It is no secret by now that POISONBLACK‘s anniversary tour was welcomed with great enthusiasm by their audience, to the point that some extra gigs were added to the list, and almost all of them ended up as “sold out” shows. We had the chance to attend a couple of them, coincidentally the first one in Oulu at Kantakrouvi on September 22nd, 2023, their show at On The Rocks in Helsinki on October 1st, 2023, and the very last one in Helsinki at Tavastia on November 2nd, 2023. Read more about our experience during the latter here…
The doors opened at 19:00, and the concert was scheduled for 20:30. We made the wise decision to arrive earlier, as recommended by the band members themselves via their social media pages because we really wanted to enjoy the show from one of the front rows, and we were fortunate to secure a nice spot. The one-and-a-half-hour wait did not affect us at all, partly because we ended up chatting with some guys and girls in the audience. After all, we were all there for the same reason, and it was wonderful to hear their stories about the band, how important it was to them, how far they had traveled to be there, and more.
The atmosphere was joyful and relaxed. Judging by the variety of foreign languages we overheard, it was evident that people from all over Europe attended the gig, and there was even someone who had traveled from outside Europe. This fact speaks volumes about the disbelief we noticed in the band members’ eyes: they did not take the turnout for granted and were genuinely impressed by the number of people living in the moment with them.
By the time they stepped on stage, the venue was fully packed. Ville Laihiala, the charismatic frontman that he is, gracefully carried the weight of his iconic status from the very beginning. The opening tune, “Home is Where the Sty Is,” from their latest album, “Lyijy,” had the perfect energetic vibe and catchy chorus for such a unique occasion. The audience was thrilled, and everyone around us sang along, as expected. The band members encouraged and interacted with those in the front row. Janne Markus joined the band, taking the place of Antti Lieviskä on guitar for a few songs, specifically, those he had recorded when he was with POISONBLACK (tracks 4 to 8 in the setlist, and track 19 afterwards). This made the whole situation feel like an emotional reunion of longtime friends who hadn’t met in a while. The light-hearted vibe was confirmed when Janne played the main riff of SLAYER‘s “South of Heaven” at the end of “Buried Alive,” and Ville replied with the main riff of “Raining Blood.” It truly felt like we were witnessing a rehearsal session of the band, with all the jovial atmosphere one can imagine in such a context. It was a priceless experience!
A few more songs from the “Ville era” were left to play, and we want to emphasize that Ville is even more skilled as a guitarist than we initially thought. The special anniversary set was about to begin: dimmed lights, “Escapexstacy” playing as a backing track, creating the atmosphere of an old-fashioned radio, and we were more than ready to fully immerse ourselves in the moment. Guitarist Antti returned to his place, and Ville took the other side of the stage. Singer J-P Leppäluoto joined them, and the audience, including us, was ablaze with excitement. His charisma as a performer and his singing skills were evident, and the way he flawlessly executed the songs while maintaining spontaneity and warmth that can only be found in a live show left a strong impression on us. He incited us by shouting, ‘Are you ready, Tavastia?!’ even in the middle of songs. He was genuinely amazed by our enthusiasm and never missed an opportunity to express his thanks and gratitude, which was truly heartwarming. He also took off his ear monitors multiple times to hear us better when he asked us to sing along. There’s only one word for that: heartwarming.
There was an almost tangible nostalgic vibe; everyone was singing and clapping their hands during the song introductions. It’s hard to say who was happier: us or them? Perhaps both, for different but similar reasons. J-P also interacted with drummer Tarmo Kanerva and keyboard player Marco Sneck, and once again, it felt like a reunion of longtime friends.
POISONBLACK‘s debut album, “Escapexstacy,” just celebrated its 20th anniversary, and we believe it still holds a special place in the hearts of their fanbase. So, having the opportunity to listen to the entire album in a live setting was absolutely unforgettable. It’s worth mentioning that technically, the band had stopped playing shows in 2015, making it a must-attend event for us. Those who had traveled from afar to be at the concert were not disappointed in the least. The performers on stage gave their best in the most natural way, as professionals and true artists should. Speaking of which, there was a girl right behind us who had traveled all the way from Texas to see the gig, and we were delighted that the show not only met but exceeded her expectations.
The band’s astonishment was likely partly due to a well-known cultural trait, as we are aware that Finns are characterized by extreme humility and often struggle with accepting compliments. J-P introduced us to the band members: Antti Lieviskä on guitar, Antti Remes on bass, Tarmo Kanerva on drums, and Marco Sneck on keyboards, who was in the spotlight at that moment. Right after introducing Ville Laihiala as “the man who came up with this crazy idea some 20 years ago,” they all hugged, and we all shouted with joy. Then he added, “He’s from Oulu, he’s a humble man and can’t handle all this,” referring, of course, to the incredible amount of energy, support, and love that we were showing them.
They played the closing tune, “The Kiss of Death,” and its emotional depth didn’t go unnoticed. During the final part of the song, we were literally jumping with excitement. The band left the stage, and the other lineup returned (Janne on guitar and Ville on vocals and guitar) to perform “Left Behind” from their third full-length album.
J-P joined them afterward and asked the audience if anyone remembered the cover song they used to play during their first tour. He was clearly referring to “Say Just Words” by PARADISE LOST, which, in our opinion, turned out to be one of the best live versions of that song we’ve ever heard – no joke.
Antti Lieviskä rejoined his bandmates on stage as Ville put his guitar away to focus on vocals. The performance of “Rush” followed, serving as a perfect grand finale where the two singers delighted us with a much-needed duet.
The whole gig was truly amazing, and we do not use this word that often. Will we have another chance to see them play? We don’t know, but we can openly say that attending this concert was an experience we will never forget, and we are deeply grateful to them for making this happen.
Written by Licia Mapelli
Photos by Laureline Tilkin
setlist
- Home Is Where the Sty Is
- Mercury Falling
- Scars
- Soul in Flames
- Buried Alive
- The Living Dead
- Bear the Cross
- Raivotar
- The Glow of the Flames
- Love Infernal
- The State
- All Else Is Hollow
- In Lust
- Exciter
- Lay Your Heart to Rest
- With Her I Die
- Illusion/Delusion
- The Kiss of Death
- Left Behind
- Say just Words (Paradise Lost cover)
- Rush
