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Black Flames of Blasphemy II - Day 1 - 10/7/2011 - DOM - Helsinki

One year after, same place, lots of the same faces. The Black Flames spread once again in the now renewed and bigger DOM (know in the previous edition as Dante’s highlight), for a 2-days of blasphemy and malevolence. A big difference from last year, there is no photo pit. Which makes it tough for the people shooting at the event, allowing instead the drunk people in the front rows to spill their drinks on the stage, and at times to obstacle the photographers “because it’s so annoying if someone pass in front of you to reach the other side of the stage while you’re watching a concert”.
When there’s still quite a few people inside, after the presentation and a brief celebration of the organizers, it’s time to see the first of the two Italian acts present this year. A little of patriotic pride, for once! Sign Of Evil from the lake of Como in Northern Italy, has the difficult task to open this BFoB II, and turns out it was indeed quite difficult.
Problems with the sounds through all their short set don’t allow to fully enjoy their gig, and the band itself looks comprehensibly disappointed for that, given the good opportunity to play on this event. It looks however like their music worked somehow for warming up the atmosphere, since with the following Phlegein, the traditionally shy (when sober) Finnish audience slowly begins to move towards the stage.
The band, featuring members from Maveth, and with two EP released in these past two years, is getting ready to let the world know their hate through a quite traditional black metal, still nice considering the good impression they leave with their performance. Needless to say, however, that as the place was starting to get crowded, it’s because of the idol of many Finnish blacksters Satanic Warmaster. After the really good show at this year’s Hammer, I was expecting something more from the band of Mr. Satanic Tyrant Werewolf, instead this gig was rather disappointing. The band in the 45 mins of their set spent most of the time just going on and off the stage, hearing the audience shout, and played a few classics as “Warmaster Returns” and “Carelian Satanist Madness”. In a way or another, the fans seemed pretty happy with this anyway. Even if I don’t get how. But I guess that’s what matters anyway... still I found that attitude annoying, quite the opposite of the Brazilian Sodomizer, which singer also thanked his brother for filming the show from down the stage!
The trio (apparently they were missing a member) seemed really happy to be able to play here, and put up a nice gig with their black/speed metal, which soon got me past the previous disappoinment. A big part of the set of course has been taken from “Jesus Is Not Here Today”, their latest release, which made a good impression live, also thanks to the fact that the sounds were definitely better than during SW. The only problem, maybe the show was missing some energy, since the guys on stage haven’t been doing really much more than standing with their guitars and turning one to the others from time to time.
On a whole different level was the main act of the day, and personally the best of the weekend, Mortuary Drape. After 25 years the band from Alessandria is still alive and kicking, as shown by their newest EP, entitled “Black Flames of Blasphemy” in honor of this festival, and released just at the end of September. With candles at both sides of the stage, and funereal coats, the Italian guys really knows how to light up the venue, playing killer songs such as “Primordial”, “Tregenda”, “Zombie”... and again “Mortuary Drape” or even “Vengeance From Beyond”. A great set that keep the mosh going and the crowd headbanging all the time.
It’s quite odd for me to see an Italian band for the first time here in Finland, but I’m really damn glad I did!
One Tail, One Head, the Norwegian act featuring members of Mare and Behexen, didn’t leave much instead. Their gig wasn’t anything memorable, but it can also be difficult to stand out after the best show of the evening. In the time at their disposal they can play pretty much their whole, brief discography, made of two demos and two EPs. I might give this band another chance if the time comes, but so far I haven’t been impressed.
A similar discussion can be done for the following Pseudogod from Russia, it might have helped if the set was shortened a bit, but it didn’t seem such an outstanding show in itself. Much better instead the final band of this first day, Revenge, coming all the way from Canada.
The duo, or trio for the occasion, gave a good last blow to an otherwise slowly fading evening, and I’m satisfied I’ve been patient enough to check them out tonight. With their aggressive sound and stage presence, they seriously woke up the remaining crowd (sadly at this point people starts to leave, public transport doesn’t wait..), and one of the highlights of their gig was surely the anthem “Blood Of My Blood”. Nice way to end the evening!
To sum up this first day, I can safely say that my personal top three was represented by Mortuary Drape, Revenge, and Sodomizer. Something good here and there in between, but these bands have been someone one step ahead. Tired as hell I now find my way back home, to return here tomorrow with big expectations for Rotting Christ, Behexen, and Maniac Butcher!


Photos:
Revenge


Pseudogod


One Tail, One Head


Mortuary Drape


Sodomizer


Satanic Warmaster


Phlegein


Sign Of Evil


Report a cura di Marco Manzi