Photo Reports

Draconian’s grand finale: An unforgettable evening in Kortrijk

On Nov. 17, 2024 Draconian concluded their “30th Anniversary Tour” with a breathtaking performance at DVG Club, Kortrijk. The intimate venue was packed with dedicated fans eager to witness the show. The evening opened with Greece’s Fragment Soul, whose progressive doom melodies set a haunting yet mesmerizing tone. A perfect choice to start the evening and get everyone in the mood. Following them, Nailed to Obscurity brought their signature blend of melancholy metal, whipping up the crowd with raw emotion and precision.

When Draconian finally took the stage, the atmosphere peaked. The band delivered a flawless setlist, mixing classics like ‘Death, Come Near Me’ with songs from their more recent albums. The dual vocal interplay between Anders Jacobsson and Lisa Johansson resonated deeply as their voices wove sad tales of despair and beauty. Every note of Johan Ericsson‘s guitar seemed to carry the weight of three decades of passion and dedication.

The evening was a fitting tribute to Draconian‘s legacy, filled with gratitude and connection. As the final notes ebbed, the audience stood in awed silence before erupting in applause. For those present, it was an evening they will not soon forget.

In November, Benighted and Baest stopped in Ghent with their “Beast against Beast” European co-headline tour. During the tour Coffin Feeder was the special guest, and tonight Carrion was the local support. Unfortunately I had to miss out on the always great Carrion due to circumstances, but overall this was an absolute killer of an extreme metal night!

Raskasta Joulua in acoustic turned out to provide a very different experience than their usual gigs. The atmosphere of this show was way more emotional and intimate than its heavier counterparts. The short set at Tampere’s Kaleva Church felt like a relaxed evening of singing Christmas corals with friends and family.

For this set the Raskasta Joulua line up was stripped down to just the band (Timo Pudas, Erkki Silvennoinen, Erkka Korhonen, Tuomas Wäinölä and Mirka Rantanen) and three singers, Antti Railio, Marko Hietala and Ilja Jalkanen.

Ufomammut stopped in Ghent with their 25th-anniversary celebration tour in collaboration with VIERNULVIER, Democrazy and Dunk! Records. Huracán was booked as support.

Belgian band Huracán opened the show and brought an intense mix of rock, grunge, and stoner during their performance. Their name, Spanish for ‘hurricane’, lives up to their live performances: what the audience got was nothing less than a sonic storm that didn’t leave you unmoved. From the first song, Huracán set the tone. The band immediately came in with a raw energy that immediately grabbed the attention of the audience. Huracán proved live that they are not just a band, but a force to be reckoned with. Their music, raw and intense, feels even more powerful in a live setting. It is an experience you won’t soon forget, and it tastes like more. If you get the chance to see Huracán live, don’t pass it up. This band brings a stormy, unfiltered energy that takes you away and leaves you full of inspiration and adrenaline

When you go to see a band like Ufomammut live, you know that you don’t just attend a concert. Known for their unique blend of stoner, doom, and psychedelic music, this Italian trio delivers an auditory and visual experience that will put you in a trance. Their performance in Chinastraat, Ghent was no exception and proved why they have been a fixture in the underground metal world for years. From the moment the lights dimmed and the first notes filled the hall, the audience was sucked into an almost ceremonial atmosphere. The heavy riffs and pulsating bass lines not only filled the room, but seemed almost tangible, as if they were undulating through your body. The visuals projected behind the band – a combination of abstract art and cosmic imagery – enhanced the psychedelic immersion. The audience was completely sucked into the experience. There was little movement in the room, not due to lack of enthusiasm, but due to the total focus and fascination that the band evoked. At the end of the set, the applause was deafening, proof of how deeply the music had touched.

40 years – what an anniversary for the Brazilian metal icons SEPULTURA. At the same time, it’s a farewell tour ‘40 Years Farewell Tour – Celebrating Life Through Death‘. A perfect reason to go on a world tour. With 15 albums to their name (the latest long player ‘Quadra‘ was released in 2020), the band has enough material to put on a great show.

The first band in the four-pack of the tour is JESUS PIECE. The metalcore five piece from Philadelphia kicks things off with a bang. There is a small circle pit right from the start. Unfortunately, their performance takes place in front of a very sparse crowd and many empty seats. It’s simply too early, and they suffer from the trend of filling concert evenings with more acts. More value for money – in itself great. But when the first band goes on stage at 6:20 PM, many normal people are still between work, home, and the concert venue. The audience doesn’t quite ignite, which could be due to the thin crowd, the poor sound, and the subpar light show. It wasn’t due to the musicians’ effort.

OBITUARY has it much better as the second act of the evening. The hall is already better filled. Sound is better – light is better. The audience starts to get into it. Furthermore, Obituary has the advantage of a 40-year band history and consequently a larger following. The range of ages present is varied. Musically, it’s a shift to classic death metal. After the first five songs, the first serious moshpits form, deserving of the name. The first crowd surfer of the evening is spotted.

JINJER returns to the metalcore sound and genre. The sound, unfortunately, is not better, the bass booms too much and gets muddled. However, the hall is now really full, properly. Tatiana Shmayluk has the crowd immediately under control, who enthusiastically follows her. The entire floor is united in collective headbanging. The partly quite progressive set of material is gratefully received. The Ukrainian four-piece does not disappoint. Great lighting adds to the overall effect.

SEPULTURA. Bam – the house is boiling over. There is no holding back. The crowd gets what it expects. You can see the band’s enjoyment in playing, as they sweep and dash across the stage. Especially Derek Green (vocals) and Andreas Kisser (guitar). You wouldn’t notice at all that drummer Greyson Nekrutman joined the band spontaneously as a replacement for Eloy Casagrande. Non-stop crowd-surfing begins, and a considerable moshpit in front of the stage gets going. Great animations on the video screens in the background of the stage and on the stage itself provide the visual finishing touch. The madness starts for real when they announce and play songs from the late 80s. Old School Thrash Metal, for example from the album Schizophrenia. After over 2 hours, this spectacle should remain in the memory of all fans. It must. Who knows if they will ever be seen on stage again…

When 3 of the biggest names in the (Swedish) melodic death metal game join forces and create a giant tour branded “Rise of the North” to trek around Europe and bring a night of amazing music and showmanship to fans all around, you know you have to mark it in your calendar. In Flames, Arch Enemy and Soilwork did exactly that, and it really was a tour you didn’t want to miss out on if they came anywhere near you! We caught them at a packed Jäähalli (Ice Hall) in Helsinki, Finland and we saw it was good…

Founded in 2023 in the small town of Rheingau in Germany, THE NEW ROSES landed a track from their debut album on the soundtrack of the TV series ‘Sons Of Anarchy’. Since then, it’s been a steady rise for the German quintet.

To mark the release of their 5th album ‘Attracted To Danger’, the guys are going on tour. With this album and tour, they aim to reach new heights.

To kick off the concert evening, MOONSHOT from Helsinki, Finland takes the stage first. With unembellished, straight rock, they win the hearts of the crowd. The Scandinavians also offer a lot of action on stage, including a theatrical entrance. Musically, they draw from their two albums released so far, and they do not disappoint.

Shortly after 9 PM, it’s time for THE NEW ROSES. Classic rock immediately captivates the fully packed ‘Im Wizemann’ club. Songs from the entire spectrum of all five albums delight the audience, which includes people of all ages, from children to seniors. The music is simply mass and radio-friendly, inviting everyone to sing along. The crowd proves to know the lyrics by heart. For two hours, the Roses play new and old hits, incl. ‘Down by the River’, ‘Every Wild Heart’ and many more, before leaving the stage to cheers and lots of applause.

Simply a successful rock evening!

Hell’s Bells Belgium: Metal Mayhem with a Side of Food

Hell’s Bells Belgium once again brought the metal community together for two days of pounding riffs and raw energy. Officially billed as a “food and music festival,” the event offered a lineup that catered to the heaviest tastes, while the culinary side of things—though decent—left some hoping for more.

Attending only the first day, we were greeted with an impressive roster of performances that set a high standard for the weekend. Triptykon, the day’s headliner, delivered an unforgettable set, combining their signature dark sound with a stage presence that commanded respect. Thomas Gabriel Fischer and the band took the audience on an intense journey through crushing riffs and haunting atmospheres.

Part of the excitement was the (unofficial) inclusion of the  “Endtime signals” tour, featuring Dark Tranquillity, Moonspell, and Wolfheart. Dark Tranquillity showcased their melodic death metal mastery, blending soaring melodies with heavy rhythms. Moonspell brought a theatrical, gothic vibe, creating an immersive experience for the audience. Wolfheart, with their relentless energy, delivered a fiery performance that left no one standing still.

Noticeably absent, however, was Hiraes, a band also featured on the tour but missing from the festival lineup (since this festival was not officially part of the tour). While their absence may have been felt by some, the remaining bands like Primordial, Vltimas, Carpathian Forest, Dead Head, Hellripper and The Monolith Deathcult more than compensated with powerful and memorable sets.

Beyond the music, the festival offered an array of food options to keep energy levels up. While the selection was acceptable, the “food festival” label might have set expectations too high for what was ultimately available.

Despite this minor shortcoming, the atmosphere on day one was electric. Fans filled the grounds, bonding over their shared love for metal and making the most of the vibrant setting. The energy of the crowd, combined with stellar performances, ensured the first day was a resounding success.

For those who experienced only the first half of the festival, it was a night to remember, packed with music and camaraderie. Hell’s Bells Belgium once again cemented its reputation as a must-visit for metal fans, even if its culinary ambitions didn’t fully hit the mark (yet).

Last week, Vola passed through Finland on their ‘Friend of a Phantom’ tour with Charlotte Wessels and Feather Mountain.

The gig started with Feather Mountain giving the most unspectacular entrance I have seen in a long while. No dimmed lights or any intro, as I’d never seen Feather Mountain before, it took me a moment to realise that this time the people walking around the stage were the actual band and not stagehands trying to get things ready. Their show itself though was rather nice, and I very much enjoyed how much emotion singer Mikkel managed to convey with his voice.

It stayed very emotional with Charlotte Wessels performance, especially when she talked about the story behind the song ‘The Crying Room‘ and how hard it was to perform a song about stage fright when you’re dealing with stage fright. To make the situation easier on herself, she put on a comfy t-shirt and then got some snacks from her cargo pants, that she shared with the fans. The set ended in a strong combo of ‘Soft Revolution‘ and ‘The Exorcism‘.

Vola blinded us with all of their light effects. Lasers, big LEDs, plus the normal stage lights, it was a bit too overwhelming in my opinion. And while the light show was very well executed, it was overshadowing the well-thought-out, soft and on point songs a bit. Overall though, the fans seemed to very much enjoy the gig and happily sang along when prompted to. In the middle of their set, Vola looked back at their humble beginnings and told us about how they recorded their first album in their improvised, self-made studio, aka their dorm room. This was followed by the song ‘Gutter Moon‘ from this first album. After about one and a half hours, the show came to an end, and we were sent on our way home with ‘Stray the Skies‘.

On October 30, Trix in Antwerp hosted an extraordinary night of metal music, with Kamelot headlining the show. The evening began with the high-octane performance of Frozen Crown, an Italian power metal band known for their fast-paced riffs and powerful melodies. Their set was tight and full of energy, captivating the crowd right from the start.

Following Frozen Crown, the stage was taken over by Blackbriar, a Dutch band with a unique gothic twist. Singer Zora Cock entranced the audience with her haunting vocals, weaving a spell of dark, symphonic sounds. Their performance was intense, building up the anticipation for the main act.

The third supporting band was Ad Infinitum, a Swiss symphonic metal group led by the charismatic Melissa Bonny. With her impressive vocal range, she brought power and emotion to their performance. Bonny’s dual role as lead singer for Ad Infinitum and background singer for Kamelot added a unique connection to the night’s lineup.

When Kamelot finally emerged, the crowd erupted. The band opened their set with signature flair, combining powerful visuals and impeccable musicianship. Tommy Karevik’s voice commanded the room, delivering each song with passion and precision. The setlist spanned both classic hits and new material, blending the familiar with the fresh. The band’s performance was enhanced by guitarist Thomas Youngblood and drummer Alex Landenburg, who delivered electrifying solos and tight rhythms. Kamelot‘s mastery of theatrical elements was evident in their use of lights and stage effects, drawing the audience deeper into their world.

Throughout the show, the band’s interaction with the audience was genuine and warm. Karevik created an intimate yet powerful atmosphere that resonated with the fans. Every song felt like a shared experience, as voices joined in unison to sing along. Kamelot‘s set was a perfect blend of grandeur and raw power, illustrating why they are regarded as legends in the symphonic metal genre. The audience’s enthusiasm never wavered, maintaining an electric energy from start to finish. The encore brought the night to a triumphant close, leaving fans wanting more. The collective energy in the room was a testament to the impact of live performances and the bond between artists and fans.

The night ended with resounding cheers and the satisfaction of knowing that Kamelot and their supporting acts had delivered an unforgettable experience. Frozen Crown, Blackbriar, and Ad Infinitum provided the perfect lead-up, making the event a complete package of symphonic and power metal brilliance.