After visiting Finland for the inaugural Hellsinki Metal Festival in August, the Polish band BATUSHKA returned to Finland for a series of three shows in Oulu, Tampere, and Helsinki. We attended the second of these shows at Olympia Kortteli, which marked the final leg of their Black Pilgrimage 2023 European tour. They were supported by ARKONA, AETERNAM, and VARANG NORD.
The evening began on an unexpectedly upbeat note with the Latvian group VARANG NORD. Clearly drawing inspiration from the early days of folk and pagan metal, with their roots tracing back to 2004, they delivered a blend reminiscent of early FINNTROLL, TURISAS, KORPIKLAANI, and a hint of AMON AMARTH. Their unconventional energy and restless stage presence eventually resonated with the more folk-oriented segment of the audience. This was evident as the crowd enthusiastically danced and chanted along, especially during songs with approachable lyrics like their latest single “Beer and Vodka.”
In this jovial atmosphere, VARANG NORD concluded their performance by gathering on stage and bowing to the audience, capping it off with a photo for social media. The mood shifted when the symphonic folk/death ensemble AETERNAM, hailing from Canada, took the stage. They introduced a heavier and more technically intricate set of riffs. While their setup was more minimalistic compared to the previous band, they maintained a positive ambiance and engaged with their audience throughout the performance.
ARKONA took the stage 10 minutes earlier than scheduled, leaving more time for the headliner to prepare their stage setup. With two platforms flanking the microphone and a preference for the back portion of the stage, they delivered an exceptional performance that exceeded expectations. Led by Masha “Scream” Arkhipova, the band had clearly shifted toward a more extreme sound. Hearing their newer material and experiencing it live, it felt as though this had been their style all along. This transformation toward black metal resonated with echoes of bands like KAMPFAR, complemented by Masha‘s incredible vocals. They emerged as the standout act of the lineup. While their set predominantly featured tracks from the new album “Kob’,” the nostalgic favorite “Goi, Rode, Goi!” reminded fans of ARKONA‘s roots.
Finally, after thorough stage preparation, it was time for BATUSHKA to take the spotlight. Their performance and set felt eerily reminiscent of their show a few months earlier in Helsinki, albeit in a more confined setting this time. The two guitarists occupied the front of the stage, with the other band members positioned further back. The band executed their orthodox ritual with skulls and religious icons, although they were notably missing candles, most likely due to venue regulations since Olympia is an old wooden theater. Despite having a dedicated fanbase, as evidenced by the nearly full venue, the impression lingered that ARKONA had truly stolen the evening’s spotlight.
As the long night drew to a close, there remained ample time to explore Tampere’s numerous bars and continue the evening, although energy levels had waned, as is often the case with shows featuring four or more bands.
VARANG NORD
AETERNAM
ARKONA
BATUSHKA
Text and photos by Marco Manzi
