On a rather lazy Friday evening, Helsinki’s Tavastia played host to a high-octane night of Finnish melodic death metal featuring three phenomenal acts – BRYMIR, WOLFHEART, and BEFORE THE DAWN. Despite the late start, the energy in the venue was palpable, making it a night to remember for metal enthusiasts. We naturally decided we couldn’t miss this evening, so we headed out to Tavastia on September 22nd, 2023.
BRYMIR took the stage at 20:50, proving why they’re considered one of Finland’s top-tier live acts. Frontman Viktor Gullichsen‘s charismatic stage presence had the crowd mesmerized, while guitarist Antti Nieminen filled in for Joona Björkroth with undeniable skill. The show also introduced us to Sean Haslamb‘s new haircut, but what truly stole the spotlight were the fish plushies. Steve the Pike made a memorable return after being lost at Tuska Festival, joined by two fishy friends, occasionally making their way into the audience, and causing a few unexpected encounters with their weight. The front row at a BRYMIR show is not for the faint-hearted, as I narrowly avoided a couple of near misses, including an almost punch to the face by vocalist Viktor Gullichsen – note to self, bring a helmet next time. Despite the adrenaline rush, the setlist delivered plenty of highlights, with “Voices in the Sky,” “Seeds of Downfall,” “Fly with Me,” and “Wings of Fire” igniting the moshpit and fueling the crowd’s energy.
Melodic death metal act WOLFHEART wasted no time, beginning their set promptly after a quick turnover. While their most recent album, “King Of The North,” had been out for a year, their live performance proved to be a refreshing change of pace after BRYMIR‘s intensity. Bass player Lauri Silvonen‘s wet hair showers were an unexpected twist, requiring an umbrella to protect oneself from artist-related splashes. WOLFHEART kept their stage presence minimal, allowing their music to do the talking and creating an immersive atmosphere filled with headbanging-worthy songs.
BEFORE THE DAWN made a comeback that didn’t go unnoticed, with their latest album, “Stormbringers,” becoming a melodeath highlight of the year. It was nothing short of impressive how Tuomas Saukkonen was able to pull off a solid double duty as the guitarist/vocalist of WOLFHEART and the drummer of BEFORE THE DAWN, staying energetic throughout both shows, although needless to say we weren’t surprised of that either.
Having witnessed the band’s tight set at Hellsinki Metal Festival earlier this year, it was intriguing to see what their own shows would bring. With a simple stage setup and the crowd nearly filling the venue to capacity, it was evident that fans were excited about the band’s return.
Vocalist Paavo Laapotti‘s addition to the lineup brought ethereal clean vocals to the forefront. The setlist, which kicked off with “Destroyer,” featured highlights like the live version of “My Darkness,” and the emotionally charged “Downhearted.” The band closed their impressive performance with “Unbreakable” and “Deadsong,” leaving the audience in awe of their triumphant return to the stage.
In conclusion, the melodic death metal night at Tavastia Helsinki on September 22nd, 2023, offered an electrifying alternative to the usual Friday night routine. Each band brought their own unique energy and style to the stage, making it a memorable night for melodic death metal fans in the Finnish capital.
Text and photos by Laureline Tilkin
Setlist
- Destroyer
- My Darkness
- Faithless
- Dying Sun
- Chains
- The Dark
- Gehenna
- Downhearted
- My Room
- Winter Within
- Disappear
- The Black
- Wrath
- Unbreakable
- Deadsong
