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2006-6-30
– 07-02 FI – Helsinki - Kaisaniemi |
For
weeks I am looking forward to this metal festival in the center
of Helsinki and to some bands in particular. Certainly I will
also give those bands a listen, whose name I haven't even heard
yet.
:: pics :: © Anssi :: José Carlos Santos » José :: I have to apologize for the perhaps too long report that will follow now, but 3 days of a tightly scheduled festival cannot be packed into 2 lousy pages. A few things have changed compared to 2005: now there is a grocery store on wheels for example, a coffee stand (which was especially worthy on day 2 after a hard night and nasty Salmiakki – bah, how could I?!) - nomen est omen, and there are people who go to TUSKA OPEN AIR even with broken legs. FRIDAY June 30 IMPALED NAZARENE got the festival-ball rolling: A decent shout of Suomi Finland Perkele into the crowd and world in general starts the set of Impnaz. This seems to impress even the weather, because the sun hides behind a huge cloud and wouldn't come out too soon anymore. Fine with me, I cannot stand the heat anyway. The place before the stage is not exactly full, because people are standing cosily about, but it's not empty either. The first few rows start their dance quite slowly yet intensively, the backrows get accommodated by airguitar posing. After half of the set, more and more people are leaving the scenery to get some drinks instead. IMPALED NAZARENE finish their gig with words that sound rather pissed (positively pissed of course) and have managed to not do anything abnormal at all, which is why I'm considering to take this as a weak day of theirs, haha! (Seriously, I think we all know why...) Right after Impnaz, MOKOMA are starting to play on the Sue Stage, FREEDOM CALL on the Inferno Stage. Since I am more into MOKOMA, I will attend this gig first. The band is well received from the beginning; the audience is clapping their hands while an Intro is playing: merry-go-round music and Radetzky march, haha. (Where am I?) At first, the sound is not the best, blurred a bit, but the fans don't take this too tragically. Unlike with Impnaz, they are standing quite dense here and start headbanging right away! A look behind and to the sides proves that MOKOMA have a solid fan base of mentionable size. The second song receives extra applause and from the third song on, people seriously start dancing. I am impressed. However, I
will give FREEDOM CALL also a listen, so on to
the Inferno Stage. Nice sing-along tunes sound from there, unobtrusive,
light, almost relaxing. The audience is not big but those few
who are there seem to be real fans, enjoying every minute of the
gig. One very good Power Metal song finds it's way even to my
ears. Some more engagement on the bass would have been nice, but
on the other hand I wouldn't want to do any extra moves either
when performing in a longsleeve shirt at an average "outside"
temperature of 27°C and even more „inside“ with
the spotlights directed at me additionally, hehe. Anyway, these
guys can sing indeed. Some pink hats and sunglasses are being
raised – only the Finns know why – the band wants
the audience to participate in singing which they in return won't
do. ANATHEMA are to play now on the mainstage. This is definitely the wrong time: 4:30pm, at 27°C, all the power of the sun in the face, thus an appropriate ANATHEMA feeling won't come up – especially after this dynamic performance of Mokoma. People are not exactly hurrying to the mainstage either. Well, I am going to the entrance to sit under a tree outside and escape the way too hot sunrays – I can listen to ANATHEMA from there too. That was a bad decision. Only minutes later I am chatted up by a bible person who is discussing with me for the following 15 minutes until I am leaving inside the festival area again. I'm sparing you the details. The festival goes on with DEATHSTARS on the Sue Stage and SUBURBAN TRIBE on the Inferno Stage. DEATHSTARS are fascinating for one reason only: they are apparently attracting all sorts of fans, even those who would not admit it later on. People are seriously moving, headbanging, dancing... the tent is full and the meadow on the tiny hill in the back is densely populated too. I am stunned. Personally I don't find it too interesting, and the fronter could have spared me the feather boa too. The sound is round, the vocals are transmitted clearly too. Sometimes they're too creative on the instrumental and vocal side *ahem*, some tones just won't come out as intended, but after all this is a live gig. Well, on to SUBURBAN TRIBE. Now this is a completely different sound experience. For some reason there are not as many people as I expected (they are all at the Sue Stage, which they will deny later on ;-)). But those few are true fans and support the band with devotion. There's good atmosphere in here, and the band plays two encores even. Altogether this gig was appealing and way better than average. The next act on the mainstage is going to be SONATA ARCTICA. The place before the stage is already crowded and it's difficult to find a good spot to stand and watch. I feel that this band is slowly going down regarding quality, and especially regarding Tony Kakko as live singer. But the hype is big and ever growing, and perhaps they are much better on native soil than on tour. The stage banner/picture looks pretty. But this doesn't make up for the weak singing performance. I am not disappointed because I noticed at previous gigs that Tony Kakko seems to have a short breath onstage. Well, now I am fully convinced that SONATA ARCTICA are not an exceptional live band, at least not for my taste. Some hair-shaking, microphone hurling and hysterical Die! Die! Die! shouts don't make a good live singer. The musicians and pyro-technicians seem to do a good job, although especially the pyro-show seems a bit over-the-top for my taste. That's about it; nothing more to tell from my side. Meanwhile, ARCH ENEMY and WINTERSUN get ready to metal up the fans' asses. ARCH ENEMY start off by brute force, the audience is totally with them and euphoric and the tent is full to the rim and further. For the first time, the security is really busy. Angela Gossow stirs up the people in front of her and onstage too, everyone is getting more and more heated (the security too). A great show – everyone is pleased (except for the security). I am trying to make my way through, out of the tent to get an impression of WINTERSUN, over at the Sue Stage. Well, there I find a similar intensity: Jari Mäenpää is just throwing in a killer solo, fully engaged as are all other musicians too. I am starting to wonder why these two bands didn't get to play on the mainstage. After a couple of songs I must admit that WINTERSUN are very convincing live. Back to ARCH ENEMY: The last song of their set has started and is a typical ARCH ENEMY melodic Death Metal killer tune. Though they prolong it a bit too much for my taste, it still doesn't lose a tiny bit of intensity. The atmosphere inside the tent is like this: they've given the crowd a neck breaking hell of a joyride and now are bringing them to the next stop.... or something like that ;-) the great party is over, everyone is just brimming with bliss and joy and now it's over. No encore. As highlight and last band of the day, the SISTERS OF MERCY are about to enter the mainstage. Since this is totally not my cup of tea, I am heading for the hotel to get ready for the follow-up: SCORCHED EARTH TACTICS, ENOCHIAN CRESCENT, SILENTIUM and KORPIKLAANI at Club Nosturi. It's going to take a long time until I get some lousy hours of sleep! SATURDAY July 1 STAM1NA are opening the second festival day, on the mainstage. There are not yet too many visitors and those who are here, look very exhausted. I am no exception, but since I won't see this band in the near future again, I do not let sleep take over. STAM1NA play groovy Metal in typically Finnish manner (meaning you could put a label on the music and yet know it's not close enough to what is really played) with en extra twist that makes it different. Erm... you better listen to the samples on their website if you too find this description crappy ;-) Slowly the audience is awakening and let the highly motivated band drag them along. Now it's time for PAIN CONFESSOR on the Sue Stage and APRIL on the Inferno Stage. I nearly fell over backwards. PAIN CONFESSOR, of who I haven’t even heard the name before, deliver such a tight melodic Death Metal show that I am totally forgetting about APRIL (who I haven’t heard of either). A dense sound, crisp and precise riffs, catchy melody lines, an active bass playing, good singers, what else could you want? The audience is enthusiastic too, at this (relatively) early hour. There's much posing going on onstage but hey, it suits the atmosphere! The security is busy too. Our dear host is introducing DIABLO. Oh man, he sounds poor, hehe. Seems he's had a crazy night too. But now: on to DIABLO. I am very curious about this band because I am counting their album to my personal classics. Can they keep up the quality in live situations too? Shadow World from the latest album Mimic47 marks the beginning. Well... the kick-off song is not as intensive as I expected, to be honest. The next one from the Eternium album – Icon Of Flesh – sounds better already. Slowly they're gaining attention. Read My Scars makes people sing along – the band-audience relation is getting better by the minute. Damien – ha, now we've landed! A plastic bottle is speeding too fast for my taste past my face, hitting a person next to me. C'mon people, no need to get silly on the second day! DIABLO are getting more and more intense, and from the second third of the set on, they capture the audience and create a real good festival feeling. In between Nygård animates to shoutings of Perkele. This is generally the most important word throughout the three festival days: hardly any Finnish band who is not kicking off chants of perkele. Well, so be it, perkele! The first rows are headbanging to Condition Red and in the end D.O.A. hits like a bomb, catchy as hell. That was a really fine gig and I am very pleased. It does not happen too often that bands play exactly those songs that are my favourite ones too. Time for a
break. I'm in desperate need of water and a shadowy place. Despite
they kept splashing water into the audience and on the ground;
it is still way too hot. And this Salmiakki stuff from the night
before is still causing some minor troubles.... Well, AMORPHIS have enough routine and live experience to know where to put in improvisations, fill-ins, and still stick to the CD-versions of songs sufficiently. So altogether this is a solid performance of an experienced band, not at all disappointing. With the full force of a brutal sun in their faces (you should have seen this... ;-) ), they serve a mixed setlist of old and new songs, just like on tour. Since I am not so into METSATÖLL, I decide to give NINE a Chance. These guys are playing a punk-associated mix of Hardcore and something else, presenting this with according gestures and show. What to think of this... I don't know. The music is not so much rhythmic, nor can I make out anything that would catch my entire attention. After the fifth song of NINE, I'm considering to go to METSATÖLL instead. In the end I would sit down on a remnant of what once was green grass, behind the Sue Stage, Polka Black Metal ringing in my ears. How great. I need coffee... Next appointment: OPETH! What the hell. The entire area before the mainstage is TOTALLY PACKED with people. I haven’t expected such masses, though I know there is a great hype about the band, also up here in the north. So I am not even trying to get a little bit closer to the stage. Similar as with Anathema, OPETH do not convincingly come across with this kind of music being played at full sunshine. Even the banner seems slightly ridiculous under such circumstances. Only the people in the front rows seem to entirely enjoy the gig. The middle and back rows just try to laugh at Mr. Åkerfeldt's jokes and entertaining remarks, and drink beer. Alright folks,
now the time is ripe for some kickass music - KALMAH
on the Inferno Stage! EPICA I will skip therefore
completely. The band is expected with anticipation and the fans
are somewhat nervous, until KALMAH finally step
onstage. Quite a lot of people are celebrating the following party! The last band
of the second festival day is VENOM. Unfortunately
they are having serious problems with the sound at first. No guitars
are audible, no vocals, only bass and drums. SUNDAY July 2 VERJNUARMU are opening the last festival day. I am a bit late because the band is already playing, and again there are more people present than expected. Some songs I can recall, others seem very unfamiliar. Everyone in the band has put on his make-up, costume and attitude; the fans are satisfied. Applause and Perkele. At the same time, MENDEED from UK are playing their version of Metalcore: screaming, posing and a dramatic touch. I am not sure if I like this or not. It's not bad but I wouldn't want to buy an album immediately. The drummer of MENDEED deservers an extra note: the patterns in his drumming sound quite interesting and also the "kick" seems excellent. SODOM on the main stage later are not my kind, since I'm not too fond of German old-school Thrashmetal. Apart from that I have seen them too many times within the past twelve months. So I will rather sit down somewhere and have a little nap. When I'm moving my feet to the Inferno Stage, I can hear 2 encores of which one is Ace Of Spades. Nice. Still not my cup of tea. The audience doesn't seem enthusiastic either (no frenetic applause, the place is not crowded, the main bulk of people seems to rather sit anywhere than close to the stage, drinking beer or eating something. Only the first few front rows seem to have had their amount of fun). After SODOM, SWALLOW THE SUN present themselves on the Inferno Stage. Our host has become nearly speechless meanwhile, which will probably not change anymore till the next Tuska, I guess :D Man, I don't want to suffer these knots on his vocal chords, that's for sure! SWALLOW THE SUN start with an excellent sound: clear, fat and heavy. The sun has disappeared behind a band of clouds which is good for building up the appropriate atmosphere that is required to enjoy doomy music live. Also the fact that the stage is under a roof contributes to a better feeling than there was with Opeth and Anathema. The towing, heavy music, the damped yet flowing feeling of the songs seem to really absorb the audience. There are not so many people under the roof of the Inferno Stage though. Perhaps because the band has been overly present lately? Bass and Drums hardly ever do any tempo-mistakes, which is somehow remarkable since the overall tempo lies somewhere between slow and even slower... The last piece is a midtempo song, for waking up perhaps. Altogether it's a good doom performance, I am not disappointed. Funny general remark aside: Finnish people don't demand encore from Finnish bands in their native tongue but in English. A simple "lisää!" doesn't sound demanding enough perhaps ;-) Since I concentrated on SWALLOW THE SUN, I skipped GOJIRA. TAROT are entering the mainstage. Somewhere between Heavy Rock and Powermetal, they are pulling off their set with routine and especially with fun. They seem to have a mentionable fanbase, the gig is well visited. Since TAROT are anything but new to this business and especially performing live, they know how to entertain the audience. The singer seems quite unimpressed by the piercing sun, running, posing and moving across the stage all the time, with sunshine in his face... (!). Also the musicians seem to take it easy and are very mobile too. In between some jokes are being cracked, some perkele is being said, and a song is being dedicated to the bible folks outside the festival area. A solid show with much routine (not in a bad sense though), and in the end, TAROT invite everyone interested to a round of posing so everyone gets his personal picture from/with the band :D I like this humor. The festival is coming to its end – for me there is only one more band to see: BURST and perhaps TIMO RAUTIAINEN. I will definitely leave out CELTIC FROST because I am so damn tired that I could fall asleep even with bombs detonating next to me. BURST from Sweden seem to play a sort of Emo-Metalcore-Mix, hop around accordingly, with much of a melodramatic attitude. Well, at least one fangirl keeps the band happy with hysterical screams between breaks. Again – as seems to be the rule with such student/college-look bands – the drummer seems to do a good job, his playing is enthusiastic and varied without the drama-touch. Still: I need sleep and silence. TIMO RAUTIAINEN on the Sue Stage plays as expected something like hard rock. Nice, but nothing that would wake me up having reached this level of sleeping deficit. A great festival, very well organized, disciplined behavior of the fans though everyone was obviously having great fun and joy indeed, the security was top too (though sometimes perhaps a bit too fussy). Let's hope this festival returns in 2007! You can find
good pictures and impressions of TUSKA OPEN AIR
2006 on this site for example: And thank you too to José Carlos Santos that we can his photo gallery too, cheers! :) And certainly you may go visit band-homepages for specific band pictures. |
| story © Dusk |
