One venue in Oslo that never disappoints with sound is Sentrum Scene. It, perhaps, is a combo of experience and the venue size suggesting that the band has to be really recognized to be able to sell it out. And today is sold-out. 

The one band that I have not seen before is Gatecreeper. A very cool act performing under a very cool light. HM2 sound, but everything is audible (which is not always the case if you abuse the settings as widely recommended). 

I have not seen them live and could compare them with Obituary (mainly because of the live vocals that are on the edge of growls and hysterical clean screaming resembling John Tardy) playing with the Stockholm sound. The attempts to launch the circle pit is somewhat successful, and the band concludes a 10-song setlist with their Flamethrower. 

Shamans Eluveitie take the baton. My second time seeing them. A very cool abrupt start with strobe lights. Eluveitie are a very heavy folk band. I cannot say if there is anything that stands out in particular for myself apart from the vocals of Fabienne Erni and solos. Fabienne is dominating in the mix, which is a very good choice. 

In general, I give big kudos to the mixing engineer work here, it is not easy to mix such an amount of various instruments to sound good. A combination of metal, violin and other folk instruments has always been a hit, and the folks should satisfy lovers of both genres. I could even cut on the harsh vocals, but they are not too high. 

Flashes of lights reveal the Amorphis Backdrop behind Eluveitie’s. At some point, the sound system switches off for a split second, - once, then again, and then the sound in the audience disappears entirely. This is something new. The band continues to play like nothing happens, but, since they all have in-ear systems, they hear their own mix, while it is silent in the hall, - we can only hear gentle hits of the drums. Then suddenly the sound is back mid-song. This is interesting, - because of the in-ear systems the band might have not even understood they were on mute. Eluveitie mention nothing about it, - behaving like it is an ordinary day in the office. This is cool! 

Amorphis start with a John Williams - inspired intro (I would even say stolen and modified). The third band has a bigger sound. It is my second time hearing them and it is better than my first experience. Tomi Joutsen is a fantastic growler, I cannot name anyone who can top him.  This time they have Victor Brandt filling-in for Olli-Pekka Laine on bass. 

Tomi’s cleans are very thin in the mix, but the rest sounds great. Brandt does backing growls, which helps a lot. There is a vocoder on the Wrong Direction song, if I am not confusing something. Very prominent key solos. 

Good things on the setlist, Silver Bride, House of Sleep and, of course, Black Winter Day (sounds fantastic!!). The best time to experience Amorphis is when winter is around. 

Arch Enemy have just recently played in Oslo on a bigger stage, Oslo Spectrum, that is being rebuilt now. Yes, it is a bit smaller today, but they managed to make it huge. Unlike many bands, Arch Enemy have several levels, and not just stand in front in one line. Well, last and not least, they sold out the place tonight. 

Ozzy’s loud Bark At The Moon is an intro that invites to another intro (why do some bands have several intros??). It is a similar enormously huge curtain and the same cool play of lights when the projectors from the back show big shadows of musicians on the curtain. Deceiver, Deceiver is again the opener. 

This smaller stage fits the band really well, - the lights are much better with this size. 
One of my favourites, Ravenous, is the second song, and it sounds so great - almost like on the recording. 

Arch Enemy is the band you need to see live to hear those vibratos of Ammott - just pure perfection and taste. This time I also note that Joey Concepcion is not hiding; great dive bombs, Joey!!! White-Gluz, the supposed-to-be-frontwoman, is again hiding on top of the stage, but not all the time, like at the previous gig. Come closer, we won’t bite. There are not too many of such moments, but note how good the clean vocals are in these rare moments! 

Pure joy to see the band grow so much, - a very very pro show!