How many rock and metal bands are able to fill the arena in Oslo in a cold season? Despite the Scandinavian image of being a place for metal to be, there are not so many that can. 
It is just my second Unity Arena (previously named as Telenor Arena) gig here in Norway. The arena should have around 25000 capacity for the concerts, and Volbeat is the main act today. 
Volbeat! Who would have imagined this just recently? 

There is a gigantic difference in the organization effort for just a big gig and a stadium gig. Stadium means literally the whole city is impacted. Several bus stops are blocked, a massive amount of police, some roads and many pedestrian paths around are blocked. Probably hundreds of people are making sure this infrastructure is working. 

A stadium gig means that I have to show up quite early to get my entrance. It is a horde of VIPs standing in the queue to their entrance. Looks identical to what I saw many years ago in the same place when I was at the Iron Maiden gig. My second surprise is that Volbeat seems to be something that also unites many generations - all ages are here. 

Witch Fever, the first opener, starts at 18:59. The UK all-girl band from Manchester is a melancholic opener. The gig must be quite an experience, and it is noticeable that such a big stage with a catwalk is something new to them. The singing is out of notes and a generally very strange sound due to echo makes it all sound muffled apart from the vocals that are either avantgarde, or completely off. It may be that it is difficult to hear and hit the correct pitch on a big arena. Witch Fever has a roaring but very indistinct bass (I hear no notes) and quite a nice drum sound. 

I have never heard of them before, and to me it sounds like some strange occult rock act. I think the place may be not doing them justice - perhaps, I need to relisten properly, they say that the second album is on the way. 

As for the presence, it is visible they are very new - it doesn't look firm, the talks between songs are awkward made-up mumbling that would rather fit a 20-people bar. Quite primitive and predictable political speeches are here as well.
 
Well, that was quite terrible. I hope the act matures, I wish them best of luck! 

The floor is now much more than 50% filled, and Bush hit the stage. The lights and the first percussion hits show that this one is not a random booking choice. Of course, they are the Bush. A much better sound and the show is on. 

What to start with? Bush could have easily headlined this or any other stadium gig. Every riff is a hook, they are catchy as hell and brilliant. Gavin Rossdale says this is the biggest show of the tour. The arena is, indeed, enormous. The frontman is in his natural environment, doing funny dancing and shifting from having a guitar to having his hands to wave. 
Alt rock that reminds of a lot of contemporary bands. The vocals are piercing the mix. Songs sound incredibly big. Identity rocks the place hard, - the guitar tone is roaring gnarly brutality. 

The “light your phone” and Swallowed ballad is here, the Unity Arena is all white from the cell phone lights. The trick works, it is beautiful, - so be like Bush, not Ghost with ridiculous phone bans. Hoarse in voice makes the song sound better than on the recording. 

It is not a big setlist, ten songs, and it gets groovier and groovier the more they play. I notice More than Machines brings an extra piccolo snare to the sound with extra sharp shots. Chris Traynor kills it with the whammy solo, and then there is quite an abrupt end. Now THAT was a great show! 

Volbeat is next. Full house now. Suddenly there is a linecheck in the changeover. Good, cause better safe than sorry. I hear it is gonna be much louder going forward. 

The band instantly scores a few! The intro is a goat bleating, which is both in line with the latest album concept and promising. Screens right and left of stage, the production is fantastic (this is a Metallica level). Michael Poulsen is flashing a Darkthrone logo tank top. Every instrument sounds great, kick drums shake the ground and toms are extra big (either extra loud micing or triggers, but sounds very natural). 

The set starts with beer rock that should be blasted loud at any party. This is my second Volbeat gig (the first one was Tons of Rock in 2023), and I already see this one is going to rock. Literally everything is next level. Flemming Clausen Lund, the lead guitar player, seems to feel much more comfortable now - he is at home. Stage lights are just wow! 

Michael Poulsen is a fantastic entertainer and though it is quite dark, you can sense 25000 smiles. What a great frontman! Michael says that they have stolen some things from Johnny Cash and now I understand how they got stadiums - the simple old good country thing makes everyone bang their heads - this is the way to engage with the audience. Beer and country is then morphing into songs with chugs and fast kicks.

In the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan's Spawn in a Dying World of Doom from the last album has a longer introduction speech with a general message that “We believe in mom and dad and icecream”. The song starts with the Fat Bottomed Girls stolen from Queen. I mean, you should steal the right things from the right acts. 

I rush to the bus station and see the longest taxi queue I have ever seen. That was unexpectedly good, - the folks are so down to earth despite giving a gig in a huge stadium. Till next time. Bring us more goats, we are waiting!