A feast of top-of-the-line Metalcore made in the United States and Sweden warmed up the hearts of all Torontonian fans on a cold and windy night in the city.
***Review by Keith Ibbitson, with photos by Ryan Miles Leblanc***
OPENING ACT: Until I Wake
The streets of Toronto were cold and windy on the night of November 30, but The Opera House had their doors open early to welcome around 300 Metalcore fans inside to keep them warm, have some cold beverages and listen to great music, courtesy of the opener UNTIL I WAKE, our close neighbours hailing from Buffalo, New York, in the United States, and Swedish metalcore monsters IMMINENCE.
UNTIL I WAKE started off the evening at 7:50pm. It was the band’s first time in Toronto and they did not disappoint. Their raw energy, blistering rhythm and powerful lyrics started the crowd off into a head banging frenzy. One interesting fact about Until I Wake is that they had a guest vocalist as they are trying to find a new singer. Well, I personally chatted with some of the band members after their set and asked who he was, but all they could tell me is that they would like him to be the new frontman for them. Such mysterious guest singer put in his work last night, jumping off the stage and onto the barrier to interact with concert goers, and he even joined them in the center of it all to start a huge circle pit before getting back on the stage. If you want to know more about the band and their music, simply click HERE and also listen to their discography on BandCamp and on Spotify, including the recently released deluxe edition of their 2022 album Inside My Head.
Setlist
For the Record
Sinking Under
Cold
Octane
Forsaken
Fool’s Paradise
Hope Ur Happy
Legacy
Inside My Head
Band members
Unknown – vocals
August Lee Geitner – guitar
Ryan Ridley – bass
Alex Curtin – drums
After a short break, more precisely at 9pm, Sweden’s own IMMINENCE got on the stage and things heated up, with bodies being jammed so tight together the heat in the building was humid and sweaty. Imminence is a band known for their unique hard rock sound and melodic electric violin, which I thought would sound weird but wow, I was pleasantly surprised as I have never seen them before. They played a one hour and fifteen minute set, and the crowd at The Opera House sang along with the band every song from what I could see. The love the fans have for the band is outstanding. In addition, Imminence’s sound guys did an absolutely stellar job, making them sound like it’s right from the album and their own lighting tech simply nailed the strobe and color bars as well. You can also click HERE for all things Imminence, and stream all of their metallic creations on Spotify, including their new singles Come Hell or High Water, Desolation, Death by a Thousand Cuts and Heaven Shall Burn, all part of their current setlist.
Setlist
Paralyzed
Ghost
Erase
The Sickness
This Is Goodbye
Come Hell or High Water
Desolation
Surrender
Death by a Thousand Cuts
Alleviate
Saturated Soul
Infectious
Chasing Shadows
∞
Heaven in Hiding
Heaven Shall Burn
Temptation
Band members
Eddie Berg – lead vocals, violin
Harald Barrett – lead guitar, backing vocals
Alex Arnoldsson – rhythm guitar
Peter Hanström – drums
Christian Höijer – bass
THE HEADBANGING MOOSE 