M.LAAKSO AND THE GOTHIC TAPES is likely to be considered as KUOLEMANLAAKSO’s guitarist, lyricist, and composer Markus Laakso’s solo project, whose debut album was released on his 40th birthday, on August 26th, 2016. I did attend that release party in Kuopio, as it happened during my first trip to Finland, hence I cannot deny that I have so many great memories connected to that specific event and band. I have not missed any of their gigs so far, so it was mandatory to be at their concert on April 5th, 2025, at Ottopoika, no matter what. Even though the live lineup has always slightly changed from time to time, one constant is that Markus always surrounds himself with extremely skilled musicians: there is no chance of being disappointed, and even their alchemy works perfectly, but I will get back to this in due time. The opening band was melodic act SCARS OF SOLITUDE, whose latest album, “Under Disheartening Skies,” released in mid-October last year, piqued my curiosity.
They took the stage at 21:30 as scheduled. Singer and guitarist Tuomo was sitting in a wheelchair, as he had an accident a few days ago and hurt his right leg, but had zero intention of skipping the tour. He greeted us and joked about that one being the “misery on wheels” tour, while an undisputable definition of what Finnish sisu can be became suddenly clear in my mind. They chose “Stone” as an opening tune, the first song on their new album, which set an intense, heartfelt, and energetic atmosphere from the very beginning. Mid-career SENTENCED vibes here and there were detectable, which is always a good thing in my humble opinion. “The Arsonist” followed, the guitarist and the bass player provided some backing vocals on the chorus, a full-fledged earworm I particularly appreciated since the very first listening.
The interaction with the audience was smooth and spontaneous between the songs, as Tuomo did not miss the chance to tell us about the accident with a decent dose of irony. As for my personal impressions, his lack of mobility made the music speak even louder. “Luna” was announced as the following tune, where a massive influence of HIM’s early years was quite clear. Then I spotted a Heartagram tattoo on the singer’s arm: it made so much sense, and it cannot be any different, considering the importance that band had and still has to many Finnish musicians.
Later, I got to learn that the song that came after “Luna,” called “Cruelty has a Human Heart,” written by bassist Lassi, was released in 2022 on October 10th, on World Mental Health Day. Such a meaningful detail deserves to be shared, so here we are, not missing the chance to prove once again that music is (almost) never just music. The guitar solo provided by Jasper added even more flavor to the whole thing, and Tuomo’s screaming parts made it, in my opinion, the highlight of their performance. Tuomo took a well-deserved sip of water while Lassi kindly reminded us that they were selling their merchandise at the table over there. Of course, we made good use of our hard-earned money right after the show…
“Fomo” followed, taken from their most recent album, whose drumming was provided by Niki, leaving me speechless, as his thoughtful yet energetic style took the whole set to the next level. Tuomo kindly informed us that they were supposed to play at Lepakkomies in Helsinki on April 12th, and I feel the need to point out that these guys are going to play a bunch of shows in Finland in the next two months, so I highly recommend anyone into melodic metal to go and support them. Their set was drawing to an end, as there were only three songs left. “Game of Thrones” saw Tuomo inciting us to clap to the beat and joking about his wheelchair being his throne: the way this guy handled the situation was remarkable, and again, it did not affect the outcome; rather let the music speak even louder.
On “Drown,” Lassi provided some massive backing vocals. The tune itself reminded me a lot of SENTENCED’s latest years, which I believe played a big role in the band’s musical journey. The title track from their new album had the challenging task of giving an adequate conclusion to the setlist. Tuomo thanked us again and incited us to clap to the beat by saying, “You know what to do, you’re smart people!” I have to admit that it made me smile. The overall atmosphere was warm and joyful, and I can say that I am happy that I had the chance to see SCARS OF SOLITUDE for the first time in a venue full of so many good memories.
After about half an hour M. LAAKSO AND THE GOTHIC TAPES took the stage, on the notes of “The Pink Room,” from the soundtrack of Twin Peaks. Pepe Sedergren from local glam metal act RECKLESS LOVE took guitar duties, and Katja Koistinen from BAND OF SHYSTERS was on keyboards and backing vocals. Toni Ronkainen (KUOLEMANLAAKSO, THE GHOULSTARS, ROOTBRAIN) on drums, Mikko “Maasu” Matilainen (KAIKKEUS) on bass, and Tomi Henttunen (HER SHADOW, ROYAL LIPS) on guitar made the lineup a full-fledged dream team. Markus joined lastly, iconic as always in his long coat and sunglasses.
“Children of the Night” as an opening tune set the perfect atmosphere, as much as it did for the previous gigs throughout the past years. Mikko and Katja provided some backing vocals. Katja was literally dancing, and I felt like they all were having fun, at least as much as we were. Red lights on, then “Where the River Runs Red” followed, and it felt like being part of a movie where each one of them was playing a role.
Markus thanked us and introduced TIAMAT’s “I am in Love with Myself” as the next song. His quite explicative hand gestures matched well with the whole concept, and at some point, he even took a glass of red wine and toasted with us. Quite evocative and solemn, and easy-going and relaxed at the same time. It was when they played “The World’s Intolerable Pain,” the first single from their album released back in 2016, that I realized just how outstanding Katja was. The female vocal parts were originally sung by Helena Haaparanta, so Katja had big shoes to fill. Spoiler: she nailed it. Reflecting again on Markus’ ability to surround himself only with the absolute best, I wasn’t entirely surprised, but rather sincerely amazed. Tomi’s solo was the cherry on top, and the audience reacted enthusiastically to that insane amount of beauty.
RAMONES’ “Poison Heart” followed, which Markus kindly introduced by saying “the song is about to begin. One, two, three, four,” with a very calm tone, creating a weird but fun contrast with what someone would usually expect when such a song is played. Katja and Mikko provided some excellent backing vocals, and Toni added some extra details, proving once again how much of a great and creative drummer he is.
A drastic change of mood occurred with “Temple of Love” by SISTERS OF MERCY, on which Katja managed to give us proper goosebumps with her haunting voice. The pink/purple lights added further vibes from the ‘80s, although the version they play is, of course, the one that was re-recorded in 1992, which featured a female singer as well. During Katja’s solo, Markus grabbed the wine glass again and took a couple of sips, and they eventually bowed to each other as a sign of mutual respect and appreciation. The alchemy between all the band members was touchable, and it is mind-blowing if you consider that this was their first gig together in this specific lineup.
Pepe and Katja, who went back on keyboards, provided a very emotional introduction for FOR MY PAIN’s “Autumn Harmony,” a tune that fit perfectly in that situation. Markus incited us to clap to the beat, and we did what he asked, of course. Tomi and Katja were literally jumping, and I definitely felt like the 5-hour bus trip was totally worth it. Back to their own material, “She Guides Me in My Dreams” followed, a tune I have always considered as a possible highlight in M. LAAKSO’s debut album. Katja’s singing duties were once again crucial, as the tune has a dialogue-like pattern. The Oriental main melody, slightly reminiscent of early AMORPHIS, added a mystic vibe, enhanced by Pepe’s very intense guitar solo.
Markus announced a new song as the next one, which, later, I learned was written by Tomi, and Markus took care of the lyrics. “Devil’s Night” was the title, and it made me realize how impatient I am about their next album to see the light. “Roll the Dice with the Devil” from the debut album followed, where Markus showed his skills even on a more extreme register. The tune was originally written for KUOLEMANLAAKSO, but it did not fit in that worldview, while it turned out great in that Gothic environment.
They all left the stage but came back immediately, everyone except Markus. The audience was screaming and clapping. Markus eventually joined his bandmates and introduced them one by one. My heart skipped a beat when he announced KUOLEMANLAAKSO’s “Kuolleiden Laulu” as the following song: taken from the eponymous EP, it has never been played live. As you probably know, they disbanded in late 2023, and I have not fully recovered yet, so it is particularly hard to find the right words to describe what it felt like. That song takes more than one step out of the band’s typical sound and fits perfectly in that Gothic-oriented atmosphere. It was unexpected and kind of soothing to have the chance to witness such a thing, and I am extremely grateful to the band for that.
There was one last song left, “Right Here in My Arms,” by the legendary Finnish band HIM. Fun fact: part of the gear they had on stage once belonged to HIM’s guitarist Mikko “Linde” Lindström, and he has recorded “Love Metal,” “Venus Doom,” Screamworks,” and “Tears on Tape” with it. Mind-blowing. Markus bought it about one year ago. He took the wine glass again and delivered some outstanding vocals. It felt heartwarming and nostalgic, as everyone in the room was singing along, most probably recalling their teenage years. Pepe’s solo was unforgettable, as much as Toni’s energetic and passionate drumming. Markus left the stage, and the others kept on playing while jumping and getting closer to each other. Then Markus came back, and when the song was over, he thanked and greeted us. They eventually took a picture with us in the background, as a reminder of that special night. It was indeed very special, and I am quite sure I will not miss their future gigs.
Written by Licia Mapelli
Photos by Mirko L.
Setlist
- Children of the Night
- Where the River Runs Red
- I am in Love with Myself
- The World’s Intolerable Pain
- Poison Heart
- Temple of Love
- Autumn Harmony
- She Guides Me in My Dreams
- Devil’s Night
- Roll the Dice with the Devil
- Kuolleiden Laulu
- Right Here in My Arms
