Black Veil Brides cast their shadow over Nummirock Friday with their long awaited return to Finland

Friday at Nummirock once again proved why the festival remains one of Finland's premier destinations for heavy music. From Finnish legends and rising underground talent to international names, the day offered a balanced mix of melancholy, aggression and memorable performances even if one highly anticipated set never happened.

Moonsorrow brought their unmistakable blend of epic folk and black metal to Kauhajoki for what was their only Finnish performance of the summer. Their melancholic compositions echoed perfectly across the festival grounds, creating one of the day's most atmospheric moments.

After Moonsorrow, Wacken Metal Battle competitor Eartheria had half an hour to introduce themselves to the Nummirock crowd, and they certainly made the most of it. The band delivered a relentless 30-minute assault that barely allowed the audience to catch its breath. One of the highlights was the addition of a saxophonist, whose performance added an unexpected layer of depth and personality to the band's sound, making them stand out from the day's heavier offerings.

If there was one performance guaranteed to ignite the audience, it was Stam1na. The hometown heroes of Finnish metal received a hero's welcome, with circle pits spinning almost immediately as the band launched into a set packed with both classics and newer material. As always, the band's between-song banter was entertaining in its own right, adding humor and personality between the chaos. There were no slow moments as Stam1na simply kept the pedal to the floor from start to finish, delivering hit after hit while the crowd responded with nonstop energy. Setlist also had some songs that they haven't played much on their previous tours so that was for sure a nice add-on as well.

Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan. Immortal Disfigurement, fronted by former Lorna Shore vocalist CJ McCreery, cancelled their appearance at the very last minute. Despite the band already being in Helsinki, their equipment was reportedly elsewhere, making the performance impossible. As a result, Kaunis Kuolematon stepped in and began their set 15 minutes earlier than originally scheduled, ensuring the stage didn't remain silent for long.

One of Friday's most anticipated international acts, Black Veil Brides, closed the evening in style. Having seen the band just a week earlier at Download Festival, where massive LED screens and pyro accompanied the performance, it was fascinating to experience a completely different production at Nummirock. This time, the band relied almost entirely on themselves and minimal, dark stage lighting. Without elaborate visuals or fireworks, the performance felt intimate yet powerful, with the minimalist presentation perfectly complementing the band's gothic aesthetic. The set balanced newer material with fan-favorite classics, giving both longtime followers and newer fans plenty to enjoy. Since their last visit in Finland, they've released bunch of new music so their return to Finland was for sure wanted.

With that our Nummirock is finished. Festival, which celebrated its 40th anniversary, showcased everything that makes Nummirock unique: Finnish metal icons, promising newcomers, unexpected schedule changes handled professionally, and international headliners whose performances felt uniquely suited to the festival's atmospheric midsummer setting. It was another unforgettable festival where the music spoke louder than any production ever could. Until next year...