Autumn is here to stay, but thankfully, it means that there are more and more venue shows incoming and bands touring around the world. In the heart of autumn’s embrace, live music enthusiasts gathered at Kulttuuritalo in Helsinki on the evening of October 10th, 2023, to witness a night of electrifying performances by Norwegian black ‘n’ roll act KVELERTAK and Canadian hardcore powerhouse CANCER BATS to celebrate the release of KVELERTAK‘s new album, “Endling.”
The evening kicked off with a revelation for those unfamiliar with Canadian hardcore act CANCER BATS. Admittedly, I am not the biggest fan of the “core” genres, but CANCER BATS proved to be an unexpected delight. Their stage presence was nothing short of dynamic, with the entire band exuding energy from the moment they stepped on stage. Even the drummer’s facial expressions from behind his kit added an engaging visual element to their set. Despite the predominantly metal-oriented audience, CANCER BATS delivered a heavy and eclectic performance, even incorporating a punk rock song into their set. A memorable highlight was their duet with their merch girl towards the set’s conclusion, adding an unexpected twist to the evening.
Before KVELERTAK graced the stage, a massive curtain emblazoned with their logo concealed the setup. However, due to the rounded layout of Kulttuuritalo‘s stage, those positioned at the edges caught a few glimpses of what was happening on stage. The band came out to play an acoustic intro, but it gave way to a theatrical kabuki drop, unveiling the band. The opening notes of “Krøterveg Te Helvete,” a lead single from their new album “Endling,” set the tone for the night and thus, literally started with a bang.
With a dedicated fanbase, the crowd roared to life as KVELERTAK transitioned into “Blodtørst,” a fan-favorite that had everyone singing along to its melodic riffs. It’s good to have this song at the beginning of their set to get the audience engaged right from the get-go. To no one’s surprise, KVELERTAK‘s stage presence was once again nothing short of magical, with the entire band showing off a remarkable energy. However, the spotlight unequivocally belonged to lead singer Ivar Nikolaisen. His Finnish roots seemed to fuel his performance, as he engaged with the audience, playfully tossing his mic stand around and even crowdsurfing through the venue.
The setlist was predominantly focused on tracks from their latest album, “Endling,” which turned out to work very well in a live situation. It is always interesting to hear new songs played live for the first few times. Fans were also treated to the title track of “Nattesferd,” a personal highlight for me, it’s just one of those songs that makes me happy. The night concluded with a powerful trio of songs, “Endling,” “Mjød,” and “Bråtebrann,” leaving the audience with a lasting impression of KVELERTAK. Despite a lower turnout than expected, the crowd’s fervor and engagement painted the evening in a brilliant light, reminding us that the love for live music transcends numbers.
Written and photos by Laureline Tilkin
Setlist
- Krøterveg Te Helvete
- Blodtørst
- Likvoke
- Kvelertak
- Crack of Doom
- Døgeniktens Kvad
- Fossegrim
- Evig Vandrar
- Skoggangr
- Nattesferd
- Morild
- Rogaland
Encore:
- Endling
- Mjød
- Bråtebrann
