February 2nd, 2024, was not the best night for a concert, given the crippling strikes that halted all public transportation in town. However, the lack of people created an even more intimate atmosphere, almost like watching a band in your own living room, when Swedish OCKULTIST came to Helsinki to perform alongside two bands from Lahti, TASER and BETELZEUS.
The night of sludge and doom commenced with the latter delivering a convincing performance, positioned amidst the crowd rather than on stage. The band, which released its second full-length album last year, showcased impressive riffs and catchy tunes, providing the evening’s early entertainment reminiscent of EYEHATEGOD‘s style.
TASER, the more purely sludge-oriented act of the three, kept the audience engaged with their no-nonsense attitude and groovy, aggressive sound. As some attendees began to warm up and move closer to the stage, their set, however, was relatively short, leaving less than half an hour to fully immerse in the mood.
Finally, OCKULTIST from Sweden closed the night, slowing down the tempo a notch. Their previous split release with BETELZEUS and their latest EP, “Gazing Through Rotten Eyes,” which came out just days before the show, showcased the trio’s excellent chemistry on stage. They effectively delivered their gritty, powerful sound to their fans, resonating through Lepakkomies and captivating the crowd. It’s regrettable that not many were able to witness this evening’s performance, as it was undoubtedly a fantastic way to release pent-up stress from the week and kick off the weekend on a positive note.
BETELZEUS
TASER
OCKULTIST
Photos by Marco Manzi
