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Concert Review – Archspire (The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON, 06/08/2024)

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A night of horror, brutality, circle pits, walls of death, fun games like Twister and the “shoey”, and a lot more in Toronto, courtesy of the fastest and most technical brigade in the history of Canada.

OPENING ACTS: Alluvial, Carcosa and Aborted

It was a beyond wild and fun night at The Phoenix Concert Theatre this Saturday when ALLUVIAL, CARCOSA, ABORTED and ARCHSPIRE took the city of Toronto by storm with their fulminating Everything’s F#*!@d Tour 2024, another extremely successful event brought to the city by the one and only Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment, and I say wild and fun because that’s exactly what the four bands offered to us all, blasting our heads with their sick, infernal music, while at the same time demanding nonstop action inside the circle pit. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were patiently awaiting for this concert as we love the music of all four bands, and I must say I couldn’t be happier with everything we got during the event’s four hours of brutal, thrilling and captivating heavy music. Not even the (brutally) bad traffic to get to Toronto made me less excited about the show, and if you know how horrible traffic has been to get to and back from the city lately, especially when there’s rain involved, you know the show was fantastic to the point you don’t even remember the problems to get there, right?

The first band to hit the stage precisely at 7:30pm was Atlanta, Georgia’s Deathcore/Djent outfit ALLUVIAL, who have recently released a great new EP titled Death Is but a Door, the follow-up to their 2021 album Sarcoma. Let’s say their setlist was a mix of those two albums, and although I have no idea of the names of all songs I’m pretty sure they played Bog Dweller and Fogbelt, two songs perfect to ignite some intense mosh pits with whoever was already at the floor section (instead of stuck in a huge line at the way too hot merch area). Their frontman Kevin Muller was a beast during their whole set, and after that fans had a chance to meet him and the other guys at their merch table, which was a very nice touch by the band to create a stronger connection with their fanbase. If you want to know more about Alluvial, go check their BandCamp and Spotify for all of their music, and don’t miss the chance to see them live as they’re insane onstage.

Band members
Kevin Muller – vocals
Wes Hauch – guitars
Tim Walker – bass
Zach Dean – drums

As I wanted so bad an Archspire “Stay Tech” pin plus a patch, I was stupid enough to face the sauna-like merch line right after Alluvial and had to miss the beginning of the concert by Vancouver, British Columbia-based Deathcore/Djent act CARCOSA, but that was OK as I still had plenty to enjoy from their infernal setlist as all bands had a lot of playing time, including the openers. Still promoting their 2021 album Anthology, the band formed of Johnny Ciardullo, Andrew Baena, Cooper Lagace, Laptop and Travis Regnier crushed the souls of everyone at the already packed venue with their heavy-as-hell music and intense energy onstage, and you know how good a band is when a renowned musician like Aborted’s Sven De Caluwé sports a Carcosa shirt during their set. Hence, don’t forget to buy and stream Carcosa’s music on BandCamp and on Spotify, because those Canadian dudes are freakin’ awesome.

Band members
Johnny Ciardullo – vocals
Andrew Baena – guitar
Cooper Lagace – guitar
Laptop – bass
Travis Regnier – drums

After another short and sweet break, Belgium’s own Death Metal/Grindcore masters ABORTED opened up their Vault of Horrors and kicked off one of the most pulverizing, demented and frantic concerts of the past few years in Toronto. It was absolute chaos and madness thanks to guitarist Ian Jekelis, bassist Stefano Franceschini, drummer Ken Bedene, and of course, one of the most demented frontmen of all time, the unparalleled beast Sven De Caluwé. That man was on fire throughout their entire set, hitting his head with his hands, jumping up and down nonstop, making crazy faces, pretending to be firing a machine gun when Ken was blasting his drums manically, and so on, which translated into an overdose of violence, gore and mosh pits to the delight of all fans of the band in the city.

The opener Retrogore was beyond pulverizing to say the least, followed by an avalanche of old school Aborted and new songs from their bestial 2024 album Vault of Horrors (available on BandCamp and on Spotify, by the way), including the fantastic Dreadbringer, Brotherhood of Sleep, and Death Cult. By the way, I told my friend who’s not very familiar with Aborted that someone was going to die during Death Cult so heavy and insane it is, and that almost happened as one guy stayed on the ground for a while to the point several fans inside the pit asked the band to stop playing to check if he was OK. The guy was apparently fine, but I have no idea if he had any sort of concussion that would manifest during the next few days. As I said, Death Cult almost resulted in a real death inside the pit. There was still time for more brutal action with the demolishing tunes Insect Politics, Threading on Vermillion Deception and The Saw and the Carnage Done, leaving everyone in awe and more than ready for more Aborted and their world renowned walls of death in Toronto in the near future.

Setlist
Retrogore
Bathos
Dreadbringer
Condemned to Rot
Brotherhood of Sleep
Death Cult
Insect Politics
Threading on Vermillion Deception
The Saw and the Carnage Done

Band members
Sven De Caluwé – vocals
Ian Jekelis – guitar
Stefano Franceschini – bass
Ken Bedene – drums

ARCHSPIRE

After seeing Vancouver, British Columbia’s own Extreme Technical Death Metal brigade ARCHSPIRE kicking some serious ass live in Sydney, Australia last year, I was beyond eager to witness what they could do in Toronto, and this Saturday night they proved why they’re one of the must-see names of the extreme music scene worldwide with their ruthless aggression, undisputed technique, and a really nice sense of humor. Just to give you an example of all that together, when a concert starts with a narration saying things like “after the invention of the horse” you know it’s going to be brutal and fun. Just the idea of someone “inventing” the horse is already a good joke to kick things off.

And as soon as the unstoppable Oliver Rae Aleron on vocals, Dean Lamb and Tobi Morelli on the guitars, Jared Smith on bass and Spencer Prewett on drums began their beyond fast, pulverizing and insane concert, it was total madness inside the pit until the very last second. Their last record to date might still be the 2021 opus Bleed the Future, but honestly all songs from that album and from Relentless Mutation (which are the only two albums they currently play in their concerts, “ignoring” for some unknown reason the also great The Lucid Collective, from 2014, and All Shall Align, from 2011) sounded killer live, and you can enjoy both in full on BandCamp and on Spotify, by the way. They kicked off the show with the inhumane Bleed the Future to give all concert goers an idea of what their Extreme Technical Death Metal means, and continued their feast of technical insanity with already classic songs like Acrid Canon, Remote Tumour Seeker and Golden Mouth of Ruin, all played to perfection and at the speed of light (or maybe even faster than that).

An Archspire concert is not complete without some good jokes, and the band didn’t’ disappoint at all with a selection of nonsense that added a very nice touch to their already flawless concert. We got the Twister game inside the pit which ended with an infernal wall of death, a sweet tradition already in their concerts, and the also sick “shoey”, which is something Oliver said they learned in Australia. If you don’t know what that is, it’s simply drinking beer from your own shoe as fast as you can, with the winner getting a custom shirt made by the band. The Toronto one had something written about the Maple Leafs that I honestly didn’t get, but it was really cool and the guy who won it put it on right away, as he was really excited of being onstage with the band. And what to say about their introduction to all bands from this tour, saying Aborted only accepted their invitation to play with them (because they needed a big band to seel tickets, as they couldn’t do it by themselves) after they sucked their dicks? This one might sound childish for some people, but it was a good one as well.

Perhaps the most absurd and hilarious moment of the show was when Oliver explained why they had two Christmas trees onstage. Yes, that was their stage stuff, really weird, right? It all made sense when Oliver said that they got some “lab results” and their guitarist Tobi was “not gonna make it to next Christmas”, so they decided to celebrate Christmas with him during this tour. Yes, Christmas IN THE MIDDLE OF JUNE, and they even brough to stage what they called “Summer Santa” to throw picks to the crowd and give Tobi a dildo to complete his guitar, because according to Oliver that was the same guitar he got from his mom when he was a kid living with his poor Italian family, all in the same room. That was mental, but what was even more mental was the ending of the show with the infuriated, fast-as-a-shark song Involuntary Doppelgänger, and my favorite of all, Drone Corpse Aviator. I have no idea how Oliver can sing so fast like that, nor how Spencer can sound like a stone crusher without making too much effort behind his drums, nor how the other guys manage to play their guitars and bass at an insane speed without making any errors, but I know for sure that Archspire are by far one of the coolest bands of the entire Canadian scene, and I can’t wait to see them live again in the near future. And until then, we must all… STAY TECH!

Setlist
Bleed the Future
Abandon the Linear
Reverie on the Onyx
Acrid Canon
Remote Tumour Seeker
Golden Mouth of Ruin
Drain of Incarnation
Involuntary Doppelgänger
Drone Corpse Aviator

Band members
Oliver Rae Aleron – vocals
Dean Lamb – guitars
Tobi Morelli – guitars
Jared Smith – bass
Spencer Prewett – drums

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Concert Review – 1349 (Lee’s Palace, Toronto, ON, 05/20/2024)

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A night of undisputed Black Metal with four incredible bands in Toronto, spearheaded by one of the most devilish and professional hordes hailing from Norway.

OPENING ACTS: Spirit Possession, Antichrist Siege Machine and Spectral Wound

What a night of pure “friendship” and “tree hugging” in Toronto, my friends! Let’s say that in order to properly celebrate Victoria Day in Canada this Monday, Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment organized a night of undisputed Black Metal at Lee’s Palace with SPIRIT POSSESSION, ANTICHRIST SIEGE MACHINE, SPECTRAL WOUND, and of course, the main attraction of the night, the devilish 1349. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were there to enjoy such an amazing feast of obscurity and evil at an almost sold out venue, driving the heat up inside it considerably, but fortunately they’ve recently installed new air conditioning machines in strategic points of the venue to cool things down a bit for us, avid metalheads.

It didn’t take long after the doors opened at 7pm for the first band of the night to start distilling their demonic creations. I’m talking about Portland, Oregon-based Black Metal duo SPIRIT POSSESSION, who put on an infernal show to properly warm us all up for the upcoming attractions, and let me tell you that their drummer, simply called “A.”, definitely knowns how to hammer her drums mercilessly, while vocalist and guitarist “S.” is phenomenal armed with his stringed axe, playing it like if he was playing bass (an instrument that’s not part of their music, by the way), extracting sheer evil and insanity from each riff played. Everyone who was already at Lee’s Palace loved every second of their sick concert, despite the annoying dim red light, and if you want to enjoy some of their creations you can find all of their albums, like their 2023 opus Of the Sign…, on BandCamp and on Spotify.

Setlist
Orthodox Weapons
Deity of Knives and Pointed Apparitions
Enter the Golden Sign
Swallowing Throne
Second Possession
Spirit Possession

Band members
S. – vocals, guitars
A. – drums

After a quick break, it was time for one of the most pulverizing duos of the current extreme music scene to crush our damned souls with their infuriated music. They go by the charming name of ANTICHRIST SIEGE MACHINE, and if you know nothing about this Blackened Death Metal duo from Richmond, Virginia formed of SB on vocals and drums, and RZ on the guitars and backing vocals (and yes, it was the second band of the night without a bassist), I highly recommend you go after their music on BandCamp and on Spotify, including their chaotic, infernal new album Vengeance of Eternal Fire. Their set in Toronto was beyond brutal, igniting some intense mosh pits during their whole performance, and leaving all of us eager for another visit of those two demented beats to the city in the near future. Seriously, their music is awesome.

Setlist
Son of Man
Piled Swine
Purifying Blade
Led by Fire
Unleashed Hostility
Prey Upon Them
Vanquishing Spirit
Sisera
Chaos Insignia
Vacant Cross

Band members
SB – vocals, drums
RZ – guitars, backing vocals

Although 1349 were the main band of the night, a lot of people went to Lee’s Palace on Monday to witness the black mass conducted by Montreal, Quebec’s own Black Metal horde SPECTRAL WOUND, by far one of the most important names of the current Métal Noir Québécois scene. Having released the excellent album A Diabolic Thirst back in 2021 (which can be found on BandCamp and on Spotify, by the way), the band spearheaded by the iconic Jonah crushed us like insects with their venomous Black Metal, again inspiring all concert goers for some demented circle pits until the very last second. The light was way too dim and it was also a bit foggy, which sucks, but nothing that would make their concert less entertaining, of course.

Setlist
Black Satanic Glamour
Soul Destroying Black Debauchery
Aristocratic Suicidal Black Metal
Frigid and Spellbound
Fevers & Suffering
Imperial Thanatosis
Imperial Saison Noire

Band members
Jonah – vocals
Patrick – guitars
A.A. – guitars
Sam – bass, backing vocals
Illusory – drums 

1349

A lot of people, including myself, went outside to get some fresh air (as it was a relatively warm night in Toronto) and almost missed the beginning of the hellish performance by Oslo, Norway-based Black Metal entity 1349 (just as an extra detail to you, 1349 was the year the Black Death came to Norway, wiping out 2/3 of the population and ending the Golden Age of Norway), a true celebration of old school, classic Black Metal for an avid crowd in the city. Playing songs from all albums of their vast career, including some excellent hymns from their 2019 album The Infernal Pathway like the closing ones Dødskamp and Abyssos Antithesis, plus their amazing new single Ash of Ages from their upcoming 2024 album, the band comprised of Ravn on lead vocals, Archaon on the guitars, Seidemann on bass, and Dominator on drums was absolutely on fire during their demonic (but maybe a little bit too short) set, driving their fans wild inside the unstoppable circle pits.

Also, I need to say a few words about this short, weird, middle-aged Indian dude that looked completely out of this dimension, as it didn’t matter what the hell he was doing, he looked nuts. The guy was so insane to the point that when 1349 finished playing their very FIRST song, he said with a sinister smile “two more, two more…”, when the band was clearly going to play at least ten more songs. What the hell was he seeing on stage, right? Not to mention he was always hiding behind someone, making the sign of the cross before having his beer, pointing to the band’s guitarist with a maniacal grim like as if he was saying “I know what you’re doing” as if the guitarist was there looking at him, and so on. Some guys behind me were also distracted by the Indian dude. What a unique metalhead!

After all was said and done, all fans of Black Metal in Toronto were more than happy with the high quality of the music presented by all four bands, making it a very successful event in the city and, consequently, leaving us all more than eager for another 1349 concert in Toronto, supported by another batch of very talented underground bands, sooner than you can say “Black Metal”. Hopefully they’ll return soon, and everyone who was at Lee’s Palace, including our beloved, crazy Indian guy, will be there to raise their horns up high and scream in full force together with one of the most professional bands hailing form Norway without a shadow of a doubt, and even better if it’s with proper lighting so not only their fans can enjoy the visual part of show as well, but also the photographers like Keith. Hail Satan, my friends!

Setlist
Sculptor of Flesh
Slaves
Through Eyes of Stone
Chasing Dragons
Ash of Ages
I Am Abomination
Striding the Chasm
Golem
Atomic Chapel
Dødskamp
Abyssos Antithesis

Band members
Ravn – lead vocals
Archaon – guitars, backing vocals
Seidemann – bass, backing vocals
Dominator – drums

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Album Review – Necht / The Prophecy Of Karnifor (2024)

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Offering grim, martial and epic tales of the Enkari, the first human civilization, this Canadian Black Metal horde steps out of the shadows of the past to spread the word of their long meditation.

GLORY TO THE SUN!

We humans are and have always been driven by our own imagination. Someone stumbles across an old book as a child and from then on lives a life believing in the resurrection of a man who died in a cruel way, giving rise to white metal as a movement. Born in the fires of the Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta in 2022, the infernal Black Metal entity known as Necht is stepping out of the shadows of the past to spread the word of their long meditation, entitled The Prophecy of Karnifor. Offering grim, martial and epic tales of the Enkari, the first human civilization, inspired by the discoveries of the German explorer and philosopher Karl von Mecklenburg, as unveiled in the controversial research of Dr. Birgitta Olsson, The Prophecy Of Karnifor is a bold, multi-layered feast of Black Metal in the name of B’ahn, Our Father, The Ceaseless Warrior, masterfully brought into being by Zenith Maharg (vocals) and his Ascendants Zhargor (guitars), Aemoh (bass) and Vlasfimos (drums).

As if the band was preparing us for their Stygian cult, we face the imposing intro The Vision of the Qa’ar, exploding into the ferocious Within Her Jaws Dwells The Dark Promise Of Our Death, where Ascendant Vlasfimos sounds utterly infernal behind his drums while Zenith Maharg begins his visceral, demented vocal attack by screaming and roaring manically nonstop. Then continuing their ritualistic feast of darkened sounds, it’s time for Stirred By Shadow, I Did Wake, where the riffs by Ascendant Zhargor will haunt your damned souls accompanied by the classic bass by Ascendant демон in another heavy, grim and venomous creation by the quartet. To Me, The Obelisk Calls blends their core Black Metal with elements from Atmospheric Black Metal, and the final result is a phantasmagorical voyage by Necht, with the drums by Ascendant Vlasfimos once again sounding demolishing; and you better prepare your senses for an overdose of towering, visceral sounds by Necht in the eight-minute beast titled Into Bondage Born, a Melodic Black Metal aria where Zenith Maharg leads his horde with his devilish gnarls while the guitar by Ascendant Zhargor will pierce your minds mercilessly.

And they keep decimating our damned souls in By The Fires Of Ascension Shall I Reach The Sky, with the band’s stringed duo delivering sheer Black Metal madness supported by the always hellish beats by Ascendant Vlasfimos, whereas By Blood And Bone Do We Bind lives up the the legacy of modern-day Melodic Black Metal, blasting our ears with the band’s trademark ferocity and passion for the occult, all of course spearheaded by the demonic growls by Zenith Maharg. There’s time for a cinematic interlude titled Blackened Loom The Walls Of Ishpan, setting the stage for the band to crush our souls one last time in For Violence Was Wrought Upon Me, a Behemoth-inspired extravaganza tailored for fans of Blackened Death Metal, putting a beyond infernal ending to the band’s black mass.

“BRETHREN! Do not fear the shadow. Within the shadow there may be found despair. Within the shadow there may be found death, and dissolution. But within the shadow, there may also be found awakening and enlightenment. For it was in the shadow that our Father, B’ahn, was born. GLORY TO THE SUN!” Those were the words by Zenith Maharg, from the Temple of Necht in the Cult of B’Ahn, citing the Enkari-B’Ahn writings, and if you’re eager to join them in the occult you can start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, listen to their eerie creations on YouTube and on Spotify, and above all that, grab a copy of The Prophecy Of Karnifor from the band’s own BandCamp page or by clicking HERE. Glory to the Sun, glory to Black Metal, and glory to Necht for bringing into being such an amazing album.

Best moments of the album: Stirred By Shadow, I Did Wake, Into Bondage Born and By Blood And Bone Do We Bind.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. The Vision of the Qa’ar 1:42
2. Within Her Jaws Dwells The Dark Promise Of Our Death 7:25
3. Stirred By Shadow, I Did Wake 5:40
4. To Me, The Obelisk Calls 5:26
5. Into Bondage Born 8:37
6. By The Fires Of Ascension Shall I Reach The Sky 6:41
7. By Blood And Bone Do We Bind 7:33
8. Blackened Loom The Walls Of Ishpan 1:46
9. For Violence Was Wrought Upon Me 5:32

Band members
Zenith Maharg – vocals
Ascendant Zhargor – guitars, choir
Ascendant демон – bass, choir
Ascendant Vlasfimos – drums

Concert Review – Abbath (The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON, 05/12/2024)

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Despite a ridiculously small crowd, the iconic Abbath and his horde didn’t care at all about that and put on a fantastic performance in a celebration of pure Black Metal in Toronto.

OPENING ACTS: Final Gasp, Black Anvil and Imperial Triumphant

It was a very weird night at The Phoenix Concert Theatre on Sunday, when FINAL GASP, IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT, BLACK ANVIL and ABBATH presented their Dread Reaver North America 2024 to maybe less than 200 people (at a venue that supports close to 1,500 people), and I knew something was odd when I got to the venue and, to my total surprise, the parking lot in front of it was absolutely empty, when it’s usually full hours before any concert there. Based on what other people told me, the reasons for that very small crowd were of course Mother’s Day, the show being on a Sunday, and above all that, the fact that Abbath played the night before in Kitchener, which is only one hour from Toronto, so no one from any of the neighboring cities decided to come to Toronto as they could enjoy the same show on a much more pleasant Saturday night. It’s known that Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment tried to move the show to Lee’s Palace, but that was already booked for something else. There wasn’t even a barrier for the photographers, so Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and the others like Kim and Miles simply had to share the floor section with the crowd. It was very weird, but it is what it is, and in the end all four bands kicked ass on stage which is what really matters.

From when the doors opened at 6pm until Boston, Massachusetts-based Gothic Metal/Deathrock band FINAL GASP hit the stage, I don’t think there were even 30 people at the venue, but the band didn’t care about the low attendance and put on a great show, blasting sheer heaviness from their instruments nonstop. I have zero idea of which songs they played, but I know that their 2023 album Mourning Moon is really good, and that everyone should take a nice listen at it on BandCamp or on Spotify. It’s a real bummer that the whole night was a flop in terms of attendance because bands like Final Gasp are very entertaining live, so hopefully they’ll come back to Toronto supporting another metal giant in the coming months, and this time with a decent crowd to bang their heads together with the band.

Band members
Jake Murphy – vocals
James Forsythe – guitars
Peter Micanovic – guitars
Sean Rose – bass
Eric Lester – drums

After a short and very quiet break, New York’s own Black/Thrash Metal beast BLACK ANVIL kicked off their infernal set to a bigger but still ridiculously small crowd, and just like Final Gasp the guys from Black Anvil were extremely professional and put their hearts and souls into their performance without caring at all if there were 10 or 2,000 people in the audience. There were zero mosh pits again, which was very odd, but the show must go on, right? Anyway, their drummer R.G. is a demented beast and it’s worth every penny of the ticket price alone, and hopefully one day he’ll get the recognition he deserves for being so great behind his drums. P.D. was also infernal on vocals and bass, leading his demonic horde in great fashion and getting a very warm feedback form the crowd. Go check their music on BandCamp and on Spotify, like their 2022 album Regenesis, because their music is amazing and perfect for some vigorous headbanging.

Band members
P.D. – vocals, bass
Sos – guitars
Alex Volonino – guitars
R.G. – drums

Another short and silent break, and it was then time for the most unique attraction of the night, New York-based Avant-garde/Technical Black/Death Metal entity IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT, to blast our faces with an extremely heavy, cryptic and chaotic performance, again sounding very energetic and professional even in front of the night’s tiny crowd. Still promoting their 2022 album Spirit of Ecstasy, the trio formed of Zachary Ezrin on vocals and guitars, Steven Blanco on bass and backing vocals, and Kenny Grohowski on drums showed no mercy for our souls with a dissonant, mesmerizing and way too foggy show, stunning us all and getting us really pumped for Abbath. Steven even hit the floor section with his bass, playing in the middle of the 100 something fans at the venue, making their whole concert more intimate and gripping. Hence, if you know nothing about those mysterious creatures, don’t forget to check their music on BandCamp and on Spotify, as I’m sure you’ll have a good time listening to their eerie creations.

Band members
Zachary Ezrin – vocals, guitars
Steven Blanco – bass, backing vocals
Kenny Grohowski – drums 

ABBATH

As already mentioned, due to the Saturday gig in Kitchener, most fans who were supposed to be in Toronto on Sunday to see Bergen, Norway’s own Black Metal institution ABBATH didn’t come to Sunday’s show, but the brave ones who managed to be at the venue were treated to a very special and intimate concert by Abbath and his horde, and let me tell you that it was infernal, heavy and bold from start to finish. The whole band played all songs from their setlist to perfection, and the mix of songs from Abbath’s three solo albums, those being his self-titled debut, Outstrider, and Dread Reaver, such as To War!, Hecate, Ashes of the Damned, and my favorite of the night, Winterbane, with some Immortal and I songs like In My Kingdom Cold, Warriors, and One by One, turned the night into a true celebration of classic Black Metal. No mosh pits either, which was even more ridiculous, but there wasn’t much we could do about that.

My only complaint about their show was the excessive smoke during all songs, to the point we couldn’t see anything from Abbath’s attire or makeup. Why does he wear all that if the fans can’t see shit due to the smoke? Well, at least the music as phenomenal, which is what truly matters in the end. Speaking of Abbath, the guy was a beast onstage, showing that his rehab was more than successful and that he still has a lot of fuel to burn in the coming years or even decades for our absolute delight. It was a beyond memorable show, even for a ridiculous crowd, but I’m sure Abbath will return to Toronto soon, and next time the scheduling and logistics will be better managed so he can see what the fans in Toronto can do when he’s playing his visceral Black Metal onstage.

Setlist
To War!
Acid Haze
Dream Cull
Hecate
Ashes of the Damned
Dread Reaver
In My Kingdom Cold (Immortal cover)
Beyond the North Waves (Immortal cover)
Nebular Ravens Winter (Immortal cover)
Warriors (I cover)
Battalions (I cover)
The Artifex
One by One (Immortal cover)
Winterbane
All Shall Fall (Immortal cover)

Band members
Abbath – vocals, guitars
Ole André Farstad – lead and acoustic guitars
Andreas Salbu – bass
Ukri Suvilehto – drums

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Concert Review – Battle Beast (The Opera House, Toronto, ON, 05/11/2024)

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The indomitable Battle Beast returned to Toronto during their first ever headlining tour in North America with one of the most vibrant and entertaining shows of the year so far.

OPENING ACT: Blackbriar

Two days after the bards took the city of Toronto by storm with a flawless performance, it was time for another European band to show us everything they got at the always amazing The Opera House. I’m talking about the indomitable BATTLE BEAST, who are headlining a tour in North America for the first time ever after having opened for several bands in the past few years (like for example their show with Kamelot and Xandria last August). Supported by the up-and-coming band BLACKBRIAR, Battle Beast brought endless electricity to the stage in Toronto with their Circus of Doom Over North America 2024, another excellent event hosted by  Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment, and another amazing opportunity for both Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I to enjoy some high quality heavy music on a pleasant Saturday night.

The fact the doors opened at 7pm but Assen, Netherlands-based Alternative/Symphonic Metal band BLACKBRIAR only began their concert at 8pn was great, as it gave everyone time enough to buy merch, enjoy some time with their friends, and even get to the venue in time just like what happened to me, as I made it to The Opera House only five minutes before the show due to the insane traffic to get to Toronto. Well, I gotta say I’m very happy I could make it this time, as the band kicked some ass on stage, and I’m sure they’ll get bigger and bigger and return to Toronto sooner than later. Still promoting their 2023 album A Dark Euphony, the band spearheaded by the charming and talented frontwoman Zora Cock was phenomenal throughout their entire set, and the warm reaction of the crowd was visible in the huge smiles on the band’s faces. Their frantic bassist Siebe Sol Sijpkens was on absolute fire the entire time, even having a GoPro attached to his bass during one of the songs, so I guess we’ll see some wild footage of the Toronto show in their social media in the coming days or weeks. Blackbriar are definitely going places, and if you want to know more about one of the rising forces of the Dutch scene, go check their gentle but heavy creations on Spotify as I’m sure you’ll love their music.

Setlist
Crimson Faces
I’d Rather Burn
Far Distant Land
Forever And A Day
Arms of the Ocean
Selkie
Deadly Diminuendo
Lilith Be Gone
Cicada
Until Eternity

Band members
Zora Cock – vocals
Bart Winters – lead guitar
Robin Koezen – rhythm guitar
Siebe Sol Sijpkens – bass
Ruben Wijga – keyboards
René Boxem – drums

BATTLE BEAST

It was close to 9:30pm when Helsinki, Finland’s own Heavy/Power Metal/Hard Rock machine BATTLE BEAST ignited one of the most energetic and fun performances of the city this year, proving why they’re finally headlining a tour in North America. My only complaint as usual is that they didn’t (or maybe I should say can’t) play anything form their older albums, but fortunately the material found in Bringer of Pain, No More Hollywood Endings, and Circus of Doom is awesome enough to guarantee a night of top-notch heavy music for all attendees. In addition, I need to say that their merch is a thing of beauty, offering a variety of items including patches (like the one I got with the band’s logo) and stunning shirts, all for a very reasonable price. That shows how much they care about their fans, and of course if you’re able to afford anything from a band, you become an even stronger fan of that band, right?

As mentioned, their setlist was pretty much a “best of” from their last three albums, with only the Power Metal hurricane Bringer of Pain missing to make it perfect, but of course songs like Straight to the Heart, Eye of the Storm, Bastard Son of Odin (born to kick your ass!) and Wings of Light were more than enough to keep the energy level truly high, resulting in some frantic mosh pits in the floor section, something kind of unexpected for a Battle Beast concert. Of course, all that was only possible due to another breathtaking, undisputed performance by one of the best vocalists of the current metal scene, the incendiary she-wolf Noora Louhimo, who had the entire crowd on the palm of her hands the entire time due to her undeniable charisma, onstage presence and soaring vocals. Moreover, she doesn’t stop dancing not even for a single second, leaving some of us fans breathless just by watching her moving around nonstop.

Also, it’s important to say that as now headliners, Battle Beast made sure they brought the big guns to North America, adding some wild and entertaining elements to their performance. For instance, there was a moment of whiskey drinking where they even shared some cups with the crowd, a more-than-colorful keys-drum-whatever machine guided by keyboardist Janne Björkroth, a cover version for Badfinger’s Without You sung by the band’s electrifying bassist Eero Sipilä, and a guitar-driven version of The Imperial March. And as the icing on the cake, right after that we were treated to a thrilling, pulverizing triumvirate of pure heavy music during the encore with Master of Illusion, King for a Day and Beyond the Burning Skies, putting a brilliant ending to a very successful night for the band, and leaving them more-than-eager to return to Toronto soon, as the city has become one of their favorite places in the world to play. Well, in my humble opinion, they should always return to Toronto as headliners, because they kick ass. PALJON KIITOKSIA, BATTLE BEAST!

Setlist
Circus of Doom
Straight to the Heart
Familiar Hell
Armageddon
Place That We Call Home
No More Hollywood Endings
Eye of the Storm
Without You (Badfinger cover)
Where Angels Fear to Fly
Bastard Son of Odin
Russian Roulette
Wings of Light
Eden

Encore:
The Force Theme / The Imperial March (John Williams cover)
Master of Illusion
King for a Day
Beyond the Burning Skies
Top Gun Anthem (Harold Faltermeyer song)

Band members
Noora Louhimo – vocals
Joona Björkroth – guitars, backing vocals
Juuso Soinio – guitars
Eero Sipilä – bass, backing vocals
Janne Björkroth – keyboards, orchestrations, backing vocals
Pyry Vikki – drums

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Concert Review – Blind Guardian (Rebel, Toronto, ON, 05/09/2024)

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The most talented bards and demons in the world took the city of Toronto by storm on a more than beautiful night in celebration of pure heavy music.

OPENING ACT: Night Demon

What a fantastic night together with the bards in Toronto, my friends! And all started when we decided NOT to park at the parking lot in front of the venue, the revamped Rebel, which looks amazing from the inside and with a really cozy and ample patio, but which is also a nightmare when it comes to leaving the parking lot after the show is over. The best option is parking at the Distillery District, which is cheaper and just a 15-20min walk from the venue, plus the fact there are countless good options to eat and drink there before heading to the show. And as we’re always all about the music, let’s cut to the chase and talk a little about the unique experience of watching live NIGHT DEMON and BLIND GUARDIAN during their breathtaking The God Machine Tour 2024, another striking event brought to the city by  Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I wouldn’t miss it for the world, and my excitement for seeing the bards after almost 20 years was beyond visible to anyone who knows me.

The doors at Rebel opened at 7pm, giving all concert goers enough time to have some drinks, chat outdoors (as it was a gorgeous night in Toronto, with a beautiful sunset), and buy some quality merch before Ventura, California’s own Heavy Metal trio NIGHT DEMON began their thrilling performance precisely at 8pm. Still promoting their 2023 album Outsider, the band formed of Jarvis Leatherby on vocals and bass, Armand John Anthony on the guitars, and Brian Wilson on drums put on a very energetic and fun warmup for Blind Guardian, impressing anyone who was already at the venue with their charisma and dexterity onstage. Keith said those guys sounded much more powerful live than in the studio, and I fully agree with him as the live versions of their songs do sound a lot better, which is an amazing thing because live music is what we truly love, right? And if you know nothing about those guys, go check their music on BandCamp and on Spotify, because they live and breathe Rock N’ Roll and you’ll certainly have a blast whenever they invade your city with their awesome creations.

Setlist
Prelude
Outsider
Screams in the Night
Escape From Beyond
Dawn Rider
The Howling Man
Beyond the Grave
The Wrath
Welcome to the Night
The Chalice
Night Demon

Band members
Jarvis Leatherby – vocals, bass
Armand John Anthony – guitars
Brian Wilson – drums

BLIND GUARDIAN

The excitement started to grow stronger and stronger inside Rebel until all hell broke loose when it was around 9:30pm, as German Power Metal bards BLIND GUARDIAN ignited their unforgettable performance in the city, already blasting our faces mercilessly with the all-time classic Imaginations From the Other Side. You know, when a band kicks off a show with such a deep, bold song like that, the night will be beyond amazing, of course. I bet all fans at the venue felt the exact same when André Olbrich, Marcus Siepen, Johan van Stratum, Frederik Ehmke, and obviously the band’s iconic frontman Hansi Kürsch hit the stage with their fantasy-fueled Power Metal almost nine years after their last show in Toronto.

Speaking of Hansi, I honestly don’t know how he has managed to sound the exact same for almost 40 years, stunning us all with his unique, deep vocals from start to finish. Seriously, that guy is a beast on vocals, never sounding tired or out of tune. His vocals are so impressive to the point you can play to me any live version of any of their songs, and I wouldn’t be able to say the year that was recorded. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what makes him one of the best vocalists and frontmen of the entire metal realm, and if you’ve never had a chance to see Hansi singing live, you don’t know what you’re missing. Let’s say it’s like a mandatory experience for anyone who enjoys good music, not only metal.

Back to the concert itself, the band blended some of their best, most majestic classics including Nightfall, Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill) and Lost in the Twilight Hall, and the biggest surprise of the night (at least for me, the thrilling Into the Storm, with newer songs from their 2022 album The God Machine, those being Blood of the Elves, Violent Shadows and Secrets of the American Gods, and don’t think that because those are new songs that they sounded out of place during their set; quite the contrary, the new songs had the same impact and energy of their classic, which goes in line with what I was saying about Hansi, as his vocals turn every Blind Guardian song into a timeless sonic voyage. The reaction of the fans to all songs, including the new ones, was fantastic, with endless fists in the air, horns raised high, lots of screaming, and even some mosh pits were generated during the concert’s faster songs and moments. The sync between the band and their fans was a thing of beauty the entire night, I must say.

Any Blind Guardian concert is not complete without The Bard’s Song – In the Forest, and of course Toronto also had the pleasure of singing it along with our beloved German bards. It was simply epic, with every single person at the venue putting their hearts and souls into singing, proving why that is one of the best metal ballads of all time. And what about the encore? I was honestly getting worried they didn’t play Bright Eyes during the “regular” set, but when Hansi and his henchmen began playing it during the encore I really felt it in my heart. Right after that, let’s say it was pure metal madness with the Power Metal hymn Valhalla, with it’s iconic chorus being sung in full force by everyone at the venue, making Hansi truly proud and excited with the more-than-warm reaction of the band’s Torontonian fans. When they started playing another undisputed classic, Mirror Mirror, closing their concert on a high note, I was just a tiny bit disappointed that Majesty was left out of the setlist in Toronto, but let’s say we can’t win it all, and that their setlist was 99.9% perfect, alright? Maybe next time they visit Toronto we’ll have the pleasure of seeing them playing that classic live, because based on their successful concert in the city, the bards will be back really, really soon, no doubt about that.

Setlist
Imaginations From the Other Side
Blood of the Elves
Nightfall
The Script for My Requiem
Violent Shadows
Skalds and Shadows
Into the Storm
Secrets of the American Gods
The Bard’s Song – In the Forest
Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill)
Lost in the Twilight Hall

Encore:
Sacred Worlds
Bright Eyes
Valhalla
Mirror Mirror

Band members
Hansi Kürsch – vocals
André Olbrich – lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars
Marcus Siepen – rhythm and acoustic guitars
Johan van Stratum – bass, backing vocals
Frederik Ehmke – drums

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Concert Review – Decapitated & Septicflesh (The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON, 05/03/2024)

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The city of Toronto witnessed this Friday one of the heaviest nights of the year so far, courtesy of four bands that definitely know how to unite violence and melody in their amazing music.

OPENING ACTS: Allegaeon and Kataklysm

Once again due to an insane combination of heavy traffic, heavy rain, no parking near The Phoenix Concert Theatre, and a huge and slow line to get inside the venue, I was “forced” to miss the first band of a night of sheer brutality and awesomeness, courtesy of ALLEGAEON, KATAKLYSM, SEPTICFLESH and DECAPITATED during their incendiary Cancer Culture Over North America 2024, another must-see event brought to a jam packed venue by the one and only Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. I’m starting to hate when concerts are booked at The Phoenix Concert Theatre, which might be a great venue once you’re inside, but parking near there and getting inside it for the shows is a true nightmare. Well, it is what it is, and I’ll try to leave earlier to be there on time for the next show (although I left my place almost THREE HOURS before the first band began their performance).

Fortunately, my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi was there to check out the amazing Denver, Colorado-based Technical/Melodic Death Metal outfit ALLEGAEON, who at 7:30pm sharp kicked off the night festivities. Having released the album Damnum back in 2022, plus an amazing new single named Iridescent this year, the band put on a fantastic show according to Keith. He said he would give them not just a 10 our of 10 for their musicianship, but a 12 out of 10. They loved that he dressed up in his Carcass apron and a server hat as their lead singer did in the video for Iridescent. He then met with them all at the merch table and chatted for a bit. Their guitarist Greg Burgess told him when he saw him in the photo pit he was dying with laughter on stage. Keith ended up giving the lead singer his server hat to wear for the next show, and got his apron all autographed. If you’re curious to listen to their amazing music, simply go to BandCamp or Spotify, and click HERE for all things Allegaeon. Next time I won’t miss them, even if I have to skip breakfast to do so.

Setlist
Threshold of Perception
1.618
Iridescent
Of Beasts and Worms
Gray Matter Mechanics – Apassionata Ex Machinea
Biomech – Vals No. 666

Band members
Ezra Haynes – vocals
Greg Burgess – guitars
Michael Stancel – guitars
Brandon Michael – bass
Jeff Saltzman – drums

At least I was able to get inside in time for Montréal, Quebec’s own Melodic Death/Groove Metal powerhouse KATAKLYSM, who kicked some serious ass on stage led by their talented frontman Maurizio Iacono. Blending old songs with new ones from their 2023 album Goliath (available on several streaming services like Spotify), the band demanded the crowd to keep moving inside the circle pit nonstop, turning up the heat at The Phoenix Concert Theatre to the point I wish it was still winter so that some cold air would enter the venue to freshen things up. Songs like Guillotine, The Killshot and The Black Sheep kept the circle pit moving in a wild and frantic manner until the very last second of their show, proving why they’re one of the driving forces of the extreme scene in Canada. If you’ve never seem Kataklysm live, just go for it. But please remember to be in good shape, do a lot of cardio beforehand, and even put on an armour, because their mosh pits are simply brutal.

Setlist
Goliath
Push the Venom
Guillotine
Narcissist
The Killshot
Die as a King
As I Slither
Crippled & Broken
Bringer of Vengeance
The Black Sheep

Band members
Maurizio Iacono – lead vocals
Jean-François Dagenais – guitars
Stéphane Barbe – bass
James Payne – drums

SEPTICFLESH

If you think after Kataklysm things were going to get any lighter, you’re absolutely wrong; quite the contrary, when Greek Atmospheric/Symphonic Death Metal beast SEPTICFLESH hit the stage (without one of their guitarists, Sotiris Vayenas, for an unknown reason), a visceral, Stygian ode to darkness took over the entire city of Toronto, driving their fans crazy during their entire co-headlining performance. All songs played, including newer songs the likes of Neuromancer and Hierophant, from their latest opus Modern Primitive, released in 2022, plus of course classics such as Portrait of a Headless Man and Anubis, were played to perfection by the band, with Spiros Antoniou sounding inhumane on vocals while Kerim “Krimh” Lechner sounded simply bestial behind his drums. Seriously, he’s fantastic, adding endless heaviness to the band’s already demonic music. Just like Rotting Christ, Septicflesh proudly carry the flag of Greek extreme music everywhere they go, and if you’ve never seen them live, don’t miss the chance whenever they visit your city because they do offer a truly unique sonic experience.

Setlist
Portrait of a Headless Man
Pyramid God
Neuromancer
The Vampire from Nazareth
Hierophant
Martyr
Communion
A Desert Throne
Anubis
Dark Art

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

DECAPITATED

It was already past 10:30pm (yes, it was a long night of first-class heavy music) when the co-headliners that were closing the night DECAPITATED destroyed The Phoenix Concert theatre with their fusion of Technical Death Metal and Groove Metal. Those Polish metallers didn’t show a single drop of mercy for our souls during their demonic set, with their new songs from their 2022 album Cancer Culture like the title-track Cancer Culture, Just a Cigarette and Last Supper blending perfectly with old school tunes including Spheres of Madness and Iconoclast. Frontman Rafał Rasta Piotrowski sounded demented on vocals, keeping the circle pits moving wildly until the very end. Damn, I think there were mosh pits happening even inside the washrooms, and even at the Domino’s Pizza located a couple of blocks from the venue. What a night of insanity and heavy music combined to bring us avid fans some top-of-the-line entertainment during such difficult times in Toronto, and I can’t wait to witness Decapitated crushing our cranial skulls again in the city in the near future.

Setlist
From the Nothingness With Love
Cancer Culture
Just a Cigarette
Babylon’s Pride
Post(?) Organic
Lying and Weak
Spheres of Madness
Earth Scar
Never
Iconoclast
Last Supper
Planet Caravan (Black Sabbath song)

Band members
Rafał Rasta Piotrowski – vocals
Wacław Vogg Kiełtyka – guitars
Paweł Pavlo Pasek – bass
James Stewart – drums

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Album Review – Unleash The Archers / Phantoma (2024)

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Canada’s most innovative Power Metal institution returns with a bold and thrilling concept album, recounting the trials of AI gaining sentience on a dystopian, near-future planet earth.

Vancouver/Victoria, British Columbia, Canada-based Melodic Death/Power Metal powerhouse Unleash The Archers does not shirk from the tough stuff. Their unique blend of heavy music, pop, and prog comes together with brutal force on their brand new album, entitled Phantoma, the striking follow-up to their 2020 opus Abyss. Produced and recorded by Andrew Saunders and JJ Heath at Silverside Sound, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, and displaying a futuristic, dystopian artwork by Dusty Peterson, the new beast by vocalist Brittney Slayes, guitarists Grant Truesdell and Andrew Kingsley, bassist Nick Miller, and drummer Scott Buchanan concerns itself with the influx of AI and what the future looks like with it involved in our art and society. Led by the album’s protagonist Phantoma, a Phase 4 / Network Tier 0 unit – model A, the story recounts the trials of AI gaining sentience on a dystopian, near-future planet earth, while musically speaking the album represents a huge leap forward in the band’s towering trajectory.

Just hit play and sounds of nature will instantly blend with the guitars by Grant and Andrew in the opener Human Era, before Britney comes ripping with her deep, powerful vocals in a gentle but impactful Power Metal tune, flowing into the title-track Ph4/NT0mA, where the band puts the pedal to the metal and delivers sheer adrenaline led by the classic beats by Scott, resulting in an amazing song that will drive fans crazy whenever played live. Let’s keep galloping together with the band to the future in Buried in Code, another fast-paced composition where Britney’s striking vocals walk hand in hand with the riffage by the band’s guitar duo, supported by the rumbling bass by Nick, followed by The Collective, starting in an ethereal manner before exploding into more of their ass-kicking Melodic Power Metal, and it will surely inspire some mosh pits during their live performances. And we then face Green & Glass, with its darkly poetic lyrics declaimed by Britney (“All around me, I see / Formations of green and glass shining in the sun / Never before have I seen such a beautiful display of how it was once / Before the earth was changed, they ruined every / Mesmerized, in a dream / Roaming so aimlessly, blinded by it all / Wonders abound in a way reminiscent of a time they can no longer recall”) being boosted by a delicate yet piercing sonority.

Then investing in an 80’s Synth Pop-inspired sound, Unleash The Archers will penetrate deep inside your soul in Gods in Decay, with Nick’s bass sounding massive while the band’s guitar duo embellishes the airwaves with their trademark riffs and solos. After an overdose of lightning Power Metal, the band brings forward the power ballad Give It Up or Give It All, which sounds even more 80’s than the previous song, albeit a bit generic in the end. Ghosts in the Mist, the first single of the album, offers more of their stylish words (“From out of shadows, and without warning / They’ve come to join the war, who’re they fighting for / Like phantoms in the dark, they’re hunting / They silently command who is the unseen hand”) with the keyboards adding a futuristic vibe to the song’s very melodic rhythm; whereas Seeking Vengeance is one more lecture in pure Heavy Metal where the incendiary riffs by Grant and Andrew sound fantastic, not to mention the song’s atmosphere is also very pleasant, melodic and thrilling. Lastly, we’re treated to the epic, cinematic finale Blood Empress, a darker, more melodic tune by the band that concludes the Phantoma storyline on a vibrant note, with Scott kicking some as usual on drums.

Britney and the boys are waiting for you to join them in the dystopian future of Phantoma on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify, and you should definitely purchase a copy of the best Power Metal album of the year so far by clicking HERE or HERE, letting their music flow through your brain like perfect coding. The band is now embarking on a wild, thrilling tour to all four corners of the earth, and if I were you I wouldn’t miss the chance to see them kicking some ass live with their old classic and brand new tunes, as Unleash The Archers are definitely one of the driving forces of the current Canadian metal scene. They’re heading to the future singing about the future while remaining loyal to their roots, and that’s what makes Phantoma so compelling, a timeless album about the past, present and future of mankind that will certainly take the name of the band to even further lands.

Best moments of the album: Ph4/NT0mA, Buried in Code, Gods in Decay and Seeking Vengeance.

Worst moments of the album: Give It Up or Give It All.

Released in 2024 Napalm Records

Track listing
1. Human Era 5:40
2. Ph4/NT0mA 6:30
3. Buried in Code 3:39
4. The Collective 5:53
5. Green & Glass 5:30
6. Gods in Decay 5:02
7. Give It Up or Give It All 7:35
8. Ghosts in the Mist 5:46
9. Seeking Vengeance 5:22
10. Blood Empress 5:10

Band members
Brittney Slayes – vocals
Grant Truesdell – guitars, additional vocals
Andrew Kingsley – guitars, harsh growls, additional vocals, synths
Nick Miller – bass
Scott Buchanan – drums

Concert Review – Raven & Artillery (Hard Luck Bar, Toronto, ON, 04/20/2024)

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All hell broke loose at the Hard Luck Bar in Toronto thanks to a massive night of pure metal music with seven insane bands, spearheaded by the iconic Artillery and Raven.

OPENING ACTS: Potential Threat, Vapor, Wicked, Lutharo and Vicious Rumors

As mentioned in the two previous concert reviews here, I wasn’t able to attend the absolute metal party at the Hard Luck Bar on Saturday with the bands POTENTIAL THREAT, VAPOR, WICKED, LUTHARO, VICIOUS RUMORS, ARTILLERY and RAVEN (yes, all those amazing bands played on the same night at the same venue) on a co-headlining extravaganza during Raven’s All Hell’s Breaking Loose Across North America Tour 2024 and Artillery’s 40th Anniversary North American Tour 2024, a mega event once again organized by Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. However, although I couldn’t be there due to my trip to New York and Newark to see the almighty Judas Priest, my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi was there on a double duty, taking care of all photos and also of the review, sending me a quick summary of all the metal madness going on at one of the most famous pubs in Toronto.

The first band to hit the stage, precisely at 6pm, was San Francisco, California’s own Thrash Metal veterans POTENTIAL THREAT, who despite being formed back in 1986 only have three official albums released, the latest one being Threat to Society, from 2019. Formed of vocalist and guitarist Mike Noble, guitarist Daniel Sheridan, bassist Damien Sisson, and drummer Kenny Noble, the band was on fire during their entire concert, leaving Keith eager for more of their music. I don’t think they’re on Spotify, though, but you can find some of their albums on BandCamp and probably on other streaming services, so if you love some mosh pits, just go for it as you’re in for a real treat (or maybe I should say a real “threat”).

Band members
Mike Noble – vocals, guitars
Daniel Sheridan – guitars, backing vocals
Damien Sisson – bass, backing vocals
Kenny Noble – drums, backing vocals

After a short break it was then time for Geyserville, California’s Thrash/Groove Metal band VAPOR to kick some ass on the small but incendiary stage of the pub, getting the crowd going inside the mosh pits and, of course, driving the temperature up considerably at the Hard Luck Bar. It was another excellent round of thrashing songs for the fans at the pub, and you can get to know more about Vapor and their music and go check their wicked creations on BandCamp and on Spotify in case you’re curious to know how those great musicians sound when they get together in the name of our good old Thrash Metal.

Band members
Nate Klug – vocals, guitars
Tom Barrett – lead guitars
Nick Altenburg bass, backing vocals
Edgar Canaan – drums

The third band of such an extensive night of rock and metal was American Glam Metal/Rock N’ Roll squad WICKED, whose last release was the 2022 album Sunburn (available on Spotify, as well as their previous albums), and according to Keith they brought a more Guns N’  Roses-inspired vibe to the venue, with their long blond hair waving around nonstop. I would say a weird choice after two devastating Thrash Metal bands, but the fans enjoyed their songs a lot and the energy at the venue kept flowing in an amazing way, so kudos for the organizers for adding them to the bill. Hence, if you want to know more about this electrifying Rochester, New York-based band, you can find all information you can imagine about them by clicking HERE.

Band members
Danny – vocals, guitar
Scotty V – guitars, backing vocals
Chad Michael – bass, backing vocals
Gunnar – drums, backing vocals

Perhaps the band I regret missing the most from Saturday’s party is Hamilton, Ontario, Canada’s own Melodic Death Metal beast LUTHARO, as they’re by far one of the driving forces of the current Canadian scene. Having just released the breathtaking album Chasing Euphoria, the band led by the stunning Krista Shipperbottom delivered a breathtaking show to an even bigger crowd, which was huge by then, inspiring everyone to slam into mosh pit after mosh pit. Go check more of the amazing music by this Canadian institution for the “Hammer” on Spotify, or click HERE for all things Lutharo. On a side note, Keith mentioned Krista should be one of our metal ladies of the month, and as I love Lutharo I think that will happen still in 2024, so stay tuned for an overdose of Krista sooner than you can scream “born to ride”!

Setlist
Gates of Enchantment
Reaper’s Call
Ruthless Bloodline
Wings of Agony
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

The very last of the opening acts of such an amazing night of heavy music in Toronto was Santa Rosa, California-based Heavy/Power Metal masters VICIOUS RUMORS, who are celebrating their 45th anniversary by performing their critically acclaimed first album, Soldiers Of The Night, in its entirety for the first time in North America. Keith mentioned a lot of people were there to see them, elevating their status to maybe what we can call the ” third headliner” of the night, and that by the time they hit the stage the venue was so jam packed that he had a really hard time taking photos of their show as the crowd was not letting the photographers go up front to do their job. Sometimes people get way too excited with heavy music, and I gotta say I love that.

Setlist
Premonition
Ride (Into the Sun)
Medusa
Soldiers of the Night
Murder
March or Die
Abandoned
Replicant
Digital Dictator
Minute to Kill
Don’t Wait for Me

Band members
Brian Allen – vocals
Geoff Thorpe – guitars, additional vocals
Gunnar DüGrey – guitars
Robin Utbult – bass
Larry Howe – drums

ARTILLERY

The first headliner of the night was Danish Thrash Metal institution ARTILLERY, playing 44 shows in 26 states during their 40th Anniversary North American Tour, and according to Keith they kicked some ass Saturday night in Toronto. No idea why, but Keith said that Edgar Canaan of Vapor played drums for Artillery on Saturday in Toronto as their regular drummer Frederik Kjelstrup Hansen wasn’t there, but also that such minor detail didn’t take any energy from their demolishing performance. Quite the contrary, they killed it, and in my opinion Artillery are one of those bands that are mandatory to see live at least once in your lifetime if you consider yourself a true metalhead.

Setlist
The Devils Symphony
The Almighty
Turn up the Rage
By Inheritance
The Face of Fear
Bombfood
Legions
10.000 Devils
Khomaniac
Deeds of Darkness
Terror Squad

Band members
Martin Steene – vocals
Michael Stützer – lead guitars
René Loua – guitars
Peter Thorslund – bass
Edgar Canaan – drums

RAVEN

And last but not least, the jam packed Hard Luck Bar was destroyed by ruthless Heavy Metal veterans RAVEN, during their All Hell’s Breaking Loose Across North America Tour 2024, obviously promoting their 2023 opus All Hell’s Breaking Loose. As soon as they hit the stage, it was an avalanche of Heavy Fuckin’ Metal from Great Britain right in the faces of everyone who was in the front row, with John Gallagher, Mark Gallagher and Mike Heller bringing the best heavy tunes you can think of for the total delight of the massive crowd that took over the Hard Luck Bar. Don’t forget to keep an eye on all things Raven by clicking HERE, in special their amazing live concerts, because once they take the stages of your city you know that all hell will break loose.

Setlist
Destroy All Monsters
Hell Patrol
The Power
Surf the Tsunami
Turn of the Screw
All for One
Rock Until You Drop
Guitar Solo
Faster Than the Speed of Light
Inquisitor
Bass Solo
All Hell’s Breaking Loose
On and On
Break the Chain
Rock Bottom (UFO cover)
Supernaut (Black Sabbath cover)
Symptom of the Universe (Black Sabbath cover)
Victim of Changes (Judas Priest cover)
Chain Saw

Band members
John Gallagher – lead vocals, bass, 12-string bass
Mark Gallagher – guitars, backing vocals
Mike Heller – drums

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Concert Review – Wind Rose (The Concert Hall, Toronto, ON, 04/18/2024)

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The Concert Hall hosted one of the most melodic, symphonic and fun nights of heavy music of the year in Toronto so far this past Thursday.

OPENING ACT: Xandria

Due to my trip to New York to see them mighty Judas Priest on Friday April 19, I wasn’t able to join my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi at The Concert Hall (the whole thing moved from Lee’s Palace to The Concert Hall due to the high demand for tickets) on Thursday night to enjoy XANDRIA and WIND ROSE during the Toronto stop of their North American Warfront Tour 2024, another classy event brought to the city by Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. It’s getting to a point where I need a clone (or two) to be able to attend all concerts that I would like to, because I also had to miss Raven and Artillery on Saturday, but let’s leave this one for another review and focus now on the amazing performances by Xandria and Wind Rose, because as Keith said both kicked some serious ass on stage.

The opener was a band that’s becoming a fan-favorite to everyone who enjoys some classic European Symphonic Metal in the city of Toronto, Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany-based act XANDRIA. Keith said they put on a solid performance a usual, and I’m more than certain that was exactly what the Greek goddess Ambre Vourvahis, guitarists Marco Heubaum and Rob Klawonn, bassist Tim Schwarz, and drummer Dimitrio Gatsios brought to their avid Torontonian fans Thursday night, as they were superb when they opened for Kamelot in the summer of 2023 in the city. Blending songs from their excellent 2023 album The Wonders Still Awaiting with older tunes, plus their brand new single Universal, the band didn’t disappoint their fans at all, delivering a more-than-proper warmup for the main attraction of the night, and who knows, maybe we’ll see Xandria headlining a tour in Canada soon, right?

Setlist
You Will Never Be Our God
Death to the Holy
Reborn
Forevermore
Universal
Your Stories I’ll Remember
Two Worlds
Nightfall

Band members
Ambre Vourvahis – vocals
Marco Heubaum – guitars
Rob Klawonn – guitars
Tim Schwarz – bass
Dimitrio Gatsios – drums

WIND ROSE

After a short break, it was time for the main attraction of the night, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy-based Folk/Power Metal horde WIND ROSE, to hit the stage at The Concert Hall for the delight of all fans at the venue eager to witness their always fun performances, promoting their 2022 album Warfront. Keith said it was his first time seeing those guys live and that he was truly impressed with their show. Their energy was huge, and had him “digging a hole through The Concert Hall floor” (whatever he means by that, most probably something that happened during the song Diggy Diggy Hole). Keith mentioned he will definitely see them again whenever they return to Toronto, and if you’re curious to know more about the band you can find all of their creations on BandCamp and on Spotify (or on any other streaming service). I’m definitely eager to also see them live for the first time ever, so hopefully they’ll get back to Toronto sooner than later, and without any other pre-booked concert to block me from attending their show.

Setlist
Army of Stone
Fellows of the Hammer
Drunken Dwarves
Mine Mine Mine!
Gates of Ekrund
The King Under the Mountain
The Battle of the Five Armies
The Art of War
Tales of War
Together We Rise
Diggy Diggy Hole (The Yogscast cover)
Diggy Diggy Hole (Dance Remix)
Tomorrow Has Come
I Am the Mountain

Band members
Francesco Cavalieri – lead vocals
Claudio Falconcini – guitars, backing vocals
Federico Meranda – keyboards
Cristiano Bertocchi – bass
Federico Gatti – drums

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