Roughly nine years ago, I travelled to Finland for the very first time, the primary reason being to attend a Vorna show at a venue named Ilokivi in Jyväskylä. I’m not sure why I chose to attend the show that was in a city I’d never heard of, rather than one of the two Helsinki dates of the tour as that would have been a million times easier, but I never seem to do things the easy way. Basically, Vorna’s debut album Ajastaika had left a massive impression on me and since I knew the likelihood of a relatively unknown band coming to play some UK shows would be astronomical, my only option was clearly to fly out to their country to see them live instead.
I’ve now made numerous trips to Finland in order to see this insanely talented band (I believe this was show number 14!) and it has been so rewarding seeing the crowds for their shows get bigger and bigger, as well as seeing the band go from strength to strength. And when they announced this show, right back at the venue where it all started for me, the fond memories of that night came flooding back and I knew I had to do my utmost to make it out to the show if I could, due to the significance of the location.
Featuring a two band lineup, opening the show was local act Hagalas. Unfamiliar with them prior to the show, by the time their set came to a close I found myself wishing I had given them a listen before the gig as they put on a very impressive show. Playing punchy melodeath, they had a good onstage energy and the performance as a whole was very tight. Each track they powered through sounded absolutely massive.
The crowd seemed really into them, which was great to witness, and it felt good to see them getting a good reception because they certainly deserved it. I really enjoyed the chemistry that Hagalas had with one another, and would definitely be eager to catch them live again in the future because their live spectacle really was impressive – after listening to their EP As A Unit, the songs sound just as tight as how I remembered they were in a live setting. If this performance is anything to go by, then their upcoming debut album will be something to behold.
Following Hagalas was, of course, the mighty Vorna. Still riding the high of their fantastic new album Aamunkoi, the set list naturally favoured the new release quite heavily, with seven of the thirteen tracks featuring from that record. Hiljaisuus ei kestä serves as both a great album opener and set opener, really setting a great ambient mood, and the set just progressed fantastically from there, with early highlights including Tyhjyys on tyyni and Aika pakenee.
I was especially pleased to hear Raja again, which is my personal favourite from Aamunkoi. The song is breathtaking; the musicianship and emotion in the song is absolutely stunning, which makes it an instant classic, and it translates beautifully live as well. And then, whilst riding the high of hearing such a powerful inclusion, they followed it up with something just as incredible. Ukkonen, from their debut, played just for me!
A couple of weeks ago, I’d decided to be cheeky and had asked the guys if they’d consider playing a song from Ajastaika for old time’s sake. As I’d be seeing them at the first venue I saw them at again, I just felt it would be nice and somewhat significant to come full circle, and see them perform one of the songs that inspired me to want to see them in Finland at the place it all started for me, just in front of a much bigger crowd. They don’t really play songs from their debut (and second album) any more, which has never bothered me as I’ve seen them play the older songs loads and their newer albums are certainly not short of fantastic music after all, but with the significance of the location I felt I had to push my luck and ask regardless.
Despite the fact that they hadn’t played Ukkonen in five years, and despite the fact they rehearsed it literally once before the show during their soundcheck, Vorna performed the song to a fantastic standard. It had all the power and might I remembered, and it was such a blast to hear it in a live environment again. I definitely spent the entire song with a dumb grin on my face; it was such a rush to hear it and honestly meant the world that it was put in the set for me.
Another surprise song in the set was the inclusion of Jälkemme, from their second album. Actually my personal favourite from that release, it’s one of those songs that just feels like it has been made to be played live, so it was a treat to see them revisit that song as well!
Although it was one of the longest set I’ve seen the band had play, it still came to an all-too-swift close, and they wound things up with Kauas, signifying a triumphant end to an incredible set. There’s something about that song that makes it a perfect set closer due to how it wraps up, and definitely leaves you with goosebumps with its massive closing half that proceeds into its almost acapella ending.
This was a truly amazing night – perhaps the best I have ever seen Vorna play. Their live show is the best it has ever been, and it warms my heart to see how far they have come over the years. If you still haven’t been to one of their live shows yet, then what on earth are you waiting for?
