Live report THE HALO EFFECT, PAIN & BLOODRED HOURGLASS, Markthalle, Hamburg – January 17th, 2025

Hej metalheads, hur mår ni? This could be a line we might have heard a few times today at Hamburg’s Markthalle as a Scandinavian metal package stops at the venue to present some thunderous metal from the north. Gothenburg’s melodic death metal enthusiasts The Halo Effect have just started their current tour and with them on the road are Pain and Bloodred Hourglass.

The latter start their set at 19:00 and I arrive just in time to see their entire set. The Finns have already released six albums and are focusing on the newer stuff. To be honest, I didn’t have the band on my radar and I’m pleasantly surprised by what I get to hear. In 40 minutes, the six-piece ignites the flame of melodic death metal, which they deliver with guitar power, while not shying away from some keyboard sounds. The fact that Bloodred Hourglass have a solid fanbase in Hamburg is obvious when you take a look around in the room. The place is already crowded and the vibe is positive. Bloodred Hourglass play nine songs tonight and with the classic “Where the Sinner Crawls” the guys finish their set with some well-deserved applause from the fans.

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What could be noticed already during the set of Bloodred Hourglass are some extra light installations framing the stage that are part of Pain‘s show and what might not be a treat for photographers is certainly an impressive visual effect for fans.

Peter Tägtgren and Pain released their latest album a few months ago and tonight’s setlist includes two of the album’s greatest songs, “Go With the Flow” and “Party in My Head”, while the guys open with “Call Me”. Peter Tägtgren is a well respected musician and producer. While he focuses on blasting death metal with Hypocrisy, Pain allows him to follow his passion for industrial metal sounds and more of a fun aspect. The latter can be witnessed by several cloth changes. One of them takes place before “Go With the Flow”, when the band comes back on stage in overalls, and during “Party in My Head” the guys are dressed in beach clothes, as seen in the video. Some beach balls thrown into the room added to the fun for the fans, and the longer the set continues, the better the atmosphere in the Markthalle gets. Pain deliver grooving and powerful metal, but also a lot of fun. This starts with “Call Me” when the band stops during the song. Originally Sabaton‘s Joakim Brodèn sang the 2nd verse, but of course he is missing today. So guitarist Svalle has to take over this part and he does it in an excellent way, even sounding a bit like Brodèn.

A song about booze and women, that is “Have a Drink on Me”, before it is “Shut Your Mouth” that ends 60 minutes of Pain. Peter Tägtgren and his bandmates have delivered, and Pain is much more than just a side project. It is an established metal contributor since 1996 and shows like tonight demonstrate why they are an important band in contemporary metal.

The last time I saw The Halo Effect live was when they toured with Meshuggah. Positioned between the extreme metallers of Mantar and the metal professors of Meshuggah, the band didn’t have the easiest spot in the running order. Tonight is different. The Halo Effect are headlining tonight and the band’s new album “March of the Unheard” is another motivation for both band and fans. Everyone seems to be happy that the Gothenburg metal veterans have some new songs in their repertoire and we start the set with the title track.

The five guys obviously enjoy being on stage and since the show is sold out, the atmosphere in the sweat covered room can’t be much better. After playing the songs from the debut album for a number of years now, the focus tonight is on the new album, which is played almost in its entirety. But also the hits from the debut like “The Needless End” are part of the show and still spread a certain fascination by combining melody and aggression. This also unfolds during a massive version of “Become Surrender”, which is the heaviest song tonight. Some “oldschool” stuff, as Mikael Stanne mentions with a twinkle in his eye once during the show, drives people crazy tonight. “Gateways” from the debut releases all the remaining energy of everyone in the room with a first crowdsurfer being on his way to the front of the room. There are not many, but a few guys followed the initiative. With “Shadowminds” the show slowly comes to an end before “Coda”, originally meant as an intro, becomes the outro of tonight’s set.

The Halo Effect have just released a great new album and with new songs in their back pocket, the energy finds its way to the stage. Five experienced guys and a lot of passion for what they do, that is The Halo Effect and that is what the band authentically transports tonight. It was a metal party that made you forget the gray and crazy world outside for a while.

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