Review and Photos by Fred Kuhlman
Promoter: 13th Floor Entertainment (https://www.13thfloorentertainment.com/ )
Venue: The Nile Theater (https://www.theniletheater.com/ )
Date: Sunday May 26th, 2024
Tour: Circus Of Doom Over North America Tour 2024
It is the start of the summer heat here in the valley and the end of a lot of the European touring metal bands run in the USA. Most all of the metal bands are headed back to Europe for the summer festival season. Starting in June until September, Europe has a large number of metal festivals in almost every country. Once the summer is over, the band head back out on the road and we in the North America get to see them all again, or for the first time.

I was lucky enough to see the Battle Beast VIP event prior to the concert. There were about 40 people that purchased the VIP package. They each got to get items signed by the entire band, including purchasing merch items first and then getting them signed. After the signing event, the VIP people reformed into a line to then get their photos with the entire band. One of the band’s roadies would take the cell phone of the individual or group and took about 3 or more photos. The VIP participants also got Battle Beast VIP lament and a concert bag. At the Nile, security allowed the VIP participants to take the items to their vehicle and then re-enter the theater prior to the masses to get their position “at the fence”. Given the access to the band, you might consider purchasing a VIP package for the bands you like.

A lot of smaller metal bands are part of the Twitch.tv platform. Battle Beast has been live posting each concert on this tour on Twitch.tv, but due to issues, this show had to switch to their YouTube channel. So, if you wanted to see their show because you were not able to make it, you could just log into YouTube or here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqtPMjdOFCA for the Mesa Arizona, Nile Theater show.
Battle Beast

Battle Beast is a Power Metal band from Helsinki, Finland that was formed in 2008 by Juuso Soinio and Pyry Vikki. Soon, Eero Sipilä and Janne Björkroth both joined the band. In 2012, Noora Louhimo joined the band and Joona Björkroth joined in 2015 to complete the current band line-up. Since 2015, Battle Beast consists of lead singer and front person Noora Louhimo, guitarists Juuso Soinio and Joona Björkroth, bassist Eero Sipilä, Keyboardist Janne Björkroth and drummer Pyry Vikki.
I have seen Battle Beast multiple times when they toured with other headlining bands. I always felt that they did not show their full potential by only playing about 30 minutes. Finally, this year, they put together a tour where they were the headliner. We got over 90 minutes of Power metal, High Energy and Heart Pounding music. As Noora dominated the stage with her fist pumping and blasting vocals, she had all of us in the audience singing and fist pumping along. By the end of the night, she looked spent and a lot of the audience looked the same. This is what a great Power Metal concert is.

Backing up Noora, are to very good guitarists, Juuso and Joona. They drove the music to extreme highs with their power riffs. Eero and Pyry provided the pounding beat and bass line that provided the audience with chest thumping sound. Rounding out the sound is Janne on his keytar.
They started the show with the tour headlining song, “Circus of Doom”. Until they got to “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”, every song just added to the overall energy of the evening. During the “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”, Eero had all of us in the audience sing along. Most of the songs were from their newest album, Circus of Doom. They also played a number of songs from their other amazing album, Bringer of Pain.
I was so happy to see Battle Beast step out and make it was a headliner and finally show us what they are capable of. Unfortunately, by the time you read this, they will have just about completed their North American tour and will be heading back to Europe. If you get the chance to see them at one of the outstanding European Festivals this summer or when they go back on the road, I very highly recommend it. You can check out more about Battle Beast and where they will be next on their website and social media pages.
Battle Beast Social Media sites:
Website: https://battlebeast.fi/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/battlebeastofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/battlebeastband/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BattleBeastBand
Twitch.TV: https://www.twitch.tv/battlebeastband
Record Label:
Europe: https://nuclearblast.de/
USA: https://shop.nuclearblast.com/
Battle Beast
Photos © Fred Kuhlman 2024, All Rights Reserved
Blackbriar

This was the first time I have seen Blackbriar. They are classified as an Alterative Metal band, but personally I saw they more of a Power Metal band. For me a Power metal band is one that has strong heart pounding music that the audience loves to sing along with, like Iron Maiden.
Blackbriar is out of the Netherlands that was formed in 2012 by lead singer Zora Cock, drummer René Boxem and lead guitarist Bart Winters. They have been joined by rhythm guitarist Robin Koezen, bass player Siebe Sol Sijpkens and keyboardist Ruben Wijga. Probably the most dynamic person the stage besides Zora was the bass player Siebe. He was in constant motion, dancing around the stage, jumping and leg kicking.
Overall, I was very impressed by them. Zora had a very pleasant but powerful voice that rose above the instruments. Each of the band members were very good. I personally can’t wait to see them again. Hopefully they might tour in North America with Kamelot or some other similar style band next year. I know I will be at the show and I hope to see you there also.
Blackbriar will also be ending their part of the North American tour at the start of June. They will be returning to Europe for the festival season. Then in October, they will be touring in Europe with Kamelot. You can check out more about Blackbriar and where they will be touring next on their website and social media pages.
Blackbriar Social Media sites:
Website: https://www.blackbriarmusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackbriarmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbriarmusic/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/blackbriarmusic
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blackbriarmusic
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/blackbriarmusic
Record Label:
Europe: https://www.nuclearblast.com/de
USA: https://shop.nuclearblast.com/
Blackbriar
Photos © Fred Kuhlman 2024, All Rights Reserved
Battle Beast Setlist (Album / Cover)
Circus of Doom (Circus of Doom)
Straight to the Heart (Bringer of Pain)
Familiar Hell (Bringer of Pain)
Armageddon (Circus of Doom)
Place That We Call Home (Circus of Doom)
No More Hollywood Endings (No More Hollywood Endings)
Eye of the Storm (Circus of Doom)
Can You Feel the Love Tonight (Elton John cover)
Where Angels Fear to Fly (Circus of Doom)
Bastard Son of Odin (Bringer of Pain)
Russian Roulette (Circus of Doom)
Wings of Light (Circus of Doom)
Eden (No More Hollywood Endings)
The Imperial March (John Williams cover)
Master of Illusion (Circus of Doom)
King for a Day (Bringer of Pain)
Beyond the Burning Skies (Bringer of Pain)
Blackbriar Setlist (Album)
Crimson Faces (A Dark Euphony)
I’d Rather Burn (We’d Rather Burn (EP))
Far Distant Land (A Dark Euphony)
Forever and a Day (A Dark Euphony)
Arms of the Ocean (We’d Rather Burn (EP))
Selkie (The Cause of Shipwreck)
Deadly Diminuendo (The Cause of Shipwreck)
Lilith Be Gone (The Cause of Shipwreck)
Cicada (A Dark Euphony)
Until Eternity (Fractured Fairytales (EP))