The night started with Varang Nord, a folk/viking metal band from Latvia that managed to make me reminiscence about the heydays of folk metal during which I got to enjoy some massive events like “Heidenfest” and “Paganfest”. There is just something about a band that plays this style of music with the kind of excitement that they still have aplenty. With a deer skull mounted to the mic stand, regularly spewing out smoke, and viking inspired carvings on the other mic stands, there was immediately a pretty cool atmosphere before they even got on stage. The accordion, extra percussionist, tasty riffs,… just everything about this felt right and the people who already got to the venue this early, clearly enjoyed what they saw!

Up next, the very first show ever in Finland from the Canadian metal outfit Aeternam, who mixes symphonics and folky tunes with death metal into a pretty epic blend. Their style of music is really rather impressive, and I dare say the most interesting of the whole night, with almost proggy soundscapes that are of a truly massive scale. It was really a pleasure to see these 4 guys bring their music to the Finnish crowd with a real passion, and the epicness of it all made me realize several times how hard it was pumping me up. A really nice discovery that I need to keep my eyes on in the future.

And then it was time for one of the main reasons for me being at this show: Arkona! The Russian pagan metal band has been one of my favorites for the past decade or so, and brings me back to that time where folk metal was new, exciting and one of the big genres in metal. While they shifted their sound somewhat towards a more extreme and harsh, black metal infused sound, it’s still very much the Arkona I’ve known for quite some time now. I do have to say that at first the live sound wasn’t the greatest, it felt like Masha‘s vocals got lost a bit, but at the same time it sounded like they were playing the guitar riffs with a dampener on. Luckily, that got better further in the set, and some of their songs that feature these kind of Russian choir bits really touched our heartstrings. All in all, a performance of a great band that could have been somewhat better. Hopefully in a different venue or setting sometime soon, I get to enjoy the Arkona I remember from all those years ago.

And then the last act of the night. It seemed like the majority of the people attending to this event, were there for this show. And while we can have a lengthy debate on if this version of Batushka is worth your time and which is the proper one, there is simply no denying that these guys are very capable and deliver a visually and sonically captivating show. With what sounded like religious music in the changeover, and the scent of incense, the whole venue was permeated with an atmosphere that comes with their whole concept. Some bells chimed, and the mysteriously hooded and cloaked figures that form this collective slowly appeared on the stage, each taking their dedicated spot, either behind a lectern or right at the front with a guitar strapped to them. After a while, the vocalist appeared, taking his spot behind the altar in the middle of the stage, and off they went. Whether you’re a fan of this specific project or not, the soundscape is absolutely epic and so full, there is simply no escaping its majesty. The combination of harsh black metal riffing and vocals with almost Gregorian-like chants and ritualistic elements is absolutely gorgeous and unique, and the crowd that was there for this band was in an exalted state like no other!