost-bitten melancholy and often reminds us of the Finnish metal icons of Moonsorrow. On stage, they transform any place they hit into a ritual with their ferocious grooves, and thunderous riffs accompanied by moments of solemn choral beauty. The anthems are ever present, and ready for you to shout along to, bang your head and put those fists in the air. This is one of the most exciting acts in the modern Finnish metal scene, and one of the only black metal tinged bands of the weekend this year, so don’t miss out.

Kim Dracula is something real different, fusing trap metal, industrial, jazz, and even Latin influences into music that doesn’t just play with genre conventions, it obliterates them. They went somewhat viral with their chilling metal take on Lady Gaga‘s “Paparazzi,” but they’re so much more. Kim Dracula brings an unpredictable intensity and theatricality to their live shows, blowing away people so much that they often get talked about more afterwards than the bigger bands they were supporting. With vocals that sound like they should come from 5 different people, and a live band to match, including live saxophone, this show promises to be one of Tuska’s most talked about spectacles. If you want some chaotic energy with a rebellious sound, you’re in for a treat with Kim Dracula. Recently they played in front of 55 000 people at Hellfest, and while we can’t get to that number, let’s show up with as many as we can to show them some love and a proper Finnish welcome!

The US outfit Nothing More has become a powerhouse of alternative metal and rock, releasing amazing albums and singles in rapid succession, and earning a reputation for high-voltage, theatrical live shows. Their intense stagecraft has dual drum kits, where body-painted frontman Jonny Hawkins riding a massive contraption, and spontaneous drum/bass solos, all designed to engage and pump up the crowd. Whether you’re drawn to musically intricate rock or raw emotional power, their show is quite the experience. While they have already announced to be coming back to Finland later this year, the people at Tuska will get the very first taste of Nothing More on Finnish soil, so don’t sit on this one!

You missed out on Amorphis last year, but would still like to get a taste of the musical genius of some of its members? The KVLT Stage is where you need to be tonight. Led by Amorphis bassist Olli‑Pekka Laine, Octoploid amazed people with their debut album Beyond the Aeons, a thrilling hybrid of 90s death/black metal, 70s prog, and psychedelic rock, lovingly named “classic death prog”, and engaging shows to match. With a band built around him of music industry veterans, and a really cool selection of guest vocalists for their different songs, this is really a unique kind of band. We’ve seen them with Mikko Kotamäki of Swallow The Sun live, but recently it’s been mostly Amorphis bandmate and frontman Tomi Joutsen who has picked up the mic. So if you’re into progressive death metal ferocity doused in an almost flower power 70s rock vibe, that somehow meshes perfectly, you need to go experience this live!

There really is something in the water in Australia considering metalcore. Last year, Tuska got blown to pieces by shows of Make Them Suffer and headliners Parkway Drive, this year, we get another top act from that realm. Polaris have rapidly become one of the genre’s top acts, not only in their own region, but steadily all over the world. Fusing groovy riffs, melodic hooks, and breakdowns into explosive live sets, they’ve earned praise for their tight and engaging stage presence and Jamie Hails’ vocals, are amazing, flawlessly shifting from fierce screams to soaring cleans packing an emotional punch to the gut. We’re pretty sure they’ll muster up some impressive moshpits in the Radio City Stage tent, and anthemic sing-alongs with a metalcore show you won’t want to miss out on.

Helsinki’s own The Vantages are lighting up the KVLT Stage tonight with their intoxicating blend of ’60s guitar rock, British indie flavors, and darkly nostalgic goth tones. Since they formed half a decade ago, they’ve already captivated the Finnish crowds, playing Ruisrock and Helldone, and generating buzz around tracks like “Danger” and “Dramatique”. Their rich, decadent love songs are tailor-made for closing summer nights with emotional heft and nostalgic muscle. If you’re after intimate songwriting that still rocks, or something new and fresh to fill the gap that love metal institution HIM left, The Vantages will be the band for you today. Don’t miss these rising stars before they hit it real big.

If you really enjoyed yesterday’s Eihwar show, or you’re huge into acts like Heilung, Wardruna and co, you don’t want to miss this very last performance on the KLVT Stage. Hailing from the western Finnish coast in Pori, Noiduin weave spell-binding dark folk by blending Finnish mythology with self-made instruments and creating a live ritual that feels like stepping into an ancient forest trance. Their shows are life-altering experiences with ritual chants, shadowy stage presence, and hypnotic percussion and has mesmerized and enchanted us already last year at Pakanafestarit (Pagan Fest), and we can’t recommend it more highly for you to be there if you feel connection with performances like this. Their performances feel and look as intense and magical as a Heilung show, just on a smaller, more underground scale. We’re already looking forward to getting our souls touched to its core.