Sold out Hellsinki Metal Festival was held second time in the heart of Helsinki
On the 9th and 10th of August Helsinki Ice Hall was gathered with bunch of metal fans for the second celebrating of Hellsinki Metal Festival. Day 1 set the stage with thunderous performances, and on Saturday, the energy was at an all-time high as we dive into an as epic lineup as on day 1. Whether you were there to discover the next big thing in metal or checking out the legendary bands unleash their sonic onslaughts, this festival promised an unforgettable experience once again.
Our day started with the Finnish newcomers, Crownshift. Their excellent performance on the second stage didn't let anything to be based on guesswork as you could really see what's the next new thing to be talked about for the next couple of years. Including members from MyGrain, Children Of Bodom, Nightwish and Finntroll, you could tell that the lineup is nothing more than professional. Tight playing and -singing and good songs - what else would a crowd like that want? Eager to see where the band is gonna take themselves during the next couple of years.
Second band for us was then Blackbraid. Blackbraid took the stage in a shroud of atmospheric black metal that’s as haunting as it is captivating. Hailing from the forests of the Adirondacks (New York), Blackbraid brings a unique blend of raw, primal energy and deeply immersive soundscapes, weaving a narrative that feels both ancient and immediate. From the first chilling notes, the band creates an otherworldly atmosphere, drawing the audience into a soundscape that is rich with melancholic melodies, furious tremolo riffs, and the relentless blast beats that are hallmarks for them. Long songs with different atmospheres offers at least some parts for every listener to hold on to. The primal forces of nature and the rawness of human emotion are brought to life through their music. Blackbraid's show as a whole was clearly an experience and their music really spoke to people. Definitely one of the most interesting finds for us during the whole weekend and clearly ones to watch.
On the third stage there was Finnish Havukruunu getting ready for their set. Their ancient mysticism and pagan spirit fit well to the darkness of indoor stage. Crowd seemed to enjoy their set and there were bunch of people checking them out. Finnish pagan spirit black metal is in good hands.
Then it was time for the finn-favorite Insomnium. Their basic good melodic death metal drag audience to witness their rare set in Finland as the band seem to be touring more in Europe / USA. We haven't seen Insomnium for a while so it was great to see them again as the last time was couple years ago. Hoping to catch them a bit more often though.
After Insomnium it was time for the German heavy metal legend Doro to take the main stage. The Queen of Metal herself, Doro Pesch, is welcomed with applause and chants of adoration as she steps into the spotlight, exuding the timeless charisma and fierce energy that have made her an icon in the metal world for decades. With every song, she commands the stage like a true metal warrior and engaging with the crowd. Doro's band also is in great shape and you could tell that everyone on stage is having fun and best times of their lives.
The setlist is a celebration of Doro’s illustrious career, featuring timeless hits from her days with Warlock as well as newer fan favorites. Songs like "All We Are" and "Für Immer" are met with fervent cheers, as the crowd joins in, singing with their fists raised high. Including a Judas Priest cover "Breaking The Law" also gets the crowd hyped.
Closing the set with a triumphant flourish, Doro thanks the crowd with heartfelt sincerity, her smile radiant upon the stage. For us it was the first time seeing her live but definitely not the last time. One of the best shows on day 2 for sure.
When Doro's outro song was still playing from the speakers, on second stage intro was already rolling. It was time to get heavy with the Norwegian black metal legend, Abbath. Abbath’s razor-sharp guitar work, accompanied by relentless blast beats and thunderous bass, is both punishing and mesmerizing. True to form, Abbath's performance is as much a visual spectacle as it is a musical assault. His charismatic stage presence, complete with dramatic poses and faces attached to the fiery energy, brings a sense of grandiosity to the performance that perfectly complements the relentless black metal assault. Adding pyro and sparkles to the mix, it's like a state of war.
During Abbath's performance you could easily spot a bunch of different corpse paints within the crowd. Overall, Abbath's set was great and his setlist mostly containing Immortal material really brought the audience.
As the evening was getting darker, the legendary Swedish pioneers of djent, Meshuggah, took the stage at Helsinki Metal Festival, bringing their complex and brutal sound to an eager crowd. Known for their precise, polyrhythmic onslaughts and mind-bending time signatures, Meshuggah delivers a set that is as much a feat of mathematical precision as it is a masterclass in sheer, unrelenting heaviness. Tracks like "Bleed" and "Demiurge" showcase the band’s ability to combine crushing heaviness with precision timing, leaving the crowd in awe of their musicianship.
One of the perks for Meshuggah playing the second last set on the main stage is, that you could at least see the musicians bit more as there was still some daylight on and the stage wasn't filled with strobe lighting. Overall, Meshuggah has once again proven why they are the undisputed gods of djent, delivering a performance that is not just music but a complex, mind-altering journey into the realms of rhythm and sound.
A wave of soaring anthems and infectious energy were about to rumble on stage 2 as the Swedish HammerFall were about to start. HammerFall delivers a set that’s equal parts nostalgia and pure heavy metal joy. Guitarists Oscar Dronjak and Pontus Norgren trade off searing solos and harmonized leads with effortless precision, their guitars shining brightly under the stage lights as they rip through classics like “Hearts on Fire”, “Let the Hammer Fall” and “Blood Bound”.
Overall, HammerFall's set was a great dose of power metal to end the night on stage 2. Filled with pyro their set was a celebration of power metal.
At the indoor stage, it was time for another legendary Norwegian black metal act, Trelldom. Trelldom, that consists the legendary Gaahl, started their doomish black metal with an experience. Their ritualic performance captured the audience within a spell and you could feel the emotion or two in there. Not much of our cup of tea but audience was really enraptured. For us it was about time to change the stage for one last time to the main stage...
Headliner for the day 2 was the German thrash titans, Kreator. Their huge stage props made the stage look huge. As the curtain dropped, Kreator were ready to deliver a punishing set that would close out the festival in a blaze of fury and adrenaline.
From the moment Kreator launched into their opening track, the crowd erupted into chaos. Circle pits were rolling and once the ever-charismatic frontman Mille Petrozza threw the gas in the flames to encourage the crowd for even bigger pit, crowd obeyd. Each song was delivered with precision and intensity, from classics like "Phobia" and "Flag Of Hate" to newer hits like "Satan Is Real" and "Hordes Of Chaos". Ending the show with the classic "Pleasure To Kill" sealed the wonderful set.
The band's tight, explosive performance showcased why Kreator remains one of thrash metal’s most enduring and influential acts. Petrozza's speaks telling that this was their best performance in Finland including the crazy crowd really was in place. Good ending for the festival on the main stage.