A full evening of familiar names took the On the Rocks stage in Helsinki on July 19th, 2024, offering a dynamic showcase of industrial and electronic music.
TEKNOHIRVI, who I witnessed during last year’s Hellsinki Industrial Festival pre-club event, was set to bring another load of literally Finnish-translated industrial classics to the stage. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend their performance this time, but their reputation for electrifying shows precedes them.
My evening began with FREAKANGEL, who had already launched their show while I descended to the On the Rocks club floor. Having witnessed these guys multiple times already, I knew what to expect—another solid and energetic performance. They delivered as usual, and I especially enjoyed the new addition of a garage light to their stage decor, adding a unique touch to their act. This new visual element was a pleasant surprise, and I hope it becomes a regular feature in their future performances. This time, the audience felt much more engaged than usual, which was also a nice surprise.
Next up was AMBASSADOR21, a duo I first saw live at the last Hellsinki Industrial Festival when they replaced a canceled show from V2A, who are now in the 2025 lineup. Their high-energy performance left a lasting impression, and I’m thrilled to see them returning to Helsinki. This time, the duo managed to spark a mosh pit in the middle of their show, something rarely seen in the genre, at least here in Finland. Hailing from Belarus, AMBASSADOR21 is widely recognized for their track “We Are Legion (Matt Green Remix),” which was featured in the trailer for Netflix’s Love, Death & Robots. Their music, deeply embedded in the industrial noise genre, often speaks out against political oppression and supports freedom of expression both in Belarus and globally. They are known for their fierce independence, producing, recording, and distributing their music through their own label, Invasion Wreck Chords.
The final act of the night was PRIEST, a band I’ve seen evolve significantly over the past few years. Their debut album was heavily influenced by synthwave, but their subsequent releases have incorporated more industrial and darkwave elements, much to my delight. PRIEST continues to be a unique and intriguing presence in the music scene, blending anonymity with a compelling stage presence. A rumor from DJ emanon, who has seen them unmasked, claims that one of the keyboard players is particularly hot, leaving fans to guess which one.
The evening didn’t end with the live performances. Darkest Hours club night, hosted by DJ NoiZu, kept the energy high. After capturing photos of each DJ, I retired my camera to the cloakroom and joined the dancefloor myself, ending the night immersed in the beats and rhythms of the club. Overall, it was a night filled with high-energy performances and a great atmosphere, making it a memorable event for all who attended. Check our photos of the evening below…
Freakangel
Ambassador21
Priest
