The air in B90 Gdansk last night was thick with expectation and unholy electricity, the kind that makes your skin tingle before the first note even hits. A couple thousand fanatics, warriors of the night, packed themselves into the venue, buzzing, howling, craving something beyond the mundane drudgery of daily life, eyes burning with the hunger that only live music can satisfy.
They weren’t just here for a show.
The night began with Serpentyne, a symphonic metal force from the UK. Their music is a harmonious fusion of folk, Celtic melodies, and thundering metal. With soaring female vocals and lyrics steeped in myth, legend, and history, each song felt like stepping through a portal into a world where the old gods still roamed. They conjured their music, weaving together symphonic grandeur and raw energy in a way that demanded the audience’s full attention. By the time they finished, the crowd was already in a fever, primed for the legends that would next take the stage.
And who better to lead the charge than Marko Hietala himself?
The Finnish heavy metal legend gained fame as the bassist and male vocalist for Nightwish, a band pivotal in the evolution of the symphonic metal genre. Known for his deep, raw voice, he was instrumental in crafting the band’s distinctive sound on albums like “Once” and “Dark Passion Play“. Outside of his work with Nightwish, he led his own band, Tarot, and embarked on a solo career with the album “Pyre of the Black Heart“, which merges heavy rock with progressive influences.
As soon as Marko appeared under the dazzling stage lights, the energy in the room exploded. From the first note, his set was an avalanche – a perfect storm of bone-rattling rock and folk melodies woven together like an ancient saga. Marko is a wild-haired Viking of a man, equal parts storyteller and shaman, stepping into the stage lights like some Norse god returning from exile.
A highlight of the night was when he launched into “The Dragon Must Die“, a moment that sent fans of Game of Thrones – myself included – into frenzy. His connection with the audience was undeniable; every glance, every gesture, made it feel like he was performing just for us.
And just when the night was already threatening to spin off its axis, Tarja joined Marko on stage, as a reminiscence of their past in Nightwish.
Like a vision, like a ghost from another time – stepping into Marko’s world for just a moment, their voices fusing together in a way that defied logic. The chemistry, the history, the sheer gravity of that moment hit the audience like a wave. But it was only a taste. A flicker of what was coming next.
Because Marko’s set, as powerful as it was, was just the beginning.
After a pause, Tarja Turunen finally took the stage. The moment everyone had been waiting for. Her presence was commanding, her voice as stunning as ever. No small talk, no warm-up – just straight into hit after hit, delivering an unforgettable performance. The musicians accompanying her were equally exceptional, bringing depth and intensity to every note. And, as if the night couldn’t get any better, Marko returned to join her on stage, mirroring the earlier moment when Tarja had stepped into his set.
A moment. A memory. A collision of past and present, two titans standing side by side once more.
And then, too soon, the final note rang out. The lights dimmed. The dream started to fade.
