When it comes to metal bands, we all know Finland has some of the best. But let’s give credit where it’s due: Sweden has got some powerhouses too. So when the co-headlining tour of melodic death metal titans ARCH ENEMY and IN FLAMES was announced, it felt like a calendar alert for every metalhead in Finland. And then, the cherry on top—SOILWORK joined the lineup. On November 5th, 2024, the Rising from the North tour hit Helsinki’s Ice Hall, and of course, we had to be there.
Now, if you’ve been to Finnish gigs, you know the local crowd has a habit of casually strolling in halfway through the opening act’s set, usually because they’d make sure to get drinks first. But this time? SOILWORK pulled a big audience from the start. Seats? Full. Nosebleeds? Packed. Floor? Swarming. Even if Björn Strid, for reasons known only to him, might have downplayed his band a little during some of his speeches, the crowd was having none of it—Finland loves SOILWORK. They kicked their set off with “Stabbing the Drama,” and while they sprinkled in classics like “Distortion Sleep,” the standout for me was “Övergivenheten.” That song’s melody just hits a sweet spot, and hearing it live gave me actual shivers.
Before the evening, it was announced that the artists’ organizations would not divulge the showtimes of the rest of the program and who would be playing next. It made sense though: keep the crowd glued to their spots, no skipping allowed. Spoiler alert: the massive curtain with PURE FUCKING METAL written across it sort of gave away that ARCH ENEMY was next. And when that curtain dropped? Boom—“Deceiver, Deceiver” kicked things off.
The stage production was stunning: a multi-layered setup with a massive, backlit upside-down pentagram giving off “unholy temple” vibes. ARCH ENEMY is pure nostalgia for me, a throwback to my teenage metal phase. Even with a focus on newer tracks (and I’m here for it—their latest songs rip), it felt like a walk down memory lane. They balanced set staples like “Nemesis” and “War Eternal” with newer gems like “The World Is Yours” and “The Eagle Flies Alone.” And yes, we got plenty from their latest album, “Deceivers,” plus a few sneak peeks at their recently announced upcoming album, “Blood Dynasty,” in Dream Stealer and Liars and Thieves.
This was the first time seeing them without Jeff Loomis, but Joey Concepcion, who I’d caught with DARK TRANQUILLITY as a session guitarist a while ago, was an energetic fit. As solid as the band played and the production was, something felt slightly off and it almost felt like something was missing. Maybe it was the big stage or the fact that this was the final showdate and the band was tired, but there was maybe a touch of disconnect between the band members. The vibe wasn’t bad at all—just not the best I’ve seen from them. That said, the production was gorgeous, the setlist had something for everyone, and hey, full-length sets on headlining tours? Always a win.
Last but definitely not least, IN FLAMES. If you guessed they’d be the final act, congratulations, you know your Finnish metal scene. They’re huge here—headliner-at-Tuska kind of huge. Despite not being a big fan when growing up, I do admit that their shows are something else, especially in Finland. There’s a magical energy they tap into here, resulting in giant mosh pits, relentless crowdsurfing, and enough fist-pumping to put a gym class to shame. Sure, ARCH ENEMY has mosh pits too, but IN FLAMES turns it up to 11.
They kicked off with “Cloud Connected,” and the crowd responded like their lives depended on it—hands up, singing along loudly. The stage production was reminiscent of their 2022 tour, which, okay, might be a bit “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The setlist paid homage to their entire discography, with a slight lean towards their latest album, “Foregone.” Songs like “Voices,” “Meet Your Maker,” “State of Slow Decay,” and “I Am Above” meshed seamlessly with classics like “Only for the Weak.”
Some highlights? Before “The Mirror’s Truth,” Anders Fridén called on Helsinki, the heavy metal capital, to open up a circle pit and reminded everyone to pick each other up if they fell. The resulting circle pit was massive, one of the biggest I’ve seen here. And when “Only for the Weak” started, the entire hall bounced in sync with its iconic riffs. Even crowdsurfers made a few appearances (rare in Finland), adding to the spectacle. But the ultimate surprise came during “Trigger” when Björn Strid of SOILWORK joined IN FLAMES on stage, much to the crowd’s delight.
Co-headlining tours like this are always a treat, especially when it’s bands from the same subgenre—instant fan overlap guaranteed. And judging by the many smiles and sore necks leaving the Ice Hall, there wasn’t a single soul disappointed with the metal feast they were served.
Text and photos by Laureline Tilkin
Arch Enemy Setlist
- Deceiver, Deceiver
- The World Is Yours
- War Eternal
- My Apocalypse
- Dream Stealer
- House of Mirrors
- Liars & Thieves
- The Eagle Flies Alone
- First Day In Hell
- As the Pages Burn
- Sunset Over the Empire
- No Gods, No Masters
- Nemesis
In Flames Setlist
- Cloud Connected
- Take This Life
- Deliver Us
- Paralyzed
- In the Dark
- Voices
- Food for the Gods
- Coerced Coexistence
- Trigger (ft. Björn Strid)
- Only for the Weak
- Meet Your Maker
- State of Slow Decay
- Alias
- The Mirror’s Truth
- I Am Above
- My Sweet Shadow
