Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
This year marked my first trip to Kaaos Festival in Vaasa, Finland. Held for the second time at Vaskiluoto, the festival welcomed more than 3,500 metal fans over the course of the weekend. Although still a relatively young event, Kaaos Festival continues to grow rapidly and, based on this year’s edition, is well on its way to establishing itself among Finland’s premier metal festivals.
At first glance, the festival site appeared rather small. However, that impression quickly changed after stepping inside. The area was compact but never felt overcrowded, offering everything visitors needed within a short walking distance. One particularly pleasant surprise was the lack of long restroom queues—a rarity at festivals and certainly something worth appreciating.
The gates opened at 4:00 PM on Friday, and festivalgoers immediately began pouring into the venue.
The most dedicated fans had already gathered in front of the main stage well before the day’s opening act. Although the weather was cloudy and slightly windy, it did little to dampen the atmosphere.
The honor of opening this year’s Kaaos Festival went to Finnish metal newcomers Halo.
Before the band took the stage, Satu Haveri, Executive Director of Rock Camp Finland, introduced the group to the audience and delivered a short but encouraging speech.
Prior to the performance, the members of Halo had admitted they were nervous about playing such a major festival. If they were, however, it certainly didn’t show. Despite their young age, the band performed with confidence and handled the festival audience like seasoned professionals.
The quartet’s blend of modern hard rock and metal immediately caught the audience’s attention, while the first pyrotechnics of the weekend provided an explosive start to the festival. There were also a few charmingly authentic live moments along the way, with the vocalist’s facial expressions occasionally revealing that not every part of the performance went exactly as planned.
During the set, a television crew from Finnish broadcaster Yle could be seen filming both on and around the stage. The footage will be featured in the upcoming documentary No Plan B, scheduled for release this November.
The first act to perform on the second stage was Kouvola-based blackened death metal outfit Diabolisher.
From the opening notes, the band unleashed a relentless assault. Their theatrical performance revolved around incense, smoke, blood and an overwhelmingly dark aesthetic, creating an atmosphere that immediately distinguished them from the rest of the day’s lineup.
Interestingly, the band barely addressed the audience between songs. Instead, they allowed the music and visual presentation to do all the talking.
On stage, blood-covered figures stalked through thick smoke while the band tore through its set with uncompromising aggression. The audience also got to hear “Ways to Mutilation,” the band’s only officially released single to date.
One particularly memorable moment came when the vocalist poured a bucket of fake blood over himself during the performance. It perfectly complemented the band’s sinister image and reinforced the impression that Diabolisher had come to deliver far more than just another metal concert—they had created a complete theatrical experience.
By this point, a respectable crowd had gathered in front of the second stage, and the audience clearly embraced what the band had to offer.
The weather remained dry as Ryujin took to the main stage for the band’s first-ever performance in Finland.
Fronted by Japanese guitarist and vocalist Ryoji Shinomoto, alongside guitarist Timi Tonteri, bassist Petri Sara and drummer Teppo Ristola, the band delivered an energetic set of what can only be described as samurai metal.
Dressed in traditional samurai-inspired attire, the band added a distinctly Japanese visual identity to the performance, something the audience clearly appreciated. Fists filled the air as the set progressed, while the crowd in front of the stage continued to grow with each passing song.
It didn’t take long before the first mosh pits of the afternoon broke out.
Combining memorable melodies, powerful musicianship and an eye-catching stage presence, Ryujin delivered one of the day’s most distinctive performances.
Shinomoto also showed his appreciation for the Finnish audience by repeatedly thanking the crowd in Finnish throughout the set.
Following Ryujin’s performance, festival organizers announced an unexpected schedule change. Dead by April‘s performance would be pushed back until later in the evening, as the band’s equipment was still en route to Finland.
To everyone’s surprise, Ryoji Shinomoto returned to the stage for an impromptu solo performance featuring material from his “Dragonbird Symphony Prologue” album. For roughly fifteen minutes, the audience was treated to a fascinating fusion of classical music and heavy metal, as Shinomoto reimagined well-known classical compositions through his virtuosic guitar playing and unmistakable metal sensibilities.
The result was an impressive blend of timeless melodies and modern heaviness.
The schedule change wasn’t the only challenge organizers had to deal with. Strong winds forced the festival to temporarily suspend the use of pyrotechnics for safety reasons. True to its name, Kaaos Festival experienced a small dose of chaos, but everything was handled professionally and calmly, with little impact on the overall atmosphere.
The next band to take over the second stage was South Ostrobothnia’s What Lies Beneath, whose performance paid tribute to classic old-school death metal.
There were no unnecessary gimmicks here—just crushing riffs, aggressive vocals and relentless energy. The band’s straightforward approach proved highly effective, reminding everyone that sometimes simplicity is exactly what extreme metal needs.
Due to the revised schedule, the festival experienced an unexpected one-hour break during which neither stage featured live performances. With Dead by April now moved to close the evening, many festivalgoers took advantage of the extra time to grab food and drinks or simply recharge before the night’s biggest acts.
Despite the delay, spirits remained high throughout the festival grounds, and nobody seemed particularly bothered by the unexpected pause.
At 8:10 PM, the second stage roared back to life as Thyrargo, the brutal death metal band founded by former Children of Bodom guitarist Alexander Kuoppala, took the stage.
The band wasted no time launching into a crushing set packed with heavy riffs and uncompromising aggression. One of the biggest highlights came during “Kneel,” which immediately ignited a massive mosh pit in front of the stage. From that point onward, standing still was simply not an option.
As Finnish melodic death metal veterans Insomnium began their set on the main stage, the rain intensified considerably.
Fortunately, the worsening weather did little to reduce the size—or enthusiasm—of the crowd.
In fact, the band’s melancholic sound seemed perfectly suited to the gloomy conditions. As rain poured over Vaskiluoto, Insomnium’s dark melodies and atmospheric compositions created an almost cinematic, doom-like atmosphere that became one of the day’s most memorable moments.
One particularly welcome surprise arrived during “Weather the Storm,” when Mikael Stanne, who would later perform with The Halo Effect, joined the band on stage for a guest appearance.
The collaboration received an enthusiastic response from the audience and added another memorable chapter to an already outstanding performance.
Closing the second stage was Finnish groove metal outfit Nicole, a band that only performs live on selected occasions these days.
Despite the increasingly heavy rain, Nicole delivered an energetic performance filled with crushing Finnish-language metal and infectious stage presence. The mosh pit rarely stopped moving, and the audience embraced every song with remarkable enthusiasm.
By this point, the combination of a long travel day and persistent rainfall had started to take its toll on me as well. However, Nicole completely changed my mood. Their energy proved contagious, and before long I found myself fully immersed in the performance once again.
Based on this show alone, I’d gladly see the band live again.
Originally scheduled as Friday’s headliner, The Halo Effect took to the main stage at 11:00 PM after the earlier timetable changes reshuffled the evening’s schedule.
As darkness gradually settled over Vaskiluoto, the setting couldn’t have been more fitting for the Swedish melodic death metal supergroup. Their trademark Gothenburg sound blended perfectly with the rainy evening, creating an atmosphere that was both heavy and hauntingly beautiful.
At one point during the performance, I found myself simply swaying to the music. The band’s soaring guitar harmonies carried my thoughts elsewhere for a brief moment, almost making the long festival day feel dreamlike.
That peaceful atmosphere didn’t stop the crowd from erupting into mosh pits, however.
The band delivered a set packed with fan favorites, including “Shadowminds,” “Gateways,” and “Conditional,” each one receiving an enthusiastic response from the audience.
Frontman Mikael Stanne once again proved why he remains one of melodic death metal’s most charismatic vocalists. Smiling throughout the performance, he effortlessly connected with the crowd while showcasing the impressive versatility of his voice. His clean vocals sounded warm and melodic, while his trademark harsh vocals remained every bit as powerful as fans have come to expect.
The honor of closing the festival’s opening day eventually fell to Swedish metalcore outfit Dead by April.
Earlier concerns about the band’s delayed equipment ultimately proved unnecessary, as everything arrived in time for the performance to go ahead as planned.
Despite the long day and relentless rain, the audience showed no signs of slowing down. Fans continued jumping, singing and crowd surfing until the very last song, filling the front of the main stage with energy that easily matched the band’s own performance.
One of the evening’s most memorable moments came when vocalist Christopher Kristensen addressed the audience with a simple but heartfelt statement:
“If you have to get wet, then I’m getting wet too.”
Moments later, he jumped down into the rain-soaked crowd and continued singing among the fans.
It perfectly summed up the spirit of the performance. There was no separation between the band and the audience—everyone shared the same experience, and not even the pouring rain could wash away the atmosphere.
Looking back on the first day of Kaaos Festival 2026, one thing stands out above everything else: the atmosphere.
Although the weather occasionally turned miserable and festivalgoers sought shelter beneath tents during the heaviest showers, the rain never seemed to affect the mood. Every performance attracted a healthy crowd, the audiences remained energetic from the first band to the last, and the festival grounds maintained a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere throughout the day.
For an event only in its second year, Kaaos Festival already feels remarkably well organized. The compact festival area, friendly atmosphere and carefully curated lineup created an experience that never felt rushed or overcrowded.
If Friday was any indication of where Kaaos Festival is heading, the festival has every opportunity to establish itself as one of Finland’s essential destinations for metal fans in the years to come.
