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Thousands squeezed in on the steps of Helsinki Cathedral in order to witness Alexi Laiho’s metal spectacle at the Senate Square in Helsinki on August 14 2015. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today
The sound of 100 electric guitars blended in harmony for about 15 minutes, as a hundred guitarists performed Alexi Laiho’s 100 Guitars From Hell at the Senate Square in Helsinki on Friday evening.
There was one problem, though. Only some of the many thousand spectators who joined the free event actually saw the performance.
The idea was that the spectators could all have fit to sit on the steps of the Helsinki Cathedral, in front of the stage, but due to the strong interest (Finland after all is the country of heavy metal) many views were blocked by the backs of the masses as the space on the steps became overcrowded.
Alexi Laiho immersing in a guitar solo during the performance of 100 Guitars From Hell. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today
The performance, which kicked off the Helsinki Festival (Helsingin juhlaviikot), was a unique composition by Mr Laiho, the guitar virtuoso of Children of Bodom, who after listening to various demos chose the 100 guitarists to play with him.
The composition was beautiful and heavy, resembling in some parts Metallica’s instrumental, Orion. Laiho played skilled solos over the tempo which accelerated from slow to the galloping speed of double bass drums.
The sound was awesome, both off and on stage, as one of the guitarists praised after the show.
Check out the highlights:
Video: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today
