Photo Reports

December 7 was a high mass for the dark souls in Belgium. Cradle of Filth stopped by Trix in Antwerp for the very last stop of their “Splintered in Winter tour” with death metal legends Suffocation as special guest. Mélancolia was added as support. Thanks to Hard Life Promotion we had the opportunity to attend this evening.

First up in a nicely filled Trix was Australia’s Mélancolia for their first ever show in Belgium. Formed in 2022, this Melbourne based band brings a blend of melodic blackened nu-metal with deathcore influences and gothic undertones. Alex Hill, the charismatic vocalist, owned the stage with an impressive presence and the band’s performance was stunning. What a tight set, this was the perfect start to the night!

Next up, Suffocation. This band needs no introduction, they pop up in several top ten best death metal bands lists. From the moment the lights dimmed and the first notes hit, Suffocation invigorated the crowd with a delivery that reaffirmed their legendary status in technical death metal. Throughout their set they played both classic and newer material with precision and brutality. The vocals of Ricky Myers were astounding, one of the best vocal performances I have ever heard. The cleanliness of the low-end gutturals was otherworldly. The guitars were razor-tight, and the rhythm section locked in with near-mechanical precision. Even as a support act, Suffocation played as if headlining and they surely would have justified it…

Headlining: Cradle of Filth. After the turbulent waters the band has navigated this year, the audience eagerly anticipated the performance they were about to deliver. Where Suffocation brought blunt-force trauma, Cradle of Filth brought spectacle. The band’s set unfolded as a carefully staged performance, blending extreme metal with gothic melodrama and a commanding frontman presence. Dani Filth remained the focal point, effortlessly switching between shrieks, growls, and theatrical narration while engaging the crowd with his charisma. The band’s work was very tight. The crowd’s response was notably different from the one to Suffocation—less purely physical, more immersive. Sing-along moments, raised fists, and sustained attention underscored the band’s enduring connection with its audience. Cradle of Filth demonstrated why they continue to headline venues of this size.

Indica together with Erno Laitinen and Jarkko “Jakke” Saarinen played a special acoustic show at Tampere’s G Livelab on Friday the 19th of December. A fun show, that has left me wanting more.

Amorphis are currently on their ‘Borderland‘ Finland tour together with special guests Atlas and Wheel. They came to Tampere’s Tavara-Asema on the 18th of December for a steaming hot and crowded, sold out show.

Touring in support of their latest album ‘We Should Be Buried Like This’, Bloodred Hourglass brought their modern metal assault to Tavastia in Helsinki, delivering a set that was as precise as it was relentless. The band’s tightly honed songwriting translated with full force in the intimate confines of the venue, keeping the crowd locked in from start to finish.

With local deathcore upstarts Enemies Everywhere opening the night, the show highlighted the strength and diversity of Finland’s heavy music scene. From crushing breakdowns to sharp melodic hooks, this was Bloodred Hourglass pushing forward with confidence and intent.

Popeda is one of the most legendary Suomi-Rock bands and certainly one of the most famous bands from Tampere, so it made sense to finally go see them live.
Unfortunately I never got a chance to see them with original vocalist Pate Mustajärvi, but I think Olli Herman fits right in with the band and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing him in this setting. The gig at Tampere’s Tavara-Asema turned out to be even more fun than I anticipated.

DANKO JONES – a 100% pure guarantee for high octane rock’n roll was touring Europe to support his 12th studio long player ‘Leo Rising’. It was a triumphant journey through the venues of the continent, and most places have been sold out. This was true for the Mannheim gig as well, a fully packed concert hall and eagerly anticipating crowd were the perfect ingredients for a memorable night.

Before the audience got overrun by the pure energetic force of the Canadian and Finland-based power trio, the US rockers TUC SMITH & THE RESTLESS HEARTS presented their warm-up program. This is a tough task, but Tuk and his bandmates did a fantastic job. One of the best support bands on tour with DANKO JONES that I can remember. The blend of AC/DC, Cheap Trick and Thin Lizzy found a very welcoming crowd.

Afterwards there was no stopping any more, once Danko, J.C. and Rich Knox started rolling, there was no holding back till the end of the last tunes from ‘My Little R’nR.’. They presented a great blend of classics and new material. The trio was full of pure lust to play live, and the spark immediately ignited the audience. Besides Danko himself presenting his small talks with the audience, some of you will remember the ‘Monday is for the real rock’n rollers’ speech for sure. J.C. was never stopping to move around and jump while Rich was hammering down the rhythm of the band without mercy for the drum kit. And Cowbell. This event was a highlight for all fans of real rock without any nonsense, pyro or bling-bling effects. The music speaks for itself. What a great night!

Nothing More hit a sold-out Trix in Antwerp on November 30, 2025, as the “Carnal Nature World Tour” rolled through Belgium. With Solence, Catch Your Breath and Ankor warming up the room, anticipation was already high before the headliners appeared.

The band quickly pulled the crowd in, most memorably by letting the audience choose between “Existential Dread” and “Spirits.” A standout instrumental sequence followed: drum solo, guitar solo, and a bass finale that pushed things into a controlled chaos as three band members played the bass at once, one of them using drumsticks.

Frontman Jonny Hawkins performs barefoot and shirtless, with a painted chest. The set was tight, intense and unforgettable.

Nothing More delivered!

This year Lemmy Kilmister has left us 10 years ago. MÖTHORHEAD, the iconic metal and rock band that Lemmy brought to life, was founded 50 years ago in 1975. Phil Campbell joined MÖTORHEAD 41 years ago. What a list of anniversaries. And what better reasons to celebrate?

Phil Campbell, who has taken his sons Todd (Guitar), Tyla (Bass) and Dane (Drums) and added a non-family member vocalist to it, came up with his band in 2016. Today, interim vocalist Julian Jenkins (FURY) is part of the celebrations since Joel Peters left the band in September 2025.

Adding to the night’s line-up was AIRSTRIKE. The German based four piece rock band from Nothern Hessen is the perfect warm-up for the night. Delivering their classic rock set with a wide range of moods and range of rock styles but always keeping it powerful. Special highlights for sure have been the climbing trip excursions of singer Julio Noriega into the light and sound rigs of the venue.

Phil and his band then delivered a great anniversary show that for sure won the heart of any die-hard MÖTORHEAD fan. Julian did his best on vocals and that worked out extremely well, even though some songs simply just need Lemmy‘s voice. The rest is just pure passion and fun (yes, including a massive ‘Fick dich, Tyla Campbell’) that you do know and expect from the Campbell family.

After almost 2 hours of pure MÖTORHEAD rock’n roll a sweaty and happy crowd was left behind.

Sabaton took their show to a whole new level, with a new stage concept and more focus on their actors, but not any less explosive power. They played in front of approximately 12.000 happy fans at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart when they came to town together with The Legendary Orchestra!

Sunday Funday hit a little different in Fort Wayne, Indiana at Clyde Theatre when Black Stone Cherry rolled into town! 

Getting the party started, Ayron Jones graced the stage with his 3 piece band based out of Seattle! I have been wanting to see Ayron for a long time and I was not surprised that he was worth the wait! His unique vocals kind of permeate the soul. I love the combination of rock, blues and soul with a hint of grittiness. If the brain had tastebuds, that’s how Ayron Jones hits the neurons. Bass player Bob Lovelace was an absolute blast to watch as well. Drummer Malachi Johnson is equally as talented. I love to see a smiling drummer! His setlist included multiple hit tracks such as Filthy, Mercy, Blood in the Water and Take Me Away.

Next up was rock band Them Dirty Roses hailing from Gadsden, Alabama! Side note, I had family living in Gadsden for about 7 years, so I have taken many a road trip to the area. The band consists of James Ford [guitar/vocals], Andrew Davis [guitar], Frank Ford [drums] and Ben Crain [bass] – although for this show in particular, Steve Jewell Jr. from Black Stone Cherry was filling in for the night. They put a modern twist on a classic southern rock sound with hits such as Cocaine and Whiskey, Shake It and Grew Up In The Country.

Finally, hard rock band Black Stone Cherry took the stage! This was my second time seeing them and I had forgotten how energetic of a band they were! The band consists of Chris Robertson [vocals/guitar], Ben Wells [guitar], John Fred Young [drums] and Steve Jewell Jr. [bass]. The way they interact with fans and the charisma they bring every night never gets old. They are all over that stage while playing their songs that span nearly 20 years is quite amazing to see! They opened with Me and Mary Jane and played various popular tracks such as When the Pain Comes, Blind Man, White Trash Millionaire, Give Me One Reason (Tracy Chapman cover) and Lonely Train. If you like good ol’ rock and roll with explosive energy behind every lyric and riff, you will love seeing Black Stone Cherry live! And don’t forget your dancing shoes because you will need them!