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Nummirock Friday showcased a wide spectrum of heavy music, from atmospheric metal to hardcore chaos and death metal brutality. They also had the Wacken Metal Battle on the Kaaos stage along with announcing the winner. Despite variable weather and an intense schedule, the day delivered memorable moments and powerful performances. For us the day kicked off with the last couple of songs from SARA , whose performance stood out thanks to their stunning backlight visuals. They brought emotional depth and a well-produced show that created an great start for the Friday. Then after a couple of minutes, Before The Dawn  delivered a powerful and polished set to open the main stage. It was a solid way to kick off the bigger performances of the day. Emperage  brought a more underground, aggressive energy being the first Wacken Metal Band of the day. Their approach focused on old-school heaviness with a raw and unapologetic set. A blast from the past, Endstand  tore through their set with a hardcore energy. Their sound was punchy, fast, and furious — a very nice stylistic shift in the lineup. It was a really welcomed shift in the lineup considering most of being heavy and aggressive. After being off the radar for some time, Misaligned ’s return was a pleasant surprise. Haven't seen them after their name and line up change so it's been a while. Their performance was sharp and well-rehearsed. Definitely the first favorite from the Wacken Metal Battle. One of the most anticipated acts of the day was next, Decapitated  absolutely crushed it. Their precision and brutal technical death metal sound drew a massive crowd, and the pit reflected the sheer intensity of their set. Changing the vocalist for a fellow Finn was definitely a good choice as Eemeli Bodde really stood out. He did a great job with his presence and skills. The band’s tight musicianship and crushing riffs proved why they’re still one of the genre’s leading names. Bringing atmosphere and theatrical flair, Batushka (or their variant, Patriarkh ) impressed with dramatic stage design that enhanced the ritualistic and orthodox aesthetic of their performance after Decapitated . It was really pleasing to watch their show, or should it be more of a performance?, with all that cool ritualistic stage designs and act. Musically, the band delivered their signature blend of black metal and Eastern liturgical chants, creating a haunting and unique moment in the lineup. One of the clear highlights of the day, Fit For An Autopsy  came in hot after a performance at Hellfest the previous day — and you could feel the momentum. Their crushing mix of deathcore and progressive elements hit hard, and the crowd responded with one of the most aggressive pits of the festival. Their set was realy tight and executed with total confidence. This was their third visit to Finland and it seems like that they will be keep coming back to Finland as their fans seems to love them. Next time to catch them in Finland is in December when Fit For An Autopsy will be supporting the amazing Killswitch Engage . Just before Marduk it was also the time where Nummirock announced their Wacken Metal Battle 2025 -winner. Numento won that and as we unfortunately missed their set, they must have done something right. Congratulations for them! Closing out Nummirock Friday for us were Marduk . They delivered a special set to celebrate their 35th anniversary as a band. The performance was steeped in their signature black metal fury, but with a sense of occasion and polish. As they played, the sun began to set behind the stage, creating an eerily beautiful backdrop that added an extra layer of drama to the experience. A fitting and memorable finale to the night.

The unholy trinity of extreme metal was celebrated in Helsinki, Finland this past Tuesday. Thunderous blast beats, growls, and pyro transformed Helsinki Ice Hall into a true extreme metal celebration. Featuring Poland's Behemoth , Norway's Satyricon , and Greece's Rotting Christ , three of the finest bands in the genre delivered an unforgettable experience for every extreme metal fan. The night kicked off with Rotting Christ , led by Sakis Tolis's commanding growls and deep, driving energy. I hadn’t listened to them before, but my first impression was that their music sounded like a Viking raid soundtrack—only more aggressive and without the whimsy of folk. Their performance quickly captivated the crowd, and the standing area was already filling up fast. From the first riff, the Greek veterans had the audience in their grip, sparking the night’s first wall of death and circle pit. Next up was Satyricon . They brought a familiar yet refined presence to the stage, masterfully balancing fierce black metal intensity with moments of almost meditative restraint. The Norwegian pioneers delivered a tight, confident performance, and it was clear they’ve been at this a long time. Frontman Satyr added a special touch by playing guitar on a few tracks, creating a colossal three-guitar wall of sound that crashed over the crowd as the hall filled to capacity. The result was as massive as it was immersive. Satyricon was undoubtedly one of the crowd favorites of the evening—even surpassing Behemoth in some talks in the crowd. Finally, it was time for Poland’s blackened death metal juggernauts, Behemoth . They closed the night with a performance that was both aggressive and theatrical. Behemoth didn’t hold back on their signature visual flair—there were flames, smoke, and dramatic water-spitting, all backed by relentless blast beats and a monstrous stage presence. Tracks like Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer  and Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel , along with old-school classics like Chant for Eschaton 2000  and Christians to the Lions , got the crowd fired up. Overall, the evening was a triumph for extreme metal fans. Even though this was the tour’s only stop in Finland, it left a lingering energy on the walk home. One can only hope we’ll see Behemoth return to a Finnish festival stage next year—but who knows...

Nostalgic German pop/rock band Tokio Hotel finally arrived to Helsinki Finland to end their European tour. Tokio Hotel's last visit in Finland was 2017 so pretty much every one was excited to see the band today. The show was sold out months before as well so you could really feel the excitement. With no opening acts the show started sharp 08:30PM with the singer Bill Kaulitz raising like a phoenix behind the stage along with huge wings attached to Kaulitz's back. "Miss It (At All)" really set the tone for the night with its impressive opening. Crowd was screaming on top of their lungs and everyone was stoked. The second song "Dakside Of The Sun" was also sang on the platform and on the third track Bill Kaulitz finally stepped down and up and close to the stage. Throughout the show there were different types of videos rolling on the big screens as well as separate platforms moving. The band sounded tight considering this was their last show on the tour. Haven't really paid attention the band for a long time but it seemed like everyone was having fun up on stage. Drummer Gustav Schäfer was delivering tight grooves, bassist Georg Listing seemed to be flirting with audience a little bit every once in while, guitarist Tom Kaulitz looked like a rocker with all his cool stage moves and vocalist Bill Kaulitz singing on note and joking a little with his speaks in between the songs to the audience. Overall a great night for Tokio Hotel fans with a setlist being diverse and fans seemed to love them.

After a great show in Tampere, British metalcore group While She Sleeps landed in the heart of Helsinki along with the French ten56. . In Helsinki the venue was Ääniwalli and you could tell that there were more people in the crowd than day before in Tampere. It is Helsinki after all so that's probably not a much of surprise. I arrived to the venue in the end of ten56. but got to see the last couple of songs. Audience seemed to love them and the crowd were more engage than the previous day in Tampere. Good energy within the band still. While She Sleeps started just in time. Their setlist didn't differ much from Tampere although their crew didn't performed the legendary " Ace Of Spades " like in Tampere. While She Sleeps were even more energetic than the previous day. I'm sure the crowd had something to do with that as the crowd went crazy immediately when the band walked to the stage. So many crowd surfers, singing-alongs and aggressive running in the circle pits. While She Sleeps got a lot of energy from the crazy crowd and the vocalist Loz Tay lor also praised them. Taylor also went to crowdsurf during the old classic " Four Walls ". He also told the security to walk away as they didn't do their job that well and that they were "just talking with each others all the time". Fair point though. Overall both Tampere and Helsinki the shows were great. Band gave them all and made the crowd go crazy. Hope to see While She Sleeps return to Finland in the near future for some more headline shows.

The energetic British metalcore group While She Sleeps finally made it to Finland to play their first-ever headline shows. Their small Scandinavian tour included stops in Tampere, Helsinki and Jyväskylä while in Finland. Support act for the tour were French deathcore newcomers ten56. . ten56. kicked off their set just in time. Although I hadn't listened to the band before but their French deathcore really made an impact. Instrumental below the vocals got me thinking a little bit of Attila but vocals made the difference. Vocalist Aaron Matts , previously in Betraying The Martyrs, growled well and the sound was pleasing. Matss also encouraged audience for circle pits and even women got their own pit as well. Overall ten56. set was pleasing to watch and their sound really spoke to the audience. While She Sleeps started their set a bit late but that didn't seemed to affect the overall mood. In fact, one fan in the front row was happily watching a live football match while waiting, so at least someone benefited from extra time! The show started with the brand new tracks Rainbows and Leave Me Alone which got the audience pumped. Third song Anti-Social was at least the song which really got the audience moving and singing well with the chanting chorus " I'm not anti-social, I'm anti-bullshit ". Vocalist Loz Taylor made a couple different visits to the audience walking around the venue, singing in the circle pit and even singing on top of the barrier. Also the bassist Aaran McKenzie went to play into the pit during the first half of the show. The band also asked the three fans who had traveled from Belgium to come on stage to talk about their experience being a fan of While She Sleeps. As the show drew to a close, the band gave their crew a change to shine by performing a cover of Motörhead classic " Ace Of Spades " which was a fun and unexpected addition to the end. All in all While She Sleeps show was fantastic: full of energy and appreciation towards the fans. Even though the show wasn't sold out and there was loose from time to time, fans and the band seemed to enjoy the show nevertheless. Their other guitar player, Mat Welsh however couldn't make the show as he was back home cause of the personal issues so they had Bleed From Within guitarist Steven Jones stepped in seamlessly, handling both guitar and backing vocals with ease. Happy to see band finally making their headline shows in Finland after being here as an opening act for other bands or doing festival shows!

On Tuesday Swiss folk metal classics Eluveitie returned to the cold Finland together with Infected Rain and Ad Infinitum . The show wasn't fully packed like the last time when Eluveitie and Infected Rain played at the legendary Tavastia but there were still a good amount of people to enjoy the Swiss' folk metal. Night started with the symphonic metal band - also from Switzerland - Ad Infinitum who were visiting Finland for the first time. The show started with the brand new song " Follow Me Down " from their latest album, Abyss . Energy was already there and it was fun to see the guitarist Adrian Theßenvitz pretty much smiling throughout the whole show along with the really versatile singer Melissa Bonny . Ad Infinitum  was a first touch for us and really made an impact. Bonny 's versatile vocal work was amazing and all the technical little atmospheric guitar parts that Theßenvitz added to the songs was calming to listen to. Ad Infinitum also had some own lights on stage which made the show visually pleasing. Their short but impressive set was a good starter for the night. Next we had the Moldovan own modern metal powerhouse, Infected Rain . Their trusted sound and stage charisma took the little sleepy audience to its spell at the right times and even a little circle pit got its moments. The stage had couple small LED-screens which were playing different kinds of visuals to the songs. The singer Lena Scissorhands commanded the audience every once in a while to move and after doing that she got the crowd moving. Suprised to see how lazy the audience was for Infected Rain as usually Finnish audience has given a lot of energy for that band... However Infected Rain 's basic but tight set was a good second for the night eventho the crowd wasn't feeling too much. During the last song Lena Scissorhands  climbed on top of the security fence and screamed her lungs out which made the crowd jump. Best effort from the crowd during their show. Lastly but not least we had Eluveitie . Their Swiss folk metal set was filled with newer tracks as well as the fan favorites. When the show started it was a bit weird to see some seated section half empty knowing how packed their last club show in Finland was. Nevermind that, crowd was a bit more hyped for them than the previous acts. You could hear the "hey, hey, hey"'s loudly from the most interacting fans and some rowing circle pit happening. Eluveitie had a huge member change a while back but that didn't seem to bother the energy. Band played tight and the new members really fit well. Songs like " A Rose for Epona " or " The Call of the Mountains " hyped the crowd more and reaching the end of the show crowd was having fun despite their laziness. Conclusion for the night: great bands conquering Finland once again but the crowd's participation for the shows were a little dull. Don't know was it the Tuesday night or having the metal titans Pantera conquering Finland week before but it's been a while since we've seen a crowd that lazy. Let's hope the other shows in Finland were a little bit more energetic so we can get all three bands back to Finland after this tour...

The American groove metal legends Pantera returned to stages in 2025 starting their European headline tour in Finland. Already sold out show in the heart of Helsinki, Ice Hall, where fans were excited to see their favorites ones again and celebrate the life of the long gone Abbott brothers, Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul was a great kickstart for the tour. 90-minute tight setlist that consisted 13 songs was vulgar display of power. The show started with Regular People (Conceit) as an intro song with Pantera home videos rolling on the screens. After that another intro song, In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song) by Peter Ivers & David Lynch kicked in which lead to the curtain fall and A New Level off of Vulgar Display Of Power started rolling. Stage had some pyro in the back while Zakk Wylde was delivering his well-known finest Wylde-type of guitar work with pinch harmonics but still staying true to the long lost brother Dime. Phil Anselmo opened his mouth for the first lines of A New Level and crowd went nuts. After A New Level crowd got more classics such as Mouth For War and Stregth Beyond Strength . When Phil Anselmo introduced the sixth song on the set as an deep cut and a rarity, crowd knew it was time to get some more energy going. The song was Suicide Note Pt. II which choruses groovy riff really got everyone´s head bopping. The drummer Charlie Benante, also known from the legendary Anthrax , was really paying homage to the late Vinnie Paul as his drumming was really tight and on point. It was really cool to say how well Benante has taken its place in Pantera while still knowing not to overstep for Vinnie Paul´s iconic drum parts. During the show we got bunch of different home video footage of the late brothers and crowd seemed to love it. In Floods we could hear that Zakk Wylde might have been a little bit off or lost with some of the parts but I´m sure that´ll be fixed in the next shows. The song right after Floods , Walk , got some of the members from opening bands, Cancer Bites and Power Trip , on stage to get some more power to the iconic chant in chorus. Walk ended with the mashup of the iconic riffs from Domination and Hollow . Domination started with a little tease played by Rex Brown with his crunchy, distorted bass tone. There was a dude a few feet away from me and when the ending breakdown of Domination hit the dude fell to the ground making the security fence fell over. Not sure if the breakdown hit that hard or if he had had a few too much to drink... Show ended with the Cowboys From Hell and after that we still go the encore Fucking Hostile . Pantera’s performance at Helsinki Ice Hall was overall a triumphant return that solidified their place as heavy metal legends. With a perfect balance of nostalgia and raw energy, the concert celebrated their storied past while proving they remain a powerful force in modern metal. Phil Anselmo thanked the fans many times during the show and joked a little bit with fans sitting in the sitting areas around the venue. He also teased with a possible come back to Finland. Also the whole soundspace was so much more tighter and the band sounded so good in the venue compared the few years back when Pantera played in Finland´s Rockfest. That could be explained that the venue was outdoors where the sound could easily wander around the trees etc.. Fans left the show eagerly anticipating the band's next moves on their European tour.

costee ended the 2024 touring to Olympia, Tampere on 28th December. We got to witness the end of the year party with photos and little concert review. The show started at 11pm sharp with no opening acts whatsoever. Costee brought the energy with chill vibes from first song to the last one. From the beginning crowd was in good mood and ready to party along with their favorite songs. During the song "Rakastunut suruun" there was great moment where almost hole crowd participated and started jumping at the same time. From the singalongs during "Pakoon pahaa oloo"  and "Miten sut mielest poistetaan" were import songs for the crowd. Around mid way the show costee also signed one person's butt cheek to make it similar what this person's girlfriend has so they could be matching if the person decides to tattoo it too. Overall the show was fun to watch and the humor and good vibes were there. Costee is definitely a good one to catch in a club environment.

One of the Finland's most popular pop-artist Sanni released her 5th studio album "Muutos" a bit over a month ago. Having received bunch of good feedback from the album, her Finnish tour started from Himos Arena Jämsä in the end of November and now it was time for the already well ahead sold out legendary Tavastia in Helsinki. The show started with the brand new tracks "Roomaan" and "Naapuri" which lead the path for the old classic "Prinsessoja & Astronautteja" . Sanni's well known fiery energy followed through the whole set and it got the crowd jumping and clapping as well as sing-along the classics such as "Jos Mä Oon Oikee" , "Me Ei Olla Enää Me" and "Pornoo" . Show had its clear peak with the songs "Sit Ku Mä Oon Vapaa" , "Pornoo" , "Tyhmä" and "Pojat" mixed together with their high energy as well as the song's "Pojat" new live version with more bouncy beats. Overall the whole show was great and you could tell why Sanni is one of the best pop-acts in Finland. Despite the young age she has really showed her place for here to stay. Just waiting for her to conquer the Helsinki Ice Hall next...

American deathcore legends Fit For An Autopsy  arrived in Helsinki, Finland, on a dark Saturday night. Joining them were metal acts Sylosis , Darkest Hour , and Heriot . Let’s dive into the evening, exploring each band’s performance in detail below. The evening kicked off with the British metalcore act Heriot , formed in 2014. Their aggressive sound, infused with hints of groove, immediately got the crowd moving, igniting the night’s first circle pit. Lead vocalist Debbie Gough  commanded the audience with charisma, and the crowd largely obeyed her calls to action. Gough’s versatile vocal range brought impressive depth to their performance, shifting seamlessly from full-throated screams to more melodic singing. Bassist Jake Packer’s  guttural backing vocals added an extra layer of intensity. Overall, Heriot set a strong tone for the night. Next up was metalcore veterans Darkest Hour , gracing Finland with their presence after a 13-year hiatus. Formed in the mid-90s in Washington, D.C., the band’s experience and professionalism shone brightly, matched only by the incredible energy they brought to the stage. They stormed onstage following a cinematic intro, diving straight into the thunderous opener Perpetual Terminal . Their seven-song set was a masterclass in American metalcore, and the crowd responded with enthusiasm. The set concluded on a high note with a surprising blast of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun , transforming the room into a joyous singalong and proving that even metalheads love to dance. Let’s hope Finland doesn’t have to wait another decade for their return! The third act of the night was Sylosis , hailing from Berkshire, England. The band’s thrashing riffs and relentless energy kept the crowd pumped, with fists flying in the air and the evening’s first stage dives kicking off. Vocalist-guitarist Josh Middleton  charmed the audience with his warm and friendly banter between songs, creating a connection that made their performance even more enjoyable. The band played with precision, complemented by a striking stage light setup. Guitarist Conor Marshall  prowled the stage headbanging, while bassist Ben Thomas  exuded energy, jumping around and playing with grit. Drummer Ali Richardson  anchored it all with his precise drumming. Sylosis delivered a polished and powerful set. Finally, the main act of the evening took the stage. Fit For An Autopsy , who had only visited Finland once before during Hellsinki Metal Festival 2023, proved that this long-awaited solo show was worth the anticipation. The sold-out crowd erupted as the band opened with Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)  by Journey, a playful nod to 80s nostalgia, before diving into the crushing intensity of their new single Lower Purpose . Circle pits raged throughout the set as vocalist Joe Badolato  growled with ferocity, his energy mirrored by the audience’s screams. Guitarists Pat Sheridan  and Tim Howley  added flair with playful antics, making faces and flipping middle fingers, all while delivering razor-sharp performances. The 12-song setlist included fan favorites like Pandora , The Sea of Tragic Beasts , and the epic closer Two Towers . The evening was a resounding success, showcasing an unforgettable blend of deathcore and metalcore from all four bands. With Fit For An Autopsy  delivering such a stellar performance, perhaps a larger venue should be considered next time—they’ve certainly earned it.

On Wednesday evening Swedish metallers Pain returned to Finland with three shows; one in Tampere, one in Seinäjoki and one in Helsinki. The band who just released their new album I AM really brought the energy and comedy to the dark autumn night in Helsinki. The opening act for the evening was also from Sweden, melodic metal newcomers Metalite . The band really seemed to have fun on stage didn´t take themselves too seriously which made them fun to watch. Metalite´s sharp a bit over 35min set was short but it surely warmed up the stage for the legendary Pain. Show started with the classic Same Old Song following with the newer classic I´m Going In . It´s always great to see a Pain show as you immediately know that their going to deliver a great show with their long experience making the show perfectly polished closed to perfection. Songs like End Of The Line, The Great Pretender and Party In My Head got the crowd moving and singing. During the last song Shut Your Mouth there was also an alien on stage hyping up the crowd for the one last time. Overall the evening was great and the light show Pain brought the Finland was really cool. However their last visit in Tavastia one year ago was a bit more captivating with the huge LED screens in the back with different animated videos rolling through the show. It´s still good to have some old school backdrop+lights+tight playing type of shows every now and then though.

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. Evening turned into night and it was time for the last act of the night, Mayhem , who brought one of the biggest crowds during the whole festival to the indoor stage. Starting a bit late, didn't seem to affect to the mood. Mayhem's presence at the festival on a indoor stage is not just a show—it's a pilgrimage to the black metal Mecca, and the crowd was ready to be baptized in darkness. Horror vibe visuals on the screen brough the audience to the darkness even more. Attila Csihar's haunting, theatrical presence, conjures a dark ritual on stage as his guttural growls, and eerie chants echoes like incantations through the night. Dressed in corpse paint and draped in robes, he embodies the very essence of black metal, casting a spell over the audience with every sinister gesture. Guitarist Teloch and bassist Necrobutcher unleash a torrent of harsh, icy riffs that pierce through the dense atmosphere, while Hellhammer's drumming is a masterclass in speed and precision with his blast beats. The setlist, featuring classic tracks like “ Freezing Moon ”, “ Deathcrush ” and “ Chainsaw Gutsfuck ” is a homage to their legacy, each song greeted with roars of approval from the black-clad crowd. As the final notes of “ Pure Fucking Armageddon ” ring out, Mayhem stands triumphant, having delivered a set that is not just a performance but a full immersion into the heart of black metal’s grim legacy. Amazing ending for the Hellsinki Metal Festival as well as the whole festival season overall. Thank you and see you next year!