Hellsinki Metal Festival‘s first edition in 2023 was such a success that when the festival announced there would be a second round, we had already decided to return before a lineup was even announced. This year’s edition was held at Nordis on August 9th and 10th, 2024, with a varied lineup mostly celebrating extreme metal, featuring bands like WOLFHEART, GUTALAX, EMMURE, TRIUMPH OF DEATH, SATYRICON, AVANTASIA, BLACKBRAID, INSOMNIUM, DORO, ABBATH, MESHUGGAH, HAMMERFALL, KREATOR, and many more.
The second and final day of Hellsinki Metal Festival included appearances of HUMANITY’S LAST BREATH, BLACKBRAID, INSOMNIUM, ABBATH, MESHUGGAH, HAMMERFALL, KREATOR, and MAYHEM.
The second day of Hellsinki Metal Festival, on Saturday, August 10th, 2024, started off on a smoother note. The weather had cooled down significantly, making it quite pleasant, and the absence of long queues added to the relaxed atmosphere. With the festival selling out for the day and total attendance reaching 16,000—significantly more than last year’s 11,000—it was clear that the event was gaining momentum. The day kicked off with two solid options: DEMONIAC and HIDEOUS DIVINITY.
Over on the Hellsinki-02 stage, the Italian technical death metal outfit HIDEOUS DIVINITY got things rolling. Although we were unfamiliar with the band, it was the perfect opportunity to dive into their sound. Their performance was technically impressive, marked by an intense focus and precision in their material. While their music might not have been the most fitting for an early outdoor set, the band’s energy and commitment were undeniable. Despite a lack of audience engagement, HIDEOUS DIVINITY delivered a powerful set that, in retrospect, might have been just what was needed to kick-start the day with a bang.
Meanwhile, DEMONIAC opened the indoor Hellsinki-03 stage. Their presence at the festival was courtesy of the Come to Latin America organization, which previously helped Finnish extreme metal band WHERE’S MY BIBLE tour Latin America as part of their competition. The organization also works in reverse, bringing acts like DEMONIAC to Helsinki. We hadn’t heard of this Chilean blackened thrash metal band before, but their performance quickly showed why they deserve more recognition on this side of the world. Their raw energy and ferocious sound proved to be a perfect fit for the festival, making for a memorable start to the day.
HUMANITY’S LAST BREATH kicked off the Hellsinki-01 stage with a performance that set the tone for the day. For over a decade, this Swedish band has been pushing the boundaries of modern metal, creating a sound that feels like a harbinger of the apocalypse. With the release of their latest album, “Ashen,” they’ve been on our radar, and we were eagerly anticipating their set.
There was something unusual about experiencing their dark, intense sound under the blazing noon sun. The ominous atmosphere they usually create didn’t fully translate in the bright daylight, which might have diluted some of their atmospheric magic. Despite this, the band didn’t let it affect their performance. Frontman Filip Danielsson’s mystical stage presence, cloaked in a massive hood, was something else entirely, adding a layer of enigma that contrasted sharply with the bright surroundings. They delivered an aggressive and powerful set, headbanging through most of it with relentless energy.
While the setlist only included three tracks from “Ashen,” I was thrilled that the thall-infused banger “Instill” was among them. Even so early in the day, this performance stood out as a definite highlight, showcasing HUMANITY’S LAST BREATH’s ability to command a stage, no matter the conditions.
Ever since their self-titled debut album, CROWNSHIFT has been making a significant impact on the music scene. Featuring a lineup of seasoned musicians—Tommy Tuovinen (MYGRAIN), Daniel Freyberg (ex-CHILDREN OF BODOM), Heikki Saari (FINNTROLL), Jukka Koskinen (NIGHTWISH, WINTERSUN), and live guitarist JC Halttunen—the band has had a busy summer, gracing stages at major festivals like Graspop Metal Meeting. Naturally, they couldn’t miss the opportunity for a hometown performance at Hellsinki Metal Festival, marking their first appearance in the capital since their live debut in May.
During their debut show, vocalist Tommy Tuovinen had battled illness, causing him to lose his voice, yet he managed to deliver a solid performance. This time, however, Tuovinen was back in full force, and it was evident from the moment they hit the stage. The band delivered an energetic set focused on their debut album, captivating the crowd with their dynamic presence. In my opinion, “If You Dare” stands out as their best track, incredibly engaging when performed live. The audience was also treated to a special surprise—a cover of ex-BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT‘s “Paint the Sky with Blood.” It was like a cherry on top of a very metal sundae, making the whole performance even more unforgettable.
While wandering around, we stumbled on HELSÓTT at Hellsinki-03. Admittedly, we knew nothing about this band, they weren’t even on our list to check out, but as we walked by, we saw the band wearing cool hats, and that was honestly enough for us to quickly see what all the buzz was about. Formed in Southern California in 2010, HELSÓTT has gained attention for their unique fusion of traditional folk melodies with the aggression and intensity of death metal.
BLACKBRAID has emerged as a notable name in recent years, drawing attention for its unique approach to black metal. Despite not typically gravitating towards the genre, I was excited to finally experience them live at Hellsinki Metal Festival, especially given the many recommendations I’d received but hadn’t explored yet.
Formed in 2022, BLACKBRAID is a rising force in the black metal scene, hailing from the United States. Their self-titled debut album, released the same year, quickly set them apart with its innovative blend of atmospheric and traditional black metal. The band’s music merges melodic and aggressive elements with a strong thematic and cultural identity rooted in Native American culture and nature. This distinctive fusion has earned them both critical acclaim and a growing fanbase.
Despite my unfamiliarity with their music, BLACKBRAID delivered a powerful performance. The setlist featured a compelling mix of tracks from “Blackbraid I” and “Blackbraid II,” creating a dynamic and engaging show. I really liked their energy on stage, despite playing very atmospheric music—they interacted with photographers and the audience, posing and engaging in a way that made the performance even more memorable.
HAVUKRUUNU is a Finnish black metal band formed in 2005, known for their melodic and atmospheric take on the genre, often infused with elements of Finnish paganism and folklore. Their music blends traditional black metal with epic, almost pagan metal elements, creating a sound that is both aggressive and majestic, evoking the cold landscapes of their homeland.
HAVUKRUUNU‘s lyrics and themes are deeply rooted in Finnish mythology, paganism, and nature, which led me to expect some pagan outfits like those KALLOMÄKI is known for. However, the stage was taken by very average-looking metal guys, which was a bit of a letdown. Some outfits could really add some extra theatrics to their live shows. Overall, their performance was solid, but a bit of extra showmanship could take their live shows to the next level.
Hellsinki Metal Festival’s lineup this year was truly something to behold. Normally, Finnish festivals are packed with local acts, so much so that if you’ve been to a few, you might feel like you’re seeing the same bands on a loop. This year, however, Hellsinki Metal Festival seemed to be taking a minimalist approach to Finnish heavyweights—until melodic death metal titans INSOMNIUM swooped in like a knight in shining armor.
INSOMNIUM, led by Niilo Sevänen, graced the Hellsinki-02 stage with a performance that was nothing short of awesome. Markus Vanhala’s guitar antics were reminiscent of a kid on a sugar high, adding a touch of whimsical chaos to the set. The band’s recent addition, session guitarist Tomy Laisto—who joined after the departure of Jani Liimatainen—fit into the lineup as smoothly as a missing puzzle piece.
INSOMNIUM‘s set was predominantly focused on their recent material, featuring standout tracks from their powerful latest album, “Anno 1696.” While newer songs took center stage, they also included crowd-pleasers like “While We Sleep.” It was a well-balanced performance that left the audience cheering and headbanging, making up for the earlier lack of Finnish metal royalty.
One of the most exciting surprises of this year’s lineup was the addition of German heavy metal icon DORO. Despite her legendary status, I had never witnessed her perform live, so I was eager to see if she could live up to the hype. The introduction to Doro was both heartwarming and personal: instead of a flashy backing track, the drummer took the mic and roared, “Hellsinki Metal Fest, are you ready for some old school? Give it up for the metal queen, Doro!” The crowd responded with enthusiastic cheers, setting the stage for what would be a memorable performance.
Doro took command with her opening song, “I Rule the Ruins,” and it quickly became clear that Finland was brimming with DORO fans. The entire audience joined in, singing along to every word, creating an awesome atmosphere. The setlist was a mix of classic hits, including six WARLOCK covers, a JUDAS PRIEST cover, and selections from Doro‘s solo work. From start to finish, the show was a high-energy celebration of metal, reaffirming why Doro remains a powerhouse in the genre.
BARATHRUM is a Finnish black metal band formed in 1990 in Kuopio by vocalist and bassist Demonos Sova (Jukka Juntunen). The band is known for its raw, primitive sound that blends elements of black metal with doom and heavy metal influences. BARATHRUM‘s music is characterized by its heavy use of bass, occult themes, and a dark, brooding atmosphere.
Personally, I really love the ’80s guitar sound, but as someone who doesn’t know much about black metal, they sounded a bit generic to me. That said, the show was definitely solid.
One of the festival’s biggest draws was the legendary ABBATH, who took to the stage to deliver a full set of IMMORTAL songs. Abbath, a black metal icon known for his work with IMMORTAL and his solo project, set the festival ablaze—figuratively and literally. There’s something about Finnish musicians in international bands that gets the crowd roaring like they’re witnessing a national hero’s return. The excitement when drummer Ukri Suvilehto hit the stage was a spectacle, not unlike when drummer Waltteri Väyrynen joined OPETH on stage at Tuska Festival. It’s as if Finland collectively decides to throw a parade every time one of their virtuoso drummers shows up!
As someone who usually skips black metal tracks on my Spotify, I was caught off guard when my friend asked if ABBATH played an exclusively IMMORTAL set. My response was a perplexed, “oh, uh, I dunno actually,” but it turns out they did indeed go all out with IMMORTAL. For a black metal dummie like me, it felt like getting a crash course in IMMORTAL 101. Classics or deep cuts, who knows? What I do know is that ABBATH‘s set was a high-energy spectacle with enough pyrotechnics to make a fireworks display look like a birthday cake.
The placement of ABBATH on the Hellsinki-02 stage was as baffling as putting a Formula 1 race in a parking lot. Despite this, fans packed the front like sardines, loving every minute. Unfortunately, we had to cut out early due to an overlapping interview, but from what we saw, Abbath and his disciples put on a show that would be hard to forget—even if you were busy headbanging along.
If there was a Finnish metal band that wasn’t on my Hellsinki-03 Bingo card, it definitely was the heavy metal onslaught TYRANTTI. During an interview earlier that day, the band hinted at some surprises since they were the only non-extreme metal act slated for that stage. When they mentioned there’d be a twist, I joked, “Haha! TYRANTTI goes black metal now, huh?” They just grinned and said, “You’ll see.”
And boy, did they deliver! When TYRANTTI hit the stage, not only had they adapted their logo to look more trve, they were also decked out in corpse paint, looking like they’d just stepped off the set of a black metal version of The Addams Family. But the real showstopper? A wrestling match in the background. Yes, you heard that right—wrestling! The show also included guest stars from FCF Wrestling during “Lihaa Mattoon!” including Shemeika, Juhana “King Kong” Karhula, and Prinssi Make. It was like a metal carnival, with body slams and riffs flying around like confetti. TYRANTTI turned their set into a heavy metal circus, proving they’re not just a band that goes against the grain—they’re the ones wrestling with it. Their performance was so cool, it made even the extreme bands look like they were just warming up.
When Swedish progressive metal juggernauts MESHUGGAH was announced for the festival, I nearly lost my composure. I mean, it’s MESHUGGAH—they’re the band that can yank your metal face right off and slap it back on with a grin. If anyone was wondering whether the Hellsinki Metal Festival would indeed “djent,” the answer was a resounding yes.
MESHUGGAH‘s stage production was nothing short of mesmerizing. It was like watching a psychedelic real-life music video with hypnotic lights and smoke. When the band played last in Helsinki in August 2023, Kulttuuritalo limited the band’s production due to its weird stage shape. Usually, during a MESHUGGAH show, you’d be lucky to catch a glimpse of their faces through all the atmospheric fog. But this time, with the sun still blazing, we got a front-row seat to their intense musicianship. I’ve never had such a clear view of Tomas Haake’s drumming before, and let me tell you, it made the show even more mind-blowing.
They blasted through 12 songs from their impressive catalog, pulling tracks from every album. The set even featured a couple of new tracks, and thank the djent gods—yes, there’s a whole pantheon dedicated to this—“Bleed” made a triumphant return. After their Kulttuuritalo show, which was pretty awesome in its own right (it just didn’t have “Bleed”), hearing this track live again felt like a divine intervention for my ears. Polyrhythms have never sounded so gloriously chaotic.
Back in the day, around 2006, I was a pretty big fan of HAMMERFALL. Their music was the perfect soundtrack for my teenage years, filling my heart with pure joy. Over time, though, I drifted away from their albums and hadn’t seen them live in over a decade. It turns out that’s mainly because they hadn’t graced Helsinki with their presence during that entire stretch—what a bummer! Thankfully, their show at Hellsinki Metal Festival made up for the lost time and then some.
I had kind of assumed the band would dive into their newer material, but nope, they took me on a nostalgia trip with a full-on classic set. The show was like a greatest-hits parade, complete with pyrotechnics that nearly gave me a heart attack. Seriously, who’s bright idea was it to let them blow stuff up at the Hellsinki-02 stage? They should’ve been on the main stage!
Before I knew it, I was belting out classics like “Any Means Necessary,” “Renegade,” “Hammer High,” “Last Man Standing,” and “Let the Hammer Fall.” They capped it all off with an encore of “Hearts on Fire,” which was basically a high-octane blast from the past. It was a fantastic ride down memory lane. Now, let’s make it a habit to invite these legends back to the capital of heavy metal more often, shall we?
Next, it was time for us to head to the Hellsinki-03 stage, where we found ourselves in the middle of a bar fight—quite literally—because the SLAM Wrestling match had relocated to the bar at Stage 3. The fight was a wild and confusing spectacle, with Katrina somehow ending up taped to the wrestling ring, a disturbing side character causing chaos, and even some borderline illegal antics. SLAM! Women’s Champion Lexa Valo intentionally got herself disqualified by striking official Dominika Matvejova during her title match against former champion Heidi Katrina.
TRELLDOM is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1992 by Gaahl (Kristian Espedal), who is also known for his work with GORGOROTH and GAAHLS WYRD. The band’s music is characterized by its raw, cold sound, staying true to the traditional Norwegian black metal style, with a strong emphasis on atmosphere and dark, spiritual themes.
This is definitely one of those bands I’d rather listen to on an album than see live. Their extremely slow-paced and minimalistic, eerie black metal didn’t offer much in terms of engagement or anything particularly noteworthy for photography.
The grand finale of Hellsinki Metal Festival was delivered by none other than the German thrash metal legends, KREATOR. The festival’s photo pit was abuzz with speculation about the grim decorations lying on the stage structures—some thought it was a murder mystery set, others were convinced the festival had taken a dark turn. Turns out, those weren’t real bodies but just KREATOR’s over-the-top stage props, which included a gory assortment of hanging corpses and humongous demon heads. It was like they’d turned the stage into the thrash pits of hell, complete with a side of pyrotechnics.
Given the stage’s height and the band’s slightly recessed position, seeing KREATOR up close when you were in front was like trying to spot a squirrel in a tree—difficult, but worth it. They kicked off their set with “Hate Über Alles,” which set the place ablaze—literally. It was clear that the festival was packed to the brim, as the crowd’s enthusiasm surged to match the inferno on stage—it was sold-out after all. KREATOR’s placement on the main stage was a blessing; no one wanted to see this level of thrash fury crammed into the notorious Hellsinki-02.
Their set was a thrash metal marathon, featuring an epic 16-song list that felt like a Greatest Hits album on steroids. With a tracklist spanning their entire career, KREATOR made sure every fan got their money’s worth. From the fireballs to the ferocious riffs, it was an explosive end to a killer festival—proof that when it comes to thrash, KREATOR still reigns supreme and knows how to throw a party that even hell itself would envy.
The final performance of Hellsinki Metal Festival was none other than Norwegian black metal icons MAYHEM. Unfortunately, the big bad happened—yet again, not everyone could get inside the hall and was forced to peek at the show from the entrances. This caused some disturbances, as not all seating area doors were guarded, leading some people to climb on top of the ceiling light mount structures. This daring stunt led to the show being temporarily halted.
MAYHEM, formed in 1984, is celebrating their 40-year journey as arguably the most infamous black metal band in the world. One of the most notorious events in their history occurred exactly 31 years ago when their former bassist, Varg Vikernes, murdered their guitarist Euronymous (Øystein Aarseth).
Often regarded as one of the most influential and notorious bands in the genre’s history, MAYHEM is considered a pioneer of the second wave of black metal, known for their raw, aggressive sound and the dark, controversial history that surrounds them. Their music, combined with their notorious past, has cemented them as legends within the extreme metal community. Their debut album, “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” (1994), is considered one of the most influential black metal albums ever. Despite its delayed release due to the band’s inner turmoil, it became a seminal work that helped define the sound and aesthetic of black metal.
For their Hellsinki Metal Festival set, MAYHEM played a total of 12 tracks, drawing from most of their albums and delivering a career-spanning performance. Fans were especially thrilled when the band played three iconic songs from “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas”: the title track, “Freezing Moon,” and “Funeral Fog.” The lighting was everything you can expect from a MAYHEM show—dark, moody, and utterly immersive, perfectly complementing the ominous atmosphere of their music.
While WATAIN may have put on more of a spectacle at last year’s festival, MAYHEM definitely delivered a highlight performance this time around. Their ability to create an intense and haunting live experience remains unparalleled, and this show was a fitting end to Hellsinki Metal Festival.
Altogether, this was another Hellsinki Metal Festival for the books. With a total of 16,000 attendees, surpassing last year’s 11,000, the festival is clearly growing. Saturday was a standout, selling out completely, which is fantastic to see.
Structurally, the event had its ups and downs. While there were some initial hiccups with long queues for wristbands, the festival seemed to have addressed many of last year’s major issues. However, a few small grievances remained. For instance, the food selection was less varied compared to the previous year, with some popular food trucks missing. That said, staples like Tuhmat Vohvelit and Treffipub were still around. Kudos to the festival staff who reminded us that Nordea cards wouldn’t be accepted for payment the following day, which was helpful and well-communicated through the festival’s social media channels.
A standout addition this year was the collaboration with Bodom Bar, which brought their legendary sauna to the festival. Dubbed Bodom Badlands, this area included the iconic CHILDREN OF BODOM stage prop car and some musical instruments. Attendees could book sauna sessions with friends, making it a unique and popular feature of the festival. It was a big hit, and I’m hopeful that Bodom Badlands might expand in the future!
The Ice Hall area had more stands than before, making it more engaging, but it was occasionally challenging to find functional restrooms due to some doors being closed and lighting issues. I also appreciated the presence of Mieli ry, spreading awareness about their work. However, with inflation affecting many, I couldn’t support their subscription-based services. It would have been great if Mieli and the festival had collaborated on a special T-shirt or pins or a patch that they could sell, with proceeds going directly to the organization.
A notable critique was the placement of bands between the large Stage 1 and the smaller Stage 2. Legendary acts like SATYRICON, DEICIDE, ABBATH, and HAMMERFALL were on the smaller stage, while newer, less established bands took the big stage. This arrangement didn’t sit well with many festival-goers. Another important point to consider is that because of that the number of people gathered at Hellsinki-02 was very close to the limit of what was safe for the festival. Having been part of a festival with mass panic due to a major storm [Pukkelpop 2011], crowd management, control, and safety are very important to me, so if the festival continues to grow, it might be necessary to rethink the layout of the bar area to prevent bottlenecks and ensure a smoother flow of attendees.
For next year, I hope a few simple issues can be addressed: remove food carts from near the stage to avoid greasy smoke and accidental messes, and improve water refill stations. Although there were more taps this year, the location was poorly marked on the festival map. I liked the previous year’s placement near the hockey hall doors, so maybe incorporating both locations next year would be ideal.
Overall, despite these minor setbacks, the festival was a fantastic experience and we’re definitely looking forward to what’s in store for next year!
Photos and text by Laureline Tilkin & Richard Forsman
