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Jalometalli 2012 - Day 1 - 8/10/2012 - Club Teatria - Oulu

After other five festivals during this summer, it comes the time for the last one: for this occasion we travel north to the nice city of Oulu, the last big center before you enter into Lapland.
The weather is surprisingly warmer than expected, and nearly sunny all weekend, a rarity for a festival! But there is no time to enjoy the city because as soon as the train ends its 7-hours long trip (still better than going by bus!), the time is just enough to find the way to Club Teatria, and prepare to shoot the first band of this Jalometalli 2012: Gehenna.
The Norwegian guys are first on the main stage after switching places in the running order, still while people is slowly coming inside the festival. The guys from Stavanger have a long history in the roots of Norwegian Black Metal, and it’s one of those bands the most "hardcore" fans don’t want to miss. The set is quite short, but enough for a good warm-up, while there is the chance to check out the area. The place seems small at first, but it can actually fit enough people. It’s just a bit difficult at the beginning to get used to the area, but that’s common to every new place.
We switch to heavy/power metal when the guys of Merging Flare, talented Finnish band, are first on the indoor stage. A little bit of technical issues at the beginning, otherwise an entertaining show, revolving for the most on the guitar riffs of Kasperi Heikkinen, and the charismatic vocals and stage presence of Matias Palm, well-supported nonetheless by the other three guys. The tracks from their debut "Reverence" are always nice to hear, especially if you are into old Helloween/Gamma Ray stuff.
At the same time in the smaller stage there is Gorem, relatively new doom/death metal band lead by Tepa Karjalainen from A.R.G., I didn’t see much of it, but it might be worth checking out.
The first highlight of the day is given by Toxic Holocaust, something I would describe as "when Venom meets Municipal Waste". Sounds like a blasphemy at first, but it’s actually pretty good stuff (and the guys actually have recently published a split with Municipal Waste…). From "War Is Hell" is already clear that the rhythm is going to accelerate here, and you can see the first real circle pit of the weekend. "666", "Nuke The Cross" and "Bitch" are other personal favorite of this gig, which shows a band in nice shape. Passed with flying colors!
I was quite curious to see Iron Savior, but the German guys didn’t leave on me such a big impression. Of course some good classics lit up the mood, but there was just something not right that made me feel not so eager to watch the whole show. I guess today the line-up is just more thrashy, so I wonder what it would have been like in a more traditional heavy metal festival.
After all, the focus was already on Vader, who gladly accepted to come here replacing (surprise!) the cancellation of Deicide. Well, a change way for the better I would say!
The Poles look visibly older than the last time they came here in Finland - not even so long ago - but it doesn’t mean that they are not more than ready to kick ass with their music! The biggest problem is that the gig seems almost too short, which is what happens when it’s good. The band starts with "Return To The Morbid Reich", and are immediately cheered by their devoted fans. It’s always entertaining to see the funny faces of these guys while performing, and the crowd raising hell when songs like "Helleluyah!!! (God Is Dead)" come. There is a small break to take some breath, and then "This Is The War", along with a traditional cover of "Raining Blood" conclude what has been so far the best gig of the day.
They should have played first, but then changed order, and now it’s finally time for some Greek death metal with Septicflesh. Focusing on the two albums post-reunion, the band gets the (not so bright) spotlights in a mystical atmosphere, and with the singer/bass player in his classical pose, inciting the audience. The show is not bad, but the fact that it’s already past dinner time urges me to consume the last of my food in a more quiet location for at least half hour, waiting for the main course of the day: Coroner.
The Swiss thrashers finally came back to life last year, and after the very quick glimpse I had at them in Hellfest 2011, this was the right chance to finally enjoy the gig, or most of it. It’s funny how Ron Royce is always smiling, and the show really gets going when it’s time for "Masked Jackal" and "Status: Still Thinking". This is one of the few musical gems that the land of chocolate and clocks has given us. Better sit down and enjoy rather then launch yourself in pointless moshing (yes, I’m getting old…). The trio (plus the additional computer/synth guy in the back) really manages to ignite the atmosphere, and suddenly the evening is not that cold as it seemed right after sunset. At some point I have to leave and get ready for the last show of the day: Year Of The Goat, coming from nearby Sweden. Which means that I can just hear the ending with "The Invincible" and "Reborn Through Hate" from inside the club. Great show otherwise!
The occult band from Norrköping had made already a very good impression on me in the bright daylight of Sweden Rock in June, now it is time to place them in a more proper setting, engulfed in the darkness of the night. All the songs for which they are best known of course are there: "This Will Be Mine", "Of Darkness", "Vermillion Clouds"… and even some new songs, since finally the new record is almost completed. Compared to the previous time, Mikael Popovic has a much more prominent role, not much in playing the mellotron, but in the speeches introducing each song. Thomas Sabbathi capture the attention with his vocals, backed-up by a Per Broddesson in good shape. Ultimately the band provides a really nice ending to this evening, in an atmosphere which better suits them than the hot afternoon of a summer in southern Sweden. Even with less people, the fans are still very concentrated on the show.
At this point, and with my baggage still to be brought at the hotel, it is wise not to take part in the afterparties, and try to get a drink, some food, and a good sleep before the following day. Personal best of Friday: Coroner, Year Of The Goat, and Vader!


Photos:
Jalometalli 2012

Report a cura di Marco Manzi