Category Archives: Concert Reviews

Concert Review – Lorna Shore (Great Canadian Toronto, Mississauga, ON, 10/27/2025)

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Fans from all over Ontario and the rest of Canada felt the everblack festering within them in one of the heaviest and most emotional performances of the year in the entire country.

OPENING ACTS: Shadow of Intent and The Black Dahlia Murder

I don’t think there’s another way to start this review without stating my profound disappointment (and I’m sure everyone else who attended the show also feels the same) for not having PEELINGFLESH as one of the opening bands for LORNA SHORE this Monday night at Great Canadian Toronto during their North American Tour 2025. I mean, SHADOW OF INTENT and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER were both phenomenal guests, but I strongly believe the raw energy emanating from the Brutal Death Metal blasted by PeelingFlesh would have been beyond welcomed by the crowd. We should have had the pleasure of witnessing the unstoppable Damonteal Harris and his henchmen mercilessly kicking our asses onstage like when they opened for Aborted a few months ago in Toronto, and although I don’t want to start with any politics bullshit, I’ll never understand why a band that simply wants to play their music in any city in Canada during their US and Canadian tours has their entry denied into the country. I wish I could say more about it, but I’ll try to remain calm, and blast some of PeelingFlesh’s sickest tunes on Spotify to lighten up my mood. Well, at least before the other bands started I was able to try Slayer Burger’s new creation In Darkness, and I must say it’s by far their best burger to date. Hopefully they’ll get a lot of positive feedback from fans and keep it as part of their regular menu for a while, because that burger is indeed absurdly tasty.

Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi was also pissed off he wasn’t going to take some crazy photos of PeelingFlesh, but of course he was more than ready to fire his camera during the brutal performance by Connecticut, United States-based Symphonic Deathcore beast SHADOW OF INTENT. The second “low point” of the night was the fact their frontman Ben Duerr didn’t make it to the show in Toronto as he went back to the US to join his wife for the birth of his second child (congratulations to both!), but his replacement Adam Mercer, former vocalist of the also killer Deathcore entity A Wake in Providence, did a superb job and inspired all fans at the venue for some wild headbanging and mosh pit action. Having recently released the pulverizing Imperium Delirium, available on BandCamp and on Spotify, the band put on a demonic concert, with their heaviness, breakdowns, and the gruesome guttural by Adam making the entire venue tremble like in the best song of the night, the demented hymn Vehement Draconian Vengeance. I can’t wait for Shadow of Intent to visit Canada again, but of course next time I want to see them with Ben Duerr on vocals (despite having enjoyed Adam on the mic a lot). So please, Ben, no more babies during your next Canadian shows, alright?

Setlist
Prepare to Die
Flying the Black Flag
Mechanical Chaos
Vehement Draconian Vengeance
Infinity of Horrors
Feeding the Meat Grinder
The Heretic Prevails

Band members
Adam Mercer – vocals
Chris Wiseman – guitars, samples, backing vocals
Andrew Monias – bass
Bryce Butler – drums

I guess each band on the bill had at least two or three massive walls of death with mosh pits right after during their shows, and of course Detroit, Michigan’s own Melodic Death Metal masters THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER made sure their fans had a great time while inside such a unique experience only available at extreme music concerts, one of them offered as a “birthday gift” to one of their guitarists, by the way. The band now spearheaded by the charismatic Brian Eschbach was also on fire from start to finish, blending songs from their entire career with their latest album Servitude, released in 2024 (all also available on BandCamp and on Spotify), inspiring everyone who still had enough stamina left to slam like a maniac inside the pit. The gorilla with a giant inflatable banana during Statutory Ape was a nice touch to their already incendiary show, and I just wish their sound, in special the vocals, was a little bit better as it sounded muffled at times. Anyway, those guys put on a tremendous warmup for Lorna Shore, and I’m sure they’ll keep blasting their undisputed blend of melodeath for many years to come, always in honor of our beloved Trevor Strnad (RIP).

Setlist
What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse
Everything Went Black
Nightbringers
A Vulgar Picture
Warborn
Statutory Ape
Cursed Creator
Unhallowed
Funeral Thirst
Deathmask Divine

Band members
Brian Eschbach – vocals
Ryan Knight – guitars
Wes Hauch – guitars
Max Lavelle – bass
Alan Cassidy – drums

LORNA SHORE

Finally after a short break it was time for New Jersey’s own Deathcore behemoth LORNA SHORE to kick off one of the heaviest performances of the year in Canadian lands. Blending songs from their three releases with Will Ramos on vocals, those being their 2021 EP …and I Return to Nothingness, their 2022 masterpiece Pain Remains, and their recently released beast I Feel the Everblack Festering Within Me, all available on BandCamp and on Spotify, the band was on absolute fire from start to finish, already hypnotizing the entire crowd from the very first notes in Oblivion. They made sure their show was not only a lecture in Deathcore, but also visually appealing, with the big background screen and the lights adding an extra touch of electricity to their already insane performance.

Songs like Unbreakable, Sun//Eater, Cursed to Die, Into the Earth, and the extremely emotional Glenwood reached deep inside our hearts and souls, but I must say as a fan of really heavy music I had a total blast with Prison of Flesh and To the Hellfire. Those breakdowns were demented, plus of course the inhumane guttural by Will and the crushing blast beats by Austin Archey, igniting some of the wildest mosh pits of the entire night. Everyone was having a great time, including our lord and savior Jesus Christ, leaving the doors open for another concert by those guys in Canadian lands in a not-so-distant future. The highlight of the night was obviously their three-part masterpiece Pain Remains during the encore, and until today I can’t decide which one is my favorite. Sometimes it’s Pain Remains I: Dancing Like Flames, sometimes Pain Remains II: After All I’ve Done, I’ll Disappear, and sometimes Pain Remains III: In a Sea of Fire, like this Monday night. Those were flawless, and I bet several fans were crying of joy during such an intense part of their set.

On a side note, a few minutes before the first band hit the stage, when I was eating the In Darkness Burger at the Slayer Burger food truck, I met a very young and cool guy (and I’m so sorry, I forgot his name just because I’m terrible with names) who flew from Saskatoon to Toronto only for the show, and if you know the geography of Canada you have a very good idea of how lengthy and exhausting that journey can be. He said he was beyond excited to see his favorite band of all time live for the first time ever, and I bet he was on cloud 9 after the show was over. Furthermore, that’s a good indication of how big Lorna Shore are getting to the point people are going out of their way to see them live, just like Iron Maiden and Metallica fans do all the time. Another guy, for instance, was flying to Montreal the next morning to see Lorna Shore again. Because Lorna Shore are simply awesome, and as long as they’re around, heavy music will remain.

Setlist
Oblivion
Unbreakable
Of the Abyss
Sun//Eater
Cursed to Die
Into the Earth
Glenwood
Prison of Flesh
To the Hellfire

Encore:
Pain Remains I: Dancing Like Flames
Pain Remains II: After All I’ve Done, I’ll Disappear
Pain Remains III: In a Sea of Fire

Band members
Will Ramos – vocals
Adam De Micco – guitar
Andrew O’Connor – guitar
Michael Yager – bass
Austin Archey – drums

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Concert Review – Crypta (The Garrison, Toronto, ON, 10/08/2025)

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On a cooler night in Toronto, metalheads from all over the city had an absolute blast with one of the must-see Death Metal beasts from the worldwide extreme music scene.

OPENING ACTS: Pretty Face and Death Club

This Wednesday was by far the coolest day from the past three or four months in Toronto, but that didn’t stop the metalheads from different parts of the city to head to The Garrison for a sold out show with PRETTY FACE, DEATH CLUB and CRYPTA during their In the Other Side Tour 2025, another killer event organized by the unstoppable Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. As the first band was only going to hit the stage at 8pm, I decided to take my time at home, had proper dinner, relaxed a little, and therefore avoided the chaotic madness of QEW during rush hour. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi got to the venue a little earlier to get ready to take some amazing shots of all bands, which by the way are all led by super talented ladies who make heavy music way better, heavier, and more fun. The merch selection was also great for all bands, including some kick-ass guitar picks from Crypta, and everything with good quality and for a reasonable price. Not only that, the variety of beer and other drinks at The Garrison is way bigger and cheaper than at bigger venues like Budweiser Stage. Supporting the underground definitely has its advantages, with the main one being the much lighter impact on your pocket for an even higher amount of adrenaline and energy onstage.

On a side note, before and after the bands kicked some serious ass onstage, I had the pleasure of chatting with the organizers of the Icelandic festival named Satán, who were on vacation in the city, enjoying a few concerts like Judas Priest/Alice Cooper last week, and Crypta this Wednesday. Gísli Sigmundsson, an Icelandic metal legend who fronts the old school Death Metal band Sororicide, and Kristján Guðmundsson, drummer for the ruthless Blackened Death Metal horde Nexion, were having an amazing time at The Garrison, and of course I enjoyed a lot talking to them about heavy music and both the Canadian and the Icelandic underground scenes. I told Kristján that Nexion must come to Toronto for a show, to which he replied “do people enjoy that type of blasphemic music here?” Well, I guess I don’t even need to say what I answered to him, right? And if you have the time and money available for a trip next summer, the Satán festival is happening between June 4 and 6, 2026. Who knows, maybe I can visit Iceland for a share of their own blasphemy then.

Labeled as a queer-fem metal band hailing from Brampton, Ontario, expressing experiences and struggles growing up as teenage fem-presenting people through their music, PRETTY FACE kicked off the party with their fusion of Hardcore with elements of Death and Doom Metal, and the reaction of the fans at The Garrison was excellent. Although they only have one song officially released, the 2024 single The Gore Road, available on Spotify, those girls sounded excellent onstage and showed endless energy during their short but effective set. I have zero idea of which songs they played, or who the band members are as there’s nothing online about that (and I’m sorry, but I forgot to ask them in person after their show), but those girls have a bright future ahead of them. As long as they release an EP or a full-length album in the coming months to keep their momentum going, of course.

The second opening band of the night was another local band, Hamilton, Ontario-based modern Sludge Metal/Deathcore act DEATH CLUB, who released their debut Betrayal back in 2024, available on both BandCamp and Spotify. Formed of Dana Bowman on vocals and guitar, Adam Baldwin on bass and backing vocals, and Chelsea Todd on drums, plus another unknown musician who’s probably just their tour guitarist (and again, sorry for not asking him his name), the band kept the heaviness flowing inside The Garrison, which was already packed by the time they hit the stage. You can get more details about the band by clicking HERE, and if they ever play a concert at your city or town, I highly recommend you go watch them live because their music is great, and their stage presence is just as awesome.

CRYPTA

There was some uncertainty in the air if the indomitable Brazilian Death Metal beast CRYPTA was actually going to play this Wednesday night in Toronto as the iconic Fernanda Lima and another one of her bandmates got stuck at the Canadian border when trying to cross it from the United States, forcing them to fly from a city near Buffalo into YYZ and going straight to the venue for the show. Fortunately, those girls are absolute badass, and nothing would stop them from delivering their slab of Death Metal to one of their most loyal fanbase worldwide. The band was on absolute fire from the very first seconds of one of my favorite Crypta songs, The Other Side of Anger, and their setlist blending their two album Echoes of the Soul (2021) and Shades of Sorrow (2023), both available on BandCamp and on Spotify, brought sheer chaos and anarchy to The Garrison to the point Keith didn’t even dare to try to get a spot in front of the stage for his photos. Yes, it was wild.

Fernanda was insane on stage as usual, the mesmerizing Tainá Bergamaschi kept shredding her axe in great fashion, headbanging like a maniac, and making what was supposed to be an “angry” face during the heaviest parts of their songs (although she looks way to nice and cool to really look angry), Luana Dametto showed no mercy for our necks and bodies, crushing her drums nonstop for our total delight (therefore igniting some demented mosh pits), and their new touring guitarist Victoria Villarreal, from bands like Chaos Rising and Syrebris, proved why she was chosen by the band to support them on this tour, also kicking some serious ass with her flammable riffs and solos. I just think the overall sound volume was a bit low, but nothing that could make their performance less demolishing.

Some of the songs were phenomenal live, including Kali, The Outsider, Stronghold, Starvation, and of course From the Ashes, and when you have that high quality material in your hands like the girls from Crypta do, you can rest assured you’re in for a treat when they take the stage of your city by storm like this Wednesday night in Toronto. Not only that, Fernanda might be one of the sweetest musicians from the current scene worldwide, as even after going through all that hassle to make it to Toronto for the show she didn’t leave the stage after their concert was done, taking photos, signing albums and shirts, and chatting with each and every fan that stayed at The Garrison way past 11pm to meet one of the most talented women in heavy music. Toronto loves you, girls! And we’re ready for another round of your ruthless Death Metal anytime you decide to return to our metallic city.

Setlist
The Aftermath
The Other Side of Anger
Kali
Lift the Blindfold
The Outsider
Possessed
Lullaby for the Forsaken
Stronghold
The Limbo
Trial of Traitors
Under the Black Wings
Starvation
Dark Clouds
Lord of Ruins
From the Ashes
The Closure

Band members
Fernanda Lira – vocals, bass
Tainá Bergamaschi – guitars
Victoria Villarreal – guitars
Luana Dametto – drums

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Concert Review – Signs of the Swarm (The Mod Club, Toronto, ON, 10/03/2025)

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***Review by Kevin Ibbitson and photos by Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi***

OPENING ACTS: Face Yourself, Carcosa, Ten56 and Mental Cruelty

Friday October the 3rd, 2025 The Mod Club located in Toronto’s Little Italy neighborhood played host to a night of pure deathcore delight, with such bands as FACE YOURSELF, CARCOSA, TEN56, MENTAL CRUELTY and headlining act SIGNS OF THE SWARM, another amazing event organized by our metal hero Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. Headbangers from across the Greater Toronto Area enjoyed a night of self-inflicted whiplash and bodily torment as they moshed their brains out to some kick ass, heavy and hard as fuck deathcore from start to finish. I was also pleased to see that the venue now had a photo pit/barrier as well as a newly remodeled stage.

From the onset, New York band FACE YOURSELF, who has just released an amazing new EP titled Fury, had the crowd moshing in circle pits for the entire duration of their incredible and energetic first set. I could barely look away from the drummer the whole time as he was clad in a shirt with the face of Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys on it and couldn’t shake the image of Bubbs slaying on the drum kit out of head to my own personal delight. Lead vocalist Yasmin Liverneaux Belkhodja has quite a set of pipes on her that could strip the paint off the walls and could curdle blood with her guttural screams. Face Yourself totally kicked ass to open up the show. 10/10

Band members
Yasmin Liverneaux Belkhodja – vocals
Dave Ricco – lead guitar
Thomas Cardone – guitar
Corey Doremus – guitar, backing vocals
Kyle Muenzner – bass, backing vocals
Eric DiCarlo – drums

Next up was CARCOSA, a band created by Viral TikTokers Andrew Baena and Johnny Ciardullo out of Vancouver, British Columbia. They were absolutely brutal and didn’t let the crowd slack up, not even for a second. These guys crushed it on stage with their blend of doom & gloom, brutality, sick breakdowns, low end bass drops and humour. I also caught Andrew’s pick at the end of their set. The last album released by those guys was the EP Wrath of the Tyrant, back in 2022, which means I don’t think it will take long for them to attack us all again with their undisputed blend of death metal and hardcore. C’mon, Carcosa! WE need new music from you guys asap!  10/10

Band members
Johnny Ciardullo – vocals
Andrew Baena – guitar, backing vocals
Cooper Lagace – guitar
David Hicks – drums

French deathcore outfit TEN56 came on next and delivered a fantastic set which kept the crowd frantic and buzzing with energy. Non-stop moshing was the theme of the night. I found their drummer Arnaud Verrier to be quite impressive and he reminded me a lot of Dave Grohl mixed with Mario Duplantier. I kept getting blasted in the face with puffs of air from the bass drum as it was directly in line with me in the front row, and as I left the venue towards the end of the show I ran into Arnaud on the street outside of the club and he told me he was looking at me the whole set, and noticed that he was not exactly set up perfectly straight on to which I let him know that I felt the percussive air puffs hitting my face and thanked him for the air conditioning. I let him know that he is a hell of a drummer. Ten56 were seriously good. 10/10

Band members
Aaron Matts – vocals
Quentin Godet – guitar
Luka Garotin – guitar
Steeves Hostin – bass
Arnaud Verrier – drums

Germany’s MENTAL CRUELTY was up next and they proceeded to absolutely destroy. The crowd ratcheted up even more and exploded into wave after wave of crowd surfers and lead vocalist Lukas Nicolai eventually made his way closer to the crowd and braced by fans and balanced on top of the barrier where he continued to melt faces. The audience was losing its collective mind for Mental Cruelty. This band is pretty fuckin’ sick! Thier new song Helheim, which features the guys from Signs of the Swarm in its studio version, was a nice addition to their setlist, and a great indication of what to expect from those Germans after their 2023 masterpiece Zwielicht.  10/10

Setlist
The Venerable One
King ov Fire
Helheim
Forgotten Kings
Obsessis a Daemonio
Ultima Hypocrita
Nordlys
Zwielicht
Symphony of a Dying Star

Band members
Lukas Nicolai – vocals
Nahuel Lozano – guitars
Marvin Kessler – guitars
Viktor Dick – bass
Danny Straßer – drums

SIGNS OF THE SWARM

Pittsburgh Pennsylvania deathcore gods SIGNS OF THE SWARM headlined the show with a intensely killer set. Having just released their new album To Rid Myself of Truth, SOTS are always awesome to see live as they are one of those bands that burn with such intensity, brutality and raw aggression. Vocalist David Simonich blew me away with his brutal gutturals and sheer power. His vocals cutting straight through all of the brutally intense instrumentation to deliver a sonic assault not unlike a shotgun blast to the chest. The audience was in a frenzy with moshing in the circle pit when I decided my body couldn’t take any more of the brutality. My neck and back were sore from all of my non-stop headbanging and I regret that I couldn’t stay until the very end. I ended up out front of the club where my brother Keith and I ran into Members of Carcosa and Ten56. We shot the shit and got out of there as soon as possible while thanking them for a great show. I have no doubt in my mind that the crowd had an amazing time. 10/10

Setlist
Borrowed Time
Pray for Death
To Rid Myself of Truth
HELLMUSTFEARME
Natural Selection
Scars Upon Scars
Chariot
IWONTLETYOUDIE
Between Fire & Stone
Revelations Ov a Silent King
Creator
Pernicious
Amongst the Low & Empty

Band members
David Simonich – vocals
Carl Schulz – guitars
Michael Cassese – bass
Bobby Crow – drums

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Concert Review – Rhapsody of Fire (The Garrison, Toronto, ON, 09/20/2025)

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A night of pure Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, beer, mosh pits, walls of death, swords, shields, dragons, wizards, dwarves, and the best of the best of the best in Toronto.

OPENING ACTS: Witherfall, Striker and Enforcer

If you enjoy the fusion of Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, beer, mosh pits, walls of death, swords, shields, dragons, wizards and dwarves, then The Garrison in Toronto was the place for you to be this Saturday when the amazing WHITERFALL, STRIKER, ENFORCER and RHAPSODY OF FIRE took the city by storm with their most excellent Challenge the Wind / Dawn of Victory 25 Year Celebration – North America Tour 2025, another ass-kicking event brought to the city by Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. And just like a miracle or a magic trick done by a headbanging wizard, traffic to get to the city was smooth and easy, allowing both Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I to get to the venue with plenty of time before the festivities started. There was construction on the way back on QEW which made the return trip a true nightmare, but I can’t complain as at least this time I was able to watch the whole event from the very first second.

If you know nothing about Los Angeles, California-based Progressive Heavy/Power Metal band WHITERFALL, I highly recommend you go after their music on Spotify or by clicking HERE, as those guys are incredible live and totally worth the price of a ticket to see them onstage. Still promoting their 2024 album Sounds of the Forgotten, the band formed of Joseph Michael on vocals and keyboards, Jake Dreyer on the guitars, Anthony Crawford on bass, Gerry Hirshfeld on keyboards and guitars, and Chris Tsaganeas on drums put on a fantastic performance at the small but cozy The Garrison, properly warming us all for the upcoming attractions of the night. I must say Insidious, one of the songs played form their new album, sounded majestic live, flawlessly uniting the energy of traditional Heavy Metal with the intricacy of Progressive Metal, and the reaction by the crowd was just as powerful. Well, when you have a guy like Jake Dryer on the guitars, known for his excellent work with bands like Iced Earth, Demons & Wizards, and Kobra and the Lotus, you know you’re in for a treat, and I can’t wait to see Witherfall in Toronto again in the near future.

Setlist
They Will Let You Down
Moment of Silence
Ode to Despair
Insidious
Vintage

Band members
Joseph Michael – vocals, keyboards
Jake Dreyer – guitars
Anthony Crawford – bass
Gerry Hirshfeld – keyboards, guitars
Chris Tsaganeas – drums

After a short break, it was time for the band I wanted to see the most that night, Edmonton, Alberta’s own indomitable Heavy Metal beast STRIKER, bringing their absolute Ultrapower to the stage and drive all fans in the crowd mental with their electrifying concert. All songs from the setlist were killer, in special Best of the Best of the Best, Heart of Lies, Circle of Evil, Former Glory, and of course the metal hymn chosen to close their show, Phoenix Lights, and I only wish they had at least another 20 minutes to play a few more songs for us. Dan Cleary was phenomenal as usual on vocals, as well as his bandmates Tim Brown and John Simon Fallon on the guitars, Pete Klassen on bass, and Jonathan Webster on drums, proving why they’re one of the most precious gems of the current Canadian metal scene (and why they should be opening for Iron Maiden or Judas Priest instead of the always questionable choices by those bands). You can find their music on BandCamp, Spotify, or by clicking HERE, and believe me, once you start listening to Striker, there’s no turning back. On a side note, I promised myself I wasn’t buying any merch that night, but as soon as I got there and saw their Beer Shark T-Shirt, I said “FUCK YOU, STRIKER!” Needless to say, here I am with another awesome black shirt added to my collection.

Setlist
Kernkraft 400
Best of the Best of the Best
Heart of Lies
Blood Magic
Sucks to Suck
Ready for Anything
Circle of Evil
Former Glory
Phoenix Lights

Band members
Dan Cleary – vocals
Tim Brown – guitar
John Simon Fallon – guitar
Pete Klassen – bass
Jonathan Webster – drums

Another band I was eager to see live on Saturday were the Swedish guys from Heavy/Speed Metal machine ENFORCER, and let me tell you if you think they’re loud and heavy in the studio, they turn the volume up to 11 when they’re onstage. Having released the excellent Nostalgia in 2023 (which means it won’t take long now for those boys to bring a new album into being), the band formed of vocalist and guitarist Olof Wikstrand, guitarist Jonathan Nordwall, bassist Garth Condit (who looks a lot like a younger version of Mr. Adrian Smith), and drummer Jonas Wikstrand were relentless throughout their entire set, sometimes looking as if they were high on something (well, they were high on Heavy Metal, no doubt about that), melting our faces with thrilling, no shenanigans songs the likes of Destroyer, Unshackle Me, Take Me Out of This Nightmare, Midnight Vice, and even a really cool, vibrant cover version for Black Sabbath’s classic Die Young, and consequently igniting some sick mosh pits for our total delight. You can find their music on BandCamp and on Spotify, and definitely keep an eye on their tour dates because if there’s one thing those guys know how to do, that is to kick some serious ass live.

Setlist
Destroyer
Undying Evil
Unshackle Me
From Beyond
Live for the Night
Die Young (Black Sabbath cover)
Nostalgia
Mesmerized by Fire
Take Me Out of This Nightmare
Midnight Vice

Band members
Olof Wikstrand – vocals, guitars
Jonathan Nordwall – guitars
Garth Condit – bass
Jonas Wikstrand – drums

RHAPSODY OF FIRE

To be honest, after the breathtaking performances by Witherfall, Striker and Enforcer, Italy’s own Symphonic Power Metal force RHAPSODY OF FIRE had the almost impossible task of keeping up with that absurd level of energy and awesomeness. Well, let’s simply say they were not the headliners in vain, as the minute Giacomo Voli, Roby De Micheli, Alessandro Sala, Alex Staropoli and Paolo Marchesich hit the stage, The Garrison turned into a wild feast of hobbits, wizards, dragons, swords and undisputed heavy music. I always get confused with their historical name and lineup changes, which is why if you want to listen to their discography on Spotify there are two links, one for Rhapsody of Fire and one for Rhapsody only (and I guess there was even a time when they were called Rhapsody ov Fire, if I’m not mistaken), but that didn’t matter as their concert this Saturday night was beyond fantastic.

Blending songs from their 2024 album Challenge the Wind with their masterpiece Dawn of Victory, hence the long name of their tour, they provided us fans with a lecture in Symphonic Power Metal, with songs like Unholy Warcry, I’ll Be Your Hero, Challenge the Wind, and of course the timeless classics Dawn of Victory, Holy Thunderforce, and Emerald Sword (including an excellent wall of death, by the way) driving their diehard supporters crazy during the entire night. Even the not-so-fast moments, like when they played The Village of Dwarves (which reminds me a lot of the catchy “Bravely Bold Sir Robin”, from the iconic movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail), were great, and we must thank their ultra talented frontman Giacomo Voli for that. The guy not only has an incredible voice, but he certainly knows how to keep his audience engaged. For instance, I was going to leave early that night as I was a bit tired from the entire week, but I ended up staying until the last second in the battlefield with Rhapsody of Fire. Because that’s what good quality heavy music is all about and, as the band confirmed when their show was over, let’s have another magical party with them when they return in 2027 with the celebration of 30 years of their classic debut album Legendary Tales.

Setlist
The Dark Secret (I. The Ancient Prophecy)
The Dark Secret (II. Ira Divina (Divine Wrath))
Unholy Warcry
Rain of Fury
I’ll Be Your Hero
Chains of Destiny
The Magic of the Wizard’s Dream
Challenge the Wind
Kreel’s Magic Staff
Lux Triumphans
Dawn of Victory
Triumph for My Magic Steel
The Village of Dwarves
Dargor, Shadowlord of the Black Mountain
Holy Thunderforce
A New Saga Begins
Land of Immortals
Emerald Sword
Act VII: The Angels’ Dark Revelation

Band members
Giacomo Voli – lead vocals
Roby De Micheli – guitars
Alessandro Sala – bass
Alex Staropoli – keyboards, orchestrations, backing vocals
Paolo Marchesich – drums

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Concert Review – CallHome Music Festival 2025 (Lion’s Gate Park, Brantford, ON, 07/18/2025 & 07/19/2025)

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***Review by Kevin Ibbitson and photos by Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi***

This past weekend the CallHome Music Festival (formerly known as Crewfest) invited my Brother Keith “The Metal Paparazzi” back to cover this summer’s festival and he brought me to tag along with him this time. The festival was located at Lion’s Gate Park in Brantford, Ontario on July 18 &19, 2025 and consisted of one main stage and one side stage replete with plenty of vendors selling a variety of curiosities, wares, merch and plenty of food options, as well as wrestling brought to us by Brantford Wrestling which I found to be incredibly entertaining. The weather was absolutely perfect that weekend. The event organizers were extremely accommodating to us and we felt welcomed with open arms. All volunteers were awesome as well as the security team and local law enforcement. Everything blended together for a great family-friendly event experience, especially on the first day as it was open to all ages.

Toronto Rapper K-Os kicked off the festival on the main stage and rocked a set complete with a number of his best hits. Every band played solid throughout both days, especially all side stage acts (Barstool Confessions, Harm & Ease for example). Friday saw acts such as K-Os, Bedouin Soundclash, USS, and Walk Off The Earth. All of whom had memorable sets including a band member surfing the crowd. I would have to say that nobody went home disappointed on the first day.

JJ Wilde @ CallHome Music Festival 2025

The second day was 19 and up and had a slightly different feel as many more folks were inebriated and having a great time. Barstool Confessions opened up the day on the side stage and played great and even covered some Tragically Hip hits. On the main stage The Wild High put on a fantastic set covering CCR to start with and easing into their own catalogue and even some Monster Truck hits as this band consists of the remnants of Monster Truck. Rusty was on stage next and put on a memorable show playing their best stuff and let’s just say I’m still humming their songs days after the festival. Harm & Ease delighted on the side stage even though they were missing a guitarist. The lead singer brought a lot of energy and was the focal point of the set. They were very entertaining.

The Glorious Sons @ CallHome Music Festival 2025

JJ Wilde was electric on the main stage and rocked us for what seemed like an hour and a half. I met her backstage after the show and complemented her on such a great show and she was so appreciative about that. She was humble to say the least. Pop Evil was the heaviest group on the whole festival as they are a blend of pop and metal and they kicked ass pretty good. Pop Evil put on an hour and a half-ish long set and had the crowd excited throughout their set. The Glorious Sons came on to close the festival and they were pretty damn good and it was abundantly clear that they were the band that most people were there to see. This was my first time seeing all of these bands and I enjoyed all of them even though I listen to music with more of an edge, this was a good change of pace for me and I would happily recommend the CallHome Music Festival to anyone that enjoys great music and a welcoming family orientated vibe. Thank you to all of the organizers, in special to Jamie Stephens who invited Keith and I, we had a great time.

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Concert Review – Lutharo, Blackguard & Killotine (Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, ON, 07/26/2025)

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We were born to ride on the wings of Canadian underground metal together with three of the must-see bands of the current scene on a rainy night in Toronto.

INTRO: A perfect night of Canadian metal almost ruined by one of the heaviest traffics ever experienced in the city…

I’ve always hated the QEW, and will forever hate it, but the traffic this Saturday night to get to the city was beyond any level of patience I might have to face any type of situation. Rain is the new snow, and it was absolute chaos to get to the cozy Horseshow Tavern in time to see LUTHARO, BLACKGUARD and KILLOTINE in another killer event of the Canadian underground organized by Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. It took me over two fuckin’ hours for a 30km drive, and when I met my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi at the venue I was completely drained and exhausted, and there were only five minutes left before the first attraction of the night, so I can say I was a bit numb during the first half of the show. I don’t know what I’m going to do in the near future as the city is growing in population but not in infrastructure, and more and more companies are demanding their employees to return to the office five times a week, which means any day of the week from now on will be fucked by heavy traffic. I might have to start handpicking my concerts, and that’s very depressing.

KILLOTINE

I don’t like to start a review of an excellent night of Canadian metal with a rant like that, and I’m sorry about it. Fortunately, Hamilton, Ontario’s own Thrash Metal marauders KILLOTINE brought a lot of energy back to my tired soul with their frantic and vibrant performance. The reigning champions of Wacken Metal Battle Canada 2025 proved why they were the chosen ones to represent Canada at Wacken Open Air this year, kicking some ass onstage with their no shenanigans blend of Thrash Metal spearheaded by the charismatic vocalist and guitarist Matt Fraser. I don’t know exactly which songs they played, but I guess it was pretty much the entire 2024 EP Live at the Whiskey Pit, available on Spotify, with songs like Survival of the Wicked and Isolate sounding amazing live, already igniting some wild mosh pits for our total delight. Go check more details about Killotine by clicking HERE, but be careful as thrashing is their business, and business is good.

Band members
Matt Fraser – vocals, guitars
Jesse Luciani – guitars
James McNeil – bass, backing vocals
James Beck – drums

BLACKGUARD

The second band of the night, Montreal, Quebec-based Symphonic/Melodic Death Metal horde BLACKGUARD, might not have released anything new since their excellent 2020 album Storm, but the band fronted by the talented Paul Ablaze showed why they’re one of the most beloved bands of the Canadian scene with a breathtaking performance, melting our faces with their hybrid of Children of Bodom with Swedish melodeath and elements from Symphonic and Black Metal, all spiced up by the hammering beats by Justine Ethier. Once again I have no idea of their full setlist, but all songs sounded amazing, like Northern Storm. You can check their full discography on Spotify, and get more information about the band HERE, as I’m sure you’ll have a blast with such an amazing band. My only “complaint” is that they could have played the song A Dying Season with the multi-talented Lyndsay Schoolcraft, former keyboardist for Cradle of Filth (who was in the house as a fan) just like in their album. Nothing to really worry about, though, but as a fan of Lyndsay’s work I personally thought she would have been a nice touch to their fantastic concert.

Band members
Paul Ablaze – vocals
David Gagné Guitars – lead guitars
Terry Roadcase – rhythm guitar
Vincent Harnois – bass
Jonathan Lefrancois-Leduc – keyboards
Justine Ethier – drums, percussion

LUTHARO

The night was getting better and better inside the Horseshoe Tavern (and kudos to the house DJ for playing only songs by Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne the entire night, as a beautiful tribute to our beloved Prince of Darkness), and of course the incendiary Melodic Death Metal by Hamilton, Ontario’s most ass-kicking band ever, the unstoppable LUTHARO, was the icing on the cake on such an excellent metal party. Playing songs from all of their albums, but of course focusing more on their 2024 beast Chasing Euphoria (available in full on Spotify or for purchase by clicking HERE, by the way), the band led by the stunning frontwoman Krista Shipperbottom, who was sporting an awesome outfit with an altered  Lutharo shirt and a huge smile on her face during the entire show, set the whole place on fire with their striking performance.

Krista was of course flawlessly supported by her bandmates Victor Bucur, Jeff Wilson (who paid a subtle tribute to the recently deceased iconic wrestler Hulk Hogan during one of the songs), Chris Pacey and Cory Hofing, adding even more energy to their breathtaking performance. Fans were loving every single song played, with Time to Rise, To Kill or to Crave and Reaper’s Call being some of the favorites of the night. It felt like Lutharo were a veteran band used to play at arenas simply having fun at a small venue so professional and passionate they sounded, and I really hope now that they’re embarking on a fun European tour that they become the next big thing in the Old Continent. When they returned to the stage for their more-than-special encore with Born to Ride (my favorite of the night) and Lost in a Soul, it was the coronation of a perfect night for the band. Go check more details about Lutharo if you know nothing about the band by clicking HERE, because they were definitely born to ride on the wings of Heavy Metal, and we were all born to rock to the sound of their beautiful music.

Setlist
Phantom
Ruthless Bloodline
Bonded to the Blade
Creating a King
Time to Rise
To Kill or to Crave
Wings of Agony
Hopeless Abandonment
Reaper’s Call
Paradise or Parasite

Encore:
Born to Ride
Lost in a Soul

Band members
Krista Shipperbottom – vocals
Victor Bucur – guitars, backing vocals
Jeff Wilson – guitars
Chris Pacey – bass
Cory Hofing – drums

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Concert Review – Killswitch Engage (Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA, 07/22/2025)

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***Review and photos by Jaffer Hasan***

Killswitch Engage Light Up the Xfinity Center with Ferocity and Fire at Summer of Loud.

If there was ever a band built to headline a summer metal fest in their home state, it’s KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. At this year’s Summer of Loud at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, the local legends proved once again why they’re not just mainstays of the metalcore scene—they’re masters of controlled chaos.

Fire, Fury, and Flawless Execution

Before a single note rang out, the stage was already alive with tension. Not from the crowd (who were more than ready), but from the impressive pyrotechnics rig surrounding the band’s setup. Pyro-heavy shows are no joke—and when you’re playing with fire, literally, precision and safety are non-negotiable. The Killswitch crew made it look effortless. From a behind-the-lens view in the pit, you could see just how dialed-in everyone was. Flames exploded into the air in perfect rhythm with the music—sometimes close enough to feel the heat slap your skin. For those of us in the photo pit, it was a surreal moment: we were laughing to ourselves while trying not to get roasted. A high-wire act of fire and fury pulled off without a hitch. Huge respect to the crew and the band for making that kind of spectacle look smooth and safe. That doesn’t happen by accident.

Right Into the Fire – The Setlist Ignites

Without delay, Killswitch Engage tore into their set with “Rose of Sharyn.” No intro, no easing in—just full-throttle power from the first beat. The opening riff dropped like a hammer, and the crowd erupted. From the pit to the back lawn, fists flew and bodies moved. The band wasted no time keeping the pace unrelenting, diving straight into “In Due Time,” which had the entire amphitheater screaming along. By the time “This Fire” hit, the title became literal. Jetting flame columns lit up the stage as if trying to keep up with the intensity pouring off it. At times, it felt less like a concert and more like a battlefield with guitars.

Adam D. & the Band – Iconic and Unhinged in the Best Way

Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, clad in his trademark “I’m With Stupid” shirt, was a burst of energy and humor in the chaos, sprinting across the stage, launching high kicks, and headbanging with wild precision. It’s his blend of comedic showmanship and musical mastery that keeps Killswitch shows so unique—it’s heavy, but it’s never self-serious.

Vocalist Jesse Leach was in peak form, delivering both growling aggression and soaring clean vocals with conviction, channeling raw emotion into every lyric. Whether he was screaming into the lights or putting his hand to his heart during the more emotional moments, the connection with the crowd was real.

A Tribute to a Titan

As the night neared its end, the band closed their set with their now-legendary cover of Dio’s “Holy Diver,” a track they’ve long made their own. But this time, it carried a different weight. Just hours before the show, the metal world had been rocked by the passing of Ozzy Osbourne—a foundational figure in the genre’s history.

Before launching into “Holy Diver,” Leach addressed the crowd with reverence, dedicating the song to Ozzy’s memory and legacy. It was a perfect moment of tribute—honoring a godfather of metal with the power of performance rather than words. The crowd responded with horns in the air, voices raised, and hearts full.

Final Thoughts

Killswitch Engage didn’t just play a show at Summer of Loud—they lit the place on fire. Quite literally at times. It was a celebration of metal, a masterclass in live performance, and a hometown throwdown wrapped in flame and ferocity. For fans in the pit, on the lawn, and behind the lens, it was a night to remember—one that reminded us how cathartic, powerful, and straight-up fun a metal show can be when it’s done right. And if you were there, you felt it: the heat, the heart, the history. Killswitch Engage came home—and they burned it down in the best way possible.

Setlist
Rose of Sharyn
In Due Time
This Fire
I Believe
Hate by Design
Forever Aligned
The Signal Fire
My Curse
Aftermath
The End of Heartache
My Last Serenade
Holy Diver (Dio cover)

Band members
Jesse Leach – lead vocals
Adam Dutkiewicz – lead guitars, backing vocals
Joel Stroetzel – rhythm guitars, backing vocals
Mike D’Antonio – bass
Justin Foley – drums

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Concert Review – Judas Priest (Dalhalla, Rättvik, Sweden, 07/10/2025)

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Thousands of metalmaniacs heeded the call of the Metal Gods to join them at the Gates of Dalhalla for a perfect night of pure Heavy Metal.

INTRO: At the Gates of Dalhalla

I think before starting the review of the actual concert, we should first talk a little about the venue. By the way, it’s my new favorite venue in the entire world, and I doubt any other place I see a concert in my life will be so beautiful and mesmerizing. Dalhalla or Draggängarna as it was previously called, is the name of a former limestone quarry where mining ceased in 1990, used nowadays as an open air theatre and music venue during the summer. It is located 7km north of Lake Siljan in the municipality of Rättvik in Dalarna, central Sweden. 360 million years ago, a meteor fell from space. It fell over Dalarna and the result was the Siljansringen and the surrounding Siljansbygden. The entire bedrock of the area was affected and formed an exciting composition of colorful vertical stripes that are different soil and rock layers, from which lime has become easy to access.

For about fifty years, they blasted and excavated what has now become the basis for Dalhalla, an acoustically designed arena with dimensions that form a kind of ideal golden ratio, albeit in three dimensions. A stroke of luck, which means that Dalhalla can be compared to famous stages in ancient Greece and Italy. In other words, it was the PERFECT venue for JUDAS PRIEST, with support from PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS, to stun us all with their undisputed Shield of Pain Tour 2025. And as soon as we got inside such a phenomenal venue, we were impressed with the entire structure, with not only the stage, the pit and the seats looking awesome, but the whole food and merch court was excellent, with plenty of options for all types of people, lots of spots to sit, and extra space for friends to chat about music and life. I obviously got myself a tour shirt and a set of patches, as I had to register that day not only in my memory, but also in my own fashion.

OPENING ACT: Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons

A Welsh rock band established in 2016 by longtime Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell, following the 2015 death of Motörhead iconic frontman Lemmy, PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS had the utmost pleasure of warming up the wild Dalhalla crowd on a perfect night, or maybe I should say day, as this time of the year it doesn’t really get dark in Sweden, with a lot of sun, blue skies, no clouds, rain or strong winds, and temperatures around +25oC. Seriously, the weather couldn’t have been better. I have mixed feelings about Phil Campbell and his crew, as sometimes they sound like a badass ensemble, sometimes like a college band with that “crazy drunk uncle” we all know on the guitar. Their setlist was fine, mixing songs form their 2023 album Kings of the Asylum with some Motörhead classics such as Going to Brazil and Born to Raise Hell, the two best songs of their entire show by the way, but there was something “missing” to give it that extra kick. I’m not going to say that extra ingredient would have been Lemmy because that would be daydreaming, but I think you know what I mean. In the end, it was a decent opening act for the Metal Gods, and they all seem to be very nice guys, so it was a good show for what it is.

Setlist
We’re the Bastards
Step Into the Fire
Going to Brazil (Motörhead cover)
Hammer and Dance
High Rule
Born to Raise Hell (Motörhead cover)
Straight Up (Phil Campbell song)
Dark Days
Ace of Spades (Motörhead cover)
Strike the Match

Band members
Joel Peters – lead vocals
Phil Campbell – guitar
Todd Campbell – guitar, harmonica
Tyla Campbell – bass
Dane Campbell – drums

JUDAS PRIEST

Faster than a bullet. Terrifying scream. Enraged and full of anger. They’re half man, half machine, and one hundred percent Metal Gods. Just like the meteor that fell from space hundreds of millions of years ago to form the stunning Dalhalla, the almighty Heavy Metal institution JUDAS PRIEST began ripping out hearts mercilessly with their flawless celebration of pure metal magic. The Hell Patrol showed no mercy for our metallic souls, blending some of their biggest classics like You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ and Breaking the Law with new songs from their 2024 beast Invincible Shield, and of course almost all songs from the most metal album in history, the unparalleled 1990 masterpiece Painkiller. I can’t remember a setlist by the Metal Gods that sounded so powerful, electrifying and heavy, an ode to all things metal that inspired everyone at Dalhalla to keep their horns high throughout their entire set, headbanging and screaming like crazy until the very last second.

Speaking of the crowd, I couldn’t have asked for a better one that night. The Swedish metalheads proved you don’t need to push anyone for a concert to be absolutely wild, showing nothing but utmost respect for each other, and leaving enough space for each and every person in the floor section to breathe and actually enjoy the concert to the fullest. Kudos to the Swedes! Furthermore, when the speakers started playing Black Sabbath’s all-time classic War Pigs, and pretty much the entire venue began singing it at the top of their lungs, I knew the whole concert was going to be phenomenal, and as soon as the band took the stage by storm with the hard-hitting anthem All Guns Blazing, followed by the metal hymn Hell Patrol, the whole area turned into the most metal place on earth.

I love the way Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner, Andy Sneap, Ian Hill and Scott Travis managed to bring so much stamina, passion and energy to their setlist, going from a total banger like Freewheel Burning to the dark venom of A Touch of Evil, keeping all fans engaged from start to finish. The new songs selected for this tour also brought endless joy to my metal heart, with Gates of Hell putting everyone to dance, the fast and furious The Serpent and the King (which is my favorite song from Invincible Shield) exhaling the essence of pure Heavy Metal, and Giants in the Sky being the most emotional moment of the entire show with its homage to our fallen heroes. The fact Halford added Jill Janus to such a stellar group of rock and metal icons almost made me cry, and if you know nothing about her I highly recommend you go after her music. Halford loved her, her voice and her creations, just to give you an idea of how metal she was.

I was already on cloud 9 at that point, but when Mr. Scott Travis began hammering his drums in the iconic intro to Painkiller (which would certainly be my chosen song to be added to a time capsule to show all future generations the meaning of Heavy Metal), it was a collective metallic orgasm as everyone started screaming its lyrics together with the Metal Gods. I don’t remember seeing such a demented reception to that song ever before, as if it was the musical climax in the life of everyone at Dalhalla. I don’t think there’s a song by Judas Priest that the Swedish fans love more than that, and when the band is onstage playing it to perfection, you know you’re in for a treat.

Once again, I had some hope in my heart that Mr. Glenn Tipton would join them onstage for the encore, in special after they skipped Metal Gods (which was a part of their setlist, and a song Mr. Tipton might still be able to play at a high level), but unfortunately one of the best guitarists in the history of metal wasn’t there to jam with his bandmates during the encore. Well, I can’t complain at all about the work done by Richie and Andy, as those guys were shredding their axes in great fashion nonstop, but Glenn will always have a very special place in our hearts and minds.

Speaking of heart, mind and soul, it’s very hard nowadays to say who’s Rob Halford, and who’s Judas Priest. He’s always been the Metal God, no doubt about it, but it feels like his passion for heavy music has grown even stronger in recent years, adding even more strength and feeling to the band’s undisputed live performances. Rob was on fire as usual, being worshipped by all concert goers and driving the fans in the pit absolutely mental with his high-pitched screams. And when he rode his Harley-Davidson to the stage during the encore for Hell Bent for Leather and Living After Midnight, well, that’s one of those moments when you perfectly understand why you love Heavy Metal so much.

After the show was over, it was time to unfortunately say goodbye to Dalhalla, or maybe I should say farewell as I’m sure I’ll be back to that phenomenal venue, and drive back in almost broad daylight to our cabin not too far from there. I must say it was hard to fall asleep due to the adrenaline flowing through my body before, during and after the show, and of course the next morning I had to listen to the entire setlist again to relive such an unforgettable event, in special songs like Hell Patrol, The Serpent and the King, Giants in the Sky, and Painkiller. The big screen behind the band at the end of the show showed in big letters “THE PRIEST WILL BE BACK”, and I guess I don’t need to say that whenever they announce a new show in Dalhalla, I will be there.

Setlist
War Pigs (Black Sabbath song)
All Guns Blazing
Hell Patrol
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
Freewheel Burning
Breaking the Law
A Touch of Evil
Night Crawler
Solar Angels
Gates of Hell
The Serpent and the King
Battle Hymn
One Shot at Glory
Between the Hammer and the Anvil
Giants in the Sky
Painkiller

Encore:
The Hellion
Electric Eye
Hell Bent for Leather
Living After Midnight
We Are the Champions (Queen song)

Band members
Rob Halford – vocals
Richie Faulkner – guitar
Andy Sneap – guitar
Ian Hill – bass guitar
Scott Travis – drums

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Concert Review – Scorpions (Heinz von Heiden Arena, Hannover, Germany, 07/05/2025)

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The city of Hannover welcomed home one of the most important bands in the history of rock music on a night to remember.

OPENING ACTS: Rosy Vista, Bülent Ceylan, Alice Cooper and Judas Priest

They have played all over the world in stadiums and open-air arenas, in La Paz, Bolivia, at 3,636 meters, in Rio de Janeiro in front of 1.3 million fans, in Los Angeles and Moscow, but it was on July 5, 2025 when the unstoppable SCORPIONS, with support from ROSY VISTA, BÜLENT CEYLAN, ALICE COOPER and JUDAS PRIEST, played their most emotional concert in history, in a stadium in their home city of Hannover for the first time ever, the massive Heinz von Heiden Arena. Billed as Scorpions 60 Years Anniversary Concert – Coming Home to Hannover, it was a day and night to remember in the hearts and minds of the almost 50,000 fans who took every single space available at the arena, and when you add to that the perfect weather that was over the city, plus the quality or all merch, food and drinks, it definitely makes me want to go back in time to relive such an amazing celebration of heavy music. Well, to be honest, I will be able to do so, as the show was professionally recorded to be released as a live album titled Coming Home Live later this year.

Due to all attractions in the bill, the event started really early at around 3:30pm, when another band from Hannover, the girls from Melodic Heavy Metal/Hard Rock band ROSY VISTA, kicked off the festivities. The band formed of Andrea Schwarz, Anca Graterol, Heike “Bass Sistah” Müller and Marina Hlubek has just released a new album named F.o.r.t.y. this year, celebrating their 40 years on the road (and yes, Scorpions were not the only ones celebrating an important milestone that day), and of course available on most platforms like Spotify, but unfortunately we couldn’t make it to the stadium in time to see the girls. I have no idea how their performance was, but based on the quality of their music it might have been a cool opener for their hometown heroes. Maybe next time I visit Hannover I can catch them live, who knows.

Setlist
I Can’t Live Without My Radio
I Wanna Get You Back
Master of Control
Too Much Feeling
Addicted to Freedom
Poor Rosy

Band members
Andrea Schwarz – vocals
Anca Graterol – guitars
Heike “Bass Sistah” Müller – bass, backing vocals
Marina Hlubek – drums

After the girls from Rosy Vista, it was time for BÜLENT CEYLAN, a German comedian and Cabaret artist who plays several comic roles with frequent themes being the quirks of Germans from Turkish family backgrounds and people from Mannheim (told in the dialect of Mannheim), to hit the stage with his fusion of comedy and music. Once again, due to the early time slot allocated for Bülent Ceylan we couldn’t make it in time to see the band playing, and besides, I guess I wouldn’t have understood any of the jokes from his performance as they might have been all in German. I have no idea how the band sounds like, but I might take a listen at some of their songs on Spotify just out of curiosity.

Setlist
Yallah Hopp
Schmutzige Liebe
Wenn Metaller traurig sind
Rüstung aus Hass
Wohin du gehst
Anders gleich
Ich liebe Menschen
Brüder
Booom

Band members
Bülent Ceylan – vocals
Julia Lange – guitar
Tobi Stulz – guitar, backing vocals
Hannes Merten – bass, keyboards
Marcel Vojvodic – drums

After grabbing the event shirt at the merch booth outdoors, as well as a couple of beers (which included different versions of a Scorpions commemorative cup), we entered the arena about 20 minutes before American Heavy Metal/Hard Rock legend ALICE COOPER kicked off his horror-inspired rock show, increasing the temperature inside the venue with his collection of undisputed hits, including No More Mr. Nice Guy, I’m Eighteen, Under My Wheels, Hey Stoopid, Poison, School’s Out, and as the encore, Feed My Frankenstein. There were no songs from his upcoming new album The Revenge of Alice Cooper, but I don’t think anyone cared about that to be honest. The entire band was on fire, the theatricals during the songs were spot on, and it looked like the cameramen and the crowd were there to worship the stunning guitarist Nita Strauss. Seriously, she appeared on the big screens A LOT more than Mr. Cooper, and when she was introduced by him to the fans, the entire arena trembled. Well, long live Alice Cooper, and long live Nita Strauss.

Setlist
Lock Me Up
Welcome to the Show
No More Mr. Nice Guy
I’m Eighteen
Under My Wheels
Bed of Nails
Billion Dollar Babies
Hey Stoopid
Go to Hell
Poison
The Black Widow
Nita Strauss Guitar Solo
Black Widow Jam
Ballad of Dwight Fry
Killer
I Love the Dead
School’s Out

Encore:
Feed My Frankenstein

Band members
Alice Cooper – lead vocals, harmonica, guitars, percussion, synthesizer
Nita Strauss – guitars, backing vocals
Ryan Roxie – guitars, backing vocals
Tommy Henriksen – guitars, backing vocals
Chuck Garric – bass, backing vocals
Glen Sobel – drums, percussion

When you have as a supporting act the almighty JUDAS PRIEST, you know the whole event is going to be more than special. Add to that the fact the Metal Gods are currently running their phenomenal Shield of Pain Tour 2025, blending their 2024 beast Invincible Shield with the most metal album of all time, the masterpiece Painkiller, and you’re in for an unforgettable night alongside Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner, Andy Sneap, Ian Hill and Scott Travis. I had high hopes for Mr. Glenn Tipton to join them during the encore due to the caliber of such a special event, but I think his health has sadly deteriorated to a point he can’t perform live anymore. I love the fact he’s in their official video for their cover version for Black Sabbath’s War Pigs, but unfortunately I believe that’s all we’re going to get from Mr. Tipton from now on.

Anyway, back to the show, despite the fact they had to shorten their current setlist as they were “just” a supporting act, the Metal Gods kicked some serious ass with their avalanche of hits, with of course songs like Breaking the Law and Painkiller getting the wildest reactions from the crowd. It was also clear a lot of people were there only to see Scorpions and knew nothing about Judas Priest, or knew only their classics, showing indifference to their excellent new song Gates of Hell, for example. As mentioned, it was a Scorpions gig, not a Judas Priest one, but several fans like myself had an amazing time with one of the most important bands in the history of Heavy Metal. Add to that the fact Halford wasn’t afraid at all to grab the Ukrainian flag from a fan at the barrier and proudly carrying it onstage at the end of the show, without being afraid at all of any type of backlash or criticism, and you know you’re in front of the one and only Metal God.

Setlist
War Pigs (Black Sabbath song)
All Guns Blazing
Hell Patrol
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
Freewheel Burning
Breaking the Law
A Touch of Evil
Night Crawler
Solar Angels
Gates of Hell
Between the Hammer and the Anvil
Painkiller
Hell Bent for Leather
Living After Midnight
We Are the Champions (Queen song)

Band members
Rob Halford – vocals
Richie Faulkner – guitar
Andy Sneap – guitar
Ian Hill – bass guitar
Scott Travis – drums

SCORPIONS

It was getting late as apparently SCORPIONS and the entire production were waiting for the skies to get dark to kick off their more-than-special hometown concert, and that was a bit of a bummer as it was a very long day for tons of fans (who are not kids anymore, by the way). When the show finally started, the energy was back to the faces of all concert goers, and I wish I had a professional photographer working with me that night as my crappy cellphone photos do not live up to the visual magic that took over the entire arena. When we were entering the venue, we got a special wristband with a led that would automatically turn on and change colors depending on the song played, and in the end that worked really well, adding an extra special touch to the show as if the whole arena and the band were united as one.

Regarding their setlist, not only it was the same as from their most recent concerts, but also the lack of special guests (like Doro, or maybe even Halford joining them to sing Blackout) took away a bit of the uniqueness of the night. We still got their biggest classics, of course, such as the obvious choice for opening the night, Coming Home, followed by Make It Real, Bad Boys Running Wild, Send Me an Angel, Wind of Change, and so on, but maybe they could have also played a few deep cuts to add an extra kick to the show. I loved all songs, no doubt about that, but as a fan of new music or non-classics, that would have been even better for my personal taste. Furthermore, if there’s one thing that really adds absolute power to the live performances by Scorpions these days, that’s Mikkey Dee. The “motörhead” behind the band’s drums is a true rock and metal beast, filling every single space in the air with his precision, punch and stamina, and even adding hints of progressiveness to each song. The man in unbelievable live, making it worth every penny just to see him playing drums, to be fair. Just to give you an idea, as much as I hate drum solos, his own solo is a thing of beauty and I like the fact it’s part of their setlist.

Time, it waits for no man, and if you’re the frontman of a rock or metal band with very demanding songs, that’s even harder. That’s exactly the case with Klaus Meine, who’s still performing at a high level, but you can notice he’s struggling already in a few songs due to the beyond hectic schedule of singing for almost two hours day in, day out. Don’t get me wrong, his voice is still beautiful, it gives a soul to mesmerizing songs like the undisputed ballad Still Loving You, but the man definitely needs to slow down with the band’s crazy touring schedule. The support he gets from his bandmates is superb, which makes it easier for him to keep moving forward, but the vocals are by far the most difficult instrument to handle after so many decades on the road, and I fear he’s getting to the end of the road regarding his vocal power and reach, unfortunately.

When the whole celebration was coming to its end, it was time for the band’s colossal scorpion mascot to rise behind Mikkey Dee for their encore with the mega hits Blackout and Rock You Like a Hurricane, and oh boy, what a massive, gigantic scorpion! I loved its imposing vibe, just like all giant Eddies from Iron Maiden’s previous tours, and he even moved well for its size, giving the show a nice creepy vibe. Unfortunately, as aforementioned, I don’t have any professional photos of it, but let’s say that’s a good thing as you’ll be able to enjoy it in all of its glory when Coming Home Live is released, right? I can’t wait to watch the full concert again, because it was a night to remember, a night when Hannover welcomed home one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and if they manage to celebrate their 70th anniversary in style like that, I guess I’ll have to pay Hannover a visit again in ten years.

Setlist
Coming Home
Gas in the Tank
Make It Real
The Zoo
Coast to Coast
Top of the Bill / Steamrock Fever / Speedy’s Coming / Catch Your Train
Bad Boys Running Wild
Delicate Dance
Send Me an Angel
Wind of Change
Loving You Sunday Morning
I’m Leaving You
New Vision
Tease Me Please Me
Big City Nights
Still Loving You

Encore:
Blackout
Rock You Like a Hurricane

Band members
Klaus Meine – vocals
Matthias Jabs – guitars
Rudolf Schenker – guitars, backing vocals
Paweł Mąciwoda – bass
Mikkey Dee – drums

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Concert Review – Rivers Of Nihil (Lee’s Palace, Toronto, ON, 06/22/2025)

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A scorching night of sheer progressiveness and aggressiveness in Toronto, courtesy of some of the must-see names of the current American rock and metal scene.

OPENING ACTS: Glacial Tomb, Inter Arma and Holy Fawn

This Sunday night in Toronto was one of those days that felt like you were at an open air sauna, and GLACIAL TOMB, INTER ARMA, HOLY FAWN and RIVERS OF NIHIL made sure Lee’s Palace got even hotter and more humid during their The Aggressive Progressive Tour 2025, their last stop of the tour, and another excellent event brought to the city by the one and only Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi coundn’t be there, unfortunately, but not only I was there inside the rock and metal sauna called Lee’s Palace to cover such a great night of heavy music, but I was also lucky enough to get some wild shots from our brother Ryan Miles Leblanc to add to this review. Furthermore, if you take into account almost every single band on this planet is playing at all of those awesome European summer festivals (just check the lineup for Graspop Metal Meeting this year, for example), it’s actually a miracle Toronto got this show during what’s in my humble opinion one of the biggest “metal concert draughts” in the history of the city. In all seriousness, I’m starting to get worried about the future of heavy music in Toronto, as we’re getting less and less concerts, and even being left out of tours scheduled for multiple Canadian location, but Toronto.

Done with the rant about the lack of metal concerts in Toronto. Let’s get back to the show, and what an amazing show by Denver, Colorado’s own Sludge/Death/Black Metal beast GLACIAL TOMB, kicking ass hard in the ass with their heavier-than-hell sounds. Having released the excellent Lightless Expanse last year, available on both BandCamp and on Spotify, the band formed of Ben Hutcherson, Kevin Berstler, David Small and Joey Spates took no prisoners in their quest for heaviness and obscurity, crushing our damned souls with violent yet melodic and grim songs like Abyssal Host and Stygian Abattoir. Those guys were by far one of the most solid opening bands I’ve ever seen live, raising the bar high for the upcoming attractions of the night, and if you’ve never seen Glacial Tomb live or if you’ve never heard anything from them, I highly recommend you go check their discography and keep an eye on their tour dates, because they’re definitely a must-see band of the current underground scene.

Setlist
Abyssal Host
Voidwomb
Stygian Abattoir
Wound of Existence
The Lightless Expanse
Enshrined in Concrete

Band members
Ben Hutcherson – vocals, guitars
Kevin Berstler – guitars
David Small – bass
Joey Spates – drums

After a short and necessary break, where everyone took the time to cool off with some beer and water (and one of the concert goers even said the air outdoor felt like “butternut squash soup,” just to give you an idea of how hot and humid it was), it was time for Richmond, Virginia-based Sludge/Black/Death/Post-Metal outfit INTER ARMA (and hell yeah, I love their name!) to bring sheer doom to the venue with their noisy and apocalyptic performance. Their ruthless setlist was comprised basically of songs from their latest album New Heaven, released in 2024 (also available on BandCamp and on Spotify), those being New Heaven, Violet Seizures, and Concrete Cliffs, and oh boy, those songs sounded heavier than a thousand thunders. Frontman Mike Paparo was on fire throughout their entire concert, as well as a tiny bit drunk (which was actually fun), supported by the unrelenting guitarists Steven “Dirt” Russell and Trey Dalton, and just like I said for Glacial Tomb, if you know nothing about Inter Arma simply go after their discography because those guys play amazing metal music.

Setlist
New Heaven
Citadel
Violet Seizures
Concrete Cliffs
An Archer in the Emptiness

Band members
Mike Paparo – vocals
Steven “Dirt” Russell – guitars
Trey Dalton – guitars
Joel Moore – bass
Alex Tomlin – drums

The venue got really packed (and consequently even hotter) when Phoenix, Arizona’s cult Post-Black Metal/Rock act HOLY FAWN took the stage for the total delight of their fans, blasting a dark and gripping setlist including songs from all of their albums, like their 2022 opus Dimensional Bleed, plus their brand new single Beneath a Lightless Star, all available on BandCamp and on Spotify. Literally everyone at Lee’s Palace was having an absolute blast with those American rockers, getting louder and louder as they kept delivering total heaviness armed with their sonic weapons. It was indeed a phenomenal concert by Holy Fawn, proving why they’ve become legends in the underground scene, and even the guys from Rivers of Nihil were enjoying their show a lot from backstage. I guess it won’t take long for the band to return to Toronto, maybe as the headliners next time, and I’m beyond certain it will be a sold out event.

Setlist
Candy
Dark Stone
Blood Pact
Beneath a Lightless Star
New song (SVR)
Void of Light
Seer

Band members
Ryan Osterman – vocals, guitar
Evan Phelps – guitar
Alexander Rieth – bass
Austin Reinholz – drums

RIVERS OF NIHIL

It wasn’t even 9:30pm, which is amazing as that usually means we can all enjoy the show to the fullest without worrying about the time and go home earlier than expected, when the main attraction of the night, Reading, Pennsylvania’s unstoppable Progressive/Technical Death Metal masters RIVERS OF NIHIL took the stage by storm with a brilliant performance, igniting a beautiful “hurricane” on the floor section. Currently promoting their 2025 self-titled new album, which you can enjoy in full on BandCamp and on Spotify, the band formed of Adam Biggs, Brody Uttley, Andy Thomas and Jared Klei, with the support of the awesome saxophonist Patrick Corona (of the excellent Progressive Metalcore band Cyborg Octopus), delivered a powerful, captivating, heavy-as-hell and extremely dynamic show, with songs like The Silent Life, American Death and Water & Time sounding even better live than in the studio, which is always a delight for me, by the way. The band was tight, there was zero room for error, and the reaction of their fans to each song played was a thing of beauty. We even got a wall of death to the sound of Patrick’s saxophone. Thank you, Rivers of Nihil, for bringing some quality heavy music to the city during this boring period of musical draught, and whenever you guys decide to pay the city of Toronto a visit again, rest assured we’ll all be here waiting for you.

Setlist
The Sub‐Orbital Blues
The Silent Life
American Death
A Home
The Void From Which No Sound Escapes
Water & Time
House of Light
Death Is Real
Episode
Where Owls Know My Name

Encore:
Clean

Band members
Adam Biggs – vocals, bass
Brody Uttley – guitars
Andy Thomas – guitars, backing vocals
Jared Klein – drums, backing vocals
Patrick Corona – saxophone

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