What would be the best way to celebrate Easter if not in the company of Dutch black’n’roll troubadour HERETIC? (Okay, one year we did that with PROFANATICA, but still, you get the gist). It was also nice after three extremely crowded nights earlier in the week to finally be at a gig with some breathable room, although there was still a decent number of people. Quality over quantity, perhaps. Still, kudos to Metallihelvetti for bringing back one of the best acts from last year’s Turku Saatanalle for this Finnish mini-tour, of which tonight represented the last show.
When Oulu-based BLACK MASS PERVERTOR was about to open the night, there was literally nobody downstairs yet, but the crowd started pouring in immediately as their show began. The trio thus had the chance to showcase their repertoire, including last year’s “Dionysian Rites,” and it proved a very fitting warm-up choice for this night with a well-paced gallop in their short set, as the band’s music pays homage to early Finnish black metal, giving it a clear punk spin with interesting results.
BLACK ROCK from Hyvinkää took the stage next with their speed-infused black metal reminiscent of Tom G. Warrior and the Swiss school, but also of VENOM, going back to the roots with their solid melodies and keeping the crowd’s attention with a positive display of raw pounding rhythm and 80s riffs. While the show had a different energy than the other two, it worked quite nicely and allowed the fans to ready themselves for the main course of the evening.
Among the excitement of the audience – especially this one lady in the front who seemed almost possessed throughout the gig – HERETIC came on stage starting with a new song, “Boys From the Void,” from the recently released “Filthy Hymns for Sleazy Demons.” The Dutch trio immediately transformed the atmosphere into a big blasphemous party despite vocalist/guitarist Thomas Goat not being exactly in perfect shape (the Finnish spring can do that). The gig went on with songs such as “Mr. Chainsaw,” “Horns of Hell,” and “Black Metal Punks” in perfect spirit with the band’s live attitude, which eventually infected the crowd as well.
”Womanizer” preceded “It’s On” (cover of the fellow Dutch THE DEVIL’S BLOOD), with the guys on stage increasingly interacting with the fans both during and in between the songs, and the occasional guy trying to join in on the fun on stage. The show was going to end with “The Devil, My Saviour,” followed by “Berserker,” but with overwhelming enthusiasm, the crowd demanded more, so everything became more chaotic when BARATHRUM’s own Janne Sova was invited to perform on stage. Soon more people chimed in and this already pleasant night ended on a really high note. Once again, good job to the organizers, who not only worked hard to make this happen but also had the opportunity to join in on the fun. To top things off, the following day was still a holiday, and there was cheap beer at the bar. The perfect excuse to keep the party going!
BLACK MASS PERVERTOR
BLACK ROCK
HERETIC
Photos by Marco Manzi
