11,12-01-2013 Findustry on ice

Venue: Bar Bäkkäri, Helsinki (Finland)
By: Sabine van Gameren

While the new year has started, the entire popsector is networking the shine of themselves off at Eurosonic, Helsinki gives house to a more extreme party. Two days of Findustry and this on ICE, a good reason to drop by and chill.

Industrial rockers Cold Cold Ground are starting the night in a pretty filled bar Bäkkäri, and their attempt to break the ice would not be a task that comes with too many challenges as it seems. Considering they play in their home town it was not that hard to think some more people would come to see the show compared to the last time we saw the rockers hitting the stage in the idealistic town of Pori. With heads up fierce they start on the set, taking it calmly at first to bring the rage more at the end of the set, leaving the people yearning for more. Some of the audience got engaged into performing with the band which obviously brings the connection there. Nice show as you typically see of the bands, the great kick-start for this icy event.

Helsinki’s wisest group The Physicists brings their oddity up next. The band shifts around from something stereotypical rock, to more electro and then there is industrial, pay attention and not miss the party. The tunes are there for you to dance to but there is also a humoristic side in it, which you could experience most at live occasions like this. With some lights here and there they bring people out of the darkness and invite them to come over and enjoy the show closer. A little drama is added at the end of the set when vocalist MC Omega zero jumps of stage and end the final song in between the audience as a dying swan. Seems like the swan didn’t make it to the ice hole, a dramatic end for a funky set by these physicists.

If there was any ice left here in the building it must have melt during the set of Iiwanajulma. The band plays wild and victorious while the atmosphere in the crows gets hot, hot, hot! Iiwanajulma makes music with Finnish lyrics, often creating theirs songs with the an impressive atmosphere at its basis so it is no wonder that people easily get dragged into the sound as what happened here this night. The energy level plays around a bit, you can find some moments to calm down before the intensity gets up and the music is taking you further. A great show, the band simply changed the whole into a place where no ice could ever exists.

ErilaZ was closing the night on the stage. If you are familiar with the German EBM/ Industrial sound, you get close to that with Erilaz. Hear expressive lyrics, passionately brought to make an impression and backed up guitars and synths at this performance the whole comes alive even more. At first people seem to be catching their breath after the earlier performances, but eventually some end up dancing to these tunes. A great way to end the evening, even though some DJ’s take over the venue after this show to entertain the last party people in the bar.

Day 2:

Another night, more ice for the Findustrial fans. This time it is up for The Closed to start the evening. This band has a lot going on and you might question how serious are you going to take a band that throws popcorn to their audience. Sit back and enjoy the show we suggest as the band seem to be quite entertaining. It’s obvious that the band comes with a theme and if you feel like you might enter some love boat you could be quite surprised as the music does not immediately refers to love at all. While the evening starts calmly it seem to interest people in some way. The music of the guys goes into different directions some track a bit more bizarre than the other but overall they are up for a show which is entertaining in any way.

Kilt. is up next and it drew many more curious people towards the stage. Their alternative Metal may be not the most standard thing, but clearly has the attention of people. Recently some changes are made within the band and the band played some new songs today. Some of the tracks of the bands album “Everything/Nothing” brought the long-time fans into movement. Good to see as this band is one you would probably love to listen intensely before seeing them live. Just to get the feeling. However it seems like most of the people are familiar with the band which easily sets things in motion. Seems like this is all working out here tonight, a wonderful set of these guys.

Bob Malmström is perky, young and makes their statement right away. The band claims they are showing the good side of life with their music that comes in Swedish. A refreshment as the dark side of life is overexposed at this sort of music already. The audience seem to be with them, but the danger of arrogance is lurking around the corner. It’s a fine line between them and when crossed is there really a way back? The guys probably don’t give a shit anyway, maybe we should not take it all to serious about them anyway. An interesting introduction to their self-acclaimed ‘Borgarcore’ was given, let the audience decide how long they will go with the band’s attitude lyrics.

The evening is closing with the Gothic Rock formation Two Witches. The band has plenty years of name and history to build on and their show is bringing some darkness into it. Literally, with the amount of smoke they have going on you would wonder if they try to show Fields of the Nephilim how to hide. The band does not have the most active performance to watch anyway, it’s quite static. The two girls are both quite calm contributing their part and the difference is made mainly by the vocals. Although I expected those a bit deeper and darker they brought a warm add to the otherwise a bit cold sound of the band. The further the set comes the better it gets, surely counts for them, leaving the stage with a good show behind them!