Jan 73 min read

Looking Back, Surprises Beast In Black

This past October I had the pleasure of covering Beast in Black for the first time at the Gothic Theater in Denver. I was familiar with their music but was blown away by their stage presence. Their interaction with the crowd, each other and me! I was the only photographer this night and what fun I had. Can't wait to see them again. Looking back to Beast In Black.

9:30 and the lights and music faded and soon drummer Atte Palokangas took to his kit with a deafening roar from their fans. As the other members made their way out onto the stage their fans got louder as the started their set with, “Blade Runner” from their 2021 album, Dark Connection and the roar continued when vocalist Yannis Papadopoulos walked out onto the stage in a long black trench coat and began to pour out his vocals to cheering crowd. The energy level shot out from the stage from the very first song and you had better catch your breath between songs because it only went higher!

For the first three songs we were allowed to shoot from the pit and I was the only photographer for this show. I had no clue what I was about to witness from the band on stage, but I found out real quick! Guitarists Anton Kabanen and Kasperi Heikkinen along with bassist Máté Molnár put on a show on stage not only with their skilled musicianship but with their interactions with each other and the crowd and me as well. (Check out the photo gallery.) The guys would get together and lean on each smiling pointing to the crowd then break and move around the stage and meet again.

Throughout their set of amazing music I moved back and forth in the pit with a giant smile on my face and capturing the sights that I was seeing on stage. Beast in Black moved through their set with songs, “Unlimited Sin”, “Crazy, Mad, Insane”, and “Dark New World”. Yannis’s vocals poured out through the venue and the energy level never let up. As I tried to move through the crowd to capture a few shots around the venue, I watched the band on stage, and was wondering where they get their energy to do this for 31 stops on this tour.

The band finished their night with, “One Night in Tokyo” and “End of the World”. Their fans wanted more but let Beast in Black know how grateful they were for an amazing show.

As I was walking out of the venue I said to myself, I'm tired! What a great show by Beast In Black! These guys blew me away with their music and a stage presence that was off the charts! And I want to thank the band for interacting with me. I had an awesome time. Can’t wait to do it again. Check out the video below.

Beast In Black members:

Anton Kabanen – lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards

Yannis Papadopoulos – lead vocals

Kasperi Heikkinen – rhythm guitar