Category: Photography

Porispere 1-2.8.2025, Pori (Finland)

Porispere is a crossover festival held since 2011 in Kirjurinluoto, the island park in the center of Pori, Finland.
As we do every year, we at The Offering attended the festival, which this year took place between August 1st and 2nd.
This year’s festival focused more on punk music, with the exceptional presence of the Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter. On the metal side, Bloodred Hourglass, Turmion Kätilöt, Viikate, and Kotiteollissus took to the stage.
The artists performed on three stages: Raju Lava the main stage, Lokki Lava, and Lagunitas stage.

Opening the first day of the festival was Saimaa, a Finnish post-progressive rock band, followed by Days of Greif, winners of the band competition Porilaine, a young Finnish thrash metal/metalcore band from Pori formed in 2021, who showed their potential on stage.
As always, the undisputed kings of Finnish industrial metal Turmion Kätilöt delivered a top-notch show. The rising powerhouse Bloodred Hourglass performed for the first time in Pori and the audience loved every minute of their show, definitely the best performance of the festival.
The Sex Pistols were the most anticipated band at the festival, playing their classics with the charismatic Frank Carter on vocals, who sang a couple of songs in the middle of the mosh pit, making the whole thing even wilder.
The first day of the festival concluded with Apulanta, a Finnish rock band with punk influences, whose show exceeded expectations and satisfied the many fans who attended.

The second day of the festival started off on a more soft note until Kotiteollisuus, a metal band with over twenty years of experience, took the stage and the audience had the opportunity to let loose, but it took Lähiöbotox, an irreverent and limitless rap-metal band, to unleash the circle pit.
Punk-rock band Klamydia doesn’t disappoint even when they perform for the second time in the same day, the energy of Vesku and company is contagious.
The headliners for the second day of the festival were The Sounds, the Swedish band who had a huge success in the early 2000s with their album “Living in America.”

Day1: Saimaa, Days Of Greif, Turmion Kätilöt, Ursus Factory, Bloodred Hourglass, Sanni, Seksihullut, Herra Ylppö, Sex Pistols ft Frank Carter, Viikate, Atomirotta, Apulanta.
Day2: Egotrippi, Kuusumun Profeetta, Rebekka Holi, Kotiteollisuus, Ellinoora, Absoluutiinen Nollapiste, Lähiöbotox, Olavi Uusivirta, Ismo Alanko, Nössö Nova, Gasellit, Klamydia, Good Boys, The Sounds.
Minispere: Mirella.

Tuska Festival, Helsinki (Finland) 27-28-29/06/2025

This year, The Offering was once again present at Finland’s largest metal festival, the legendary Tuska Festival.
The festival, held in Helsinki’s Suvilahti district over the last weekend of June, drew a staggering 60,000 people.
There were four stages featuring both well-known and lesser-known bands, numerous food outlets, side shows for every taste, live interviews at the Tuska Forum in collaboration with the Bleeding Metal Podcast, and this year, it was even possible to plan your own funeral.
The festival was also partially broadcast live on Finland’s main television network, and some shows can be watched for free here.
Below is the report and photos provided by our reporter Cristina Gregori.

Day 1

The first day of the festival, characterized by mixed weather with periods of rain, drew a record 22,000 attendees.
Among the most anticipated bands were In Flames, Electric Callboy, Dragonforce, Knocked Loose, and Imminence.
Unfortunately, it was not possible to see all the bands at the festival because many overlaped, playing on different stages.

Finnish melodic death metal band Horizon Ignited opened the festival with a strong show on the main stage.

Norwegians Blood Command proved on the Nordic Energy Stage that they rock with their captivating and versatile mix of punk rock and metal and plenty of irreverent energy.

Knocked Loose, hailing from the United States, were one of the most anticipated bands of the festival. They delivered an intense and energetic show on the main stage, unleashing hardcore and metalcore fans in a mosh pit.

DragonForce is a band that needs no introduction. With over 20 years of career and known for their turbo-charged power metal, they brought a show to the Nordic Energy Stage that could only be described as a flood of energy and color. Dragons and video games graced the stage, and speed and technical prowess were the watchwords describing what was seen and heard. Even the flying plush chicken had its moment of glory.

The legendary Cradle of Filth took to the main stage bringing their symphonic black metal and the stage presence they are known for.

Bambie Thug, the artist who achieved great success representing Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song “Doomsday Blue,” had the opportunity to bring her Ouija-pop style to the Radio City stage. Two dancers accompanied Bambie Thug onstage, and the show was a real eye-catcher; the mix of musical genres and the captivating, sensual choreography certainly made an impression.

Electric Callboy were perhaps the most anticipated band of the day. This band, which boldly leaps from genre to genre, combining schlager and deathcore, hardstyle and industrial metalcore, and everything in between, made its entrance onto the main stage with a bang and confetti. There are many words to describe the show, but none would truly be enough to capture what you can hear and see at their shows. If we could define the band, we would say millennial, because it embodies everything millennials love.

Swedish metalcore band Imminence was among the most anticipated bands of the day. Their performance on the Radio City Stage brought a well-balanced combination of darkness, elegance and passion. There is something enchanting about the way the band approaches the stage and plays.

Closing out the first day of the festival were In Flames, pioneers of the Gothenburg sound. A band capable of reinventing themselves album after album, they are one of the most beloved by metal fans, and their ability to balance new songs with classics live is one of their strengths. The show, despite the rain, was incredible.

Day 2

On the second day of the festival, the most acclaimed bands included Powerwolf, Slaughter To Prevail, Orbit Culture, Wind Rose, and The Halo Effect.
This day was marked by controversy regarding the Russian band Slaughter To Prevail, who had waved the Russian flag at a show in the United States a few weeks earlier. Fortunately, the day went off without a hitch, maintaining the spirit of metal.

The first band to perform on the Nordic Energy Stage was Arion, who have made an impressive and steady ascent to the absolute elite of Finnish melodic metal. Energy and melody are the words to describe their captivating show.

Italian power/folk band Wind Rose threw a party on the Nordic Energy Stage. Their stage presence and infectious energy won over the Tuska crowd.

On the main stage, Mokoma, one of Finland’s best-known and most beloved bands, did not disappoint, getting the Suvilahti Arena spinning and creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Gothic rock supergroup Cemetery Skyline, which includes members of Amorphis, Sentenced, Insomnium, Dark Tranquillity, and Dimmu Borgir, performed on the Nordic Energy stage. The contrast between the sunny day and their gothic music was interesting. It was an extraordinary performance.

Orbit Culture is one of the most promising emerging bands on the international metal scene in recent years. The band played their modern melodic groovy death metal on the main stage, leaving no doubt that their future shines brighter than ever.

Countless Goodbyes is not a new name to us at The Offering, as we’ve watched them grow over the years. The band brought a passionate and energetic show to Kvalt Stage, and the audience loved every minutes.

Alcest, pioneers of French post-black metal and black gaze, performed on the Radio City stage as one of the most anticipated bands, and they didn’t disappoint. Their atmospheric, delicate, and raw performance offered an intense and magnetic experience.

From one French band to another, Eihwar have transformed the Kvalt stage into a ritual, transporting the audience to a parallel universe, where they dance to the rhythm of brutal pagan dancefloor music, combining Nordic folk tradition, ritual chants, shamanic drums and surprising electronic rhythms.

Slaughter to Prevail were eagerly awaited by fans, as this was an exclusive show at a European festival and their first ever in Finland. The band is one of the hottest names in extreme metal and left no doubt about their talent on the main stage; the show was something fans will hardly forget.

Progressive rock band Royal Sorrow made their live debut on the Kvalt Stage, and there’s no doubt the band will soon have a huge following.

For fans of melodic death metal, one of the most anticipated bands was definitely The Halo Effect. The band, comprised of former members of In Flames and led by Dark Tranquillity frontman Mikael Stanne, impressed the audience with their performance on the Nordic Energy Stage.

Powerwolf were undoubtedly the most anticipated band of the day. Their theatricality and generous use of impressive stage props transformed the main stage into something unique. Corpse paint and flawless power metal made the show unforgettable.

Day 3

A storm was forecast for the third and final day of the festival, and to make the area safe, the organizers decided to remove anything that might pose a risk, such as the screens on the sides of the main stage. Fortunately, the day turned out to be excellent, with sunshine and a bit of wind. This day also opened the doors to younger metal fans, with minors able to enjoy the festival and see their favorite artists until 6 p.m. Among the most anticipated bands were Lorna Shore, Motionless in White, Nothing More, Whitechapel, Kim Dracula, and Apocalyptica.

Cyan Kicks brought their catchy radio hits to Tuska for the first time. The band rocked the Radio City Stage audience with their infectious energy, delivering a flawless show.

Finnish industrial metal gems and presenters of sick disco, Turmion Kätilöt, brought the party to the festival’s main stage. The band did not disappoint their fans, putting on a show like only they know how.

Lights to Remain bring together the best parts of 90’s melodic death metal mixed with 00’s metalcore. The band performed on the Kvalt stage and did not leave anyone cold with their energetic performance.

Kim Dracula emerged from TikTok, creating metal covers of non-metal songs, and is now one of the most anticipated artists. What was seen and heard on the Radio City stage was something unusual, a mix of diverse influences, moments of jazz and death metal. An unforgettable and unusual show.

Apocalyptica need no introduction: they took to the main stage to promote the follow-up to their legendary debut album, where cellists from Helsinki’s renowned Sibelius Academy played a symphonic tribute to the greatest of the Big Four: heavy metal titans Metallica. Even those who are less familiar with the band were able to join in and sing along to Metallica classics. The show was a veritable explosion of energy.

Whitechapel have always been among the absolute pinnacles of deathcore, and they finally made their mark at Tuska. The band performed on the Radio City stage, perhaps a little too small for the audience due to the tent. The show was intense, giving fans an unforgettable experience.

The Vantages, a young Finnish band, enchanted the audience on the Kvalt stage with their irresistible mix of vintage guitar rock and gothic nostalgia from the turn of the millennium.

The last band to grace the Kvalt stage was Noiduin, a dark folk band from the west coast of Finland. The band, which builds all its instruments by hand, enchanted the Tuska audience with the rhythm of their shamanic drums and the dark echoes of folk that filled the air. It was a show that will go down in history.

Closing out the festival was the most anticipated band: Lorna Shore. The band needs no introduction, having made waves in recent years thanks to their exceptional results and an album that many considered groundbreaking. The show showcased the talent of the musicians, particularly singer Will Ramos and guitarist Adam De Micco, all accompanied by pyros. During their performance there were at least three circle pits, this show how loved this band is.

Tuska is considered a safe festival by those who attend, where people can be themselves, free from preconceptions and prejudices. The audience is a mix of black and brightly colored outfits, giving free rein to their imagination and making the festival even more unique and unforgettable. Being a unicorn, a fairy, or a demon is possible during the three days, and there’s nothing more beautiful than seeing all these beautiful people express themselves and be part of an incredible community.

https://tuska.fi/

Omnivortex & Vanguardian live at Mera Klubi, Pori (Finland) 24.5.2025

On May 24th, Meara Klubi delighted the audience in Pori with two stratospheric bands: Vanguardian and Omnivortex.

Vanguardian is an extreme metal band that ruthlessly combines the influences of all its members in its own style and gives the middle finger to art that is shabby, inauthentic and insensitive.  The band demonstrated in their performance professionalism, technique, energy and fun. No musical base or sampling during the live, only drums, bass, guitar and screams. The rhythmic part leaves the audience breathless, rare to find drummers and bassists of this level, especially in the underground scene.

Omnivortex is a technical/blackened death metal band that presents their music in a frenetically twisted and ever-changing way. Be it clean melodic passages or raw, dissonant chugs with explosive bass and endless slaps, the band always have new ideas to offer the listener. The band’s performance was a wave of pure energy, fun and headbanging. The work of the drummer is remarkable, as in addition to being the rhythmic base he is also one of the singers of the band.

If you have the chance to see these two bands live, don’t miss them, they are really worth it and will leave you speechless.
Here are some shots taken for you by Cristina Gregori.

Terromania & Coochilla llive at Monttu New Level, Pori (FInland) 23/05/2025

On May 23, Monttu New Level in Pori hosted a rock night with two promising bands: Terromania and Coochilla.
Terromania is an Alternative Metal force out of Finland, ripping through the scene with raw power and emotion. Blending influences from Ghost, Lordi, Gojira, Spiritbox and even the wild energy of Van Halen & Devin Townsend, they take it even further by fusing their Heavy Metal base with synthwave, 80s hair metal, pop, and hard rock into a sound that’s unforgettable.
Coochilla is a alternative rock band from Turku. The band’s sound is rock ’n roll with a twist; loud guitars and a tight groove combined with a slight spice of psychedelia that delivers an unique auditive experience.
Both bands presented a flawless show, and despite the small audience attendance, they gave their all.
Here some photos taken by Cristina Gregori.

Masis x NWOFHM at Monttu New Level, Pori (Finland)

Masis x NWOFHM, a series of events jointly produced by Masis Brewery and the New Wave of Finnish Heavy Metal Alliance (NWOFHM), featuring the music of emerging Finnish heavy metal bands. In addition to the traditional heavy metal bands of the New Wave of Finnish Heavy Metal Alliance, the two-day event featured a diverse range of music from modern metal to melodic doom, with progressive metal innovation and dramatic metal not shying away.
The Masis x NWOFHM event waved the proudly flying flag of Finnish heavy metal and raise a toast to new dimensions with the NWOFHM lager brewed by Masis Brewery and other tasty beers from Masis.
The event in Pori took place at Monttu New Level on May 16th and 17th.

The first band to take the stage on Friday was Neverfade, a New Wave of Finnish Heavy Metal act formed in Tampere 3 years ago. Paying their respects to the metal legends before them, the band draws influence from decades of heavy metal excellence and puts their own twist into it with a modern and ballistic delivery. The band wants to make their mark with their energetic shows where anything can happen on stage, from confetti explosions to sword and shield battles. Musically, the band has proven to be worthy and have the qualities to be able to perform on bigger stages.
Next up was Ratbreed, a band formed in 2015, With a traditional heavy metal sound and a strong live presence,the band has toured rock clubs tirelessly and warmed the pews at Waltari’s 30th anniversary celebration at Kulttuuritalo, among others. The show was flawless thanks also to the charisma of singer Jasmin Anglén, who at one point even waved the flag of New Wave of Finnish Heavy Metal Alliance.
The last band to take the stage was Satan’s Fall, a heavy metal band known for their fiery riffs, catchy choruses and virtuoso guitar solos. Satan’s Fall has played at festivals and clubs of all sizes across Europe. In Finland, the band has been seen warming up bands such as Primordial, Pentagram, and Satan. Frontman Miika Kokko’s raspy voice makes the show unforgettable, and their live experience on larger stages is easily noticeable even in situations like this, where the stage is smaller and the audience is “more difficult”.

Saturday was supposed to see the closing of the event by Shereign but unfortunately, due to the singer’s health problems, the band had to cancel their presence and at the last moment another band had the opportunity to take the stage.
Opening the second evening was Pressure Points, a melodic progressive metal band founded in Heinola in 2004. The band’s music combines a wide range of musical influences, including progressive and melodic metal. Pressure Points have played a significant number of concerts in Finland and abroad. Experienced musicians, the band is known for its intense live performances. It can be said that the show was perfect without any flaws, the only thing was the small attendance, despite that the band put on a show worthy of their name.
The show continued with Bloody Moon replacing Shereign, who was supposed to close the night. Bloody Moon is a metal band from Laitila that has been making waves around the world since 2021. The band’s music is characterized by tearing riffs and catchy choruses, accompanied by a thunderous rhythm section. The band surprised the audience with their energetic show, a great surprise for most who were unfamiliar with the band.
Closing out the two-day event was Gothony, founded in 1993, whose debut album was released on January 12, 2024. Gothony’s music is full of drama, with pain, anguish, melancholy, melody and the typical 90s flapping wings. The show was energetic, the audience finally let loose at this point in the evening, and the band proved their worth.

From a music and beer perspective it was a top class event. The only shame is the low number of spectators, maybe due to the lack of publicity for the area, otherwise it could not be explained.
Here some photos taken by Cristina Gregori.

Day 1

Day 2

 

Devenial Verdict & Wretched Path live at Meara Klubi, Pori (Finland) 26.4.2025

Meara Klubi Vol. 38, a metal club organized by Meara Music, an independent and alternative record label/programming agency/event producer, hosted two death metal bands on the stage at Winston Live in Pori on the evening of April 26: Devenial Verdict and Wretched Path.
First on stage were Wretched Path, a five-piece band that combines traditional and modern death metal in an aggressive and engaging way. Their latest album, “Sea of ​​​​Death”, was released last month. They managed to warm up the crowd with their death metal and headbanging.
Devenial Verdict is a death metal band that offer a fresh approach to the style, especially with their dissonant inclinations. Their music managed to captivate the audience in Pori with its intensity, breadth and atmosphere.
The night was a success despite the club not being full due to other concerts that were on at the same time.
Here some shots from our report Cristina Gregori.

LUNA KILLS & Awake Again live at Monttu New Level, Pori (Finland) 17.4.2025

Last Thursday at Monttu New Level in Pori two bands made the audience jump and sweat with their performances. The first to take the stage were Awake Again, a four-piece post-hardcore band that fearlessly blends metal and pop elements into their music. The band with its wild stage presence, melodies and the right amount of heaviness won over the audience from the first notes. The back and forth with the audience spiced up with jokes made the show even more entertaining. The singer’s vocal versatility was highly appreciated, someone from the audience shouted “this guy has an amazing voice”.
And now it’s time for LUNA KILLS, the most innovative modern metal band on the scene, combining alternative and nu-metal vibes with electronics inspired by video game soundtracks. The band led by frontwoman Lotta Ruutiainen, with her incredible fry scream voice, managed to put on an energetic and intense show thanks also to the use of lights that made the show more cinematic. Apart from some technical problems with the bass, the show was flawless. The band made the audience jump, wave their arms to the beat and sing along.
Here some photos taken by Cristina Gregori.

Gorgoroth + Aeternus + Death Rattle + Archaic Live @ Audiodrome (Turin – Italy) 27/03/2025

The great wait for Gorgoroth has come to an end and we were all waiting for their show, including me, as it was my first time seeing them live. In the audience, many fans stood out from the rest of the crowd with their faces painted in a cadaverous way, creating a certain macabre scenography. Here is the intro with an orchestral version of Chopin’s “Marche Funèbre”, the band goes on stage and the musicians’ appearance has remained more or less the same as in the nineties: very marked corpse painting, exaggerated studs and inverted crosses around their necks. Their set immediately begins with “Bergtrollets Hevn” from 2011’s “Antichrist”, an imposing start that heralds a unique performance of highly twisted evil intent. “Aneuthanasia” and “Golgoroth” follow without a break to get to another dated track like “Katharinas Bortgang” from 2011, while for the most recent part of the setlist we listened to “Kala Brahman” from “Instincts Bestialis” from 2015. In fact, the only song from their long career that they didn’t play was “Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam” from 2006. During Gorgoroth’s performance, the sound of excited voices filled the air of the Audiodrome, often shrouded in the thick fog of smoke machines and the unholy din of the pagans. On stage, a rain of red and blue lights constantly fell on the members, making their music even more bloody violent. The fact that the live singer kept swinging his microphone stand was almost menacing and dozens of pairs of eyes in the front row followed his every move. During “Destroyer” and “Incipit Satan”, clawed hands emerged from behind the barriers as the frontman shouted the lyrics. Some fans then came alive from behind the barriers, causing them to shake wildly. All in all, a high-adrenaline and frenetically entertaining closing set for Gorgoroth, who closed at 10:55 PM with only an hour to go with the track “Unchain My Heart!!!” from their 2000 album “Incip Satan”. From the first track to the last, the audience was extremely receptive, which is understandable considering they are a historic band in their genre. Having them here in Turin on a warm spring evening feels like a real gift from Satan. The band has had significant lineup changes and problems with the law, but this is still Gorgoroth. They simply hint at a magnificent aura of gravity. They feel big, they feel exuberant and they completely filled the Audiodrome hall. Black metal at its best.

GORGOROTH

AETERNUS

DEATH RATTLE

ARCHAIC

Northern Genocide & Roju live at Monttu New Level Pori (Finland) 11.4.2025

On April 11th, Northern Genocide and Roju performed on the Monttu New Level stage in Pori. The night started with the energetic nu-metal of Roju, whose sound combines the old era of nu-metal with a powerful mix of metalcore, djent and modern metal. The show was a bomb of energy accompanied by the theatricality of the singer who is able to convey strong emotions through the use of various vocal techniques and body movement. Northern Genocide continued the night, combining industrial influences and melodic death metal in their music. The band stood out in their live performance for their technicality and energy with inevitable headbanging.
Here some photos taken by our reporter Cristina Gregori.

Ikinä & Kalmantach live at Monttu New Level, Pori (Finland) 5.4.2025

Opening the evening at Monttu New Level in Pori was the progressive death metal band Kalmantach. The band did their come back in 2022 and last year release and EP “F60.2: Remissio”. The band did an impeccable show, which managed to warm up the audience before the main act.
Ikinä, embracing the dark and the versatility of their two vocalists, claims the throne as the leading Finnish-language metalcore band. The band has an incredible energy that captivates the audience live. During the performance of their latest single “Jumalatar” (which was recorded with 16 guest female vocalists) the audience went wild. The band was able to make the audience moshpit, which is often difficult to engage in in Pori.
Here the photos taken by our reporter Cristina Gregori.