News: July 2, 2011 A year after being ravaged by a storm in Pori, Sonisphere Finland was moved to the capital Helsinki. This year's one-day lineup didn't compare to the vast number of great names that marked last year's two-day event; it was more of a solid metal festival, headlined by none other than the notoriously controversial yet undeniably brilliant SLIPKNOT (USA). Images for goth-zine.de June 17, 2011 Three years after their last visit to Finland, BON JOVI (USA) returned to rock 40,000 faces at a sold-out Olympia Stadium in Helsinki. In spite of the torrential rain and a painful knee injury, lead singer Jon Bongiovi and his band pulled off a fantastic 2.5-hour show with a set list of old and new material that took long-time fans (like myself) all the way down memory lane and back. April 24, 2011 Formed 40 years ago in Virginia (USA), the long-running American heavy metal band PENTAGRAM are still going strong. Performing in front of a sold-out Korjaamo club in the heart of Helsinki, frontman and founder Bobby Liebling proved that he hasn't lost his edge. Photos for Rumba magazine April 2, 2011 Supported by newcomer band THE BLANKO (FIN), Finnish punk rockers APULANTA are on the road again, celebrating their 20-year anniversary by putting on a simply marvelous 2-hour show. Their new single Vääryyttä!!1! ("if you don't want to use exclamation marks, you don't have to, but if you do want to put them there, you can" - Apulanta) will be in stores on 20.4.2011. Their 11th, yet untitled studio album is due for release later in the fall. Pictures for Rumba magazine February 16, 2011 A pioneer of his genre back in the 70's and 80's, Finnish punk rock musician PELLE MILJOONA is still going strong. With the upcoming release of two new albums under his belt, he has teamed up once again with Sami Yaffa and Andy McCoy (both ex-Hanoi Rocks members), steaming up the stage at Tavastia Club in Helsinki. Images for Rumba magazine January 24, 2011 Based in Brooklyn, New York, SLEIGH BELLS (US), are composed of songwriter, guitarist, and producer Derek E. Miller as well as vocalist Alexis Krauss. Formed in 2008, the duo released their debut album Treats exclusively on iTunes on May 11, 2010. After playing a critically acclaimed gig at last year's Flow Festival in Helsinki, the band returned for an encore at Tavastia Club. Photos for Rumba magazine January 8, 2011 ENTWINE (FIN), formed in 1995, have come a long way ever since, and walked a long road from Death Metal to Gothic Metal. With their latest album Painstained, released in 2010, the band have taken a turn towards a more melodic direction. Pictures and review for goth-zine.de December 18, 2010 For the sixth time since their very first show in December 2005, Finnish musicians from various bands joined forces to rock sold-out venues and get heavy metal fans into a hellishly christmassy mood. Due to the constantly growing success and popularity of RASKASTA JOULUA, this year's tour covered 13 Finnish cities altogether, wrapping up with a 3-show marathon at Tavastia Club, Helsinki. Images and review for goth-zine.de December 11, 2010 This year's DIMEBAG BEYOND FOREVER-tribute show marked the end of a five-year tradition. Just like in the years before, a number of Finnish metal musicians gathered together for the sixth and very last time to honor the legendary Pantera/Damageplan guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (who was shot and killed on stage on December 8th, 2004) with a 10-date tour. As always, the musicians performed for free, and all the money raised from the concerts was donated to Victim Support Finland who offer practical advice and support to victims of crime. Photos for Rumba magazine December 9, 2010 AMORPHIS (FIN) celebrated their 20-year anniversary kicking off their "Magic & Mayhem" nostalgia-tour, performing newly recorded versions of songs from their first three records The Karelian Isthmus, Tales From The Thousand Lakes, as well as Elegy. Special guest performers included former frontman Pasi Koskinen, who left the band in 2004, as well as other ex-band members, thus for the first time reuniting every artist who ever contributed to the band's remarkable success over the past two decades. Pictures and review for goth-zine.de September 27, 2010 ANATHEMA (UK) released their eigth studio album, We're Here Because We're Here on May 31, 2010. The long-awaited 10-track record was mixed by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree. Their concert at Tavastia Club in Helsinki was supported by Petter Carlsen (NOR) and Anneke van Giersbergen (NL). Images and review for goth-zine.de September 18, 2010 LORDI (FIN) celebrated the release of their fifth studio album, the Michael Wagener-produced Babez for Breakfast on September 18, 2010 at Nosturi Club in Helsinki, Finland. The album's available in record shops all over Europe and the US, and will be out in Japan on October 27, 2010. Photos for Rumba magazine September 14, 2010 As part of their 30th anniversary world tour, the MISFITS (USA), founded in 1977, stopped over in Finland to rock an audience of dedicated fans at Helsinki's Nosturi club. After a six year hiatus, the band released Land of the Dead, their first single by the current lineup of Only, Cadena, and Robo on October 27, 2009. Pictures and review for goth-zine.de June 12, 2010 GRACE JONES (JAM) and NINA HAGEN (D) headlined the opening day of Kaisafest at Kaisaniemi park in Helsinki, Finland. Images for Rumba magazine April 24, 2010 KILL HANNAH (USA) kicked off the European leg of their Wake Up The Sleepers tour at Nosturi, Helsinki. Photos and review for goth-zine.de April 13, 2010 KAMELOT (USA/NOR) rocked the crowd at Nosturi, Helsinki on their Pandemonium tour 2010. Three months later, the band formed their own recording label Kamelot Media Group (KMG Recordings), and have announced the arrival of their 9th studio album and very first self-release record Poetry For The Poisoned, on September 14, 2010. Pictures and review for goth-zine.de April 1, 2010 After the disbanding of his previous band, Hanoi Rocks, frontman MICHAEL MONROE (FIN) is ready to venture out on his own once again. Together with his newly formed band, consisting of Sami Yaffa, Karl Rockfist, Ginger ja Steve Conte he kicked off his 2010 solo tour in the usual familiar glam and highly energetic fashion. Images taken at Tavastia Club, Helsinki for Rumba magazine December 28 - 31, 2010 2010's Helldone Festival was a four-day event, featuring headliners HIM (FIN) on all four days, supported by FLAMER (FIN), THE 69 EYES (FIN), VANITY BEACH (FIN), MAJOR LABEL (FIN) and Anathema (UK) on the various festival days. Photos taken for Rumba magazine October 5, 2009 Dark rockers PARADISE LOST (UK) performed at Nosturi, Helsinki as part of their Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us tour. Pictures and show review for goth-zine.de September 26, 2009 Power metallers THUNDERSTONE (FIN) proudly presented their brand-new record Dirtmetal along with new frontman Rick Altzi at Tavastia Club in Helsinki, Finland, sounding better than ever before. Photos and review for goth-zine.de September 23, 2009 DREAM THEATER (USA/CDN) performed at Helsinki Ice Hall to promote their new release Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Pictures and concert review for goth-zine.de August 15, 2009 This year's Flow Festival in Helsinki, Finland featured a very special guest. 19 years after her last studio album Bulletproof Heart, GRACE JONES successfully re-launched her career with 2008's Hurricane. In true diva fashion, and with a body so well-toned, it belies her age of 62, the Jamaican-born actress and singer proved that she's still got what it takes to deliver a glamorous show. Images and festival review for goth-zine.de June 5, 2009 Over the past 18 years, CRADLE OF FILTH (UK) have built up a reputation for controversy and shock, elaborate stage shows, and provocative videos. However, the group has been cited as the most successful Metal band since Iron Maiden, and on October 27, 2008 their thirteenth studio album Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder was released. As part of their current tour, the band headlined the first day of Kivenlahti Rock Festival (June 5-7, 2009) near Espoo, Finland. Photos and festival review for goth-zine.de May 29, 2009 45 DEGREE WOMAN (FIN) are back with a new album under their belt. Revival has been in stores nationwide since February 25, 2009. To promote their recent CD, the band hit the stage at Virgin Oil Co. in Helsinki, Finland. Images and concert review for goth-zine.de April 12, 2009 HANOI ROCKS (FIN) played a row of eight sold-out farewell concerts at Tavastia, Helsinki from April 8 to April 12, 2009. Photos for Rumba music magazine (FIN). Concert review and further pictures for goth-zine.de February 19, 2009 ENTWINE (FIN) live at Tavastia, Helsinki. Entwine's brand-new album Painstained was released on January 28, 2009, and is available in shops and on itunes now. Pictures, CD- and concert review for goth-zine.de November 10, 2008 MONSTER MAGNET (USA) returned to Finland and played a sold-out show at Tavastia Club in Helsinki. Images and review for goth-zine.de August 22, 2008 NEGATIVE (FIN) kicked off their European club tour to promote their newly released album Karma Killer at Tavastia Club in Helsinki, Finland. Pictures and concert review for goth-zine.de August 14, 2008 Century Media's 20th anniversary event at Tavastia Club in Helsinki, Finland featured the Finnish bands KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI, NORTHER, and POISONBLACK. Images and article for goth-zine.de August 2-3, 2008 Local and international bands performing live at Ankkarock 2008 in Korso, Finland including POETS OF THE FALL (FIN), W.A.S.P. (USA), APOCALYPTICA (FIN), KAMELOT (USA), HIM (FIN), HANOI ROCKS (FIN), TIGER ARMY (USA), KENT (SWE), MOKOMA (FIN), and SONATA ARCTICA (FIN). Photos and festival review for German webzine goth-zine.de June 12, 2008 Finnish rockers TORPEDO play at Kaisaniemi park in Helsinki, Finland after releasing their latest studio album Rajamailla on May 21, 2008. Images for the band's official homepage www.torpedo.cc