Barren Earth to Tour US, Looking Forward to Tasting ‘Real Local Beers’

Finland's progressive death metallers Barren Earth, who remind us a bit of Opeth, will descend upon the US for their first full tour of our country, hitting venues alongside Finntroll and Ensiferum for the Finnish Metal Tour 2. The band couldn't be more excited about rocking American metalheads to their cores -- and about tasting local libations.

"It's thrilling to see if people are familiar with Barren Earth, as we're still newcomers in the scene," Barren Earth's Oppu Laine told Noisecreep. "And to be strict, this is our first real tour overall, so it will be interesting to see how our stage chemistry develops during those five brutal weeks!"

Laine last toured here in 1994 with another band, so it's been a while. However, he's confident that his comrades "will adapt to the American lifestyle in no time, as it doesn't differ that much from ours anyway."

While the band will focus on work and the task at hand -- which is generating copious amounts of headbanging -- the tour will allow for some sightseeing of American pastoral landmarks. "As we are the first band on the bill, we might not have sound check every day," Laine admitted. "Therefore, I guess there will be some spare time before the gigs. Personally, I'd be eager to see some national parks and to do some quick hiking trips."

Nature isn't the only thing Laine is interested in when touring the US. Beverages top of the band's list of things to enjoy while stateside. "I'd also like to taste some real local beers," he said. "I happen to know that there are great brews in the US, and I do not mean Budweiser [laughs]. By now I know Samuel Adams, Liberty Ale and Brooklyn Brewery's beers, and they are all godly stuff!!"

While Laine admitted the band isn't sonically similar to its tourmates, metalheads will dig Barren Earth because "we do have some influences from Autopsy and Morbid Angel, and it might make our music bit more chewable to local folks. I'm pretty positive about it. We'll do our best, and I hope it'll pay out with a good response."



Barren Earth tour dates

1/31 -- Orlando, FL -- The Club at Firestone

2/1 -- Atlanta, GA -- The Masquerade

2/2 -- Louisville, KY -- Headliner's Music Hall

2/3 -- Tulsa, OK -- Marquee

2/4 -- Austin, TX -- Emo's Alternative Lounging

2/5 -- Forth Worth, TX -- Ridglea Theater

2/6 -- Amarillo, TX -- The War Legion Underground

2/7 -- Tempe, AZ -- Clubhouse

2/8 -- Los Angeles, CA -- Key Club

2/9 -- Santa Anna, CA -- Galaxy Theater

2/10 -- San Francisco, CA -- DNA Lounge

2/11 -- Portland, OR -- Hawthorne Theatre

2/12 -- Seattle, WA -- El Corazon

2/14 -- Calgary, AB -- The Republik

2/15 -- Edmonton, AB -- Starlite Room

2/16 -- Regina, SK -- The Exchange

2/17 -- Winnipeg, MB -- The Osbourne Village Inn

2/18 -- St. Paul, MN -- Station 4

2/19 -- Chicago, IL -- Reggie Rock Club

2/20 -- Detroit, MI -- Blondie's

2/21 -- Cleveland, OH -- Peabody's

2/22 -- Toronto, ON -- Opera House

2/23 -- Quebec City, QC -- Imperial de Quebec

2/24 -- Montreal, QC -- Metropolis

2/25 -- Rochester, NY -- Montage Music Hall

2/26 -- New York City, NY -- The Gramercy Theatre

2/27 -- Worcester, MA -- The Palladium

3/1 -- Philadelphia, PA -- The Trocadero

3/2 -- West Springfield, VA -- Jaxx

3/3 -- Charlotte, NC -- The Casbah

3/4 -- Raleigh, NC -- Volume 11