Concert Review – Septicflesh (The Velvet Underground, Toronto, ON, 02/24/2025)

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

OPENING ACTS: Stormruler and Vltimas

On a Monday night in what has been a complete shitshow of city incompetence with regards to snow removal, Toronto’s metal denizens were treated to a great night at The Velvet Underground with the titans of Greek extreme metal SEPTICFLESH along with friends VLTIMAS and STORMRULER in support for the Modern Primitive in North America Tour 2025. Toronto being their first stop on the  Canadian leg of the tour. Originally this show was supposed to be at The Concert Hall on Yonge Street but ticket sales were not as strong as were anticipated and so a change in venue had to take place as The Concert Hall would have been too large of a venue for the smaller crowd. Quite a shame if you ask me because it is a superior venue, but this dark cloud had a silver lining, if anything, it just made the show at The Velvet Underground feel more intimate.

The weather was finally a bit more cooperative with milder temperatures but the city’s mismanagement of snow removal this year has been such a joke and sidewalks were still inundated with snow and garbage and other such messiness that walking the streets had become such an ordeal for most people. Lining up for the show was a bit of a challenge because there was barely enough room for pedestrians to get by but we all made the best of it. Finally security let us inside at around 7pm and as soon as we had got in the first thing we all noticed was that the merch was priced in American dollars which was a little odd all things considering. It didn’t bother me much though, I was way too excited to see  Septicflesh for any of that shit to bother me. The place filled up nicely and I made sure that I got close to the stage because the sight lines at the Velvet Underground are shit if you are short like me. The crowd was eagerly waiting for the show to begin. St. louis Missouri’s STORMRULER kicked off the show with a blistering 5 song set of  delicious melodic black metal complete with some solos for desert. Stormruler are filling in for Ex Deo as they are no longer on the tour because of unforeseen circumstances. It was my first time seeing them and I found them to be quite entertaining. I would definitely check them out if or when they visit us again.

Setlist
Sacred Rites & Black Magic
Reign of The Wicked Duke
In The Eye Of The Mirror
Ten Heralds, Ten Desolations
Internal Fulmination Of The Grand Deceivers

Band members
Jason Asberry – vocals, guitars
Nick Burks – guitars
Dalton Moore – bass
Jesse Schobel – drums

Up next was the extreme metal powerhouse that is VLTIMAS. They are a kind of supergroup consisting of ex Morbid Angel Frontman David Vincent (USA) on vocals, ex Mayhem and current Aura Noire guitarist Rune “Blasphemer” Eriksen (NOR), Canada’s own Flo Mounier of Cryptopsy on drums, Dutch Bassist Ype TWS (ex-Dodecahedron) and Portugal’s Joao Duarte of the band Corpus Christii on guitar as well. Vltimas proceeded to tear the roof off with a brutal onslaught of extremity and I was surprised that the pits of hell didn’t open up in the middle of the floor. These guys are so polished and professional that they had the crowd instantly energized. The house was about 85% full but it felt like more than that. Everyone was waiting for Septicflesh to get on before they let loose in the pit. Vltimas absolutely killed it! 10/10!

Setlist
Epic
Something Wicked Marches In
Invictus
Mephisto Manifesto
Exercitus Irae
Last Ones Alive Win Nothing
Scorcher
Diabolus Est Sanguis
Everlasting

Band members
David Vincent – vocals
Rune “Blasphemer” Eriksen – guitars
Joao Duarte – guitars
Ype TWS – bass
Flo Mounier – drums

SEPTICFLESH

The crowd was thoroughly rabid when the mighty SEPTICFLESH got on stage. The circle pit was instantaneous and the crowd never let up. Neuromancer was the second song they played and it blew the lid off the place. It was epic! definitely a crowd favourite as well as my own personal favourite song of theirs. I swear that riff lives in my head. The crowd was beside themselves with utter joy and satisfaction and you could tell that this band has a special connection with their fans, almost personal. This was my first time seeing them live and I fucking loved every second of it. Septicflesh belted out banger after banger the whole entire set. They are such an incredible band to see live! 10/10, would love to see them again! Overall it turned out to be a great night and a hell of a good show.

Setlist
The Vampire From Nazareth
Neuromancer
Pyramid God
Heirophant
Portrait Of A Headless Man
Coming Storm
Martyr
We, The Gods
A Desert Throne
Virtues Of The Beast
Communion
The Collector
Anubis
Dark Art

Band members
Spiros Antoniou – harsh vocals, bass
Sotiris Vayenas – guitars, clean vocals
Christos Antoniou – guitars, orchestrations, samples
Psychon – guitars
Kerim “Krimh” Lechner – drums

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Event Review – An Evening with Randy Blythe (The Red Room at The Concert Hall, Toronto, ON, 02/26/2025)

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An unforgettable evening in Toronto with one of the most iconic musicians of the current metal scene, exploring resilience, transformation, and the beauty found in life’s darkest moments.

INTRODUCTION: An evening at the nice and cozy “The Red Room”

If you ever have a chance to attend any type of event at The Red Room at The Concert Hall, in Toronto, located on the north-west corner of Davenport Road and Yonge Street in the beautiful community of Yorkville, don’t even think twice and be there to enjoy not only the event, but the room itself. That’s by far one of the nicest places for an intimate interaction with any artist, which was exactly what happened this Wednesday night when the one and only Randy Blythe, best known as the powerhouse frontman of the Grammy-nominated metal band Lamb of God, took the small but charming stage at The Red Room for his absolutely entertaining An Evening with Randy Blythe – Just Beyond The Light Spoken Word Book Tour + Q&A (ending with a meet & greet and book signing if you purchased a special type of ticket that included a copy of the book, by the way), organized by the unstoppable Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. Seriously, I don’t think the metal scene in Toronto would be one tenth of what it is today without the intense hard work and deep passion for heavy music by Mr. Peters through the years. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were lucky enough to be invited for such an incredible event in the almost sold out 200-seat room, and if I had enough time and money I would certainly attend the other dates of Randy’s spoken tour, because the man is simply awesome.

AN EVENING WITH RANDY BLYTHE

Stepping into the spotlight in a new and deeply personal way, Mr. David Randall Blythe has recently embarked on a spoken word tour to celebrate the release of his latest book, Just Beyond the Light: Making Peace with the Wars Inside Our Head, a gripping exploration of resilience, transformation, and the beauty found in life’s darkest moments, with Randy bringing pages and excerpts from the book to life, plus reflections on the themes that inspire his work, inviting the audience to experience an intimate evening of reflection, raw honesty, and the stories that shaped his journey. As a huge fan of Lamb of God it was a bit weird seeing Randy in a completely different environment like that, I mean, without his band, without all the screaming, without all the pyro from their concerts, and without some wild mosh pits happening while the band kicks some ass onstage, but I must admit the man was born for that type of spoken tour. He was absolutely captivating from the very first second until the very last question of the Q&A, once again proving how talented he is and his importance not only to heavy music, but to our lives in general.

I don’t know how to talk about the entire event without giving any spoilers, and believe me, if I could I would simply reproduce here pretty much everything he talked about, from politics to alcoholism, from being on tour to his favorite hobbies and activities, his personal view on the current state of the world, and so on, but I’ll try to be as succinct as possible without ruining the experience for anyone attending his upcoming events. And no, don’t expect him to talk about his horrifying incident in 2012 in the Czech Republic. If you want to know all details about that, simply go read his 2015 book, Dark Days: A Memoir. Anyway, back to An Evening with Randy Blythe – Just Beyond The Light Spoken Word Book Tour + Q&A, just to give you an idea of how awesome the whole event was, if I’m not mistaken Randy was onstage for over two hours talking about his new book and his life journey, always interacting with the crowd, always with a smile on his face, and without looking tired at all, not even during the Q&A session and the book signing. The man loves what he does, and that was clear during the entire night.

Just Beyond the Light: Making Peace with the Wars Inside Our Head

It will surely be a lot different seeing Randy onstage with Lamb of God now after this distinguished event, and of course after reading Just Beyond the Light: Making Peace with the Wars Inside Our Head, just like what happened after reading Rob Halford’s autobiography Confess. Your view of the artist changes completely, as you learn about his flaws, his losses, his battles and so on, making them more human to our eyes (in a very good way, of course). I can’t wait for the next time Lamb of God takes the city of Toronto by storm with their infuriated live concert, and next time I’ll see more than just a vocalist onstage, but a hardworking man who, just like anyone else, has been fighting his inner demons and the wars inside his head since the beginning, with his music transpiring his darkness and struggles while at the same time bringing a lot of joy and happiness to us metalheads. Thank you, Mr. David Randall Blythe, for an unforgettable night in Toronto, and you’re more than welcome to return anytime you want to mesmerize us once again with your powerful words.

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Album Review – Sepulchral Curse / Crimson Moon Evocations (2025)

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This ruthless Finnish horde demonstrates their unmatched ferocity and craftmanship in their third studio album, cementing their place at the very zenith of the global Blackened Death Metal scene.

Arriving merely two years after their bold leap forward with Abhorrent Dimensions, Crimson Moon Evocations, the third full-length opus by Turku, Finland-based Death Metal creature Sepulchral Curse, paints a vivid portrait of a band at their creative and productive peak. Recorded and mixed by Tomi Uusitupa at Oxroad Studios, mastered by Are Kangus, and displaying a dark and sinister artwork by Mark Erskine, the new album by vocalist Kari Kankaanpää, guitarists Jaakko Riihimäki and Aleksi Luukka, bassist Niilas Nissilä, and drummer Johannes Rantala demonstrates their unmatched ferocity and craftmanship, cementing their place at the very zenith of the global Blackened Death Metal scene.

The guitars by Jaakko and Aleksi rev up the band’s deadly engine in Wildfires, quickly morphing into a bestial Death Metal extravaganza to the crushing drums by Johannes, who sounds even more infernal in House of The Black Moon, with Kari’s utterly deep guttural adding an extra touch of heaviness to the band’s core Blackened Death Metal. Then the band goes full Death Metal in The Locust Scar, with the guitars by the band’s axed duo exhaling heaviness and hatred, whereas a sluggish, Doom Metal-infused start gradually evolves into another demented beast by Sepulchral Curse entitled Beneath The Dismal Tides, with Niilas and Johannes building the heaviest ambience of all songs armed with their demonic kitchen.

Then investing in a more melodic sonority it’s time for Empress of The Dead, without of course forgetting the band’s trademark bludgeoning sounds; whereas their second to last sonic attack comes in the form of The Currents of Chaos, with Kari roaring deeply like a demonic creature supported by the vile riffs by Jaakko and Aleksi. Finally, the band brings forward Crimson Passages, again blasting our damned souls with their Doom Metal-infused blackened sounds, showcasing crisp, piercing guitar lines in paradox with the inhumane, gruesome gnarls by Kari, resulting in not only one hell of a bestial song, but also putting a beyond phantasmagorical and haunting conclusion to one of the heaviest albums of the year.

“The backbone is death metal,” states vocalist Kari Kankaanpää about their newborn beast, “but we’ve never shied away from exploring new inspirations and influences, which shape the unique edge synonymous with Sepulchral Curse. Music needs to be dark, heavy and furious!” Crimson Moon Evocations indeed takes an even deeper dive into who Sepulchral Curse are and crystallizes the essence of their sound, helping the band to ascend to the pinnacle of Blackened Death Metal. Hence, if you want to “stay cursed” as the band’s frontman likes to say, you can find the band on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their wicked creations on Spotify or any other streaming service, and obviously grab a copy of their new album from the Dark Descent Records’ BandCamp or webstore in the US and the EU, or simply click HERE for all things Sepulchral Curse. In a nutshell, Crimson Moon Evocations is utterly dark, evil and, more important than that, extremely heavy, paving a fantastic path ahead of those Finnish beasts in the years to come.

Best moments of the album: House of The Black Moon, Beneath The Dismal Tides and Crimson Passages.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Dark Descent Records

Track listing
1. Wildfires 4:58
2. House of The Black Moon 6:09
3. The Locust Scar 5:06
4. Beneath The Dismal Tides 5:29
5. Empress of The Dead 6:39
6. The Currents of Chaos 5:09
7. Crimson Passages 6:11

Band members
Kari Kankaanpää – vocals
Jaakko Riihimäki – guitar
Aleksi Luukka – guitar
Niilas Nissilä – bass, backing vocals
Johannes Rantala – drums

Album Review – Crown of Madness / Memories Fragmented (2025)

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An up-and-coming duo from Canada attacks with their first album, unique in the style of Dissonant Death Metal, sounding and feeling deeply personal and palpably emotive.

Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada-based Dissonant Death Metal duo Crown of Madness has put out a slew of short-form releases, improving upon their sound with each one and culminating in their first full-length opus that sees the most evolved version of their music so far, entitled Memories Fragmented. Displaying an apocalyptic artwork by Erskine Designs, the new album by Sunshine Schneider on vocals, guitars and bass, and Connor Gordon on drums happens to be unique in the style of Dissonant Death Metal, sounding and feeling deeply personal and palpably emotive, and that poignant, introspective mood pervades their entire album, being therefore highly recommended for fans of Ulcerate, Devenial Verdict, Dysgnostic, and Gorguts, among others.

The beyond cryptic, devilish intro Visions From A Past Life will penetrate deep inside our psyche before the duo crushes our souls in Sovereign Blood, with Sunshine sounding amazing with her harsh vociferations and dissonant riffs, supported by the demolishing drums by Connor; and the same Connor continues to show his undeniable dexterity in Burdened, offering Sunshine exactly what she needs to shine with her she-demon gnarls. Ashes of Mine is another classy, visceral fusion of Death Metal with Dissonant, Experimental and Avantgarde Death Metal, perfect for some mosh pit action; and Sunshine and Connor sound even more in sync in When I Don’t Remember You, darkening the skies to their gripping riffs and blast beats.

The second half of the album begins in full force with Deafening, bringing forward two and a half minutes of top-of-the-line Dissonant Death Metal, inspiring the duo to sound even more demented in Sea of Fangs, in special Sunshine with her deep, venomous roars. Dreamless Nights No Longer brings to our avid ears an avalanche of Stygian, dissonant sounds by Sunshine and Connor that will invade our deepest thoughts, sounding ruthless form start to finish, and they keep blasting our senses with another cryptic tune entitled Hollow Thresher, which could have been slightly heavier or more dynamic, though. And lastly, we’re treated to The Grand Design, presenting more of their amalgamation of dark, doomed styles with pure insanity.

In a nutshell, Memories Fragmented is a beautifully tempered album underpinned by unforgettable melodies, an ambitious release but one completely devoid of pretence, which is bound to be regarded as one of the standout albums in the style in the years to come. Having said that, don’t forget to go check what the duo is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, to stream their music on Spotify, and of course to purchase a copy of such an incendiary album from the duo’s own BandCamp page, as well as from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp, main store, EU store, or US store. This is first-class, unparalleled Death Metal made in Canada by a beyond talented duo, and I bet you’ll fall in love with them once you let the music found in their newborn spawn be the soundtrack to your own fragmented memories.

Best moments of the album: Sovereign Blood, When I Don’t Remember You and Dreamless Nights No Longer.

Worst moments of the album: Hollow Thresher.

Released in 2025 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Visions From A Past Life 2:30
2. Sovereign Blood 3:43
3. Burdened 3:06
4. Ashes of Mine 4:46
5. When I Don’t Remember You 4:32
6. Deafening 2:30
7. Sea of Fangs 3:52
8. Dreamless Nights No Longer 3:53
9. Hollow Thresher 2:56
10. The Grand Design 4:13

Band members
Sunshine Schneider – vocals, guitars, bass
Connor Gordon – drums

Album Review – Venamoris / To Cross or To Burn (2025)

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Dave and Paula Lombardo’s “vein of love” pulses once again through their sophomore album, delivering a multi-directional statement that resonates with character while side-stepping away from staid radio clichés.

Two years after the release of their debut album Drown In Emotion, Venamoris (taking their name from the Latin “vena amoris”, or “the vein of love,” purported to run from the left-hand ring finger to the heart), the Los Angeles, California-based Dark Pop/Rock/Metal duo of legendary drummer Dave Lombardo and Canadian-born singer-songwriter Paula Lombardo, returns to taction with their sophomore opus, entitled To Cross or To Burn. Engineered and produced by Dave Lombardo, mixed by Dave’s own son David A. Lombardo, mastered by Golden Mastering, displaying a charming yet dark artwork by Chippy (aka Heung-Heung Chin), and featuring very special guests Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk), Ra Diaz (Suicidal Tendencies, Korn), Alex Skolnick (Testament), and Gary Holt (Exodus, Slayer), the new album by Paula on vocals, synthesizers and piano, and Dave on the guitars, bass and drums is another milestone in their career, delivering a multi-directional statement that resonates with character while side-stepping away from staid radio clichés.

Paula begins distilling her charming vocals in Stay With Me, featuring Trevor Dunn on contrabass, offering two minutes of classy music that will penetrate deep inside your heart. Dave then joins his wife with his unparalleled beats (as well as a solid performance on bass) in In The Shadows, also presenting some symphonic nuances; whereas Paula is on fire with her piano and smooth vocal lines in Truth, a song that could easily be played on any radio station so delicate yet powerful it sounds. In Stain Of Pain we’re treated to the magnificent sounds blasted by bassist Ra Diaz and guitarist Alex Skolnick in a Jazz-infused tune perfect for listening to together with your loved ones, while Spiderweb sounds very sexy, dark and alluring, with Dave’s beats matching perfectly with Paula’s minimalist piano notes.

Alex Skolnick is back in Burnt Paper, offering almost three minutes of darkly delicate sounds to our avid ears, followed by Holding On To Nothing, which presents a similar vibe as its predecessor, albeit not as enfolding nor mysterious. Then the always sharp guitar lines by Gary Holt bring a delicious vibe to their cover version for Animal Magnetism, originally recorded by Scorpions back in 1980 (check the original version HERE), from their classic album Animal Magnetism, while Paula shines on vocals once again. After that, it’s time for another devilish, atmospheric creation by the Lombardos titled Numb, presenting hints of Alternative Rock and Electronica; and closing the album we face the title-track To Cross or To Burn, ending the whole experience on a futuristic, cinematic way, with Dave again sounding amazing on both the guitar and drums.

“Creativity should have no limitations,” Dave remarks. “I don’t feel that there should be any musical style that Venamoris should avoid.” Having said that, what are you waiting for to explore the amalgamation of styles brought together by the Lombardos in To Cross or To Burn? You can find the duo on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their music on Spotify, and purchase their striking new album from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. Venamoris is the perfect example of how love and music unite in perfection when the musicians involved are not only extremely talented and focused, but also in absolute sync, translating their passion, struggles and emotions in real life into first-class music like what’s offered in To Cross or To Burn, touching the hearts of all of us in a beautiful and compelling way.

Best moments of the album: In The Shadows, Stain Of Pain and Animal Magnetism.

Worst moments of the album: Holding On To Nothing.

Released in 2025 Ipecac Recordings

Track listing
1. Stay With Me 2:02
2. In The Shadows 3:52
3. Truth 3:33
4. Stain Of Pain 2:51
5. Spiderweb 3:47
6. Burnt Paper 2:45
7. Holding On To Nothing 3:10
8. Animal Magnetism (Scorpions cover) 5:20
9. Numb 3:30
10. To Cross or To Burn 4:27

Band members
Paula Lombardo – vocals, synthesizers, piano
Dave Lombardo – guitars, bass, drums

Guest musicians
Trevor Dunn – contrabass on “Stay with Me”
Ra Diaz – bass on “Stain of Pain”
Alex Skolnick – guitars on “Stain of Pain” and “Burnt Paper”
Gary Holt – guitars on “Animal Magnetism”

Album Review – Grima / Nightside (2025)

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This cryptic, haunting Atmospheric Black Metal entity returns with its sixth offering, a dark ritual of ancient forest magic honoring the spirit of the Siberian Taiga.

With already 10 years of scene-stealing experience behind them, the cryptic, looming stars of Siberian Atmospheric Black Metal known as Grima are unleashing upon humanity their sixth full-length offering, the breathtaking Nightside, a dark ritual of ancient forest magic following up on their critically acclaimed 2022 opus Frostbitten. Produced by the band itself alongside Vladimir Lehtinen, recorded by Vilhelm and Serpentum at Grima The Mighty Studio, mixed and mastered by Vladimir Lehtinen at Blastbear Sound, and displaying a somber and classy artwork by Paolo Girardi, the new album by twin brothers Vilhelm on vocals and guitars, and Morbius on the guitars, with the support of session musicians Serpentum on bass, Vlad (Morokh, Solarfall, Ultar) on drums, Valentina Astashova (Eoront, WirgHata) on keyboards, and Sergey Pastukh on the bayan, is set to honor the spirit of the Siberian Forest, Taiga, while also bringing to our avid ears an overdose of high quality atmospheric and extreme music.

Serene, gentle sounds permeate the air in the atmospheric intro Cult, with the bayan by Sergey adding an extra touch of finesse to the overall result, exploding into Beyond the Dark Horizon, where Vilhelm’s harsh, devilish gnarls will send shivers down your spine supported by the classic Black and Doom Metal beats by Vlad, therefore resulting in a bold, dense and multi-layered aria of darkness by Grima. Then the striking sound of the bayan once again brings sheer magic to Flight of the Silver Storm, with the guitars by Vilhelm and Morbius exhaling Black Metal, being perfect for some vigorous headbanging in the bitterly cold darkness of the Siberian Tundra; and the gentle guitar lines by the Siberian twins ignite the also enfolding Skull Gatherers, with Serpentum and Vlad generating a heavy, pounding ambience tailored for Vilhelm’s venomous roars. Then featuring guest vocals by Savely Nevzorov (Deafknife, Ultar) and Ilya Panyukov, Impending Death Premonition is a lecture in Atmospheric Black Metal showcasing striking yet melodious riffs intertwined with sheer violence, anger and obscurity.

The second half of the album begins with the breathtaking The Nightside, with its menacing wall of sounds dragging us all to the cold landscapes of Siberia while their riffs and blast beats, supported by the whimsical keys by Valentina, sound utterly dynamic and captivating. They continue to darken the Siberian skies with their harsh but extremely beautiful music in Where We Are Lost, with Vilhelm and Morbius delivering a thrilling riff attack; whereas Savely and Ilya return in full force in Curse of the Void, starting again in an embracing, mysterious manner before such an amazing metal entity from Russia crushes our souls with their stylish Atmospheric Black Metal sounds. Lastly, the band invests in a more melancholic, cadenced sonority in Mist and Fog, bringing more elements from Doom Metal and even Depressive Black Metal to their core sound, with Vilhelm taking the lead with his sharp, devilish gnarling before all flows into the climatic outro Memories of a Forgotten Home, bringing some peace to our hearts and soothing our souls as we succumb to the enfolding darkness of the Taiga in the harshest of winter.

In addition to their unforgettable sound, the band’s eerie, piercing looks, towering like living trees with intimidating carved wooden masks and branched fingers, adds another haunting element to their brutal yet beautiful output. Hence, with their mysterious visual aura and intriguing sound, on Nightside, Grima continue to prove themselves as an unmissable band to watch within the genre, and you can explore their distinguished realm by following them on Facebook, Instagram, and VKontakte, stream their music on Spotify, and purchase their newborn beast from BandCamp, from Napalm Records, or simply by clicking HERE, letting the darkly menacing beauty of the night sky from the Taiga penetrate deep inside your soul to the sound of one of the best albums of extreme music of the year.

Best moments of the album: Flight of the Silver Storm,  Impending Death Premonition, The Nightside and Curse of the Void.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Napalm Records

Track listing
1. Intro (Cult) 2:00
2. Beyond the Dark Horizon 3:36
3. Flight of the Silver Storm 6:01
4. Skull Gatherers 5:37
5. Impending Death Premonition 6:25
6. The Nightside 7:29
7. Where We Are Lost 6:31
8. Curse of the Void 4:35
9. Mist and Fog 5:09
10. Outro (Memories of a Forgotten Home) 2:03

Band members
Vilhelm – vocals, guitars
Morbius – guitars

Guest musicians
Serpentum – bass (session)
Vlad – drums (session)
Valentina Astashova – keyboards (session)
Sergey Pastukh – bayan (session)
Savely Nevzorov & Ilya Panyukov – vocals on “Impending Death Premonition” and “Curse of the Void”

Concert Review – Swallow The Sun (The Velvet Underground, Toronto, ON, 02/21/2025)

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A night of sheer doom, darkness and melancholy in the form of first-class heavy music took the skies of Toronto this Friday night.

OPENING ACTS: Snakes Of Russia, Ghost Bath and Harakiri For The Sky

A few days after the heaviest snow storm the city of Toronto has seen for quite some time, The Velvet Underground hosted the Shining Over North America Tour 2025 with the bands SNAKES OF RUSSIA, GHOST BATH, HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY and SWALLOW THE SUN, and of course Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were there to cover such an amazing event. Well, unfortunately due to the insane traffic to get to Toronto AND also inside the city, it was impossible for several concert goers to arrive in time for the performance by United States-based Darkwave/Electronic/Ambient act SNAKES OF RUSSIA, including Keith and I. I honestly have no idea how the show was, if the crowd enjoyed it or not, as while Snakes of Russia was playing I was desperately trying to find a parking lot where most spots were not taken by huge snow banks. At least before the show I had some time to listen to their 2023 album True Surrender, available on BandCamp and on Spotify, and although it’s not my cup of tea I must admit it’s a really cool album for fans of the darkest side of electronic music.

Band members
Joseph Holiday – vocals, all instruments

When I weas finally able to get inside the venue, American Depressive/Post-Black Metal entity GHOST BATH had already started their setlist, but at least in this case I had plenty of time to enjoy their harsh and sinister performance, led by the visceral, anguished screams by vocalist and guitarist Nameless. One of the main issues with The Velvet Underground, if not their biggest issue, is the fact the stage is way too low, almost as if it doesn’t really exist, and it’s really tough to see the bands performing there unless you’re two feet from the “stage”. Add to that a few pillars in the middle of the venue, and there you have the perfect atmosphere to mainly listen to the music played without seeing anything. Furthermore, Keith couldn’t make it in time for Ghost Bath, and as my mobile pictures of the show are beyond nasty, there isn’t anything to show about them on this review. You can still enjoy their music on BandCamp and on Spotify, like their 2021 album Self Loather, and I highly recommend seeing those guys live if you enjoy such a caustic type of Black Metal.

Band members
Nameless – vocals, guitars
Caleb Cheslock – guitars
Liam Frith – guitars
Josh Jaye – bass
Alec Martin – drums

Then after all that hassle to get to Toronto, the shitty traffic, the excruciating task of finding a parking spot, and so on, I was already getting very tired and ready to go back home to relax a little, but fortunately Austria’s own Post-Black Metal masters HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY hit the stage for the most electrifying performance of the night, waking me up and inspiring me to headbang and raise my horns nonstop to their fantastic music. Playing mostly songs from their 2021 album Mӕre and their newborn masterpiece Scorched Earth, the band led by frontman J.J. and guitarist M.S. kicked some serious ass on stage, investing all of their energy into each song played, and with minimal talk in between songs. I simply loved seeing them live for the first time, and songs like With Autumn I’ll Surrender, Without You I’m Just a Sad Song, Fire, Walk With Me, and Sing for the Damage We’ve Done (all available on Spotify) sounded flawless, superb and touching, and the reaction from every single person to their classy performance was a thing of beauty, which clearly indicated it won’t take long for one of the best bands of the current metal scene worldwide to return to Toronto soon.

Setlist
Keep Me Longing
With Autumn I’ll Surrender
Fire, Walk With Me
Without You I’m Just a Sad Song
Sing for the Damage We’ve Done
Calling the Rain

Band members
J.J. – vocals
M.S. – guitars
Marrok – guitars, backing vocals
P.G. – bass
Kerim “Krimh” Lechner – drums

SWALLOW THE SUN

The name of the band says it all. After a quick break, it was time for the darkest show of the night, courtesy of Finland’s Melodic Doom/Death Metal titans SWALLOW THE SUN, and it was indeed a dark, pensive, doomed and visceral concert. Vocalist Mikko Kotamaki and his henchmen were on fire during their entire set, blending their old material with their newest albums Moonflowers (2021) and Shining (2024), with the sequence of Woven Into Sorrow, Charcoal Sky, MelancHoly, New Moon and Night Will Forgive Us sounding and feeling as heavy and obscure as possible. The encore was just as doomed, with November Dust and Swallow (Horror, Part 1), and their diehard fans were having an amazing time with their scorching riffs, pounding drums and visceral energy. It was a somewhat late show for most of us, but in the end it was a fantastic night of contemporary heavy music, and I’ll surely be there anytime Swallow The Sun are back in town with their undisputed doom.

Setlist
Velvet Chains
Innocence Was Long Forgotten
What I Have Become
Firelights
Under the Moon & Sun
Woven Into Sorrow
Charcoal Sky
New Moon
MelancHoly
Night Will Forgive Us
Plague of Butterflies: Pt. I: Losing the Sunsets

Encore:
November Dust
Swallow (Horror, Part 1)

Band members
Mikko Kotamaki – vocals
Juha Raivio – guitars, keyboards
Juho Raiha – guitars
Matti Honkonen – bass
Juuso Raatkainen – drums

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Album Review – Christ Dismembered / Ov Vampiricy (2025)

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An infernal Black Metal horde from Down Under is ready to ride out into the world once more, bringing with them the heretical gospel that is their sophomore opus.

A tolling bell, a howling wind and chants of dire imprecation announce the return of Black Metal horde Christ Dismembered, Australia’s chief advocates of apostasy and servants of the beast. Forged in the fires of the city of Millicent, South Australia in 2012, the band now formed of Arch Worm on vocals and guitars, Doomsayer on lead guitars, Winter Demon on rhythm guitars, Skorpa on bass, and Plague on drums is ready to ride out into the world once more, bringing with them the heretical gospel that is Ov Vampiricy, the follow-up to their 2017 self-titled debut, their second full-length album of blood hungry Black Metal in their crusade against the light, being tailored for admirers of the music by Nifelheim, Immortal, Dark Funeral and Behexen, among many others.

The howling winds of evil will embrace you in the album’s intro, taking you on a one-way journey to the underworld in Fool’s Gambit, already offering a vibrant fusion of Melodic Black Metal with old school Black Metal, with Plague sounding simply infernal on drums for our total delight. Then the strident riffage by Doomsayer and Winter Demon will mercilessly pierce your damned minds in Mother of Demons, a lecture in Black Metal by the quintet exhaling pure hatred and obscurity, followed by The Numbers Oppose You, offering an extra dosage of sulfurous Black Metal with Arch Worm gnarling like a demonic entity; and there’s no sign of slowing down nor anything like that, as it’s pedal to the metal in an ode to all things Black Metal titled Under the Cross, perfect for some blasphemous action inside the pit.

After that, we have the atmospheric interlude The Banishment, the calm before the storm as this Australian horde will crush your putrid souls in A Ritual Most Foul, where Plague dictates the song’s pace with his intricate yet demolishing blast beats, keeping the album at a high level of blasphemy. Sorcerer of Nazareth is a pure old school Black Metal extravaganza showcasing all the passion for the dark arts by the band, followed by Child Devouring Servants of Satan, one of the most infernal of all tracks of the album, with Doomsayer and Winter Demon stealing the show with their flammable riffage. Their second to last offering from the pits of the netherworld, entitled See You In Hell, showcases another vicious gnarling attack by Arch Worm, whereas last but definitely not least, this horde from Down Under will burn your frail bodies to the sound of the fiery Riddled With Sin, with Skorpa and Plague making the earth tremble with their beyond venomous and rumbling kitchen.

The children of the night will be unbound and their infernal music will echo through the darkness once more to the sound of Ov Vampiricy, and you can join such an amazing horde from Down Under by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their vile creations on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course by purchasing a copy of their impious new album from their own BandCamp page or webstore, as well as from MSH Music Group. After all is said and done, simply open your ears to the cries of the children of the night, open your arms to their embrace to the sound of their blasphemous and vile new opus, or grip your crucifix in shaking hands and weep, because Christ Dismembered will take no prisoners in their quest for old school Black Metal armed with their excellent new offering.

Best moments of the album: Mother of Demons, Under the Cross and Child Devouring Servants of Satan.

Worst moments of the album: A Ritual Most Foul.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Intro 1:45
2. Fool’s Gambit 5:21
3. Mother of Demons 4:15
4. The Numbers Oppose You 4:12
5. Under the Cross 4:34
6. The Banishment 2:30
7. A Ritual Most Foul 4:27
8. Sorcerer of Nazareth 6:29
9. Child Devouring Servants of Satan 4:33
10. See You In Hell 5:54
11. Riddled With Sin 5:13

Band members
Arch Worm – vocals, guitars
Doomsayer – lead guitars
Winter Demon – rhythm guitars
Skorpa – bass
Plague – drums

Concert review – H.E.A.T (Tavastia-klubi, Helsinki, FIN, 02/18/2025)

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An electrifying night of hard rock mastery, where Sweden meets Finland in a fiery performance that left the audience breathless.

OPENING ACT: Temple Balls

Swedish hard rock powerhouse H.E.A.T made a triumphant return to Finland at the iconic Tavastia delivering an electrifying performance that left fans exhilarated. With their new album, Welcome to the Future, set to drop in April, the band proved once again why they are one of the most celebrated acts in the modern hard rock scene. Before the main act, Finnish rockers Temple Balls warmed up the crowd with their high-energy sound. Hailing from Oulu, the band has been making waves by opening for industry legends such as Sonata Arctica and Bruce Dickinson. Promoting their latest album, Avalanche (2023), they set the tone for an unforgettable night.

From the moment the band took the stage, it was clear they were on a mission to captivate the audience. Their setlist was a well-balanced mix of fan favorites: songs like “Lonely Stranger” and “Dead Weight” showcased their signature anthemic choruses and driving guitar work, while “Trap” and “Bad Bad Bad” got the audience singing along. Closing with “Thunder From the North”, Temple Balls left no doubt that they are more than ready to conquer bigger stages everywhere.

Setlist
Strike Like a Cobra
Lonely Stranger
Hell and Feelin’ Fine
Dead Weight
Let’s Get It On
Prisoner in Time
Trap
Bad Bad Bad
Thunder From the North

Band members
Arde Teronen – vocals
Jiri Paavonaho – guitar
Niko Vuorela – guitar
Jimi Välikangas – bass
Antti Hissa – drums

H.E.A.T
The anticipation in Tavastia was palpable as the lights dimmed and Glenn Frey’s “The Heat Is On” played through the speakers. The Swedish rockers hit the stage with “Disaster”, one of the two brand-new songs from their upcoming album, instantly igniting the crowd. Vocalist Kenny Leckremo commanded the stage with his amazing vocals and infectious energy, while Dave Dalone’s fiery guitar solos kept the adrenaline pumping. The setlist was a well-curated journey through their discography, featuring powerful renditions of “Emergency”, “Dangerous Ground”, and “Hollywood”.

One of the standout moments came during “Beg Beg Beg”, where the band seamlessly incorporated a snippet of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” – a nod to rock legends of the past. Midway through the show, the anthem “Living on the Run” had fans singing at the top of their lungs. The band couldn’t hide the joy of being there, specially Kenny who said a few times how they like to play in Finland and how excited they were to show the new songs, introducing the yet-to-be-released “Bad Time for Love”. Always with high energy, the band made the fans incredibly happy with classics such as “1000 Miles” and “One by One”, before the grand finale with “Tearing Down the Walls”. H.E.A.T’s performance was a masterclass in modern hard rock: passionate, explosive, and engaging from start to finish. With Welcome to the Future on the horizon, this show served as a powerful reminder that the band remains at the forefront of the genre. The very next day, Finnish fans were surprised by the announcement that H.E.A.T will play at Rockfest in Turku this summer. And if they bring their tour to your city, don’t miss out the opportunity to have the best of times with their high-voltage performance!

Setlist
Intro: The Heat Is On (Glenn Frey song)
Disaster
Emergency
Dangerous Ground
Hollywood
Rise
Nationwide
Harder to Breathe
In and Out of Trouble
Beg Beg Beg (included snippet from Black Sabbaths War Pigs)
Cry
Back to the Rhythm
Living on the Run
Bad Time for Love
1000 Miles
One by One
Tearing Down the Walls
Outro: Sister Christian (Night Ranger song)

Band members
Kenny Leckremo – vocals
Dave Dalone – guitar
Jimy Jay – bass
Jona Tee – keyboards
Don Crash – drums

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Album Review – Matalobos / Phantasmagoria: Hexed Lands (2025)

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This uncanny entity will attack your senses with their dreadful fusion of Mexican folklore and Melodic Death and Doom Metal, painting a vivid picture of the darker side of Mexican mythology.

Emerging from the vibrant Mexican metal scene, Matalobos are a dreadful fusion of Mexican folklore and Melodic Death and Doom Metal that takes you on an unforgettable musical journey through the haunting legends of their hometown, Guanajuato, telling profound and evocative stories through their unique blend of extreme music. Now in 2025, the band formed of Dante Méndez on vocals, Eduardo Santamaría and Germán Nieto on the guitars, and Clemente Escalona on drums, supported by session musician Iván Moreno on bass, is unleashing upon us their third full-length effort, titled Phantasmagoria: Hexed Lands, offering an immersive dive into Mexican folklore, blending melancholic atmospheres with crushing doom elements to create a powerful and evocative sound. Recorded, produced and mixed by Rubén Sánchez at Urvn Studio in León, Mexico, with mastering by Jari Lindholm, the album beautifully captures the spectral and tragic tales embedded in Mexico’s mythological past.

As soon as you hit play, the intro Panoramica will drag you to the band’s realm of legends and darkness in This Mortal Music, starting in an imposing, atmospheric manner before Dante begins roaring like a beast supported by the brutality blasted by Clemente on drums, exhaling pure doom and setting the tone for Purgatory Blessing, offering a huge dosage of clean vocals, which are not bad but take away some of the song’s energy and punch. Back to a much darker, heavier sonority thanks to the sluggish beats by Clemente and the piercing guitars by Eduardo and Germán, we have Below the Dam, and the skies will get even darker and the ambience more pensive and grim in Hatred of Kin, overflowing despair and obscurity spearheaded by another visceral vocal performance by Dante.

The second half of the album begins with the charming yet venomous Hasta el viento tiene miedo, which is Spanish for “even the wind is afraid”, an instrumental tune that shows a more introspective side of the band; and Matalobos come crushing our damned souls again in Where Witches Gather, alternating between sheer heaviness and more melodic passages, all spiced up by the minimalist riffs by Eduardo and Germán. Then again they offer a more melancholic sound with The Alley, where the clean vocals by Dante feel a lot stronger and more penetrating, exploding into pure Doom Metal the likes of My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost, all boosted by a mysterious saxophone, bringing even more melancholy to the music. In Carmen Buried Alive the band blasts their most damned, devilish and hammering sonority of the whole album, a lecture in Doom Metal led by the sluggish, ruthless drums by Clemente, before we face House of Laments, another solid, in-your-face display of Blackened Doom Metal where the eerie vocalizations by Dante will haunt your putrid souls for all eternity.

Resonating with fans of Opeth, Novembre, and Swallow the Sun, the sound by Matalobos is defined by its haunting beauty and depth, offering listeners an unforgettable exploration of despair, mythology, and the human experience, exactly like what’s presented by those Mexican metallers in their newborn spawn. Having said that, don’t forget to give Matalobos a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, to subscribe to their YouTube channel and to stream their music on Spotify, and of course to purchase Phantasmagoria: Hexed Lands from BandCamp, from Concreto Records, or by clicking HERE. Painting a vivid picture of the darker side of Mexican mythology, Phantasmagoria: Hexed Lands is definitely the band’s strongest album to date, not only  cementing their name in the Mexican scene, but also spreading their dark, doomed wings all over the world.

Best moments of the album: This Mortal Music, Below the Dam and Carmen Buried Alive.

Worst moments of the album: Purgatory Blessing.

Released in 2025 Concreto Records

Track listing
1. Panoramica 0:32
2. This Mortal Music 5:50
3. Purgatory Blessing 6:32
4. Below the Dam 7:00
5. Hatred of Kin 7:07
6. Hasta el viento tiene miedo 3:39
7. Where Witches Gather 6:12
8. The Alley 4:12
9. Carmen Buried Alive 6:50
10. House of Laments 7:17

Band members
Dante Méndez – vocals
Eduardo Santamaría – guitars
Germán Nieto – guitars
Clemente Escalona – drums

Guest musicians
Iván Moreno – bass (session)