"Heathen's Long-Awaited Finnish Debut: A Night of Relentless Thrash Metal!"

Aug 25, 2024

San Francisco -based thrash titans, Heathen visited Finland their very first time on their European Tour week ago. On Saturday 17:th, they headlined Speed Metal Party -fest at Tullikamari -club, Tampere and on Sunday 18:th August, On The Rocks -club, Helsinki. I was able to attend to the show on late Sunday evening. Even if Sunday wasn't the most optimal day of the week to have a ball, we Finnish metal heads didn't let that bother.

Finally the wait of decades was over. No news was that, Finnish thrash metal fans had wished Heathen to arrive at Finland for forty damn long years!!! The leading members of the band, vocalist David White and guitarist-songwriter Kragen Lum showed the younger band members – guitarist Kyle Edissi, bassist Jason Mirza and drummer Ryan Idris the way on the steaming stage of On The Rocks -club. Sadly the original band leader, guitarist Lee Altus has had to continue his absence from the band.

Nevertheless, even with a substitute guitarist, Heathen just killed it. They blasted songs from each of their four studio albums. The band was in brilliant shape, sounded great, and Finnish Heathen fans in an almost full-packed On The Rocks -club got exactly what they came there to look for, and even more. Heathen played an intensive, mercilessly brilliant show. At some point in the end of the set, drummer Ryan Idris had some difficulties in keeping the precision of the beat during the fast double kick drum -parts of couple songs. Despite to that, it became seemingly clear, that Heathen truly enjoyed playing to their Finnish fans. White politely apologised the crowd for coming over for his band's debut visit to play in Finland had taken so long. However, he promised that the next time Heathen will get back to play in Finland sooner than one could expect. When the time finally comes, we will be welcoming them with open arms! So 'til then..!

Heathen setlist at On The Rocks, Helsinki 18:th August 2024:

"Dying Season"
"Opiate of the Masses"
"Empire of the Blind"
"Breaking the Silence"
"Blood to Be Let"
"Control By Chaos"
"Mercy Is No Virtue"
"Sun In My Hand"
"Death By Hanging"
"Hypnotized"
"The Blight"
"Goblin's Blade"

The openers for the legendary Bay Area -thrashers at Helsinki-gig were two old school Finnish metal bands that deserve to be known internationally wider. The first one is death-thrash-hardcore-bangers, Jumalation and the second one a premium class old school thrash metal outfit, Prestige.

Five-piece Helsinki-scene thrashers, Jumalation performed a bloody energetic show, even though their founding member, guitarist Pedro Antharez had injured his arm in an unfortunate pedestrian-bicycle accident just days before the shows. Luckily, the thrash metal inhaling and exhaling 6-string monster, Timo Ahlström of Helsinki-area based outfits Demonztrator and Freedomination, did an incredible job filling in for him. On the stage, Alongside him, the vocalist, Taurus Extermínio, bassist Carlos de Gigolo, rhythm guitarist Heiko "Urubu Abutre" Explicit Hate and Drummer Jake Cannon delivered tight, brutal, violently enjoyable experience of dirty, primitive Finnish thrash metal show.

It is indeniable, that Tampere-based thrash metal veterans, Prestige are nowadays one of the most classy old school metal acts coming from Finland. The band were supposed to have their hey days in the late 1980's and early 1990's, as the thrash metal was on top of the bill, and when Prestige released their first three albums, "Attack Against Gnomes" (1989), "Selling The Salvation" (1990) and "Parasites in Paradise" (1992). After the last one, they split, or more likely sunk into the hiatus of 20 years. In 2020 they got signed by German label Massacre Records and released an outstanding comeback -album, "Reveal The Ravage". What the hell, on thus peculiar album Prestige sounds fresh and updated, but without forgetting where their roots lead back to.

As a band, Prestige just turned 35 years, and the guys sound heavier, wittier, meaner, tighter and more powerful unit than ever. Eloquent vocalist-bassist Aku Kytölä, guitarists Jan "Örkki" Yrlund (ex-Lacrimosa) and Ari Karppinen along with the drummer Matti Johansson (ex-Korpiklaani) didn't let crowd down. Especially newer songs like "You Weep", Exit", "Candles" and "Innocent" truly kicked some serious ass and proved, that today Prestige is one of the most vital veteran thrash metal bands from Northern Europe.

Early in the last year, Prestige opened for Manowar, so no bigger stages are new to them either. In June, these guys organised and played at Lilkerfest, Tampere, which was a Finnish thrash metal musicians' live Concert tribute to one and only Dan Lilker (Anthrax, S.O.D., Nuclear Assault, Brutal Truth, Venomous Concept). Dan himself flee to Finland and participated to the one night homage of his coureer by playing songs of his numerous bands throughout the decades with variety of line-ups.

And we must not forget to mention Aku's dark, dry humor and sarcastic speeches in between the songs which brought a great, hilarious twist to the show, and wide smile spread on many faces in the audience. Even though these guys are top notch in what they do, they don't take themselves too seriously, which makes Prestige even more credible as a metal band. Their live presence simply gets better by time. Especially the quality of their rhythm playing and natural groove has refined along the years into somewhat exceptional. I only wish these lads could get a chance to play in the States at some point in the future... You American thrash metal fans wouldn't be disappointed.