Finland’s favorite Swedish modern metal outfit ORBIT CULTURE recently released their new album, “Death Above Life,” and naturally, the occasion called for a full-scale European tour. Joined by Finnish metal act ATLAS and Portuguese black metal force GAEREA, the lineup promised a diverse and heavy evening—and on November 24th, 2025, Kulttuuritalo was the place to be.
It’s been a while since ATLAS last released a full-length record, with the critically acclaimed “Ukko” dating back to 2021, but the band has stayed busy with a steady stream of strong singles over the past year. Expectations were high, and they delivered. Their live performance remains as energetic as it is introspective, pulling the audience in with crushing heaviness and emotional depth. New tracks like “Salt and Sulfur” and “I Whisper Your Name Like a Curse” translated especially well to the stage. ATLAS are one of those uniquely Finnish metal bands with a very bright future ahead of them, and hopefully this tour earned them plenty of new fans.
GAEREA also arrived with fresh material, including their recent single “Submerged,” which proved to be an absolute banger live. While black metal isn’t usually the first genre we gravitate toward, GAEREA are impossible to ignore in a live setting. Their performances are dynamic and intense, and their vocalist is one of the most energetic frontmen out there—rarely standing still for even a second, covering every inch of the stage with relentless presence.
Then it was time for the main event: ORBIT CULTURE. There’s something undeniably special about the connection between this band and Finnish audiences. Having seen them in several countries, it genuinely feels like Finland just gets them. The crowd might not be the most outwardly explosive, but there’s a palpable tension in the air that makes their shows here feel particularly powerful.
The band had clearly stepped up their stage production, especially with a striking new lighting setup. While it looked fantastic from an audience perspective, it proved to be quite the challenge from a photographer’s point of view. The setlist leaned heavily on material from Death Above Life, while still making room for older favorites. That said, it was genuinely baffling to see “Inferna” missing from the set—arguably one of the band’s strongest tracks and a live staple many were hoping for. Songs like “Strangler” and “Black Mountain” were also missed, and with only two tracks from Descent making the cut, the omissions were noticeable. Thankfully, “Vultures of North” made an appearance, and the inclusion of the older, crushingly heavy “I, the Wolf” was a very welcome surprise.
Clocking in at just over an hour with twelve songs, the set felt almost too short, especially given the depth of ORBIT CULTURE’s catalog. Maybe the newer material is particularly demanding—who knows. Either way, another thirty minutes would have been more than welcome… though, admittedly, getting home early wasn’t the worst thing either (a very over-30 realization).
Atlas
Gaerea
Orbit Culture
Photos by Laureline Tilkin
