Turisas

Live at The House of Blues

Hollywood, California

May 13th, 2014

Review and Photos by Travis Baumann

The mighty Turisas return once more. The progenitors of Battle Metal, and one of the first pagan folk metal acts I ever encountered, come bearing gifts in the form of sonic blades to be cast in the guise of songs.

One of the headlining acts for this year's Paganfest, we get treated to a nice full set compiled of songs from throughout their history as a band as well as literally throughout history. We venture with them through times of theVarangian Way and prepare for battle in stylings once common in the Scandinavian North.

Turisas hail from Finland and bring with them a colorful outlook upon what can be a rather dreary life of war and conquest. They paint their faces in the traditional orange-red and black which has now become a phenomena with the fans dressing in the like. Replete with battle armor and furs they don the stage, ready to belt out anthems the like of which are impossible not to sing along with.

They opened the set with "Ten More Miles" and lead directly into "Take the Day!" two awesome songs relating the life on the battlefield but from the eyes of the elite warriors that struck like lightning and conquered all. For their third song they did one of my favorites of theirs, "To Holmgard and Beyond" which really exemplifies what they do best.

Turisas definitely have a unique style in what has become a much more crowded playing field of heavy pagan folk inspired metal music. The vocals are varied and go from telling a story to belting out anthems and war cries, all this really sweeps up the listener and has much the effect of battlefield minstrels whipping up the troops into battle hardened frenzy.

They switched it up with the awesome after-battle drinking song, "One More" before leading into "Greek Fire" and then the poignant "For Your Own Good".

Warlord Nygard introduced the next song by explaining how this one off their first album is what put them on the map and I recall the first time I listened to it and got hooked on Turisas. The song is "Battle Metal" and pretty much sums up an entire genre of metal music in its anthemic epicness.

They continued the set with another great drinking song, "No Good Story Ever Starts With Drinking Tea" and then finished up the main set with the catchy "We Ride Together". After a short pause they returned and treated us to "Stand Up and Fight" as well as a cover of "Rasputin" for the encore before retiring for the evening. Once again, Turisas brought it and gave it all. A terrific way to spend an evening.

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