Defying what we used to know – Royal Sorrow’s album release show at On The Rocks, Helsinki 3.10.

The cold weather is slowly coming for a long visit to Finland, but regardless of the season, it is always warm at On The Rocks in the capital, Helsinki, especially when it was a show celebrating the debut release of one of the country’s most exciting new bands. Royal Sorrow has been getting excellent reviews worldwide with the release of Innerdeeps, their first album since the band reformed, formerly known as Edge of Haze. With the debut released, an European tour planned for the coming months, and fans gathered at the venue, everything was aligned to make October 3rd an unforgettable day.

Before the night’s main act, two Finnish bands took the stage to play their songs, and they did not disappoint. Rioghan was the first band to perform at the cozy venue, and one of the first visual aspects that caught attention was their stage design. The band itself brought its own light gear to the stage, adding a significant amount of quality to the entire performance, demonstrating the importance of investing in something that enhances their music. Speaking of music, Rioghan‘s sound is hypnotic. Quite hard to describe, but it felt like a mix of Siouxsie and the Banshees and Katatonia, but with a unique element, as singer Jenni Perämäki aka Rioghan Darcy possesses not only a captivating voice but also a strong stage presence. Songs like “Skin” and “Home” were some of the highlights of the short but intense setlist. We’ll definitely hear more about this band that makes an interesting mix of poetry and art.

Antivalent was the second band to perform that night, and there were even more people in the audience at that point. Something that’s always good to emphasize is how important it is to bring good energy to the stage, especially when you’re performing for possible new fans. Regarding this, the alternative rock band from Seinäjoki didn’t disappoint, as vocalist Omar Zouiter, known for his participation on The Voice of Finland, was constantly interacting with the audience and showing good humor, as did the rest of the band, who clearly had fun during the show. A nice surprise was the cover of Dido‘s “White Flag,” which brought a lot of nostalgia for many on that Friday night.

After Rioghan and Antivalent, it was the host’s turn to take the spotlight, adding different colors and tones to the eyes and ears of the many fans wearing the band’s t-shirts, as well as family, friends, and colleagues from other bands in the scene, who were happily waiting for the quartet.

It was 22:30 when the intro played and each member entered the stage, highlighted by a solo light, which was a beautiful way to demonstrate the importance each of them has within the band. With each musician in their place, “Let Go” brought the frenetic lights and pulsating melodies of Royal Sorrow‘s modern prog, which marked the beginning of a unique performance, as from that moment on, the entire album was played.

“Metrograve”, the first single of the record released last year, was a heavy start to show everyone the strength of the album’s compositions. One of the most rewarding moments of the setlist came very soon in the third song during “Samsara,” when fans sang along the choruses. It was beautiful to see the members’ joy as they experienced the immediate feedback from the live performance.

Each member of the group is talented and skilled on their respective instruments, for example when “Release Your Shadow”, easily one of the debut’s best tracks, was played, the rhythm section led by drummer Janne Mieskonen and bassist Eero Maijala, immediately showed everyone their skills with a melodic groove. A duo that would have a solid and precise performance until the last song.

Green lights matched the title of the next song, as the intro of “Evergreen” started with that air of mystery. Excellent work by guitarists Tony Olsén and Markus Hentunen, and another chorus that was sang by the audience.

Markus, in his first speech of the night, emphasized the happiness they felt at being in this moment in their lives, and judging by the reaction of many of those watching from the audience, it was nice to see a mix of proudness and admiration for the musicians. The night continued with “Survival Complex”, which has one of the most enigmatic and performative music video of the singles released up until the album’s release, and speaking of performance, Hentunen as a vocalist has a very interesting stage presence, balancing subtlety and intensity very well. His voice also has a great range, going from lower to harsh vocals with quality. He played the three roles perfectly, being a guitarist, singer and performer in one.

The stage lights once again brought a song to life. In this case, “Bloodflower” took on neon colors and, over its nearly six-minute run, brought several classic prog metal elements. Also it had a beautiful guitar solo by Markus. Speaking of guitar solos, it was a pleasant surprise to see a short but beautiful solo moment by Tony in a moment that served as an intro to the next song. The lovely ballad “Looking Glass” not only has interesting lyrics but also emphasized the live backing vocals provided by Olsén and Maijala, which added even more quality to its live version.

The cadence, heaviness, and melody of “Give In” were a beautiful example of a song that can sum up the essence of the band. Eero’s excitement, Janne’s precision, Tony’s focus, and Markus’s vocal delivery were all there embracing the song. The audience’s response? They sang along to the choruses, and even a small mosh pit was summoned, a very friendly one.

The final speech of the night came with excellent news. Juha Rapanen, who can be seen in some music videos for their first singles, was Royal Sorrow‘s lead guitarist, but left the band shortly before their first show at Tuska Festival this year. The rest of the band remained a trio and released their debut album. However, for the live shows, including the upcoming European tour alongside Leprous, Tony was recruited, fitting in perfectly not only technically but also with nice energy and vocals on stage. Formalizing the musical and personal chemistry, Markus informed everyone that from then on, Tony Olsén was officially a member, making the band a four-piece again. A beautiful moment on a beautiful night!

The final track, “Innerdeeps,” perfectly capped off a night that will surely echo for a long time in the minds of the band members and their crew. Smiles, hugs, and a final photo with the audience were the last moments before the stage lights went out. Seeing a band begin such an honest, real and talented journey is a privilege, and Royal Sorrow will surely go even further than we can see. And even if our sight is tired and we cannot observe what is to come, now that their songs are released, they’ll be felt forever. That’s the power of music. Thank you Markus, Eero, Janne and Tony!

Words by John Wins
Photos by Andy Johansson

You can listen to Royal Sorrow‘s debut album “Innerdeeps” here: