Invaders is a young, explosive thrash metal band from Vilhelmina that recently secured its biggest milestone to date in its career. After winning a music competition organized by Studieförbundet NBV Norr, the band was honored to open the Rockklassiker Stage at Skogsröjet in Rejmyre.
Opening the festival day as early as 11:30 am—when the audience is just arriving at the area or might not even be awake yet—can be an unrewarding task. When it's time for Invaders to get started, the crowd in front of the stage is indeed sparse. It's mostly the band's closest relatives and a handful of devoted souls who have found their way there.
The band's frontman, vocalist and guitarist Fabian Einarsson, says they have traveled nearly 1,000 kilometers from Vilhelmina and expresses enormous gratitude for the opportunity. Of course, it's an honor to share a festival bill with giants like Metal Church and Testament. But the initially small audience doesn't seem to bother the band in the slightest. Invaders have come to rock, and rock they do.
The quartet launches with full force from the very first second and gives us in the audience exactly the start to the day we want: heavy riffs and raw, uncompromising energy. There is plenty of headbanging on stage, and especially Fabian moves around and offers a charming and spot-on stage banter that quickly connects him with the listeners. The hard work pays off; as time goes by, curious festival goers start streaming in, and soon a considerable crowd of rockers has gathered in front of the stage.
A few songs into the concert, drummer Oskar Einarsson delivers an intense drum solo. When Fabian later introduces his brother and reveals that he is only 15 years old, a murmur goes through the audience. It's yet another proof that Invaders have not come to Skogsröjet to apologize. Together with Gabriel Segerstark on bass and Leon Strindberg on second guitar, the band shows an impressive attitude and a desire to give absolutely everything. This was exactly the boost I needed on my first festival day.
Before the last song, "Nothing", Fabian hypes the mood with these words:
— Think of the person you hate most of all, that's what this song is about!
As the last notes fade away, the band is met by rhythmic chants of “One more time, one more time” from the audience. This is the ultimate proof that the guys from Vilhelmina have made a strong impression. Remember the name Invaders—these guys have an exciting future ahead.
