Photo Reports
Finland has a rich history in the metal scene, with some highly influential and important bands having sprouted from the fertile grounds there. And with that, also comes a whole series of great events, going from unique one time concerts to excellent festivals to pick from every summer (and throughout the year) like Tuska, Steelfest, Nummirock,… And this year it seems another one will establish itself as a crowd favorite with Hellsinki Metal Festival. With its first edition it immediately showed off how the organization seems to want to do things slightly different from most other festivals with a line-up that really showed a clearly different approach. And while this first edition wasn’t without its issues, Hellsinki Metal Festival will be marked in our calendars as a yearly “must to go”. On the second day, we caught excellent shows from Pentagram, Burst, Priest, Déluge, Fit For An Autopsy and Watain on the inside stage “Kaaos Stage”, that hosted a whole slab of more underground and extreme artists!
Finland has a rich history in the metal scene, with some highly influential and important bands having sprouted from the fertile grounds there. And with that, also comes a whole series of great events, going from unique one time concerts to excellent festivals to pick from every summer (and throughout the year) like Tuska, Steelfest, Nummirock,… And this year it seems another one will establish itself as a crowd favorite with Hellsinki Metal Festival. With its first edition it immediately showed off how the organization seems to want to do things slightly different from most other festivals with a line-up that really showed a clearly different approach. And while this first edition wasn’t without its issues, Hellsinki Metal Festival will be marked in our calendars as a yearly “must to go”. On the first day, we caught excellent shows from Asagraum, Chamber of Unlight, Suicidal Angels, Benighted, Impaled Nazarene, and Batushka on the inside stage “Kaaos Stage”, that hosted a whole slab of more underground and extreme artists!
Already the 15th anniversary of the Belgian metal and rock festival Alcatraz! The fest has grown out from a fun 1-day event into a beast of a 3-day festival with every single year a killer line-up with always at least a couple of surprises. Of course, we were present again, trying to see as many of the awesome bands as possible.
On the first day, La Morgue had a fine collection of Belgian bands, sludge, stoner and even psychobilly with A Goat As Our Shepherd, Gnome and Mad Sin!
Already the 15th anniversary of the Belgian metal and rock festival Alcatraz! The fest has grown out from a fun 1-day event into a beast of a 3-day festival with every single year a killer line-up with always at least a couple of surprises. Of course, we were present again, trying to see as many of the awesome bands as possible.
On the first day, the Helldorado Stage was the place to be for all the hardcore kids with shows from Do Or Die, Slapshot, Downset, Terror, Prong, Converge and Agnostic Front!
Already the 15th anniversary of the Belgian metal and rock festival Alcatraz! The fest has grown out from a fun 1-day event into a beast of a 3-day festival with every single year a killer line-up with always at least a couple of surprises. Of course, we were present again, trying to see as many of the awesome bands as possible.
On the first day, we got some serious death metal trip with Serial Butcher, Vomitory, Unleashed, Immolation, Possessed, and I Am Morbid at the Swamp Stage!
Finland has a rich history in the metal scene, with some highly influential and important bands having sprouted from the fertile grounds there. And with that, also comes a whole series of great events, going from unique one time concerts to excellent festivals to pick from every summer (and throughout the year) like Tuska, Steelfest, Nummirock,… And this year it seems another one will establish itself as a crowd favorite with Hellsinki Metal Festival. With its first edition it immediately showed off how the organization seems to want to do things slightly different from most other festivals with a line-up that really showed a clearly different approach. And while this first edition wasn’t without its issues, Hellsinki Metal Festival will be marked in our calendars as a yearly “must to go”. On the first day, we caught excellent shows from Arion, Clawfinger, Blind Guardian and Apocalyptica on the 1st outdoor stage “Hellsinki 01”!
Already the 15th anniversary of the Belgian metal and rock festival Alcatraz! The fest has grown out from a fun 1-day event into a beast of a 3-day festival with every single year a killer line-up with always at least a couple of surprises. Of course, we were present again, trying to see as many of the awesome bands as possible.
On the first day, we caught Eleine, Wind Rose, Rise of the Northstar, Bury Tomorrow, Powerwolf and Michael Schenker Group taking over the Prison Stage (mainstage)!
Finland has a rich history in the metal scene, with some highly influential and important bands having sprouted from the fertile grounds there. And with that, also comes a whole series of great events, going from unique one time concerts to excellent festivals to pick from every summer (and throughout the year) like Tuska, Steelfest, Nummirock,… And this year it seems another one will establish itself as a crowd favorite with Hellsinki Metal Festival. With its first edition it immediately showed off how the organization seems to want to do things slightly different from most other festivals with a line-up that really showed a clearly different approach. And while this first edition wasn’t without its issues, Hellsinki Metal Festival will be marked in our calendars as a yearly “must to go”. On the first day, we caught excellent shows from Voivod, Monuments and Sodom on the 2nd outdoor stage “Hellsinki 02”!
Ten days of Lokerse Feesten, with a different theme and music genre every day, and as usual the first Sunday of this long feast of musical delights was dedicated to metal.
Sadly, due to bad weather, Stake was cancelled on the main stage. This meant Hammok opened not only Club Stubru, but also this festival day. Everybody was already wet from the rain and after the energy of this Norwegian trio they were all soaked in sweat too. The wind had died down, while the rain persisted, but that didn’t stop Biohazard to make everybody jump around at the main stage.
Back inside, Doodseskader took us down into their dark world and showed how much noise you can make with just two gifted musicians on bass and drums. Outside Bullet For My Valentine gave us a mix of metalcore and emotional groovy metal with a really great live performance. And the ground in Lokeren shook when Psychonaut played their set.
As expected, a lot of people came for the guitar madness of thrash legends Megadeth, and they weren’t disappointed. On the other hand, Slift‘s psychedelic drone ripping through the basement is something you have to experience to understand.
The most spectacular show of the day was (of course) given to us by Within Temptation. Everything they do is just next level. Stake was supposed to open on the main stage, but due to bad weather they were rescheduled to close Club Stubru. Not only did they suddenly close the stage, they just broke down the venue.
The big audience wasn’t ready for Amenra; a bunch of people left before the show and a lot of people were talking during the show. Too bad. For those listening, Amenra was again able to immerse them with their unique and mesmerizing show.
There was Nothing to Gein Friday in Ohio except metal bands that absolutely melted our faces off!!!
Mudvayne’s first headlining tour since 2009: Psychotherapy Sessions, made a stop at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls on Friday August 4th, 2023. The lineup did indeed, melt our faces off and then some. Between 5 metal bands that completely rocked this amphitheater set in the hills of Northeast Ohio, the humidity and the energy of the crowd, it made for an amazing night! Butcher Babies, the always energetic NONPOINT, the entertaining GWAR and high-octane Coal Chamber were supporting bands for this tour. As each band took the stage, the excitement, and energy began to build as everyone anticipated the long awaited headliner Mudvayne to hit the stage.
Frontman Chad Gray spent much of the concert singing in the pit or at the very front of the stage. You can tell he really loves his fans, as does the rest of the band. Each band member hit the stage with a unique look that is true Mudvayne style, but with a unique twist compared to past years. Heavier metal shows such as this can be a real soul shattering experience, and this was no different. It is really hard to describe the feeling, but it was electric. Chad talked about the metal community as being a family and that this music is our therapy, and it is so true.
Friday night at Blossom was one for the books, one I will truly hold near and dear to my heart for a long time. It was truly what my soul needed. Get to a Psychotherapy Sessions tour stop if you get the chance! It just might make you “Happy?”.
