Report

At the Gates and Rotten Sound Destroy Helsinki at Nosturi

I arrived at the venue early, picking my way over snow that had turned to treacherously slippery ice in the weak Saturday sun. Moving through the now familiar steps of collecting my photo-pass, putting my winter layers in at the cloakroom, and trailing upstairs to the main venue area, I suddenly felt a burst of homesickness.

Rotten Sound is a Finnish deathgrind band originally from Vaasa. If you haven’t heard of them, you might have heard of their former drummer, Kai Hahto. They are intense, they are in your face and they are addictive to see live. The area in front of the stage was half-filled with enthusiastic fans, giving an illusion to not many people being at the venue yet. However, the small stage-level bar was
already packed and the railings of the balcony bar were filled.

I have a confession, I dance to Rotten Sound. Some might think it strange for a deathgrind/grindcore/crust punk band to open up for one of the major progenitors of the Gothenburg scene, but Rotten Sound manage to incorporate a real understanding of melody into their in-your-face sound. Live, the sound is thick, unforgiving and well-balanced. With just enough distortion, throat-ripping vocals and a good spread of treble, thick mids and supportive bass, it’s once again a pleasure to listen to and watch. However, it’s over too soon with just a short opening set tonight.

There is just enough light on stage to see At the Gates enter, silhouetted against the gently lit At War with Reality backdrops. The concert starts just as the new album does, with the increasing tension of El Altar del Dios Desconocido. Then it’s lights, and Death and the Labyrinth slams in with the melodic force that defines At the Gates as the legends they are. Tomas Lindberg’s vocals are still strong and brutal, the riff play of Anders Bjöler and Martin Larsson still perfectly timed and Jonas Bjöler is almost throwing himself into the pit as he lays down the bass lines. Adrian Erlandsson is almost hidden behind the drum set, but the percussive sound is sharp, sweet and steady.

I almost forget what I’m supposed to be doing as Slaughter the Soul starts. I’m meant to be taking photos, not head-banging. No matter how many times I hear this song live, I’m always caught up in the moment. The crowd is as well, as the front row surges forward behind me. One more song and I’m heading out, through a crowd so thick I just follow the bobbing heads of the photographers in front of me forging a path to the balcony.

Every time I’ve seen At the Gates they’ve sounded brilliant. On mark, passionate, giving their all to the crowd. And the crowd is giving everything they have back. That’s a mark of a great live band to me. That with a nineteen year gap between records, they’ve not only managed to put together an album that speaks to their fanbase without being repetitive, but that they can still give their old songs the passion live that they are giving the new record.

When the show is over, I almost don’t want to leave, but I am with friends and I have another wonderful live At the Gates show to mark down in my memory. If you haven’t had the chance to see At the Gates live yet, make the chance for yourself. And, if you haven’t heard their new album yet, go find it right away, we've even reviewed it for you here! ! All photos coming soon, and this time around, courtesy of the wonderful Nikky Holmes of Hel Rocks!