Meluhaitta kicked off the year with a midwinter-like atmosphere, playing black metal at Annis in Pori, Finland. The headliners were KYY from Lahti, who have already shared the stage with some well-known bands, while Karhunvartijan Tyhjiö from Turku, who play raw pagan black metal, warmed the benches, and Uhrattu, a new name on the local scene, played their debut show.
Here some photos from our reporter Cristina Gregori.
The best of Finnish heavy music performed at the Enersense Arena in Pori last Saturday, November 22nd, featuring Stam1na, Turmion Kätilöt, and Nyrkkitappelu.
The punk rock band Nyrkkitappelu opened the evening, bringing their catchy melodies, electric guitar riffs, and high energy to the stage with a frenetic and energetic performance.
Next up was Stam1na, one of Finland’s best metal bands, celebrating the first two decades of their career with the 2005-2006 Skargelin karkelot tour. The setlist offered a glimpse into the band’s early years, featuring classic tracks from their debut and Uudet kymmenen käskyä albums. The band did not disappoint, delivering an energetic show as only they can.
Closing out the evening was the flagship of Finnish industrial metal, Turmion Kätilöt, who are best known for their intense, sold-out live shows, and also this time they delivered a truly incredible show.
Photos by Cristina Gregori.
Bloodred Hourglass released their seventh album, “We Should Be Buried Like This,” last October. After promoting it with a European tour, they’re now promoting it in their home country as well. Opening for them on this tour is another promising Finnish band, Luna Kills, who released their debut album, DEATHMATCH, last April via SharpTone Records.
We at The Offering had the opportunity to attend the show at Brummi in Rauma.
Luna Kills warmed up the audience with their energetic and engaging show. Talented singer Lotta Ruutiainen captivated the audience with her versatile voice and a stage presence worthy of the most experienced artists.
In addition to playing their new album, Bloodred Hourglass also performed some older songs. The crowd loved every second of their show, forming mosh-pits and fully participating in every single song.
Both bands delivered a flawless, high-quality show that left us wanting to see them again immediately.
Photo by Cristina Gregori.
Omnium Gatherum will release their tenth album, “May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way,” on November 7th. The band, founded in 1996, also has a North American tour planned for November and December, a Finnish tour in January, and a European tour in February and March.
We had the opportunity to chat with frontman Jukka Pelkonen and learn more about the upcoming album, tours, and much more.
Meara Klubi returns after the summer break with two bands that are making inroads into the Finnish scene: ASHEN SKY and Kneel Before The Death.
ASHEN SKY’s music blends elements of both modern and traditional metal. Catchy riffs, powerful choruses, and crushing breakdowns infused with deathcore influences merge with melodic and melancholic tones, creating a striking contrast that channels both aggression and deep emotion. Known for their intense, energetic, and unpredictable live performances, ASHEN SKY delivers a unique and memorable experience for their audience.
Finnish Kneel Before The Death mixes death metal, deathcore, symphonic metal, black metal and electronic music to produce their unique sound. In 2023 Kneel Before The Death started a new chapter in their story with the release of the single Eternal Sleep. Their vision was to create art with an aggressive, theatrical and epic approach. In late 2024 the band released first full-length album.
Both bands were a blast, the energy was clearly palpable, and the audience responded more than positively. Two bands to keep an eye on because they are sure to be talked about.
Here some photos taken by Cristina Gregori.
Unfortunately, this year’s Pori extreme metal festival MonoMassive was canceled, but the Warm-Up evening was held on Saturday, August 23rd at Winston Live. The bands featured were Sacrilegious Impalement and Kuusuo.
To open the evening Kuusuo, an atmospheric black metal band formed in 2016 by Korvus Luna. Kuusuo’s sound consists of cruel vocals, melancholic melodies, dark lyrical themes and effective synth usage with crunchy guitar sounds. The band released their new EP last January. Band’s guitar player Diaemus Turso / Paavo Laapotti is known for being the frontman in a legendary melodeath band Before The Dawn.
Sacrilegious Impalement is a black metal band from Lahti, Finland, known for their destructive, misanthropic, and satanic themes. Formed in the early 2000s, they have released several albums and EPs and are known for their dynamic, atmospheric, and underground Finnish black metal.
Both bands brought darkness and atmosphere to the stage with their music, and the audience appreciated quality black metal.
Here some photos by Cristina Gregori.
As always, another great show by the almighty Alestorm! Alestorm sailed into The Forge in Joliet, IL and blew up the crowd opening the show with “Keelhauled” and continued on with a set of a few new songs and a ton of fan favorites. Fans were packed in like sardines, it felt like 120 degrees, but that didn’t stop the fans. They still all managed to jump in unison and crowdsurfers were flying towards the stage with arms and legs flailing.
Do you like guys in skin tight Goblin suits playing solos on inflatable saxophones? Then you’ll love Gloryhammer. All kidding aside though, Gloryhammer is an awesome high speed power metal band that is all about high energy and having fun. They were the perfect match for Alestorm on this tour and all in all it was a phenomenal night. These guys came out with a bang and didn’t stop until there set ended with the crowd cheering for an oncore on a support act, you know they put on a great show. If you haven’t had a chance to catch these guys live, make sure to head out and see them.
SET LIST
The Land of Unicorns
He Has Returned
Fly Away
Wasteland Warrior Hoots Patrol
Gloryhammer
On a Quest for Aberdeen
Keeper of the Celestial Flame of Abernethy
Universe on Fire
Hootsforce
The Unicorn Invasion of Dundee
I had a chance to catch DieveNoire’s record release show for their new album “The Story of the Gunslinger”. DieveNoire brings together several genres of music making it very difficult to put a label on it. It combines several different styles including rock and metal along with blues and even a hint of old country. Maybe if Black Sabbath met Johnny Cash but with female vocals provided by vocalist Lariyah Perrin. The lineup also includes longtime veterans of the rock and metal scene including Josh Perrin, Lothar Keller, Aaron Esquitin and filling in on bass, Mike LeGros.
Their style is definitely unique, but I’d definitely recommend them for fans of classic rock, blue, doom and country.
As for the show, the band put on a great performance featuring all of the songs off of their new album including their cover of Nancy Sinatra’s, “These Boots Are Made For Walkin'” of which they released their own music video for, as well as the other two songs that they made music videos for “Gunslinger In Black” and “The Graveyard Song”
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.
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