The massive line moved very slowly as hundreds of people waited to get into the legendary Tavastia Club. The event was completely sold out, with two hot names—Havukruunu and Hellripper—sharing the stage while representing slightly different genres.
Havukruunu has become one of the most fascinating and leading names on the Finnish metal scene. The four-piece has released four albums to date. Their latest opus, Tavastland, has received an insane amount of praise from critics. The Tavastia club was totally packed by hundreds of people digging these bands.
The Scottish band Hellripper opened the night. Hellripper clearly enjoys a strong following in Finland, at least judging by the huge line at the merchandise desk. Frontman James McBain definitely sold a ton of Hellripper shirts during the night. On stage, Hellripper delivered straightforward thrash with punk-influenced energy. McBain has clearly drawn inspiration from old-school acts to shape the band’s sound. Classic names like Venom, Warfare, Razor, and Bathory are easy to hear in the music. Therefore, it is quite logical to associate them with the same rank along with Midnight, Butcher, etc. Hellripper came and conquered. Each song featured vicious, catchy riffs and fiery, furious solos. The band sounded tight and thrashed hard. The four-piece played a 12-song set in just under an hour. The band’s loyal fanbase was obvious, as the floor turned into a massive circle pit. Hellripper will definitely be seen on Finnish soil as the following is so intense and excellent.
It was quite surprising to see a sold-out show on a Thursday night. However, it was a clear sign that people have discovered Havukruunu and that the band has begun to gain wider recognition. The atmosphere changed completely after Hellripper. The crowd fully embraced Havukruunu’s epic aura. There was no pit activity; instead, the band’s epic hymns and catchy metal riffs sounded powerful and absolutely bombastic. Even the more melancholic passages resonated deeply with Finnish metal hearts.
Havukruunu’s fourth album, Tavastland, proved to be a remarkable release, receiving an overwhelming amount of positive feedback. The album effectively catapulted the band into the awareness of a much broader audience. It represents a distinctly Finnish melancholic spirit, blending epic, hymn-like passages with grim, blackened metal and clear heavy metal influences. Accordingly, the set included several songs from their fourth album. The show opened with “Kuolematon Laulunhenki” from Tavastland and later featured another track from the same album, “Yönsynty.” In total, thirteen songs were performed during a 90-minute set.
The audience was completely mesmerized and spellbound by the band’s powerful and atmospheric performance. A hired cellist, positioned in the darkest corner of the stage, added an extra layer of atmosphere and brought a unique vibe to the show. Overall, Havukruunu demonstrated why they have become one of the leading names in the Finnish metal scene. Above all, the songs strongly resonate with a Finnish atmosphere. The Finnish language sounded absolutely strong and powerful within Havukruunu’s music. The four-piece avoided unnecessary gimmicks and let the music speak for itself.
It was the last gig of their tour, and the band will definitely return to the limelight as there is demand, and it is sure there is an interest as well as demand outside of Finland.
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