Planning. Preparation. Supposedly, it’s all about how well you prepare for something that will make the difference in the overall outcome. There was certainly a lot of planning that went into our 2 week trip from Finland, across Scandinavia, and then on to Iceland. When I say planning, I really mean research. We researched places to go, the sights and activities, and how to travel between each destination. We did not reserve everything in advance, however. Most of the guidebooks suggest booking ahead, especially during the peak season (which in Scandinavia seems to be is either winter or summer) because everything hotel room will be sold and every museum and bus tour will be filled to overflowing with like-minded tourists, happily plodding along the same path that you’ll be traveling (in part, I imagine, because they are reading the same guidebooks).
Planning is not the same as having a plan. It’s very good to have a plan and I even recommend having more than one plan. Initially, we wanted to see as much of each country as possible, mostly by train. I wanted to make a stop north of the arctic circle. And yes, I know that’s a touristy goal, but it was still something that I wanted to do. After our first train ride from Helsinki to Savonlinna (that I wrote about in Part I) the thought of spending the next two full days of our trip traveling by train made us cringe. So we made a new plan. In the end we decided travel to Sweden via an overnight ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm. Not only did we save a full day of traveling, it meant that we would arrive in Gothenburg just in time for the 10th anniversary of the Metaltown festival.
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| Katatonia |
Metaltown was somewhat of a coincidence because it was only after we decided that our trip would kick of at Tuska in Helsinki did we learn about the Metaltown festival. I think we knew that a stop in Gothenburg would mean trying to find some kind of show to see and the opportunity to see a metal show in the metal town was too much to pass up.
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| Marduk |
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| Ghost |
We made it for the Friday night show which hosted a lineup that included Carcass, Sabaton, Ghost, and Slipknot on the main stages. We also opted spend a lot time in the Close-up stage to see Katatonia and Marduk for a more intimate ear shredding. Standing in a field, somewhere outside of Gothenburg, the sounds of screaming guitars and thundering bass mixed with mooing cows and shrieking crows. The sun began its slow march toward twilight as the wind kicked up, blowing dust, cigarette smoke, and grilled food smells in the air. The evening chilled to the symphony of metal blasting through the countryside. I love festivals. Everyone is in good spirits. The music is loud. You can watch as a small group of fans hear the first notes of their favorite band and dash off toward the stage so as not to miss a beat. It’s an opportunity to see bands in a completely different environment. It’s an opportunity to see bands that you might not have otherwise, or a perhaps getting to see a band for the first time. For me, Metaltown was the first taste of Ghost and an introduction to Marduk's brand of Swedish black metal. The Katatonia was excellent and though I don't listen to Slipknot much anymore, they stage a live show like few other bands. Festival sets are always too short but always energetically executed.
And so once again the best advice I can give is to follow the music. Forget the guidebooks that put you in line with everyone else. No one wants to spend their vacation standing in line, waiting for a bus, or disappointed because a famed restaurant is full. Instead, arm yourself with more information than reservations and chart your own path.
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| Gothenburg, Sweden |
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