A couple of days ago we had Beast in Black opening for Helloween, and it was exceptionally good (I personally liked them more than the main act), and today it is the ex-band of the main Beast in Black axeman Anton Kabanen, Battle Beast. 

The first act Majestica receives a very narrow place due to the hidden yet to be seen decorations and own stands. Majestica look very young, but have been around for quite a while, and they mention that they played in Oslo in 2011. As the stage gives them such a small space, I only can see a guitarist-vocalist, bassist and another guitar player, the drummer and whoever else they may have hidden. 

It is a powerful opener. Fireworks (!!!), very skilled guitar playing, very high vocal notes (I would only add a bit of reverb to vocals to spice them up), finnish-style keyboards, quite a standard act for those who love power with symphonic mixes. 

German Dominum have intrigued me by their image - every picture seems to be made in different years from different Halloween celebrations. Dominium are much louder, kick off with a cool mysterious intro giving the right mood for the set. The contrast: the band sounds very different from what I imagined when I saw their image, and their mainman looks like a cheerful Nosferatu. 

Somewhat I feel that lovers of heavy stuff and movie soundtracks will love this act. The band is insanely catchy, Dr.Dead has great vocals, they have a brutal roaring guitar tone and I catch vibes from Pirates of the Caribbean - both by sound and zombie image. Epic sagas and very big choruses, lullabies and toothcracking palm mute headbangers. There is a cover of Rock You Like a Hurricane by Scorpions - a very pleasant discovery. 

Battle Beast stage preparation uncovers layers of decorations that are like from the theatrical performances of 100+ years ago. 

Very tight dry chug guitars and then “whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa”, - the space bends and Noora Louhimo totally steals the show. Noora is stellar, a true diva - and she sounds times better than already great recordings, it’s electrifying. 

Noora has a huge dress with star-looking spikes from shoulders and some parts that resemble starfish/octopus tentacles on her hands - giving associations with one character from Disney’s The Little Mermaid cartoon. It is both flawless high notes and roars, and a bigger difference than what you hear on the Battle Beast recordings. The band is so lucky to have her! 

The band is a combo of 80th pop and Accept-type of guitar chugging spiced by absolutely fabulous vocal work. Melodica-looking keys support the image (and it is also so Finnish to show keys when you play them!!). The drums sound like synth, with plastic huge toms, but they are surely live - and this hybrid of pop and metal is spot-on to the style and mix. This heavy pop makes me completely ecstatic, it is such a fascinating mix to please lovers of several genres. 

I note that the bands that have put a lot of thoughts into their performance sound much more captivating than those who focus solely on playing. The live show is not just playing. It is how you play, your sound, technicalities to make it be a unit, it is image, lights, what the musicians say, the smooth intermezzos and what you have in-between songs. And Battle Beast is a band that is a perfect live act sounding much richer than their records - and I hope this hard work pays off and they get bigger and bigger.