Photo Reports
Blind Channel is doing very well lately, a headline tour through Europe and then right off to America. Between all this there was not much time for a Finland tour anymore, so to ensure that the Finnish fans weren’t going home empty-handed, they decided to through one massive arena show into the mix. And what better place for that then Tampere’s Nokia Arena. In addition to Blind Channel‘s many guests during their own performance (Samy Elbanna, Behm, Jokratesin and Joona Moilasen a.k.a Good Luck Million) they also brought along two support acts, Lastout and Costee.
While the show wasn’t sold out, they still managed to sell a big portion of tickets (5000 of 6000)
The term ‘Female Fronted’ is currently being used excessively and is slowly turning into a real cliché. What can one say about a concert evening where both the opener and the main act owe their names to their respective legendary female artists, frontwomen, and band leaders?
Whatever it may be, it was definitely a fantastic concert evening.
Elena Rud and her indie-pop from Munich kicked off the evening. The songs, seasoned with a poetic touch, enthralled the audience from the first song.
At exactly 9 p.m., Deine Cousine takes to the stage at ‘Im Wizemann’. Like a storm, Ina Bredehorn and her musicians tear across the stage, captivating the concert audience spanning all age groups from the first note. A crowd well-versed in the lyrics sings along diligently and dances as much as their shoes allow. For a fan, the biggest highlight is always getting on stage and singing a duet with the band, which happened as always.
This evening left no one unhappy as they headed home…
Saturday night in Fort Wayne, IN was the Proving Grounds for a Moshpit and definitely the place to be if you were craving a hard-hitting, high-energy, face-melting concert!
Piere’s was stop number two on The Angels and Villains Tour here in the United States. This tour quickly followed up Attila’s Europe/UK tour. Joining Attila were Born Of Osiris, Traitors, Extortionist and Not Enough Space.
The sun was shining, and it finally felt like spring in the Midwest! Doors open early at 5pm for this tour, but that did not stop fans from coming out and forming a line along the side of the building. Once inside, the house was already packed with wall-to-wall people and the energy was already high, which is one of the big reasons that I absolutely fell in love with the metalcore scene!
All of the opening bands did an absolutely banger of a job getting the crowd rowdy and keeping it that way! There was a constant circle pit and a consistent flow of crowd surfers.
Attila was the headliner for the evening. The band was formed nearly 20 years ago in Atlanta, Georgia as very young musicians. They have proven to stand the test of time. Current members are Chris Fronzak[vocals], Chris Linck[guitar], Kalan Blehm[bass], and Tyler Kruckmeyer[drums]. The guys kicked off their set with the song “Proving Grounds” and the energy was explosive and non-stop for the entire 12 song setlist! The entire setlist was: Proving Grounds, Three 6, Party With The Devil, Metalcore Manson, Bite Your Tongue, Handshakes With Snakes, Middle Fingers Up, Payback, Moshpit, Timebomb, Cancelled, and closed out with About That Life. Frontman Fronz was very interactive with the crowd, high-fiving, fist bumping and speaking to the fans. At one point, he encouraged a girls only moshpit. Of course, the crowd-surfing from the previous 4 bands continued all the way through Attila, along with quite a bit of stage-diving as well. To sum up this tour, it is an all out party from beginning to end!! There are tons of dates left-go see if there is a stop near your city and get a dose of your extremely high intensity metalcore!
At De Oefenbunker in Landgraaf, The Netherlands, Dear Mother delivered a standout performance that enthralled the venue. This event was part of a special four-show club tour in the Netherlands to promote their latest EP, “Necessary Darkness.” The band, gaining a significant following (partly) due to Merel Bechtold’s past involvement with Delain, Mayan, and Purest of Pain, showcased their musical prowess with a 13-song setlist that included all four tracks from the new EP.
Each song was met with enthusiastic cheers, affirming Dear Mother’s influence and musical depth in the metalcore scene.
The evening was further energized by Finnish band Luna Kills. Marking their first performances outside of Finland, Luna Kills impressed with their unique blend of alternative metal and rock, capturing the attention of many, and adding a memorable layer to the night’s lineup. Their performance was not only a supporting act, but also a significant event that showcased their potential on the international stage.
The intimate environment of De Oefenbunker facilitated a close interaction between the artists and the audience, making the concert a more visceral and engaging experience. This venue, known for supporting emerging talents, proved to be the perfect setting for such dynamic performances.
The collaboration between Dear Mother and Luna Kills exemplified the spirit of unity within the metal community. Both bands left strong impressions, with Dear Mother affirming their place in the hearts of metal fans and Luna Kills setting the stage for future international endeavors. The event not only celebrated Dear Mother’s new EP, but also highlighted the burgeoning talent of Luna Kills, promising exciting developments for both bands in the metal scene.
Ghent, April 9, 2024 – Doodseskader and Watergruwels delivered an unforgettable show at the Balzaal of VIERNULVIER. The two bands provided an evening of raw energy and intense music, filling the venue to the rafters.
Watergruwels kicked off the night with a solid set. Tusais and Slotho immediately showcased their vocal prowess and created a unique sound with their experimental blend of hip-hop, grunge, and metal. The band’s energetic performance pulled the audience in right away.
Doodseskader then took over and delivered an even more intense show to release their new album, “Year Two”. The visuals on the projection screen created a menacing atmosphere, perfectly matching the band’s raw music. Vocalist Tim De Gieter roared his lyrics into the venue with abandon, while Sigfried Burroughs attacked the drum kit with unbridled energy. Songs like “I Ask With My Mouth, I’ll Take With My Fist” and “It’s Not An Addiction If You Don’t Feel Like Quitting” provided a highlight of the set, with headbangers and moshpits ensuing.
The show by Doodseskader and Watergruwels was a true spectacle that transcended genre boundaries. The two bands showed what they are capable of and proved that they are a force to be reconned with in the Belgian music scene.
On April 6th, 2024, the historic city of Middelburg played host to the legendary Dutch guitarist Adriaan Vandenberg and his band, Vandenberg, at a concert that was part of their tour promoting the new album “SIN.” Held in the intimate ambiance of a sold out venue, the night was a celebration of both new tracks and beloved classics. Opening the evening was Marco Mendoza, whose performance set a high-energy tone for what was to come. Mendoza, like Vandenberg, is a former member of the iconic rock band Whitesnake.
Vandenberg’s set list comprised 15 songs, intriguingly featuring just two from their latest album, “SIN.” (“Hit the Ground Running” and “Light it Up”) and The focus instead was on a nostalgic journey through their storied past, including four cover songs from Whitesnake. These classics—”Fool For Your Loving,” “Sailing Ships,” “Judgement Day,” and “Here I Go Again”—were the highlights of the night, drawing the loudest cheers and singalongs from the audience. It was a poignant reminder that, despite his ventures with his own band, Vandenberg’s legacy with Whitesnake remains a strong draw for fans.
The concert in Middelburg was a reunion of classic rock enthusiasts, celebrating the enduring appeal of Vandenberg and the timeless tracks of Whitesnake. Fans left the venue satisfied, having witnessed a masterful blend of past and present.
Shortly after the pandemic ended, people were hungry for live music and events. And out of that you could see some new organizers and events popping up to satisfy that need. We were back in 2022 highly impressed with the first edition of Desert Hel in the middle of Helsinki center, gathering bands of certain genres under one roof for two long nights that hadn’t really been seen before in Finland. Think of the infamous and massive Desertfest festivals that take place in several European countries every year, but on a smaller scale and a focus on mostly the fuzz-laden, stoner, and desert rock sound, with here and there a little sidestep into doom or even metal. The formula of a very solid Finnish line-up topped with a killer name from outside the country seems to be one that works really well, and for their 3rd edition they did exactly that again. This time in the Tiivistämö building on the Suvilahti area a bit outside Helsinki center, on the first day they brought together from Finland the industrial metal brutes of Dome Runner, the supposedly practicing Kartanoists of Mansion, followed by a trip to the age of flower power and Woodstock channeled through the bluesy and folky psychedelic rock collective Maan Tomu and last but not least, an explosive party by the Swedish stoner rockers Truckfighters to wrap up the weekend with a bang!
Shortly after the pandemic ended, people were hungry for live music and events. And out of that you could see some new organizers and events popping up to satisfy that need. We were back in 2022 highly impressed with the first edition of Desert Hel in the middle of Helsinki center, gathering bands of certain genres under one roof for two long nights that hadn’t really been seen before in Finland. Think of the infamous and massive Desertfest festivals that take place in several European countries every year, but on a smaller scale and a focus on mostly the fuzz-laden, stoner, and desert rock sound, with here and there a little sidestep into doom or even metal. The formula of a very solid Finnish line-up topped with a killer name from outside the country seems to be one that works really well, and for their 3rd edition they did exactly that again. This time in the Tiivistämö building on the Suvilahti area a bit outside Helsinki center, on the first day they brought together from Finland the stoner rockers of Heezer, doom metal from Orbiter, and proggy, psychedelic rock from Polymoon and Kairon; IRSE! with the captivating Italian doomsters of Messa topping the bill!
Orbit Culture is probably one of the fastest growing bands right now. They’ve been steadily expanding their reach and popularity and have been touring through Europe on the “Descending Into Madness” tour right on the back of other tours that took them throughout different continents. After a long trek through Europe already behind them, they dropped by at Vanha Ylioppilastalo in Helsinki to come play in front of one of their favorite crowds: the Finnish people! At the same time, the show at this venue was the biggest headline show they’ve had and it was simply amazing! Support came from the Swedish metalcore outfit Bite Down!
What better way can you think of to celebrate Easter weekend than getting into a massive party with the Finnish drunks of Rytmihäiriö and the troll misfits of Finntroll? It’s probably hard to come up with anything, right? The 2 highly popular acts joined forces and embarked on a small tour within Finland named “Jesus är dod, nu ska vi dricka”, which translates sort of into “Jesus is dead, now we drink”. And what a party it was! The legendary rock club Tavastia was absolutely packed, and this straight from the start, showing how popular both bands are. And they even had a hilarious tour shirt designed for the occasion.
