On the night of November 9th, 2023, the European Pain Remains tour, headlined by the renowned deathcore band LORNA SHORE, descended upon Helsingin Jäähalli in Helsinki, Finland. The tour, in support of their latest album, “Pain Remains,” promised an unforgettable evening of heavy music, and it certainly delivered. Sharing the stage were fellow metal acts DISTANT, INGESTED, and RIVERS OF NIHIL, each contributing to a hard-hitting combination of deathcore and technical death metal.
The evening kicked off promptly at 18:30 with the Dutch deathcore outfit DISTANT, who entered the stage on a song from Spongebob Squarepants, which was quite in contract with their music. While we were not exactly familiar with this band, they quickly proved themselves as a powerful opener for LORNA SHORE. With their intense deathcore tunes, DISTANT managed to captivate the crowd right from the start. They encouraged audience participation in mosh pits and even initiated a thrilling wall of death, setting the tone for an exhilarating night of metal.
The momentum continued to build as the UK-based INGESTED took the stage. Once again, we weren’t super familiar with the band’s work. The sheer magnitude of the mosh pits during their set was awe-inspiring. INGESTED‘s energetic stage presence and music got the audience moving, and they displayed a sense of camaraderie by encouraging to help those who fell during the intense moshing up. Of course, a night of deathcore wouldn’t be complete without another bone-rattling wall of death, and INGESTED delivered in spades.
As the night progressed, RIVERS OF NIHIL graced the stage, bringing a dose of technical death metal to the mix. For fans who had eagerly awaited this moment, the band’s performance did not disappoint. Having recently released a new single, “Hellbirds,” and their latest album, “The Work,” it was no surprise that RIVERS OF NIHIL delivered a dynamic show. What stood out to us was the drummer’s ability to provide backing vocals while managing complex rhythms, showcasing the band’s exceptional musicianship. By this point, Helsingin Jäähalli was packed to the brim, since it was a close to being sold-out evening.
Finally, it was time for LORNA SHORE to enter the stage. Ever since their show at Tuska, we had been curious to see what their own production would look like. If you would have told us a few years ago that a deathcore band would perform in an almost sold-out arena, we probably wouldn’t have believed you, but ever since the band teamed up with new vocalist, Will Ramos, their success knows no limits. We were happy to see that their production was top-notch. It was a little minimalistic with a couple of ego-risers and a drum riser, just a backdrop, but the show’s lighting was absolutely beautiful, and naturally, the arena also allowed for some pyrotechnics to be added to the mix.
The band mostly focused on newer stuff, with many songs coming from their latest album, “Pain Remains,” and a couple of tracks from the EP released before that, “And I Return to Nothingness,” with only one older song included in the set. Judging by the audience, most of them were quite young and probably most familiar with this set, so I don’t think anybody was complaining, especially since the hit album that “Pain Remains” was.
LORNA SHORE‘s performance reached its climax with the “Pain Remains” trilogy, which took the crowd on an emotional rollercoaster ride. The band once again worked their magic on the audience, fueling multiple mosh pits throughout the venue. At one point during the set, Will Ramos engaged with the crowd, challenging them to generate as many crowdsurfers as possible. To the surprise of many, an impressive number of fans took to the air, a rare sight in Finland where crowdsurfing is not typically a common occurrence. Thankfully, the diligent security team managed to catch every surfer, ensuring the safety of all involved.
In addition to their crowd interaction, it was heartening to see the venue’s security team respond swiftly and professionally when two audience members felt unwell. Their prompt actions demonstrated a commitment to the safety and well-being of all concert-goers, adding to the overall positive experience of the night.
In conclusion, the European Pain Remains tour’s stop in Helsingin Jäähalli was a night to remember. LORNA SHORE‘s powerful performance, supported by the incredible energy of the crowd, made this a memorable chapter in their journey as a band. As the final notes reverberated through the arena, it was evident that this night had cemented LORNA SHORE‘s place as a major force in the metal and deathcore scene, and their journey is only just beginning.
Text and photos by Laureline Tilkin
Setlist
- Welcome Back, O’ Sleeping Dreamer
- Of the Abyss
- …And I Return to Nothingness
- Sun//Eater
- Cursed to Die
- Immortal
- Into the Earth
- To the Hellfire
- Pain Remains I: Dancing Like Flames (Encore)
- Pain Remains II: After All I’ve Done, I’ll Disappear (Encore)
- Pain Remains III: In a Sea of Fire (Encore)
