The Unholy Trinity Tour with Rotting Christ, Satyricon and Behemoth headlining hit Helsingin Jäähalli on Tuesday, April 22nd 2025. Although it felt like the entire metal scene of Finland was at the gig, it was surprisingly not sold out. Despite that, the anticipation of those who were there made up for the empty space. Three bands who never fail to play a flawless, powerful show.
My own personal experience has mostly seen these bands play at festivals, so the slightly more intimate atmosphere of the black box mode of the ice hall brought a new and more concentrated experience. The energy echoed louder and the pyros and light shows hotter and brighter. It felt somehow easier to really appreciate the bands visually and audially. Rotting Christ was full force from the start, maybe a bit more reserved than I have seen at the festivals but it worked in that atmosphere. Satyricon‘s production was way more than I expected, although the band itself kept a more mellow, cool steady stage presence. None the less epic and authentic. Behemoth hit all expectations in the best way possible. Tangible power and raw energy, epic stage setup and pyros, and a perfect setlist. All three bands played their hits, older gems and newer songs. It was interesting to hear Behemoth‘s fresh new singles being played live and see how the crowd reacted, which was mostly just as enthusiastic as when they play the classics. The only thing left lacking was possibly the length of the shows. Such a big production, albeit on a Tuesday, felt like it should have lasted longer (at least longer than festival shows). However, seeing as most of us at the gig are no longer in our youth, maybe it was more appreciated for the semi short but bitter play time.
The UK’s heaviest metal festival, Bloodstock, will take place next month at Catton Park, Derbyshire, from 8 to 11 August 2023. The line-up is immense and varied, including the three brilliant and worthy headliners Opeth, Architects, and Amon Amarth. In addition to huge bands, there are many rising metal acts to catch, so here are some bands we think you should check out over the UK’s most metal weekend!
With BLOODSTOCK 2023 well under way, the festival is thrilled to already be looking forward to next year and announcing 14 bands for the 2024 event. BLOODSTOCK 2024 is set to take place on 8th-11th August 2024 at Catton Park, Derbyshire.
AMON AMARTH are set to headline Sunday night’s Ronnie James Dio main stage in a 2024 UK exclusive show. AMON AMARTH’s chief marauder Johann Hegg proclaims, “England! We are excited to be returning to the Bloodstock hallowed grounds to do battle with you and the Saxon hordes! We look forward to fighting and feasting with you! See you soon.” Check out a message from the band here.
ARCHITECTS will headline Saturday’s main stage in a 2024 UK exclusive show.
On February 24th 2023, Finnish metal melancholists INSOMNIUM will release their ninth full-length, Anno 1696, via Century Media Records. The second single and music video for ‘White Death’, which features guest vocals from Rotting Christ‘s Sakis Tolis, and is directed by Riivata Visuals.
Public Sales for the eleventh voyage of 70000TONS OF METAL, The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise, will start Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 12PM EST (9AM PST, 18:00 CET and respectively 17:00 GMT).
Round 11 will sail from Miami, Florida to Bimini, Bahamas and back from January 30 – February 3, 2023 on board the Freedom of the Seas.
Photo Report: Nummirock 22-25.6.2022 in Kauhajoki, Finland Photography by Serena Solomon
Ah, to be back on the shores of Nummijärvi! Back at our midsummer home! How liberating and comforting it was to be back to normal, back to Nummirock, no restrictions, just festival life as we know it (plus a few extra bottles of hand sanitizer). I have to say though, the atmosphere was a bit more chill than I remembered, whether it was the two years break taking its toll or the simple fact that we were all two years older. Mostly, the crowd and camp grounds were back to their normal crazy selves, but maybe it was the stamina that was tuned down a few notches, or the fact that there seemed to be significantly less attendees than in past years. Either way, it had no affect on the quality of the festival! The weather stayed on the better side of “typical Finnish midsummer weather”, even a bit too much at times. The first time in my memory that the main stage crowd had to be sprayed down by security to keep cool! The festival staff took good care of the artists, attendees, media and staff.
Wednesday provided an extended “pre-party”. As previous years usually kept to the Klubi stage with a few bands, this year the Inferno stage was also open, and included a special performance from the future of music, a local band camp. Highlights from Wednesday included Rytmihäiriö setting the crowd off into their four day spin, mosh pits during Vorna, and the first Estonian band to perform at Nummi in 30 years, Metsätöll, closing out the evening!
WEDNSDAY 22.6: Rytmihäiriö, Memoremains, Ember Falls, Vorna and Metsätöll
Thursday kicked off with Kaunis Kuolematon on a more melancholic note, but maybe a good decision for those of us who celebrated being back at Nummi extra hard the night before. But not to stay somber for too long! Inferno and Main stages were opened by legends! Kiuas and Korpiklaani filled up the 18+ areas as if prohibition just ended. Other highlights from Thursday included Rotting Christ blasting the Inferno stage during a firey sunset, Alien Weaponry giving one of the most memorable Main stage performances I have ever witnessed, and Chamber of Unlight closing the evening with a noteworthy night cap of modern black metal at its finest.
THURSDAY 23.6: Kaunis Kuolematon, Kiuas, Korpiklaani, Carach Angren, At the Gates, Rotting Christ, Crimson Sun, Alien Weaponry, Mimorium and Chamber of Unlight
Friday’s lineup was back to back “can’t miss that” bands. Fear of Domination opened the day with their undeniable dance party that took the conga lines all the way to the main stage for Ensiferum. Dawn of Solace gave us a mid-day cool down, but not for long before Borknagar played a highly anticipated set. Other highlights were Mgła, probably the most anticipated gig of the entire festival for me personally, which went beyond expectation, even more so with the imagery of their blacked out faces against the deep orange of the sunset. Gorgoroth and their spectacle of pure black metal aesthetics. That was really cool to see on the main stage. And last but not least And Oceans closing the evening against a dramatic evening sky.
FRIDAY 24.6: Fear of Domination, Where’s My Bible, Dawn of Solace, Borknagar, Diablo, Mgła, Gorgoroth and And Oceans
Saturday brought the tiny humans back to the festival grounds, mini-metal heads in the making came with their families to see the world famous Hevisaurus, enjoy balloons, rides, and cotton candy, joining in conga lines and flexing their little devil horns! There was a bit of a scheduling fuckup as Sepultura had travel issues, so the beauties from Tampere Burlesque went on earlier than expected to fill the space. Unfortunately many didn’t get the memo in time and missed their first set. Otherwise, highlights from Saturday included a hefty helping of folk metal from Brother of Metal, legends Sepultura and Hammerfall saturating the main stage with all the international music we’ve missed out on these past few years, Turmion Kätilöt giving us some comfort food and a proper closing of the Inferno stage and Apocalyptica as the grand finale. They never fail to impress and seemed as if they also did not want to end the show and would have continued playing all through the night!
SATURDAY 25.6: Hevisaurus, Brothers of Metal, Sepultura, Hammerfall, Turmion Kätilöt and Apocalyptica
As impressive as the lineup for this years Nummirock was, with headlining bands that don’t come to Finland often, the Main stage crowds seemed to be much smaller than previous years. I hope with all my heart this is only due to people being hesitant to commit to attending a festival after so many canceled and postponed gigs, and the next few years will bring things back up to the speed it was going before the world collapsed. Until next year!
Dark Art Conspiracy 
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