23-06-2017 – Nummirock

[schema type=”event” evtype=”Event” name=” 23-06-17 – Nummirock” sdate=”2017-06-21″ edate=”2017-06-24″ street=”Nummijärvi” city=”Kauhajoki” country=”FI” ]

My Favorite Nemesis would had started the third day, and the first Main Day when all the stages were in use. The night had been extremely cold and the temperature dropped below 0 Celsius; or at least very close to it.
We put on our padded winter pants and thicker coats before venturing towards the gates and into the festival area to see the rest.

Temple Balls

Temple Balls is a heavy metal / hard rock band from the northern town of Oulu and they had surprised and convinced our photographer back in 2016 at South Park, Tampere so the expectations were positive for us.

They take control of stage and audience well, even if I also notice some excitement and tediousness. The stage presence is strong, but it still leaves me feeling like they aren´t having all the swords in use, like still missing some.

Despite of that, I still feel and hear their energy quite nicely, and especially I have to mention their polyphonic singing, which goes well with iron professionalism. There´s still from time to time a need for a bit of polishing, but as a whole respectful of traditions, contagious and an enjoyable rally.

Battle Beast

4 years ago, we saw these guys and the gal opening Nummirock on the first day, back when the festival was only 3 days long. Female fronted, really catchy and contagious good-mood heavy metal they are surely familiar to many by now, they were completely suited for opening the main stage.

Convincing in familiar style, strong start and contact with audience is sure and polished. Show goes with hard and fast vibe, vocals are clears and playing goes nice. Speeches between the songs came with confidence and smoothness and the big stage is fulfilled with professionalism.
Also singing together goes smoothly with timings and there´s nicely hit songs scattered, how it´s possible not like this?

Setlist: Straight to the Heart, Bringer of Pain, Familiar Hell, Let It Roar, Black Ninja, Far from Heaven, Lost in Wars, Bastard Son of Odin, Touch in the Night, Out of Control, King for a Day, Beyond the Burning Skies

Spell of Torment

What we like in Nummi, compared to Tuska Open Air, is that they don’t book only bands with big labels and the whole construct of business behind them but they offer a fresh amount of small underground bands as well; so big thanks and shoutout for the best festival of Finland!

Spell of Torment hails from Oulu but offers a very much darker tone than their peers we saw earlier this day. Founded in 2013, they have released a single and are preparing to come up with an EP, Son of Mourning as I’m writing this review.

Nice riffs, but sometimes little bit boring stuff, there are some sticking melodies commendably, but still need some polishing and maybe sharpening for a style.

They take the stage and audience pretty well, and contact with the crowd seems to be going well, even speeches need some work to do better. technically I don´t find much to complain, and also movement seems easy and going in a natural way.

For black metal this is still quite nice an acquaintance, somehow a degree of more relaxed than usual, and for thinking the show as a whole eye view is quite recommended stuff, even if you aren’t very comfortable with black metal.

Jinjer

Jinjer is an Ukrainian progressive metal band with a female vocalist, who beats many males in the terms of death metal growling. They have been around since 2010 and they’ve been awarded twice as the Best Metal Band of Ukraine, in 2013 and 2016.

First thing that caught my attention immediately is the female vocalist’s unbelievable voice, totally mind-blowing, and it´s hard to understand how you can make a sound like that. As it is, technically I don’t have much to complain about anyway.

There are nicely surprises in the songs but I’m kind of left missing something more to grasp on. Also contact with the audience is lying too much only on the vocalist’s shoulders. Also motions were kinda too little for my taste.

Also we saw a proposal during the show, to which the answer was yes, love story had begun a new chapter on Jinjer´s show, and it was great gesture from the band to let them on the stage.

Swallow the Sun

When it comes to doom metal, you can’t deny StS belonging to the brightest spot of what Finland has to offer. These guys have been through a lot during the years, in which they have released 6 LPs and a ballet which never saw daylight as a dance performance but was later released as a whole on Plague of Butterflies EP (2008).

To their style faithfully, they take control over the main stage and audience well and makes it look almost too easy. Also playing is going just properly, and as far as I can see, whole band focus is almost totally in the crowd gathered to see them despite the rain.

Very nice to hear and see, this is how weapons are getting rid so beautifully that I can feel how
all criticsim is just leached out of my head in a good way (and not because of rain).

Setlist: Rooms and Shadows, These Woods Breathe Evil, Falling World, Heartstrings Shattering, Out of This Gloomy Light, Psychopath´s Lair, Labyrinth of London (Horror Part IV), Don´t Fall Asleep, Cathedral Walls, New Moon, Swallow (Horror Part I)

Huora

I think this is something like ”not so serious”- style, sadly my impression is more like tired punk. I mean, I think I have heard this all before somewhere, and absolutely too many times.

Also contact with audience should be stronger, even if you are not so serious.

Setlist: Ämmät hei, Kotibileet, Normaali?, P.a-ska, Hautajaiset, Sori Siitä, Kaikki Uuniin, Kovia ja Kiljua

S-Tool

S-Tool is the most recent band of Ville Laihiala who was long the main singer of Sentenced. The man is hard-boiled in many bands, such as Poisonblack which he then put an end to. The expectations were high for this rock group.

There were some problems with technical stuff (something broke middle of show) and the PA-speakers went quiet, forcing them quit early, such a shame, because far as I can see, gig were going nicely. Movement was easy-going and relaxed, which fits gracefully to their music style.

The stage presence is strong and contact with audience stayes beatifully possessed, there are maybe something to polishing with speeches, but it´s always pleasure to watch energic, respectful of tragitions rock gig.

Raised Fist

Coming up next on the main stage was a hardcore punk act with history, dating back to the year of 1993. With years of experience, 6 albums and 2 EPs, you’d expect a good show.

When I watch their show, my first impression was , that ”ok, they coming to show us how that punk preference should always be.” They take audience with a tight grip, and it hold on for the whole gig.

Technically nothing to complain, and it´s always tell about great attitude if you have, learned couple of words in the local language.

Gloomy Grim

Hailing from Helsinki, Gloomy Grim are also veterans in the symphonic black metal field, judging by their ago of 22 years (founded in 1995). Neither of us knew them before so it could be deliberate that they’ve stayed in the underground scene purposefully.

They have nicely invested at visibility of show and interesting variation at voice, but still I feel it musically somehow quite neutral. The band would use some variation in music also.
Contact with audience is relying mostly at guitarist’s shoulders, there´s should be some more of that from the others too. Technically not much to complain.

Gaahls Wyrd

This year’s lineup had lots to offer for the fans of black metal and they sure didn’t need introduction to who Gaahl is but for us who never cared much for Gorgoroth he remained a mystery until this show.

Mostly screaming style vocals, faithful to the genre. Musically there seems trying to be some things to grab on, but not enough to me to catch. Growls are quite impressive but I feel to left missing some more originality.

Contact with audience is going smoothly and momentum is fitting to musical style (headbanging always looks great).

DevilDriver

The groove metallers from California were one of the most anticipated acts of the day, and there was no disclarity if they belonged to the main stage.

Ok, if I ever have had the feeling that I wish I can bang my head and write same time it´s absolutely now. There is a tight set with catchy melodies and energy just basically flows from the stage.

No mistakes with playing and everything goes just right.

So I guess I have nothing more to say than amazing and thank you.

Ajattara

Last but not least, Ajattara. The most iconic Finnish dark/black metal band with very distinguished sound, the brainchild of former Amorphis vocalist Pasi Koskinen.

Gig goes nicely with professinal attitude, playing go without mistakes, and they sure know how to headbang, like you should if your band consists of members like Mynni Luukkainen (best known from Sotajumala) or Juha Harju (ex-Shade Empire & Deathchain).

At this style, they’re doing quite qualified stuff, but for me it somehow doesn´t sink. Maybe I some more to stick on wouldn’t do anything bad, I guess.