In 2024, both pop metal act AMARANTHE and extreme power metal outfit DRAGONFORCE are releasing new albums, making it the perfect opportunity for a co-headlining tour across Europe. They enlisted the support of Moldovan metal act INFECTED RAIN to join them on the road. On March 2nd, 2024, the tour made a stop in Helsinki at Black Box in Helsingin Jäähalli. Check our photo gallery here…
Having never experienced INFECTED RAIN live before, I was excited to finally catch them in action after thoroughly enjoying their latest album, “Time,” which showcased their evolving progressive style. Led by the powerhouse vocals of Lena Scissorhands, the band delivered a solid performance. Despite facing constraints due to DRAGONFORCE props on stage, the four-piece nailed the show with lots of movement and headbanging, which made it extremely engaging to watch them. Hits like “Dying Light” were particularly captivating to witness live, and even got an enthusiastic response from the audience. Despite being an opening act, INFECTED RAIN drew a sizable crowd, proving their ability to warm up the venue and set the tone for an unforgettable evening.
I was supposed to see DRAGONFORCE once in 2006, but my geography teacher had managed to schedule our examination for the day after their show at Graspop Metal Meeting – unforgivable. Consequently, it wasn’t until 2017, a mere 11 years later, that I finally caught the band live, at none other than Semifinal in Helsinki. Admittedly, the venue’s ridiculously small size for a band of their caliber made for one of the most memorable shows ever, but it lacked a certain grandeur. Consequently, I was incredibly curious to witness a show without any constraints. Joining the band on this tour trek is Billy Wilkins, most known for his “Through the Fire and Flames” cover which gathered millions of views on TikTok.
While the intro was playing – which happened to be the end titles of TRON legacy by DAFT PUNK, in other words, fitting the style and atmosphere of the show – I was amazed to see the stage transform into a huge geek extravaganza, complete with massive arcade machines and, towards the end, two inflatable dragons – a true spectacle. Yes, it was terribly gimmicky and perhaps a little cheesy, but isn’t that what we expect from a power metal show? On the other hand, the band’s performance and sound were as solid as their stage decor. Fans were also thrilled when singer Marc Hudson threw out a humongous chicken plush toy (let’s call it a cucco for fellow geeks) for the audience to toss around during the Zelda tribute, “Power of the Triforce.” In addition to hits like “Fury of the Storm” and “Through the Fire and Flames,” the band also included two cover songs by Céline Dion and Taylor Swift. It felt a bit of a missed opportunity that Elize Ryd didn’t sing “Doomsday Party” along with the band, but considering she was probably preparing for her own set, we understand. Speaking of missed opportunities, it’s baffling that they didn’t team up to play the “Cyber Sausage World” song that Sam Totman and Herman Li wrote while they were writing a song in the style of AMARANTHE in 10 minutes; the fans need it live!
After DRAGONFORCE wowed the audience with their geek-themed set, including dragons, I was eager to see what AMARANTHE‘s performance would entail, anticipating a production of similar grandeur but in a more different style. The stage setup was more minimalist yet classy, adorned with props inspired by album art to create a captivating 3D effect, complemented by an abundance of pyrotechnics.
The show commenced with David Hasselhoff‘s “True Survivor” playing on tape, setting the tone for what promised to be an awesome party. As the intro concluded, a dramatic sci-fi voiceover began, climaxing with the proclamation, “You created me and I am the Catalyst,” a nod to their latest album of the same title. This theatrical intro, complete with choirs, created a dramatic atmosphere that set the stage for the performance.
Launching into “Fearless,” AMARANTHE surprised the audience by featuring more tracks from their album “Manifest” than “Catalyst.” However, every song from the new album, for instance, “Damnation Flame,” resonated beautifully through the venue. A heartwarming moment occurred during the performance of the emotional “Strong,” when singers Elize Ryd and Nils Molin shared a touching moment, grabbing each other’s hands and bowing together to the audience; talking about team spirit!
Having only seen AMARANTHE at festivals before, I often had noticed technical issues with their sound (some bands are just difficult to mix, ELUVEITIE is another example of that). However, with their own dedicated crew handling the production, the band sounded flawless on stage. The dynamic lighting added another layer of spectacle to the performance, making the visual experience worth it.
While the band performed many new songs, they also treated the audience to beloved hits, prompting enthusiastic sing-alongs throughout the night. The show reached its climax with the explosive performance of “Drop Dead Cynical,” leaving the audience smiling and providing a perfect conclusion to a great evening.
Setlist
- Fearless
- Viral
- Digital World
- Damnation Flame
- Maximize
- Strong
- PvP
- Interference
- Crystalline
- The Catalyst
- Re-Vision
- Boom!
- Amaranthine
- Afterlife
- The Nexus
- Archangel (Encore)
- That Song (Encore)
- Drop Dead Cynical (Encore)
