INSOMNIUM / OMNIUM GATHERUM / WILDERUM 5/9/24 SOUNDSTAGE BALTIMORE, MD

Just a killer show with a pretty good turnout even with 3 or 4 other shows going on. Well, up 1st the Boston band WILDERUM who were pretty good with sort of a progressive metal sound with hints of folk metal, epic metal, and just straight up metal. Next one of 2 bands from Finland OMNIUM GATHERUM who were totally sick and just played an amazing set of insane metal that was full of just pure evil. OMNIUM GATHERUM just had an evil hard rock edge with a thrash metal backdrop with hints of death / black metal added to this band’s thrash zone. Well starting around 1996 this band also feature Markus Vanhala on guitar who also play in INSOMNIUM as well is the only original member ( i think) left in the band, with Jukka Pelkonen on vocals who been with the band since 2006. Well, this band was amazing to watch with just some pure sinful guitar action. Well, OG powerful set included songs like… slasher, paragon, soul journeys, white palace, gods go first, and more. Just a killer set. Well, also from Finland the powerful INSOMNIUM who just blow me away again with again powerful show, saw them lasts year with Enslaved and was just blown away by this band’s live show. Well, INSOMNIUM is like bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, live with pure bad ass shredding guitar action. Fronted by Niilo Sevanen bass / vocals and Ville Friman guitar / vocals with Markus Vanhala evil guitar licks INSOMNIUM just played some mind-blowing metal that included everything from melodic metal to death / black metal, progressive, doom, Goth, thrash, folk, all rolled in one killer sound of darkness and chaos. But INSOMNIUM are just an amazing metal band who just destroyed the stage with some powerful metal with a killer guitar hero edge. Well, the setlists was killer and featured songs like… anno 1696, white Christ, Lilian, and bells they toll, heart like a grave, mortal share, song of the dusk, and more. Just an amazing band whose songs are like epic tales of darkness. Just a killer band to see live and photograph. (review / photos Billy Whitfield)

LUCIFER / EARLY MOODS 11/30/23 SOUNDSTAGE – BALTIMORE, MD

This was just a killer show. For some reason I was looking for a much bigger turnout, but people were probably out of money from seeing KISS the day before. Up 1st was a DC band called BORRACHO, saw these guys once before. Well, BORRACHO played some pretty decent rock n roll with hints of garage and punk, not bad. Next were the rock n roll machine from LA called EARLY MOODS who just tore things up with some loud and sleazy guitar fueled rock n roll. Well, EARLY MOODS just played a killer set of heavy metal, rock, metal, doom rock with some sleaziness of the sunset strip added in. Well, fronted by a guy called Albert EARLY MOODS just played a cool set that included songs like…. return to Salem’s gate, isolated, a sinner’s past, and a few more. Pretty cool stuff indeed. Next the evil rock n roll machine called LUCIFER just preached some sinful rock n roll to the evil souls. Well, LUCIFER who just played a powerful set is fronted by Johanna Platow Andersson along with hubby Nickie Andersson from the rock n roll / punk band Hellacopters and the metal band Entombed. Well, LUCIFER just played a killer set of rock n roll / metal that also have a strong 70’s to 80’s rock feel with hints of punk, Goth, doom rock, 70’s metal, stoner rock, and just powerful metal with a guitar assault. But this Swedish / Berlin act have a sound so evil it’s just screamed a sound that gave off a Sabbath, Warlock, Oath, Angel Witch, Coven, Runaways feel. Well, Johanna’s vocals and style are just killer and reminds me of a cross between Stevie Nicks meeting Cherie Currie to the evil of Diana Cancer (45 Graves). But. these occult rockers just played a great set that included songs like…. ghosts, midnight phantom, wild hearses, crucifix, coffin fever, bring me his head, CA sun, dreamer, and more. Well, even with a small crowd LUCIFER just played a killer show casting a spell of evil metal on everyone there. Just wished Coven was on this bill. (BW)