HAUNTED PLASMA is a new super group comprised of members from Finnish metal and indie stars Juho Vanhanen (ORANSSI PAZUZU), Timo Kaukolampi (K-X-P, OP:L BASTARDS), and Tomi Leppänen (CIRCLE, K-X-P). Along with visiting singers like Mat McNerney (HEXVESSEL) and Ringa Manner (RUUSUT) they’ve created a blend of futuristic synth metal that they named kosmische black metal. Having released their debut album in the summer of 2024, they haven’t done many live shows. Naturally when the event at Kuudes Linja, Helsinki, on Friday, March 21st was released, we had to check out what the band is all about.
The show at Kuudes Linja began with a lengthy intro track transferring the audience, who had filled the premises by the designated beginning time, to a slow-moving, hypnotic sonic world. The nucleus of Vanhanen, Kaukolampi, and Leppänen had Ringa Manner as the lead vocalist on stage. Vocals here are largely one of the instruments, though, as it’s all more about the atmosphere than the lyrics.
The show was a good hour of repeating, hypnotic drum patterns, synth soundscapes, and guitar riffing. The performance by the band was just as disconnected and alienated as the music, as the only contact with the audience was one spoken word between the second-to-last and the last song and a single “Thank you” in the end. The audience listened silently, yet there was a focused feeling about it all. After the show, it was as though people were shaking off a dream as they wandered down the stairs towards the doors.
HAUNTED PLASMA is definitely an interesting band to keep an eye out for. It has the feeling of a project where experienced musicians have been allowed to do exactly what they want to do. This might not always lead to the most audience-friendly music, but it certainly does lead to some interesting out-of-the-box musical choices. Check our photos of the evening below…
Haunted Plasma
