Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
It’s a windy and chilly Friday in London, a good occasion for the Chaoszine team to enjoy a weekend of music. And what better opportunity than to catch one of the most influential and historical Finnish bands on the first date of their UK tour? Let’s start at the beginning… – Report written by Sabrina Schiavinato and Benedetta Baldin.
Doors open at 6 PM, and at 6:30 the evening begins with Pythia. I think it’s a great choice to put a local band to open, as quite some people in the audience were already familiar with the group. Pythia perform a solid symphonic power metal, but the small stage at the O2 Academy Islington prevents them from roaming freely around the stage. This impacts a little bit their set, but they make up for it with a good audio mixing and crowd engagement. Frontwoman Emily Ovenden showed solid vocal abilities that ranged from operatic highs to more sentimental passages. While her performance demonstrated technical competence and added a dynamic dimension to the band’s sound, the overall set felt like a work in progress.
Photo: Peterson Marti.
In any case, at 19:20 it’s time for the direct support to take the stage: we’re talking about the American band Seven Spires, led by Adrienne Cowan. Their experience and comfort on stage is definitive proof of why this band is gathering momentum more and more nowadays. It was my first time seeing them, and I was impressed by their stage presence, their interactions with the audience and their proficiency. Their sound really leans towards a darker and heavier vibe compared to a lot of symphonic bands. One moment, they dive into full symphonic black metal, and the next, they switch it up with some melodic power metal.
I was totally blown away by how effortlessly Adrienne switched between her gorgeous, clear operatic singing and those intense, gritty growls and screams, often mixing them together for an even more dramatic impact. Guitarist Jack Kosto brings some seriously impressive and energetic solos that mesh really well with the rhythm section, featuring Chris Dovas on drums and Peter de Reyna on bass. Together, they create a strong and inventive foundation, mixing in complex rhythms and different beats, including some cool bass tapping that you don’t come across every day.
The highlight of their set was “Love’s Souvenir”, where I thought that the walls of the venue would be crumbling! Starting as a ballad, the song transforms into something so powerful that it’s impossible not to feel the emotion the band is trying to deliver. That’s exactly what artists are supposed to do: and when the message is received, it’s amplified throughout everyone. The crowd was super responsive and I can’t wait to see what these guys will do in the future! The only flaw I could find in their set was the overall mixing, which was somehow worse than Pythia‘s. If that the venue’s fault or the sound engineer I’m not sure, but this didn’t affect the mood of the evening.
Photo: Peterson Marti.
Finnish power metal veterans Sonata Arctica, headliners of the day, reminded London why they remain one of the genre’s most enduring acts. Though, if I have to be completely honest, the O2 Academy Islington proved to be an ill-fitting venue for a band of their caliber. While the intimate setting created a closer connection with fans, it became painfully clear throughout the evening that the band from Kemi has long since outgrown such modest stages.
Frontman Tony Kakko commanded the stage with the confidence and charisma that’s expected; he is such a delight to watch on stage! His real connection with the crowd is always so warm and spontaneous. At any point, he really takes the time to share a few thoughts or more between songs, like a true storyteller who knows just how to connect with the audience.
And I must say the band’s technical prowess and stage presence demanded the kind of production values and space that only bigger stages can provide. It pains me to say that the mixing did the band no favors, with an inconsistent sound that failed to capture the nuanced layers and soaring melodies that define Sonata Arctica‘s music.
Despite these technical shortcomings and spatial constraints, the Finns delivered a professional performance. Their music really thrives on the conversation happening between the guitar and the keyboard. A standout moment was definitely the fast-paced duelling between guitarist Elias Viljanen and keyboardist Mikko Härkin. In the set, we jump from high-energy tracks like “FullMoon” and “The Last Amazing Grays” to some really touching ballads, like “Tallulah.” It really shows how this band still knows how to tell a story even after all these years.
And hey, any show is a good show, right? For longtime fans, it was a blessing to be swept away by their classic anthems, for newcomers perhaps it was not the quintessential show, but that’s not what matters. The continuous cheers and applauses from the crowd are what make each evening a special one. The sing-along was a blast, and the crowd really got into it! While there weren’t any mosh pits, it was heartwarming to see everyone come together, united by the power of music, singing as one.
Photo: Peterson Marti.
