Being attuned and with a trained neck-musculature from the last night at Tavastia, we tonight blended in with the locals at Dante’s Highlight. A three-band-package was offered, I only knew DEAD SHAPE FIGURE from. We preferred these Finnish old school thrashers instead of Carnal Forge, who played around the corner at Nosturi club.

Dante’s Highlight emerged as a sensational club, the best I have seen so far. An old building with high stairs and high doors (and angels above *laughs*) opening to a roomy lobby with cloakrooms to the left and to the right, stairs down to the DARX, a little pub with metal music. Straight ahead you enter a huge hall with a huge all-around-bar in the middle of the hall. To the left and right a lot of cuddly zebra seating to relax (or sleep while drunk respectively), nice deco on the walls and a huge stage with a huge screen on it, were people can watch the playing band from the bar or backside. Upstairs is a roomy gallery part with own bars and seating offering an excellent view on the stage in the central bar underneath.
Ticket prizes 8 Euro, cloakrooms 2 Euros, that’s totally ok. The cloakroom money seems to be a special rule too, as for that you don’t have a minimum consumption or entry prizes at pubs/clubs (without shows).

:: pics ::

Hanging out with friends at Bar Loose (I can warmly recommend, it’s a great Rock bar, a must-visit in Helsinki) we entered quite late, despite the late show times ;)

Finnish metallers :: VANGUARD :: were already playing. Blithely, entertaining an un-blithely audience. Symphonic Gothic Metal with alternating vocals (f/m) and a cello as the only unique factor. Sound and production on CD is much more powerful than what the dudes offered here on stage, which was really lame. Singer Suvi seemed to be utmost bored, while singer J. only appeared at his parts. And… these spooky special contacts I really find childish…
Musically speaking VANGUARD actually know their craft. Powerful riffwork that makes you headbanging. And Suvi has a pleasantly deep voice. Just from the visual aspects the band has to work on themselves urgently.
All songs came from the brand new album Hydralchemy, only released in Finland yet. Ok, time to get a drink I’d say ;)
Setlist: Spellbroken, Chimera, Zenith, Scion, Ouija, Untold, Whisper, Scarlet, Slither

Quick change-over, lights on and without any announcement :: CHAINWRECK :: just kick off at full throttle. Boah!!! What the hell…!!! What a fucking groove!!! *headbang* Every song a brutal crusher *headbang* A must-have! The albums of course… :P CHAINWRECK also have a new record ready, entitled A Season Of Hates Perfection, soon to be released. All songs were taken from it *headbang* Ok, the band’s style ain’t new or innovative, but it so fucking kicks ass! *headbang* Groove metal with a dash of Hardcore, sometimes with melodically clean singing, else with angry and aggressive shouts. This stuff makes a hell of fun *headbang* As for me, a great Swedish discovery ;) Love them! *headbang* Did I already mention that CHAINWRECK are fucking great??? *laughs* Gonna keep an eye on them… ;)

A few Vodka-stuff laters :: DEAD SHAPE FIGURE :: and finally the audience comes closer to the stage and shows some enthusiasm. Taking photos is only possible from the fourth row, always running risk to get a fist, feet, shoe, arm, leg or whatever right into the face. One guy prompt had to learn a lesson about centrifugal forces and inertia, hit an iron balustrade and stood down unconscious (112 for Wiebke as prospective medic)
DEAD SHAPE FIGURE are way heavier, more brutal, more aggressive, faster, more thrash with a touch of Death Metal inside ;) The quintet plays fucking tight and dead-on right into your face. Some blastparts here, some brutality there, monster riffing and neckbreaking groove! Fucking hell! Can’t stop praising. Wanna see them on tour in Germany, with Gods Will Be Done, or in support of Exodus maybe? Ok, perilous. No! Deadly! *lol*
In between singer Galzi got out of the setlist, which was completely soaked in beer and needed to ask what to sing next ;) Well, the guys got the laughs ;) DEAD SHAPE FIGURE have their debut The Grand Karoshi out since May 2008 and it seems, the cats were busy writing new material since then. A couple of songs I couldn’t relate. Apropos… Carnal Forge would have perfectly fitted in. HERE on this stage! *pffff* *lol*
Setlist: New Song 1, New Song 2, Blades, Lesser The Man, Remington Lucifer, Remedy, New Song 3, Fight Against Lie Behalf, 6x9 // Deathexplosion (The Crown Cover)

What a great concert night ;) I and Wiebke were like electrified; completely freaking out afterwards at the metal disco while drinking Vodka and Jagermeister shots (was the cheapest stuff, 5 Euro each). We attract a lot of attention, but weren’t off-beat. People looked at us as we did at the rabbit last night ;) Ok, who are the crazier ones?

story & pics © Dajana