Category: Photography

Ensiferum – 03/06/2025 – Chicago

Ensiferum has finally returned to us. Not having performed in the Chicagoland area since January 12, 2019 at Joliet’s The Forge. The band was received with a roaring welcome. They came out though like it was just yesterday and went straight into a rocking set. You could tell the fans loved that they came back with the slow trickle of bands that have been making their returns since the “dark times” when bands didn’t tour in the US from overseas. It was a sad time and we are so glad that bands like Ensiferum have returned.

SET LIST
Aurora
Fatherland
Twilight Tavern
Treacherous Gods
Winter Storm Vigilantes
Lai Lai Hei
The Howl
From Afar
Andromeda
Leniret Coram Tempestate
Victorious
Wanderer
Rum, Women, Victory
In My Sword I Trust
Two of Spades

Korpiklaani – 03/06/2025 – Chicago

Korpiklaani returned to the greater Chicagoland area less than a year since their last show. This time opting to play at The Outset in Chicago after that previous May 3, 2024 show in Joliet at The Forge. In recent years, Korpiklaani had greatly reduced their number of bouncy “party” songs in their set opting instead to play more of slower, deeper material. These songs are great in their own right, but lots of fans that were coming out for the drinking and partying had made comments that they missed that side of Korpiklaani. This tour, or at least on this show, Korpiklaani opted to return to a greater mix of the party songs and there was definite pleasure amongst the crowds demonstrated heavily in the pit by circles of fans doing interlocked kick lines and dancing. All in all a great show.

SET LIST

Rankarumpu
A Man With a Plan
Saunaan
Happy Little Boozer
Ievan polkka
Rauta
Aita
Oraakkelit
Kalmisto
Tuli kokko
Vaarinpolkka
Leväluhta
Gotta Go Home (Boney M. cover)
Iron Fist (Motörhead cover)
Viima
Metsämies
Sahti
Tequila
Vodka

Havron – 03/05/2025

Havron is a fairly new band to the Chicago scene having moved to here in 2022, but they have been progressing in leaps in bounds, already playing on bigger shows such as this. The band features some players that are know from their other endeavors including: Lariyah from Iron Wings Tattoos, ViaOmega Magazine, Darkadya Books as well as her other current band Dieve Noire. Josh from bands Akhlys, Aoratos, Havron, Avgrum and Dieve Noire. And Mike from Novembers Doom, Among The Living and formerly from Degredation and Hollowpoint. With that much talent behind the band, it is no wonder that they come out as an opener, but the fans don’t behave like they’re an opener with them jumping and screaming along. All in all, Havron put on a great show.

Aether Realm – 03/5/2025 – Joliet

Set List
Tarot
The Emperor
Death
The Magician
Should I?
Swampwitch
She’s Back
Guardian (With Tyr)
TMHC
The Sun, the Moon, the Star
(Outro)

Tyr – 03/05/2025 – Joliet

Tyr returned to the Forge in Joliet holding the heather hammer high. Although I will admit that I haven’t been getting out to shows lately as much as I’d like to, I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t caught a Tyr show since they played The Pearl Room way back in 2009. I have to say I was quite impressed and will be seeing them again on their next US Tour. Tyr delivered a phenomenal performance coming out strong with the fan favorite, “By The Sword In My Hand” and continued their Pagan/Viking set list and had the crowd moving, moshing and crowd surfing along with the best.

SET LIST
By the Sword in My Hand
Axes
Ramund hin unge
Shadow of the Swastika
Evening Star
Ragnars Kvæði
Hammered
The Lay of Thrym
By the Light of the Northern Star
Hail to the Hammer
Regin Smiður
Dragons Never Die
Blood of Heroes
Encore:
Sinklars vísa
Play Video
Hold the Heathen Hammer High

Tyrantti & Irvikuvat live at Monttu New Level, Pori (Finland) 1.2.2025

Finnish band Tyrantti released their album “Ihmispyramidi” last November, to promote it they went on a tour that touched several Finnish cities including Pori, where our reporter Cristina immortalized the band with her photos. Their performance did not disappoint the fans who crowded under the stage, an explosion of energy and virtuosity accompanied by fun and surprises. For this tour the band has grown, during the live shows in addition to the official members there are the keyboardist Koobra Kovanen (absent for this date) and the bassist Janne Viitanen. To replace the drummer who for family reasons is absent on this tour, in Pori Patrik Fält (Brymir) took care of it. In support the local Irvikuvat, who with their rock/metal alternated with comedy sketches, knew how to do the honors and warm up the audience.
Here the photos taken by Cristina Gregori.

King Satan and The Abbey live at Monttu New Level, Pori (Finland) 10.01.2025

Industrial metal band KING SATAN, known for their mischievous extreme metal and explosive stage charisma, released their fourth album “The Devil’s Evangelion” at the end of 2024 and in support they organized a mini-tour in Finland, including a date at Montu New Level in Pori on January 10th. The band, which is also gaining momentum in Europe, has a “death metal disco” that defies rigid genre definitions and combines influences from industrial, death metal, electronic dance music and symphonic black metal in their music. With their energetic live performances, the band has conquered Finnish rock clubs and the stages of Tuska, Nummirock and SaariHelvetti, among others, as well as concert stages in 17 different countries during their European tours.
The warm-up act for the Pori crowd was the doom metal band THE ABBEY. The band’s debut album “Word of Sin”, released in 2023, has attracted interest from the international rock press and has taken the band to the stage of Tuska, among others, and toured Europe twice.
Our reporter Cristina Gregori was there for the occasion, below is the photo gallery of the event.

Eartheria & Numento live at Meara Klubi, Pori 7.12.2024

The last Meara Klubi of the year saw three bands on the Winston Live stage: I, Cursed, Numento and Eartheria.
I, Cursed is a death metal/grindcore band formed in 2023 who already have a number of live shows and an EP under their belt.
Numento is a progressive melodic death metal band who express their point of view on psychological matters by introducing us to their fantasy world, their latest album “The Antimatter Fantasy” was released last summer.
Eartheria is an extreme metal band who makes precision, technicality, brutality and atmosphere their foundation, their latest album “Accursed In Sleep” was released last October and this was their first live performance after a 4 year break.
Our reporter Cristina Gregori missed the first band due to an interview, but she was ready to catch the moment with her camera of Numento’s first show ever in Pori and the great return on the stage of Eartheria.

Rats Will Feast & Soul Gutter live at Meara Klubi, Pori 23.11.2024

Meara Klubi Vol. 35 was supposed to have Surut as the headliner of the evening, but unfortunately due to illness they had to cancel their appearance in Pori and let the other two bands shine. First on stage were Soul Gutter with their pitch-black death metal. Next up were Rats Will Feast with their energetic hardcore. Below are some shots taken by our reporter Cristina Gregori.

King Diamond – 09/27/2024 – Chicago

After a 5 year absence, King Diamond returned to Chicago last night and delivered an incredible performance. The stage production was phenomenal, the band was tight, and King was vocally locked in, as always. A very well rounded setlist of classics, deep cuts, and new songs to boot. When we’ll hear these new songs on an album remains to be seen, but I digress. I really wondered how a show of this nature would work at the Chicago Theatre, and the answer was surprisingly well. Considering King’s shows are a mix of metal concert and theatre spectacle to begin with, it made sense to see him on a stage famously known for hosting Broadway productions. 10/10 Review by Joe Van Anthony