Photo Reports

A very different event in current times: An evening with just one band! Not the usual 3 or 4 band lineups as you are used with tour gigs these days. MACHINE HEAD do it all alone. They do it impressively and powerfully. No opener but more than 2.5 hrs of MACHINE HEAD only. This is an event for the real fan. MACHINE HEAD delivered a blasting action-loaded show with all you want and can expect: an excellently curated and choreographed show. Lights and led panels with a giant backscreen delivering fantastic animations. Flames, fire, sparkles, fog. A fully spanned selection of songs running through the whole band history. This was a masterclass show. Robb Flynn and his band mates are simply on fire themselves. There are no complaints about the sound as well, especially when the acoustic part of the set comes alive. There was no holding back in the crowd when Robb demanded circle pits and crowdsurfers all throughout the show. The attending fan community was more than happy to follow and delivered, much to the band’s satisfaction.

Fort Wayne, Indiana shows up for their metal and that they did at Clyde Theatre for Avatar’s “Don’t Go In The Forest” Tour 2026! 

Kicking things off was special guest Frozen Soul hailing from the great state of Texas! The band was formed in 2018 and consists of Chad Green[Vocals], Sam Mobley[Bass], Matt Dennard[Drums], Chris Bonner[Guitar] and Michael Munday[Guitar]. They are a solid death metal band with super heavy vocals and soul rocking vibe. The crowd was moshing so I would say they did a great job getting the crowd rowdy!

Keeping the rowdy vibes going was symphonic death metal band from Italy, Fleshgod Apocalypse! This was my first time seeing a band of this particular genre and I have to say that they were amazing and I was so impressed! Both singers had such a beautiful back and forth balance, it just flowed nicely. 

And finally, the ever and always amazing heavy metal band from Sweden, Avatar! The band was formed in 2001 and recently released their 10th album: ‘Don’t Go In The Forest’! The band’s line up is: Johannes Eckerström[vocals],  Jonas “Kungen” Jarlsby[guitar], Tim Öhrström[guitar], Henrik Sandelin[bass], and John Alfredsson[drums]. Their music is everything you would want in a heavy metal band, amazing and strong vocals with a wide range, hard hitting riffs and a drummer that ties it all together. Johannes is a one-of-a-kind front man and you cannot help but be captivated by him from start to finish. The entire band’s energy is through the roof during their entire set as well and that creates an amazing exchange with their audience. I will make every attempt possible to catch Avatar any time they are near me!

One evening in April brought a Scandinavian metal avalanche down on Stuttgart’s LKA Longhorn, delivered by VOMITORY, VREID, ABBATH and HYPOCRISY. Their combined force filled more than four hours of heavy death black metal music.

VOMITORY opened the night with a solid performance, synchronized headbanging, and an otherwise static stage presence. The dark atmosphere set the tone for the rest of the evening.

VREID followed after a short changeover in the tightly scheduled program. With more movement, a predominantly red light show and the first waves of fog, they delivered the first real highlight. Short crowd interactions and a more dynamic stage presence helped Vreid win over the audience.

The KISS reminiscence in ABBATH frontman Olve Eikemo’s appearance is impossible to miss. Makeup, moves and outfit clearly point to Gene Simmons as inspiration. The rest of the band presented themselves with more individuality. Musically, with their Norwegian Black‑Death‑Metal sound, and visually, ABBATH delivered the first major highlight of the night. The fog machine was also put to heavy use for the first time.

Once the fog machines were running at full power, it was time for HYPOCRISY. Mastermind Peter Tägtgren, Mikael Hedlund, Tomas Elofsson and drummer Henrik Axelsson showed the crowd why they are considered masters of alien‑themed Death Metal. The audience was immediately drawn in by the sound and Peter’s hypnotic voice. Fog cannons pushed to their limits, LED screens displayed fitting graphics and animations. It became a true spectacle of mystique. Excellent. It was, indeed, Mass Hallucination.

When Eye of Melian brought their “Forest of Forgetting over Finland 2026″ tour to Aleksanterin teatteri in Helsinki, the evening felt less like a concert and more like stepping into another world. In support of their latest album, that was released only a month before, the performance transformed the historic venue into a living fantasy landscape, enhanced by a magical stage setting and mesmerizing visuals that perfectly complemented the score-like music.

At the center stood Johanna Kurkela, whose stellar vocals and magnetic presence guided us through the night like a storyteller leading a dream. The vocalists on her side a perfect match with her, their chemistry and shared emotion adding warmth and depth to it all. While often more in the shadows, the musicians were the true backbone of the experience. The band’s mastermind Martijn Westerholt shaped the sound from behind one of the pianos, joined by Mikko P. Mustonen on the other piano and the ever-impressive Kai Hahto on live drums.

The result was nearly two hours spent drifting through orchestral fantasy, emotional crescendos and moments of quiet empowerment. A rare concert experience that felt immersive, intimate and utterly unforgettable.

The Belgian ‘cult’ thrash metal band Dead Serious (1987-1993) is back! 33 years ago, drummer Marc Vereecken died in a tragic accident, which marked the end of the band. The day frontman Armando Thiebaut also passed away, the hope of ever starting again was completely gone. That was, until the two original members, who now also play with Cult of Scarecrow, were joined by three new musicians, including vocalist William Lawson (known from Promise Down).

Long story short: Dead Serious is back! (and so is their thrashing duck!)

Dead Serious was supported by Groovy trashers Steamroller and Heavy metalists Phoenix Rebellion. Unfortunately, due to an exceptionally busy work schedule, I had to miss the first band, hence only photos of Steamroller and Dead Serious:

German thrash metal legends Kreator brought their massive “Krushers of the World” tour to Helsinki Ice Hall, celebrating their newest album with what stands as one of their largest stage productions ever seen in Finland. Joining them were Bay Area thrash pioneers Exodus, also promoting their latest release ‘Goliath’, alongside British death metal pioneers Carcass and powerviolence outfit Nails – making for an exceptionally stacked bill from top to bottom.

From the very first note, it was clear this would be one of the loudest shows we’ve experienced in a long time. The sheer volume and intensity hit like a physical force, with every riff and blast beat resonating through the crowd, leaving ears ringing and bodies buzzing.

Each band delivered a crushing performance, creating a relentless wall of sound that defined the night. The atmosphere inside the venue was electric – loud, sweaty, and chaotic in the best possible way – driven by constant mosh pits, crowdsurfers, and massive walls of deaths erupting across the floor.

This was a true extreme metal spectacle and a night to remember. Check out the photos below!

Last week, Belgian hard rock fans gathered at club DVG in Kortrijk, where Hardline performed as part of their current European tour. After 35 years on stages all over the world, they still know how to turn the place upside down! The quality of their performance was still top-notch and the sound was amazing!

An unforgettable highlight was the revelation that it was the birthday of Alessandro Del Vecchio, the keyboardist of Hardline. In a fun and unexpected moment, the members of Sevi returned to the stage, armed with balloons, party hats, some sparklers, and a small cake, which led to a mini-party during the concert.

The opening act was the Bulgarian rock band Sevi.

Ludwigsburg turned into a battleground of riffs and adrenaline as NAILS, EXODUS, CARCASS and headliner KREATOR unleashed a relentless evening of extreme metal. The night opened early with NAILS, who hit the stage at 18:20 and immediately pushed the half‑filled hall into motion. Their raw, no‑frills mix of speed and thrash set the tone: tight, aggressive, and straight to the point. Even at this early slot, the first mosh pit and a lone crowdsurfer proved the trio deserved a later billing.

EXODUS followed with the confidence and ferocity expected from Bay Area thrash veterans. Backed by album‑cover visuals and overflowing with energy, they delivered a true “lesson in violence.” The crowd had filled out by now, celebrating Tom Huntings (drums) 51st birthday and Gary Holt’s razor‑sharp lead work. It was a lesson in violence!

CARCASS kept the momentum high. The British four‑piece showed their decades of experience with precision, charisma, and a barrage of guitar picks flying into the audience. Their sound was the cleanest of the night, supported by fog, screens, and massive lighting. While the pits were smaller, the band’s tight performance and bursts of speed held the crowd firmly in their grip.

Last but not least, the stage belonged to KREATOR. The German thrash legends arrived with a full arsenal: towering ghouls, fire, smoke, and a stage show as intense as their music. Mille Petrozza delivered his trademark snarling vocals with surgical precision. A standout moment came when guest vocalist Britta Görtz (HIRAES) joined for a surprise duet on ‘Tränenpalast’, and afterwards celebrating the 2nd birthday of the day: Sami Yli-Sirniö. After 18 songs, the night ended with ‘Pleasure to Kill’ — the track that launched their legacy 41 years ago and reaffirmed their place at the top of German thrash.

On 7 April 2026, the industrial true crime project SKYND brought their “Dead Serious Tour” to 4de Zaal in Gentbrugge, delivering a performance that blurred the line between concert and true-crime theatre. The show started around 20:30, drawing fans into a dark, immersive atmosphere of heavy electronics and haunting visuals.

What sets SKYND apart is their singular focus: every song is a meticulously constructed portrait of a real-life murder case. From infamous serial killers to shocking individual crimes, each track dives deep into the psychology, details, and aftermath of these events, transforming true crime into intense, almost cinematic soundscapes.

On april 3rd, the Infected Rain – Butcher Babies co-headliner  ‘Mutation phase in Europe’ tour (a tour proudly promoted by Grimmgent.com)  landed in DVG Club Kortrijk, Belgium.

All bands delivered the best and most energetic female fronted metal available at the moment! Supporting band was the Lithuanian rising stars Black Spikes.