Photo Reports

Charon are back! After over a decade of silence, they returned with a small tour around Finland, starting in Tampere. We made it to their packed gig at Olympia-kortteli on Friday the 29th of August.
As JP Leppäluoto putted it “Now that we’re back we have nothing to prove anymore and just want to enjoy the gigs and so should you” and that’s exactly what I did, I enjoyed the gig and had fun and felt nostalgia over songs I hadn’t even ever heard before.

Away from the main stage, the Village Stage at Väen Valkeat offered a more intimate and communal space, where music and ritual felt closely intertwined. Surrounded by people rather than barriers, the performances unfolded with a sense of closeness that encouraged listening as much as participation.

With Trio Krauka and Kajos drawing from traditional sounds and storytelling, the Village Stage became a place of shared moments and quiet intensity. As night fell, Blackout Fools transformed the field near the main stage with a striking fire ritual, bringing the day to a visceral and elemental close. A reminder that Väen Valkeat is as much about experience as it is about music.

Set against the natural surroundings of Väen Valkeat, the main stage became a meeting point for contemporary folk expressions that draw deeply from tradition while confidently shaping their own paths. From hypnotic rhythms to ritualistic intensity, the performances unfolded at a pace that invited both reflection and movement.

With Okra Playground, Kallomäki, Kjell Braaten, and Noiduin each bringing their own interpretation of Nordic and folk-rooted music, the day highlighted the breadth and vitality of the scene grounded in heritage, yet very much alive in the present moment.

After their successful show last autumn Apulanta joined forces again with Lahti’s Symphony Orchestra for an even greater experience. This time they played a fantastic two and a half hour long show at Tampere’s Ratina Stadium. This massive production on 23.08.25 didn’t leave any hearts desires unfulfilled and went all out making the show look and sound amazing.

Brutal Assault 2025 once again turned the historic Josefov Fortress into a haven for extreme music fans from all over the world. With a lineup that spanned legends, cult favorites, and fresh blood alike, the festival delivered four days of intensity, atmosphere, and unforgettable performances. From the crushing riffs echoing through the fortress walls to the vibrant energy of the crowd, it was a true celebration of heavy music in all its forms. Our photographer was on the ground to capture the madness, the magic, and everything in between. Dive into our gallery below and relive some of the most striking moments of day 1 at this year’s Brutal Assault on the more underground Obscure and Octagon stages with 3 Inches of Blood, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Inter Arma, Frayle, Ruïm and Oranssi Pazuzu!

Brutal Assault 2025 once again turned the historic Josefov Fortress into a haven for extreme music fans from all over the world. With a lineup that spanned legends, cult favorites, and fresh blood alike, the festival delivered four days of intensity, atmosphere, and unforgettable performances. From the crushing riffs echoing through the fortress walls to the vibrant energy of the crowd, it was a true celebration of heavy music in all its forms. Our photographer was on the ground to capture the madness, the magic, and everything in between. Dive into our gallery below and relive some of the most striking moments of this year’s Brutal Assault with Skálmöld, Static-X, Dying Fetus, Kerry King and Rotting Christ on the Marshall and Sea Shepherd stages!

I caught Auri on their first tour ever, during their show in Tampere on Saturday the 16th of August. It was very special to be able to witness one of the very first live shows this band has ever put together. The candlelight stage setup gave even the big auditorium of Tampere-Talo the intimated atmosphere of a campfire hangout with friends.

Lokerse Feesten – Tuesday, August 5: Big Acts, Small Stage Magic

Tuesday at Lokerse Feesten was a day of contrasts. On the main stage, Gojira, Amenra, Melvins, and Helmet delivered powerhouse performances —but a majority of photographers,  like us, had to sit this one out. Despite holding press accreditation with a photo pass, the rules were strict: no pictures of the main stage, not from the pit, not even from the crowd. Nevertheless, attending the concerts in full allowed us to experience the high-energy shows on the main stage, which we’ll cover in a separate article.

Luckily, the festival’s Club Studio Brussel offered a different vibe. Between the big acts, we headed there and found an intimate, energetic space where photography was allowed. The smaller stage allowed us to get close, snap shots, and feel the raw connection between artist and audience that sometimes gets lost in the festival frenzy.

Even with photography limits on the main stage, Tuesday proved that Lokerse Feesten still delivers: unforgettable music, a buzzing crowd, and pockets of up-close magic that make the festival experience so special.

A fixed highlight in our festival calendar: STARS IN TOWN in Switzerland. One of the staple events in our Swiss festival calendar is this festival. Since 2010, STARS IN TOWN on the Herrenacker square in Schaffhausen has thrilled rock and pop fans with a huge variety of music. The special atmosphere in the heart of Schaffhausen’s old town always adds a truly unique vibe to the event.

In addition to the ‘Talent Stage’ in the pedestrian zone—where promising newcomers perform for a wide audience surrounded by food trucks offering delicacies from around the world—the main acts take to the big stage.

As every year, the festival kicks off on a Wednesday with the so-called ‘Super Wednesday’. The honour of opening this year’s festival went to the local heroes ELLIS MANO BAND. These Swiss blues rockers launched the lineup with musical finesse and soulful tunes reminiscent of Joe Cocker. Neither the band nor the audience let the rain dampen their spirits—they simply enjoyed the performance.

Next up to take the stage were UGLY KID JOE. The Californians delivered their signature blend of hard rock, metal, and funk. Always in tow: their two massive hits from the early ’90s—‘Everything About You’ and their cover of Harry Chapin’s ‘Cat’s In The Cradle’. Both songs still earn the band plenty of radio airplay and recognition across generations. Only their cover of ‘Ace of Spades’ might have been better left out—at least according to the author of these lines, a passionate Lemmy fan himself.

ALICE COOPER: The Shock Rock Icon! What else could you maybe say about ALICE COOPER? The embodiment of shock rock took to the sacred stage to close out the evening and showed exactly why it’s called ‘Super Wednesday’. The grand stage setup—with staircases on both sides and massive LED backdrops alternating between live footage and videos—was pure cinematic spectacle. The standout alongside Alice was ‘Hurricane Nita’ Strauss, whose high-energy stage presence electrified the crowd. Perfect sound, brilliant choreography, and classic shock effects—including the ever-present guillotine and Alice’s mock beheading—delivered everything the audience could hope for from a major show. Alice as a living rock legend himself was bursting with energy, showing no signs of his 77 years. Not a single person in the packed Herrenacker crowd went home disappointed.

It was a night to remember – this ‘Super Wednesday’ truly lived up to its name! We’re already looking forward to next year.

It was a steamy Midwest night When Worlds Collided for The Taste of Armageddon Tour 2025 featuring Powerman5000, Ill Niño, Hed PE and Priest on Thursday July 24, 2025 at Piere’s in Ft Wayne, Indiana.

First up was Priest, hailing all the way from Sweden! Including 2 former members of the band Ghost, they brought a very unique synth, electronic, somewhat 80’s vibe to the stage. At one point, the vocalist walked through the crowd “blessing” those in his path. 

Next up was Hed PE, bringing their SoCal vibes to Piere’s! This was my 3rd time seeing the band and they delivered as usual. They blend nu metal, metal, reggae and hip hop into this delightful treat for your ear drums! They are fun and they WILL make you dance!!

Ill Niño took the stage next, Nu Metal band based out of New Jersey. I was pumped to see them with their new vocalist. I had seen them decades ago at Ozzfest. I was blown away, the vocals sounded amazing. They have 2 types of drum kits on stage. They were very energetic and just everything a Nu Metal band should be and more.

Finally it was time for a Bombshell of a band, Powerman5000! What a powerhouse, originally formed in 1991! This was my first time seeing them, surprisingly since When Worlds Collide was one of the anthems of my younger years! They sounded amazing and were also full of energy on stage. Their bass player Murv was so fun to watch! 

This tour package was phenomenal and I am so glad that I got to experience it!