Forbidden at Hellsinki Metal Festival 2025

Hellsinki Metal Festival took place just a couple of weeks ago in the beginning of August, at and around Helsinki Ice Hall. It was my first time at this event and of the 30+ bands I was interested in about 10, and of those I must've seen around five - beer and friends, see. Beer and friends.

Forbidden fire!

The last time Forbidden was in Finland was back in 2011, at the Tuska festival, and I was there. Felt pretty neat to have them here again even if half of them were new guys. But that's how it goes. I've always liked 'em a lot as they've been a cut above the bulk of the Bay area.

Enter the Forbidden

They threw a mix of old and newer stuff at us - but mostly older. I was specifically interested in seeing how their actually new single Divided by Zero works live. Its a handful alright, bundling different kinds of segments together, and while it doesn't have the staying power of Step by Step, Chalice of Blood and Through Eyes of Glass, it has its moments of good thrashin'.

Their new vocalist Norman Skinner I felt lacked some presence and energy but overall they had a good thing going. The crowd warmed up and while they didn't exactly detonate a nice pit was formulated at some point - I was too busy raging at the rail to notice exactly when. No way in heck I was gonna be anywhere except in the front and I was there like a trooper some 45 minutes before they climbed on. I noticed some jostling of course as some guys thought to push past me into the fence - good luck with that.

Daniel Mongrain of Forbidden on the right

Loved Chris Kontos behind the cans as he seemed to have a larger than life presence and he resonated well with everyone on the stage. Craig Locicero was great on the guitar as usual but my eyes really nailed on their new guitarist Daniel Mongrain who really seemed to enjoy it up there. It was darned fun to see him play and I bumped into him later on at the corridors of the ice hall.

I'd love to see them getting some proper success with their evident new coming album. There's been a lot of older thrash metal bands activating in the recent years and I'll be damned if we aren't in need of direction - the new wave of thrash metal has been dead for some time now!

What was heartwarming was that there was a super young person at the rails next to me and she seemed to enjoy that gig as much as I did. She managed to get Kontos' drumstick after the show which I thought was great. Glad to see thrash metal isn't just for us old geezers.

Hellsinki Metal Festival 2025

Two days is not enough. Going at festivals or big events like these it usually takes the first day to orient yourself and see whats what before you can utterly let go and go where the music takes you - could be that its just me but what the hey. We had the RIP tickets which had a special gated area, extra seating and tables, some free lunchin' and a massage (of all things, and I didn't find it), and I'm not sure if it was actually worth it. I was zooming in and out and I can't say my experience changed at all.

Them bastards had scheduled the return of Old Man's Child to conflict with the King so there was no way to see both entirely - and screw looking at the watch and running around, and missing, in essence, both. All hail the King. As OMC reactivated I'm sure I'll see them later on more than few times.

So, not to take this too far from thrash metal, that's about it. Venom was pretty alright, but felt super small on the biggest stage for obvious reasons. They'd need a smaller and more intimate stage for sure to become what they can be.

DAY 1 BANDS

King Diamond, Dismember, Candlemass, Warmen, Rabbit Cult, Fear Factory, Kanonenfieber, Forbidden, Kiuas, Heavy Metal Perse, Moonsorrow, Old Man's Child, Decapitated, Night Shall Drape Us, Gost, Qvälen, Decessus

DAY 2 BANDS

Venom, Hatebreed, Landmvrks, Napalm Death, Blood Fire Death, Lähiöbotox, Marduk, Michael Schenker, Enslaved, Angelmaker, Cult of Luna, Luna Kills, Me and That Man, Sigh, Alfahanne, Party Cannon, Brutal Sphincter

Bolded the bands I was interested in, and mostly, saw. BFD was too late and I was too drunk. My only regret from the trip.

King being great as always - what a show!