On Sunday January 18th 2026 in Sono Centrum Brno a major folk metal event took place. The reason was the arrival of Heidenfest in the spotlight with bands Korpiklaani and Finntroll.
The lights went out at Sono club, the first notes sounded, and suddenly the room transformed from a club into the deck of a pirate ship. The Dread Crew of Oddwood didn't just play a concert, they put on a proper pirate show full of rhythm, humor, and raw energy. Every beat of the drums sounded like a cannon shot, every melody drew the audience deeper into their twisted sailor world. From wild expressions to chaotic movements, they provided me with an endless number of moments to capture with my lens. That's what I love about photographing live music: capturing those fractions of a second when sound turns into emotion, sweat turns into story, and the band becomes a living, breathing spectacle.
Chaos, colors, and pure madness filled the club. Trollfest didn't just step on the stage in Brno, they literally exploded onto it. With wild flamingo costumes and rhythms that kept everyone on their feet, the band transformed the hall into a bizarre folk-metal carnival. Each song felt like a new scene in a completely crazy story: laughter clashed with heavy riffs, absurdity danced with precision. Through my lens, I didn't just photograph the concert, I chased characters, expressions, and moments that could only exist at a Trollfest concert. Loud, playful, and beautifully chaotic, this band doesn't perform for the audience, but with it.
Voices rose before the guitars even had time to fade. When Heidevolktook the stage, it felt less like a concert and more like a gathering of an ancient clan. Twin vocals cutting through the air, heavy riffs carrying a sense of history, and a rhythm section that pushed everything forward like a marching army. With my digital eyes, I watched the band build atmosphere brick by brick, intensity in their expressions, unity in their movements, and a powerful connection with the crowd.
Darkness fell over Sono, but Finntroll brought their own storm. Brno turned into a ritual ground where folk melodies clashed with raw metal energy. Ritual movements, sweat, and shadows. Every song felt less like a performance and more like a living creature taking over the room. From the first growl to the last echo, the band commanded the crowd like a single roaring organism. When music stops being just sound and becomes atmosphere, emotion, and memory frozen in a fraction of a second. That's what concert photography is.
The lights went down, the first folk melodies cut through the room, and suddenly the whole place felt like a moving forest. Korpiklaani didn’t just play a show! They unleashed it! Fiddles dancing over crushing riffs, beer-soaked choruses echoing from every corner, sweat, smiles, and that raw kind of energy you only get when a band truly lives on stage. From the first chord to the last roar of the crowd, every second felt wild, chaotic, and beautifully alive.
These photos are my way of freezing that storm! The intensity in their faces, the connection between the band and the crowd, and the moments you usually only feel, not see.
Brno, you were loud.
Korpiklaani, you were fire.
Photos and captions by Vasilis Tiropolis (more photos on his website: https://www.xp-spot.com/index.php/gallery)