Photo Reports

Tampere got an extra special Valentine’s Day gift in the form of Marko Hietala who played in front of an absolutely packed Olympia-Kortelli. As a special guest he brought along Noora Louhimo from Battle Beast who joined on several songs and exclusively on the Tampere show JP Leppäluoto also with a guest appearance during the song ‘Two Soldiers‘.

In addition to songs both from Marko‘s recent album ‘Roses from the Deep‘ and his previous album, there was also a medley of Nightwish songs as well as a medley of Tarot songs. These medleys were especially well received by the fans and brought on a lot of nostalgia.

On a cold February day with a lot of rain, there were long lines in front of the LKA Longhorn. MOTIONLESS IN WHITE were guests on their ‘Touring the End of the World’ tour in Stuttgart. They brought along the Toronto based Canadian deathcore band BRAND OF SACRIFICE and the ensemble FIT FOR A KING from Texas.

BRAND OF SACRIFICE started the show, and with their deathcore, they were significantly harder and rougher than the other two bands. This did not dampen the mood at the LKA. The venue was almost completely filled right from the start. Singer KYLE ANDERSON had an easy time engaging the audience, even though the performance had to take place in rather dark conditions. The lighting engineer either didn’t feel like working or missed the bus and arrived late. However, the sound made up for it.

The heavily made-up and conspicuously dressed audience then enjoyed the performance of FIT FOR A KING. FFAK‘s long-standing stage experience was evident. Synchronized jumps by the bassist and guitarist, a well-prepared singer with a fabulous voice, and his screams gave everyone goosebumps. The transitions between growls and melodic singing passages were seamless. It was a successful performance that the audience enthusiastically appreciated.

The headliner, surely the reason this concert sold out within a few hours, then showed what a perfect show is. MOTIONLESS IN WHITE brought their US stage production to Germany for the first time, according to singer CHRIS MOTIONLESS. The venue was almost too small for the three huge LED screens at the back and the number of light towers on the stage’s right and left sides. Additionally, there were four dancers who repeatedly performed fitting dance routines on stage in changing outfits, ranging from werewolf to steampunk to classic evening dress. CHRIS, in a long dark coat, was the conductor, and the audience followed him willingly and confidently in every passage. Each of the 17 songs, from a set list covering the whole span of their 20-year-long band history, was celebrated frenetically. It was an absolutely perfectly choreographed US stage production in a club location. It was probably one of the last times to see the five guys from Pennsylvania so close and in this special club atmosphere.

They skipped the obligatory break before encores and performed the concert in one go. Thus, a candidate for the concert of the year was delivered early in the year.

Trivium and Bullet for My Valentine on tour together, each playing their 20-year-old breakthrough albums (‘Ascendancy’ and ‘The Poison’) in their entirety. The support act was none other than the rising stars Orbit Culture! Unfortunately they only got half an hour so they couldn’t play a full set, but hey… We shouldn’t want everything, right?

In short, it was another fun night in the Lotto Arena. Those who weren’t there were proven wrong once again!

Getting a show packed on a Wednesday isn’t something everyone can do, but for a group like The Halo Effect no problem. Together with Bloodred Hourglass they brought one heck of a hot show to Tampere’s Tavara-Asema.

I feel like the sound had a little bit too much bass in the mix, at least in some parts of the venue, but the lights were absolutely on point. And all in all it was a great evening with lots of old and new songs.

Eluveitie, Infected Rain and Ad Infinitum all on one evening, that just sounds too good of a deal to pass up. Especially if you’re into female fronted metal.

Although Ad Infinitum hadn’t previously played any shows in Finland except for those on this tour, they still had quite a nice fan base at the show and so Tavara-Asema was already rather crowded by the time that they started playing, and the crowd only got bigger from then on out. If anyone was still sleepy, they certainly got woken up when Infected Rain started playing. They made us sweat. Their show ended with a big bang in the form of a wall of death. Eluveitie felt a little less energetic than the first two bands did, but they were still a lot of fun. I particularly enjoyed ‘The Call of the Mountains‘.

In January, a Grindcore high mass took place in Gentbrugge, The Czech gore grind unit Gutalax visited Belgium on tour accompanied by Birdflesh and Brutal Sphincter. The local support band was Volière. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I missed the performance of the first band Volière.

Brutal Sphincter is a Belgian goregrind band known for their intense live performances and politically charged, satirical lyrics. Their concerts are characterized by high energy, heavy bass lines, and rapid blast beats, often accompanied by crowd surfing and moshing. They have performed at major European festivals such as Hellfest and Alcatraz. The band, known for their mix of humor, political satire, and intense grindcore, lived up to expectations with a show that was both deafening and hilarious. Brutal Sphincter proved once again why they are one of the most talked-about and energetic live acts in the grindcore scene. It was a perfect balance of aggression, humor and social criticism, all wrapped up in a whirlwind of chaos.

Birdflesh is a Swedish grindcore band known for their chaotic and energetic performances. Birdflesh is everything a grindcore band should be — loud, chaotic, and full of energy. But it’s their ability to inject humor and absurdity into their set that elevates them from just another blastbeat-heavy band to something truly unique. They’re not just playing music; they’re creating an experience that leaves you grinning, covered in sweat, and utterly exhausted.

When it comes to a band that can deliver a ferocious, gut-wrenching live show packed with both intensity and a twisted sense of humor, Gutalax is second to none. Known for their over-the-top grindcore and their unapologetic use of scatological themes, the Czech deathgrind act tore through their set, leaving the crowd in a frenzy of moshing, laughter, and pure chaos. There’s also the signature Gutalax humor, which permeated every moment of the show. With their over-the-top lyrics about bodily functions, excrement, and the grotesque, they bring a level of absurdity to grindcore that feels oddly charming. Between songs, they cracked jokes and poked fun at the seriousness of the grindcore scene, keeping the vibe light and absurd. It was grindcore with a sense of humor — and let’s face it, after all the blasting and gnarly growls, a little bit of humor was exactly what the crowd needed. The crowd absolutely loved it. The pit was a whirlwind of activity — from wall-of-death segments to crowdsurfing and moshing. Gutalax fans are some of the most dedicated and wildest in the scene, and it showed during this performance. By the end of the set, the audience was a sweaty, chaotic mess, and Gutalax walked off stage leaving nothing but destruction and a trail of laughter behind.

Time flies when you’re having fun! We again choose to do a “best of” series of the photos we took over the past year.

Last summer I had the opportunity to photograph the Tuska festival in Helsinki, Finland. I was not there for Grimm, but for another magazine I occasionally work for. Therefore, you might discover some new photos here that have never been posted on our platform before.

You can find my selection here with bands like Amorphis, Beyond the Black, Bury Tomorrow, Dimmu Borgir, Infected Rain, Lost Society, Opeth, Tarot, Vola, Zeal and Ardor, Amaranthe, Ankor, Beast in Black, Charlotte Wessels, Dark Tranquillity, Dear Mother, Draconian, Dragonforce, Epica, Europe, Feuerschwanz, Gene Simmons Band, Jinjer, Marco Mendoza, Moonspell, Saxon, Testament, Vandenberg and Luna Kills:

Apocalyptica went back to their roots with their newest album: ‘Plays Metallica vol. 2‘ and on January 23rd they came to Tampere where they played a show at the big auditorium of Tampere-Talo. The show exceeded in every regard, everything from light to sound was on point. Their good mood and energy was translated towards the crowd, and it was impossible to not get caught up in their excitement.

20 years of HÄMATOM and an anniversary album are good reasons for the band to go on a ’20 Jahre Für Euch’ tour through Germany and celebrate German metal. With them as support are the Berlin rockers from ENGST, who can impress with their mix of rock, punk, and a pinch of pop. Another support act is always present, but changes with each gig – in Stuttgart, it was the punk rockers from FOCUS. (FocusPunkt).

In the packed Wagenhallen of Stuttgart, a nearly 2000 people crowd gets together and are properly warmed up for the upcoming spectacle by FOCUS. The singer Eric Zieger, in white tennis socks, pushes the limits, and his bandmates are no less energetic. The audience appreciates it and is surprisingly active for a first support band. The five guys from Riesa know how to convince.

The escalation level 2 rises as ENGST takes the stage for their 40-minute gig. Their 10th anniversary is coming up in 2025, and it shows. They rock the stage with old and new songs from their latest album. The audience is already quite engaged, and the attempt of a first counter-polonaise in the audience is fuelled by singer and namesake Matthias Engst. The punk-rock tinged songs really make a bang. During the last song, guitarist Ramin goes for a crowd-surfing round while playing. We are already looking forward to their own anniversary tour in late 2025, that should at another notch to their performance.

For both openers, the sound is nice, but the lighting is unfortunately unfitting to the band’s great performances. This could have been done much better.

Then a thank-you anthem from HÄMATOM booms from the speakers. It starts. Finally.

The tension reaches its first peak when a unicorn appears in front of the unicorn Kabuki (someone in an inflatable costume, it truly has a comical note). And then HÄMATOM starts. There is no holding back in the hall. The music and the show captivate everyone. A first-class stage with several LED walls, a drum riser that would have done Queen proud in the 70s and 80s. Now it becomes a great spectacle of light and sound. The audience is immediately under the spell of singer Thorsten ‘Nord’ Scharf. The crowd sings and dances enthusiastically. HÄMATOM proves that a great metal, punk, and rock party also works in German. The excellently choreographed show is not even disturbed by a small, short-term microphone selection of the singer. The song ‘Gott muss ein Arschloch sein’ becomes a requiem and a tribute to the unexpectedly deceased bassist Peter ‘West’ Haag in 2023. The obligatory and dreaded drum crowd-surfing by drummer Frank ‘Süd’ Joos is also not to be missed, as well as the bath in the crowd when Nord und Ost play in the middle of the audience.

The January cold did not stop Nonpoint fans from selling out The King of Clubs in Columbus, Ohio on this Saturday night! The line stretched long out the door and around the side of the building before doors opened. The anticipation was building for what would be a barn burner of a show! This was my first show of 2025 and I was beyond excited! I collected my photo pass and headed inside, as fans continued to pour in. It was pretty much a packed house right out of the gate!

To kick-start the night, the band Heartsick from Lansing, Michigan exploded onto the stage. Nonpoint usually chooses other bands that can match their high energy to tour with them, and Heartsick took that challenge extremely well! They are a blend of hardcore and metalcore. Vocalist Alfonso Civile has a stunning range and nails the gutturals. This was the first time I saw the band and I really enjoyed their set!

The amazing Crobot was next in line for the evening. Hailing from the great state of Pennsylvania, this four-piece rock band has a unique and eclectic vibe. They always put on an entertaining set that you rock out to and laugh, sometimes simultaneously! 

And of course, closing out the night was the mighty Nonpoint, wrapping up their last night of the 1st leg of the Painful Statement’s Tour. They burst onto stage in consistent Nonpoint fashion, nonstop high energy. This set was a little different than a typical set. They played their way through the albums ‘Statement’ (2000) and ‘To The Pain’ (2005) commemorating their 25th and 20th anniversaries, respectively. The nu-metal band was formed in 1997 in sunny Florida. The lineup consists of Elias Soriano [vocals], Robb Rivera [drums], Jaysin Zeilstra [guitar], Rasheed Thomas [guitar] and Adam Woloszn [bass]. In between songs, there was a history of the band over the pa system. One fact that I learned was that the original name of the band was Nonpointfactor. 

Throughout the evening, we heard deep cuts that fans do not typically get to hear at a Nonpoint show! They always keep their setlists fresh and this was just another level! These guys are OG nu-metal trailblazers, and their career as a band is a testament to their dedication to the band, their loyal fans and their contribution to the music industry. They give their all each and every night, on each and every tour. Their energy is contagious! 

A special treat at the close of their set was band members from some of the other bands came out on stage to help perform ‘Bullet with a Name’. One band member was in a Sasquatch costume (or was he a real Sasquatch, we may never know). Overall, it was a phenomenal show from beginning to end! If the 2nd leg of the tour comes to your area, you definitely don’t want to miss out!