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REVIEW: Steelfest 2016, Day 2: Blood, Spikes, Sermons and Sunlight

Apparently Lady Enslain snores. I was informed of this by a mournful snarl from the blanket encased lump in the living area as I bounced around our rented apartment in Hyvinkää making coffee late on the morning of the second day of Steelfest 2016. Apparently I sleep more soundly than I thought, or a glass of red wine truly brings oblivion. I imagine that many metalheads were waking with sore…

After a few hours of rest I needed to get an early start for the day to be prepared to provide assistance with another interview. So I managed to get showered and have a quick breakfast at the Windjammer, while probably still a little drunk from last night before, then sat down at the Schooner Bar to chat with some friendly Americans and have a start to the day with a Bloody Mary. Sadly the name…

#Steelfest 2016, Day 1: Underground metal, blue skies and good friends

This year I started my Steelfest weekend by missing the train from Helsinki on Thursday evening. One does go every half hour at that time, but it is a certain type of frustration to push the button on the doors of the train for it only to start moving instead of opening said doors. Also, when you’re lugging a wheeled suitcase full of photographic prints, duct tape (jeesusteippi) and clothes in…

Roky Erickson plays The 13th Floor Elevators – 25.04.2016 @ Tavastia, Helsinki

Fans of psychedelic rock lined up at Tavastia to see  in Helsinki, playing songs from his band The 13th Floor Elevators, who are credited with being one of the pioneers of the genre.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”135″ gal_title=”Roky Erickson plays The 13h Floor Elevators – 25.04.2016 @ Tavastia, Helsinki”]

Gear Geek: Cannibal Corpse, Krisiun & Hideous Divinity

Now, this article might not be entirely accurate in terms of gear as I was unable to interrogate any band members that night. However, this is what I saw on stage, and this is what I heard.

Coming into Nosturi that night, Hideous Divinitywere completely unknown to me. Their music is well played and very brutal, so I’m convinced and they’ve found a new fan. They sound really tight together, and…

Cannibal Corpse + Krisiun + Hideous Divinity – 21.04.2016 @ Nosturi Helsinki

There is nothing quite like a Cannibal Corpse gig to give you mild deafness and a sore neck the next day, but it’s certainly worth it. After more than a year away, the Americans stormed Nosturi supported by Brazil’s Krisiun and Norway’s Hideous Divinity.

Our Photo Galleries are fully searchable, so go ahead and look through the lot, or search for the band you really want to see with the first…

Ace of Spades: Alan Davey’s ultimate tribute to Lemmy Kilmister and Motorhead live in Helsinki

When thinking about Ace of Spades this immediately comes to mind: “You know I’m born to lose, and gambling’s for fools, but that’s the way I like it baby, I don’t wanna live for ever…”. Alan Davey is a name that is usually linked to Hawkwind, and some lucky ones here in Finland will certainly remember the double show with The Psychedelic Warlords back in 2014 playing the entire Captain Lockheed…

Nile shows Helsinki fans “What Should Not Be Unearthed”, with Melechesh and Embryo

On Wednesday, 30th March, Nile landed in Helsinki together with longtime touring partners Melechesh and the Italian melodic deathsters Embryo to promote their latest effort, What Should Not Be Unearthed, in their second Finnish date of this tour.

In front of  an enthusiast crowd of loyal fans – who showed up at Nosturi to the gig despite being in the middle of the week – the band created by Karl…

Horna + Morrigan + Witchcraft – 26.03.2016 @ Yo-Talo, Tampere

It was a night for the occult as Horna was joined by Morrigan and Witchcraft in Tampere’s Yo-Talo to deliver a night of black metal and blasphemy not for the weak of heart.

Our Photo Galleries are fully searchable, so go ahead and look through the lot, or search for the band you really want to see with the first word in their name.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”130″ gal_title=”Horna + Morrigan +…

NEWS: #Eluveitie part ways with Merlin Sutter, Anna Murphy and Ivo Henzi

Swiss Folk Metal institution ELUVEITIE have just announced the departure of Merlin Sutter (drums), Anna Murphy (vocals) and Ivo Henzi (guitar). The final shows that these members play will be the Fortarock Festival in Nijmegen (NL). But the band will play all confirmed shows with stand-in-musicians (until new members are confirmed).

The band just released this official statement:

With a heavy…

Cannibal Corpse set to tour Europe this April and May

The American Death Metallers Cannibal Corpse are set for another gruesomely unmissable European tour, starting April 14th in Germany. They will be supported on this tour by Brazil’s Krisiun and the Italian/Norwegian Hideous Divinity. The Finnish crowd can catch them on Thursday the 21st of April in Nosturi, where they last played in 2014.

15.04.2016 (DE) FLENSBURG – Roxy (Tickets) 16.04.2016 (DK)…

GALLERY: @RottenSound, Feastem, Tryer, Kohti Tuhoa & Crustofer - 24.03.2016 @Nosturi #grindcore #crustpunk #dbeat

Grindcore, D-Beat, Crust Punk… whatever your flavour of hardcore punk there was something to see as Rotten Sound took over Nosturi late in March, with support from Feastem, Tryer, Kohti Tuhoa and Crustofer.

Petri Eskelinen (Feastem) & Otto Eräjoki (Crustofer) share the stage at Nosturi

Our Photo Galleries are fully searchable, so go ahead and look through the lot, or search for the band you…

PHOTO GALLERY: @MOONSORROWband's Jumalten Aika Release Show, supported by Alghazanth @ Virgin Oil Co. #Helsinki

To coincide with the April 1st release of Moonsorrow‘s 7th album Jumalten Aika, these epic heathen metallers took over Virgin Oil Co. in the Helsinki city centre with a sold-out show. Hel Rocks has put together a double gallery to try and capture the absolute intensity of Moonsorrow in a venue filled with loyal fans, both local and many who had flown from all over the world, as songs from Jumalte…