Photo Reports
Last week, Vola passed through Finland on their ‘Friend of a Phantom’ tour with Charlotte Wessels and Feather Mountain.
The gig started with Feather Mountain giving the most unspectacular entrance I have seen in a long while. No dimmed lights or any intro, as I’d never seen Feather Mountain before, it took me a moment to realise that this time the people walking around the stage were the actual band and not stagehands trying to get things ready. Their show itself though was rather nice, and I very much enjoyed how much emotion singer Mikkel managed to convey with his voice.
It stayed very emotional with Charlotte Wessels performance, especially when she talked about the story behind the song ‘The Crying Room‘ and how hard it was to perform a song about stage fright when you’re dealing with stage fright. To make the situation easier on herself, she put on a comfy t-shirt and then got some snacks from her cargo pants, that she shared with the fans. The set ended in a strong combo of ‘Soft Revolution‘ and ‘The Exorcism‘.
Vola blinded us with all of their light effects. Lasers, big LEDs, plus the normal stage lights, it was a bit too overwhelming in my opinion. And while the light show was very well executed, it was overshadowing the well-thought-out, soft and on point songs a bit. Overall though, the fans seemed to very much enjoy the gig and happily sang along when prompted to. In the middle of their set, Vola looked back at their humble beginnings and told us about how they recorded their first album in their improvised, self-made studio, aka their dorm room. This was followed by the song ‘Gutter Moon‘ from this first album. After about one and a half hours, the show came to an end, and we were sent on our way home with ‘Stray the Skies‘.
On October 30, Trix in Antwerp hosted an extraordinary night of metal music, with Kamelot headlining the show. The evening began with the high-octane performance of Frozen Crown, an Italian power metal band known for their fast-paced riffs and powerful melodies. Their set was tight and full of energy, captivating the crowd right from the start.
Following Frozen Crown, the stage was taken over by Blackbriar, a Dutch band with a unique gothic twist. Singer Zora Cock entranced the audience with her haunting vocals, weaving a spell of dark, symphonic sounds. Their performance was intense, building up the anticipation for the main act.
The third supporting band was Ad Infinitum, a Swiss symphonic metal group led by the charismatic Melissa Bonny. With her impressive vocal range, she brought power and emotion to their performance. Bonny’s dual role as lead singer for Ad Infinitum and background singer for Kamelot added a unique connection to the night’s lineup.
When Kamelot finally emerged, the crowd erupted. The band opened their set with signature flair, combining powerful visuals and impeccable musicianship. Tommy Karevik’s voice commanded the room, delivering each song with passion and precision. The setlist spanned both classic hits and new material, blending the familiar with the fresh. The band’s performance was enhanced by guitarist Thomas Youngblood and drummer Alex Landenburg, who delivered electrifying solos and tight rhythms. Kamelot‘s mastery of theatrical elements was evident in their use of lights and stage effects, drawing the audience deeper into their world.
Throughout the show, the band’s interaction with the audience was genuine and warm. Karevik created an intimate yet powerful atmosphere that resonated with the fans. Every song felt like a shared experience, as voices joined in unison to sing along. Kamelot‘s set was a perfect blend of grandeur and raw power, illustrating why they are regarded as legends in the symphonic metal genre. The audience’s enthusiasm never wavered, maintaining an electric energy from start to finish. The encore brought the night to a triumphant close, leaving fans wanting more. The collective energy in the room was a testament to the impact of live performances and the bond between artists and fans.
The night ended with resounding cheers and the satisfaction of knowing that Kamelot and their supporting acts had delivered an unforgettable experience. Frozen Crown, Blackbriar, and Ad Infinitum provided the perfect lead-up, making the event a complete package of symphonic and power metal brilliance.
Within Temptation is a straight shot of nostalgia for many of us, having been a mainstay in the metal scene for almost every generation since their inception and especially their early rise to fame during the heydays of symphonic metal. In the meantime, they’ve grown out to be a band that fills arenas in most countries, and are much loved by metal fans of all calibers. It’s been a moment since we got to enjoy a proper long show by them in Finland, so there was little to no hesitation to go to the Helsinki Ice Hall where they landed on a Friday night halfway October. With them came their German friends of Annisokay and some pretty cool guest appearances, turning the night into an excellent musical celebration.
Myles Kennedy chose Hamburg to start his European tour following the release of his third solo album ‘The Art of Letting Go’ this October.
The show at the iconic Gruenspan was opened by the Swedish alt blues rock band Black River Delta who managed to create a great atmosphere to enjoy this misty Sunday evening with a glass of good whisky whilst laying back in a cozy armchair. One might argue a tad too cozy to warm up the crowd at a rock concert, but the people seemed to enjoy the 8 songs nonetheless.
After a short break, Myles Kennedy hits the stage flanked by his drummer Zia Uddin and Tim Tournier on the bass guitar. During their 100-minute-long set they focus on Myles’ solo works and unlike previous performances with his bands Alter Bridge and Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, Myles is even quite talkative between the songs. Sadly this does not deviate from the fact that time has taken its toll on his voice which lacks the power of earlier years. Not to put any blame on Myles – with such a unique voice and singing style, the wearing is just easier noticeable than with a lot of his contemporaries.
Most fans are more than willing to forgive this though, and prove to be quite knowledgeable in the lyrics, even for the songs of the new album already. At the end of the night, most people are released back into the chill October night with smiles on their faces and the feeling of a Sunday evening well spent.
Myles’ tour will take him through Europe and the UK until the 6th of December.
When one of Finlands legendary bands announces that they teamed up with a full Sinfonia Orchestra to create a couple of special shows it’s definitely worth checking out. We made it to the show at Nokia Arena on Friday the 25th of October and while I had high expectations for this show those expectations were easily exceeded. Apulanta just keep on creating unforgettable shows for their fans.
From the sound and light arrangements to the set-list, there was absolutely nothing to complain about on this sold out show. Great work by everyone involved.
It’s been a while since Smash Into Pieces have toured in Finland, and they have massively grown since the last time I’ve caught them live. This might be to some degree due to the fact that they recently participated in Sweden’s national Eurovision selection, Melodifestivalen. Cyan Kicks as well have tried their luck in getting to the Eurovision Song Contest a couple of times. Neither band made it to the big ESC stage so far, but they have found their own space in the rock and metal scene, and seeing these two bands together did not disappoint.
When a black metal package including 1349, Kampfar and Afsky comes to your neighborhood, you don’t hesitate a second and go as a fan of the genre. With 1349 celebrating a brand-new album, Kampfar‘s 3 decades of existence and on top of that the Danish storm that is Afsky, you simply know it’s going to be good. So despite the Monday evening, we geared up and made the trip to the renovated Ääniwalli in Helsinki for our much-needed black metal fix!
Over the Summer, GHØSTKID blew us away playing at festivals, like the show of theirs we caught at Tuska. So when they announced to be doing a full-on headliner tour through Europe to celebrate their latest record ‘Hollywood Suicide’ (our review here), we immediately marked it in our calendar to be there when they hit up the legendary Helsinki venue Tavastia! With them, they brought the Slovenian metalstorm that is Within Destruction and highly emotive modern metalcore upstarts of SETYØURSAILS as support, making it a guarantee to be a showcase of modern metal(core) to lick fingers and thumbs!
Swedish melodic metal band Eleine, on their first headlining tour, treated the DVG Club crowd to an unforgettable evening with the talented Ukrainian band Ignea as their opening act.
Ignea, known for their fusion of progressive and symphonic metal, set the stage ablaze with a captivating performance. Vocalist Helle Bogdanova‘s striking gothic aesthetic perfectly complemented her powerful vocal range, seamlessly transitioning between soaring cleans and ferocious growls. The audience was immediately captivated by their energy and engaged enthusiastically throughout their set.
Eleine, despite their relative newness to the headlining circuit, showcased a level of professionalism that belied their experience. Their stage presence was dynamic and infectious, with Madeleine‘s captivating dance moves and attire adding an extra layer of allure. The crowd was encouraged to participate, raising their hands and clapping along to the energetic rhythms. The band’s synchronized headbanging and overall performance exuded a raw power that left a lasting impression.
The DVG Club was electric with anticipation, and Eleine‘s performance lived up to the hype. The hundred or so attendees were left exhilarated and satisfied, eager to see what these talented musicians would achieve in the future.
Every year when the festival summer has just been wrapped up, local punk label Fast Decade Records and supporters put together HKI SKEPU FEST, a festival in Helsinki that celebrates all that is (skate) punk. They always manage to gather a really cool and interesting line-up with both Finnish talents and bands from abroad, enriched with some fun different activities, including for instance a skate bash where you get to experience a real life Tony Hawk Pro Skater moment with skaters showing their best tricks while some cool bands provide a fitting soundtrack. On the second day of the event, we managed to capture some cool images of the Finnish bands Lame Duck, Teresa Banks and headliners Against It All, the Danes of Uphill Struggle and the first ever Finnish show from the Polish skate punkers CF98!
