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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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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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Concert Review – Insomnium (The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON, 04/14/2024)

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The third night in a row of first-class heavy music in Toronto was a feast of melody and darkness, courtesy of one of the pillars of Nordic Melodic Death Metal.

OPENING ACTS: Wilderun and Omnium Gatherum

Last but not least, Sunday night was the final round of one of the most metallic weekends in the past few years in Toronto, once again at The Phoenix Concert Theatre, and this time with WILDERUN, OMNIUM GATHERUM and INSOMNIUM during their North American Tour 2024. For the third night in a row, Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were there to cover another awesome event organized by Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment, and with much better traffic conditions than Friday and Saturday, basically everyone was able to get to the venue way ahead to enjoy some chat with friends. have a few drinks, buy some merch, and obviously have a good time already with the opening act of the night, even with the doors opening earlier than the previous two days.

And the opening act this time was Boston, Massachusetts-based Symphonic Progressive/Folk Metal band WILDERUN, a band that I highly recommend for fans of Opeth. To be honest, I actually prefer Wilderun’s music to Opeth’s, as I’m not sure why exactly but they do sound heavier to me. Still promoting their 2022 album Epigone, the band formed of Evan Anderson Berry, Wayne Ingram, Daniel Müller and Jonathan Teachey put on a solid performance to the point there were even mosh pits when it’s not normal to see that type of reaction when the music played is a lot more progressive and smoother like theirs. The band even acknowledged that, saying it was the first mosh pit of the tour for them, proving how much Toronto enjoyed their show. Hence, if you want to enjoy their detailed, intricate creations, you can stream all of their albums on Spotify, and I honestly can’t wait to see Wilderun live again in the near future.

Setlist
Distraction II
Identifier
The Tyranny of Imagination
Far From Where Dreams Unfurl

Band members
Evan Anderson Berry – vocals, rhythm & acoustic guitars, mandolin, keyboards
Wayne Ingram – lead & acoustic guitars, backing vocals, keyboards, orchestrations
Daniel Müller – bass, hammered dulcimer, backing vocals
Jonathan Teachey – drums, backing vocals

The second band of the night needs no introduction. Hailing from the always beautiful Finland, Melodic Death Metal squad OMNIUM GATHERUM turned up the heat considerably Sunday night with their undisputed fusion of melody and violence, with their setlist encompassing songs from their whole career (all available on Spotify), including their 2021 album Origin, and their 2023 EP Slasher, with the opener Slasher already igniting some action on the floor section. The entire band sounded amazing during their set, but of course their forntman Jukka Pelkonen stole the show with his deep roars and his amazing interaction with the crowd, which obviously led to a warm and vibrant reaction from the fans. Also, their guitarists Markus Vanhala and Nick Cordle kicked some serious ass on stage, making each song even heavier and more striking, and please keep those names in mind as there was more of the duo right after Omnium Gatherum finalized their show.

Setlist
Slasher
Paragon
Reckoning
Sacred
Soul Journeys
Gods Go First
Planet Scale
Frontiers
White Palace
New Dynamic

Band members
Jukka Pelkonen – vocals
Markus Vanhala – guitars
Nick Cordle – guitars
Mikko Kivistö – bass
Aapo Koivisto – keyboards
Atte Pesonen – drums 

INSOMNIUM

It was just a little past 9pm when Finland’s own Melodic Death Metal masters INSOMNIUM hit the stage at The Phoenix Concert Theatre for another powerful performance, just as great as when they played in the city alongside Enslaved last year, with their setlist being very similar to that, obviously focusing on their 2023 album Anno 1696. The opener 1696, followed by Ephemeral and White Christ (and we do need an Insomnium/Rotting Christ co-headlining tour just so Mr. Sakis Tolis finally joins the stage with Insomnium to sing this beautiful song), were extremely intense, enfolding and dark, and the reaction of their avid fans was fantastic as well. Also, I must say that although Lilian and The Rapids are new songs, they already sound like classics live so good they are.

Now remember when I asked you to keep the names of Nick Cordle and Markus Vanhala in mind? Well, those two guy are on double duty this entire tour, being the guitarists for both Omnium Gatherum AND Insomnium. Markus has already been playing with Insomnium for quite some time, so nothing new about that, but Nick had to take the guitars duties last minute due to a very weird reason. Guitarist Jani Liimatainen simply “disappeared” from the map a few weeks ago (well, rumor has it that he’s spending some time with a girl in Brazil, and I feel like a reporter from TMZ by writing this here) and was therefore kicked out of the band, plus the fact I have no idea why Ville Friman is not touring with Insomnium this year, so it was up to Nick and Markus to be responsible for all riffs and solos during this entire tour. They’re doing a fantastic job, by the way.

After lots and lots of horns in the air, mosh pits, and a killer encore with The Primeval Dark, While We Sleep (and I might sound repetitive, but this song always sounds superb to my ears when I see the band live or when I listen to its studio version) and Heart Like a Grave, it was time for Insomnium to say goodbye to Toronto, but of course promising they’ll be back soon for another captivating show. You can stay up to date with all things Insomnium by clicking HERE, including their tour dates, and I don’t think you’ll want to miss one of the pillars of Nordic Melodic Death Metal when those beyond talented musicians pay your city a visit, right? And for me, after a wild weekend full of first-class metal music, I’ll have only a few days of break before I fly in the direction of the Metal Gods. Oh yeah.

Setlist
1696
Ephemeral
White Christ
Change of Heart
Lilian
And Bells They Toll
The Rapids
The Gale
Mortal Share
Song of the Dusk

Encore:
The Primeval Dark
While We Sleep
Heart Like a Grave

Band members
Niilo Sevänen – lead vocals, bass
Markus Vanhala – guitars, clean vocals
Nick Cordle – guitars, clean vocals
Markus Hirvonen – drums

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Concert Review – Korpiklaani (The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON, 04/13/2024)

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A night full of melody, pirates, sauna, beer, vodka, dancing and circle pits to warm up the hearts of all fans of good heavy music in Toronto.

OPENING ACTS: Illumishade and Visions Of Atlantis

Round 2 of a very metal weekend in Toronto started with “round 2 of very bad traffic”, taking me over an hour to reach once again The Phoenix Concert Theatre when it should have taken me only about 35 or 40 minutes in total this Saturday night. Well, at least this time I was able to see all bands, those being ILLUMISHADE, VISIONS OF ATLANTIS and KORPIKLAANI, during their party-like Rankarumpu North American Tour 2024, one more unforgettable event organized by the unstoppable Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. My friend Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were a bit tired from the previosu night of brutality by Thy Art Is Murder, but as soon as the first band hit the stage the adrenaline started to flow and our batteries charged up quickly.

That first band was Switzerland’s Symphonic/Progressive Metal/Rock outfit ILLUMISHADE, and let’s say they won the hearts of every single person at the venue instantly with their talent, charisma, and passion for what they do. Of course all band members were great, but it was their frontwoman Fabienne Erni who stole the show with a hypnotizing performance, with her soaring vocals and beautiful moves captivating the eyes and ears of everyone at the venue. The band has recently released the album Another Side of You, available on BandCamp and on Spotify, with their setlist being almost entirely based on that album, and with songs like Here We Are and Cloudreader sounding awesome live. I really hope they return to the city sooner than later for another great show, because they’re an amazing new band from the Swiss scene and they’re definitely going places based on the quality of their music.

Setlist
Elegy
Enemy
Here We Are
Riptide
In the Darkness
Cloudreader
Tales of Time
World’s End

Band members
Fabienne Erni – vocals, piano
Jonas Wolf – guitars
Mirjam Skal – synths, orchestration
Yannick Urbanczik – bass
Marc Friedrich – drums

After a quick break, the venue was taken by storm by the most beloved pirates to ever arise from Austria. Yes, you read that correctly, as I’m talking about Melodic/Symphonic Power Metal privateers VISIONS OF ATLANTIS, who put on a fantastic show for our total delight. Spearheaded by one of the most charismatic, talented and charming duos of the entire Power Metal scene, the stunning Clémentine Delauney (what a voice, my friends… what a voice!) and the electrifying Michele Guaitoli, the band brought a storm of heavy music to all fans at the venue, blending songs form their most recent album Pirates, like Master the Hurricane and the extremely catchy Clocks, with new tunes like the cheesy but awesomely fun Armada, from their upcoming album Pirates II – Armada, to be released on July 5. Their show was so full of energy to the point there were several mosh pits going on during some of their faster songs, all of course led by Michele who had all fans on the palm of his pirate hand the whole time. You can enjoy their music on BandCamp and on Spotify, as usual, and board their pirate ship when they invade your city for a sweet live concert. HAIL JOLLY ROGER!

Setlist
Master the Hurricane
Clocks
Mercy
Tonight I’m Alive
Heroes of the Dawn
Monsters
Armada
Melancholy Angel
Pirates Will Return
Legion of the Seas

Band members
Clémentine Delauney – female vocals
Michele Guaitoli – male vocals
Christian Douscha – guitars
Herbert Glos – bass
Thomas Caser – drums

KORPIKLAANI

If you have never seen the incendiary Finnish Folk Metal crew KORPIKLAANI live in your life, you have no idea what you’re missing. Let’s say that from the very first notes of the song Kotomaa, from their brand new opus Rankarumpu (to be reviewed here at The Headbanging Moose soon), it was a wild party with lots of dancing, beer, vodka, the heat of a real sauna, and so on, driving all fans crazy inside the venue. The last time I saw the band live was way back in 2014 during Paganfest America Part V (yes, that festival existed one day in Toronto), but I must say this Saturday the band was a lot tighter, more professional, more vibrant and heavier than ever, with of course frontman Jonne Järvelä stealing the spotlight with his inebriate vocals and classy dance moves.

Their setlist was a thing of beauty, blending old school songs like Wooden Pints and Happy Little Boozer with several new ones including Aita, the title-track Rankarumpu, and the breathtaking Saunaan, proving the band is in great shape and form in their new album. Also, it’s always fun to witness Sami Perttula on the accordion and Olli Vänskä on violin live, as their instruments bring an amazing vibe to all of the band’s songs, and of course that translates into endless dancing and jumping inside the circle pit (which was VERY intense, by the way). Well, let’s say things got even faster and rowdier inside the pit during the encore when they played the classics Beer Beer and Vodka, proving booze will always be the best fuel for any heavy music party, leaving all fans eager for more Korpiklaani the second their wild show was over. You can keep up to date with all things Korpiklaani by clicking HERE, and DO NOT miss their live concerts in your city or wherever you are, alright? VITTU, PERKELE, SAATANA!

Setlist
Kotomaa
Wooden Pints
A Man With a Plan
Happy Little Boozer
Journey Man
Ievan polkka
Gotta Go Home (Boney M. cover)
Aita
Tuli kokko
Pidot
Leväluhta
Sanaton maa
Rankarumpu
Pixies Dance
Juokse sinä humma
Tapa sen kun kerkeet

Encore:
Viima
Metsämies
Saunaan
Beer Beer
Vodka
Outro (Mother Earth)

Band members
Jonne Järvelä – vocals, acoustic guitar
Kalle “Cane” Savijärvi – guitar
Jarkko Aaltonen – bass
Sami Perttula – accordion
Olli Vänskä – violin
Samuli Mikkonen – drums, percussion

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Concert Review – Thy Art Is Murder (The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON, 04/12/2024)

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If you love mosh pits from the bottom of your blackened heart, then Friday night in Toronto was the place to be, courtesy of four insane bands in a feast of pure, brutal Deathcore.

OPENING ACTS: Snuffed on Sight, Signs of the Swarm and Angelmaker

I have no idea what’s happening with the traffic to get to Toronto. I mean, it has always been bad, but this weekend it seems that things got even worse, which delayed my arrival at The Phoenix Concert Theatre to see SNUFFED ON SIGHT, SIGNS OF THE SWARM, ANGELMAKER and THY ART IS MURDER kill everything and everyone during the Toronto stop of their Godlike North America Tour 2024, another fantastic event brought to the city by Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment, and “day 1” of my more-than-awesome “metal weekend” with three days of shows in a row. Besides the heavy traffic to get in and out of the city, there was also a lot of wind and rain, but nothing that could stop a horde of avid Deathcore and Death Metal fans to invade the venue and generate some of the wildest mosh pits I’ve ever seen live. Holy shit, the kids were mental inside the pit, with the action flowing nonstop until the very last second.

Due to traffic, I couldn’t make it in time to see San Francisco, California-based Brutal Death Metal/Hardcore act SNUFFED ON SIGHT, but fortunately my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi was there to take some wild pictures of the band, and to confirm what I suspected after listening to their 2023 album Smoke, that they’re extremely heavy and really fun to see live. If you want to experience their fury, you can stream their sick creations on BandCamp, Spotify, or any other streaming service, as well as get to know more about the band by clicking HERE, and as soon as you realize how brutally amazing this band is, you’ll be smarter than me and plan your trip ahead of time to be able to see them kicking some serious ass on stage.

Setlist
Intro
Blunt Cough
Time 2 Dip
Dummy
(smoke break)
Smoke
All Talk
Slippin

Band members
Seven Kane – vocals
Walid Gad – guitars
Spencer Metala – bass
Kendric DiStefano – drums

Although I had to miss Snuffed on Sight, I was lucky enough to witness live one of the heaviest, most insane concerts ever, courtesy of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s own Deathcore beast SIGNS OF THE SWARM. Led by the amazing frontman David Simonich, the band delivered sheer violence, groove and fire during their short but extremely destructive set, playing songs form their most recent album Amongst the Low & Empty such as the title-track Amongst the Low & Empty, Tower of Torsos and Pray for Death. The circle pits, walls of death and crowd surfing were freakin’ insane during their whole concert, showing how electrifying their music is (and you can check it out yourself on Spotify or by clicking HERE). I can’t wait to see those guys again live, but I’ll be sure I have some sort of body armor to endure their sick mosh pits, no doubt about that.

Setlist
Amongst the Low & Empty
Tower of Torsos
Pray for Death
Borrowed Time
Between Fire & Stone
Dreamkiller
Malady

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

Next on the bill was North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based Deathcore infantry ANGELMAKER, and yet again The Phoenix Concert Theatre became a hurricane of mosh pits thanks to their incendiary performance on stage. It’s interesting that they were able to fit all seven members of the band on stage, because not only they have three guitarists, but they also have two demented vocalists, Casey Tyson-Pearce and Mike Greenwood, and oh boy, their double vocal attack is beyond infernal. Playing songs the likes of Godless, Hollow Heart and Leech, it was a wild ride together with those Canadians, keeping the action in the mosh pit moving as fast as a shark hunting for food. Go check their crazy creations on BandCamp and on Spotify, and don’t miss the chance to see those seven wicked musicians live whenever they hit your city, as it’s absolutely worth it.

Setlist
Radiance in the Light of a Dying Sun
The Bridge Between
Suffer Forever
Day/Day
Godless
Gutless
Shia LaBeouf
Vengeance
A Dark Omen
Hollow Heart
Leech

Band members
Casey Tyson-Pearce – vocals
Mike Greenwood – vocals
Colton Bennett – guitars
Matt Perrin – guitars
Johnny Ciardullo – guitars
Cole Rideout – bass
Steven Sanchez – drums

THY ART IS MURDER

After three insane openers, it was then time for the main attraction of the night, Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia’s own Deathcore institution THY ART IS MURDER, to crush the souls of all concert goers with their visceral, harsh and furious performance. Promoting their 2023 album Godlike, the band now fronted by the talented Tyler Miller, of Australian Technical Deathcore band Aversions Crown (as the iconic Chris “CJ” McMahon has recently quit music for good, starting a career in real estate) kicked some ass during their solid performance (just as good as the last time I saw them opening for Cannibal Corpse back in 2019), with songs like Slaves Beyond Death, Death Squad Anthem, Make America Hate Again, Godlike, and of course Puppet Master, driving all fans crazy inside the wild mosh pits that kept moving frantically in the middle of the floor section. Leaving concerts earlier than the end seems to be the new norm in Toronto, maybe due to public transportation hours, maybe due to the increase in violence at night, but I would say more than 90% of the crowd stayed at the venue until the very last second, and hopefully it won’t take long for the band to return to the city for another demented concert like Friday night.

Setlist
We Like to Party (Vengaboys song)
Destroyer of Dreams
Slaves Beyond Death
Death Squad Anthem
Make America Hate Again
Blood Throne
Join Me in Armageddon
Holy War
The Purest Strain of Hate
Godlike
Keres
Everything Unwanted
Reign of Darkness
Puppet Master

Band members
Tyler Miller – vocals
Andy Marsh – lead guitar
Sean Delander – rhythm guitar
Kevin Butler – bass
Jesse Beahler – drums

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Concert Review – TÝR (Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, ON, 04/03/2024)

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A pleasant (and rainy) night full of pirates, trolls and battle ballads for the delight of all fans of Folk Metal in the city of Toronto.

OPENING ACTS: The Dread Crew Of Oddwood, Aether Realm and Trollfest

Rain or shine, the Toronto metalheads are always there to support their favorite bands, which is exactly what happened this (very) rainy Wednesday night at the Horseshoe Tavern when THE DREAD CREW OF ODDWOOD, AETHER REALM, TROLLFEST and TÝR offered a folk feast full of pirates, trolls, goblins, orcs, beer mead and other whimsical creatures and objects during their Battle Ballads North American Tour 2024, a fantastic event brought to the city by the one and only Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. Of course, Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I couldn’t be left out of that party, and I must say I had an absolute blast seeing all those four bands for the first time ever in my life.

The first band to hit the stage was a “Pirate Folk Metal” crew beautifully named THE DREAD CREW OF ODDWOOD, which is in fact an acoustic pirate band, referred to by the band as “Heavy Mahogany”, from San Diego, California, United States, and they put on a very entertaining show for all concert goers who were already at the venue. Playing songs from all of their albums, including their brand new album Rust & Glory, those American privateers kicked some ass and turned up the heat inside the Horseshoe Tavern, therefore properly warming up the fans for the upcoming bands. If you’re curious to know more about their pirate music, go check their crazy tunes on BandCamp and on Spotify, including amazing songs that were part of their setlist like Give Me Your Beer and Giant Fucking Demon Crab, and let’s be honest, it can’t get any more pirate than this, right?

Setlist
Dead Man’s Medley
Leather Ship
Side Quest
Give Me Your Beer
Raise Your Pints
Binged and Purged
Giant Fucking Demon Crab
The Dread Crew of Oddwood
Lawful Evil

Band members
Wolfbeard O’Brady – accordion, whistles, vocals
Smithy Crow – bass, orchestral strings, vocals
Stark Cordwain – Irish bouzouki, whistles, vocals
Deckard Cordwain – mandolin, ukulele, vocals
Pete – drums

Then after a short break it was time for Greenville, North Carolina, United States-based Melodic Death/Folk Metal act AETHER REALM to bring an overdose of heavy music to the venue, which was getting packed by the minute. Playing heavy and fast songs from all of their albums including songs from their latest effort, titled Redneck Vikings from Hell, released in 2020, plus a brand new single named Should I?, the band inspired the fans to get into a sweet mosh pit, which obviously raised the temperature inside the venue considerably. I highly recommend you go after their music by streaming and/or buying their albums on BandCamp and on Spotify (or click HERE for all things Aether Realm), and don’t miss a chance to see the band live whenever they take your city by storm.

Setlist
Slave to the Riff
The Tower
Cycle
The Magician
Should I?
Swampwitch
She’s Back
Guardian
TMHC
The Sun, the Moon, the Star

Band members
Vincent Jones – vocals, bass, orchestrations
Heinrich Arnold – guitars, vocals
Donny Burbage – guitars
Tyler Gresham – drums

Sporting the weirdest and coolest costumes you can think of, and by that I mean pink flamingo costumes, Oslo, Norway’s own Folk Metal army TROLLFEST were absolutely perfect from start to finish, driving their fans crazy throughout their fantastic set and generating a huge mosh pit, including tons of beer-drinking, horns-raising tunes from their entire catalogue (which features albums with stunning names such as Flamingo Overlord), like Dance Like a Pink Flamingo and All Drinks on Me. The band spearheaded by frontman Trollmannen is a must-see for anyone who enjoys a wild fusion of heavy music, beer, trolls and flamingoes, and you can enjoy all that on BandCamp and on Spotify, or on any other streaming platform, and if you’re planning to go watch them live get ready for one of the wildest rides you’ll ever experience at a metal concert.

Setlist
Kjettaren mot strømmen
Happy Heroes
Dance Like a Pink Flamingo
Steel Sarah
Twenty Miles an Hour
Professor Otto
Renkespill
Piña Colada
Kaptein Kaos
Flamongous
Byttingenes Byttehandel
All Drinks on Me
Espen Bin Askeladden
Hevlette

Band members
Trollmannen – vocals
Mr. Seidel – guitars
Fabio Grimdrap – guitars
Böesse Basshöl Nybazist – bass
Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow – drums
Drekka Dag – saxophone
Fjernkontrollet – accordion, keyboards
Trollbank – bouzouki

TÝR

Finally, after three amazing bands, it was then time for the main attraction of the night to kick some serious ass and close the entire event on a high and brilliant note. Denmark/Faroe Islands’ Progressive/Folk Metal institution TÝR didn’t care about the small size of the stage and simply killed it, delivering a beyond fun setlist for their avid fans with songs like By the Sword in My Hand and Hail to the Hammer, plus the brand new songs Dragons Never Die and Hammered, from their upcoming new studio album Battle Ballads (to be released on April 14), sounding insane live. As mentioned for all other bands, you can have a very good time enjoying all of their creations on different streaming platforms like BandCamp and Spotify, and of course don’t miss their concerts if they ever hit your city because they’re an amazing live band, and of course Toronto is waiting with arms wide open for another explosion of TÝR in the city in the near future.

Setlist
By the Sword in My Hand
Dragons Never Die
Mare of My Night
Tróndur í Gøtu
Valkyrja
Ragnars Kvæði
Hammered
The Lay of Thrym
By the Light of the Northern Star
Hail to the Hammer
Regin Smiður
Axes
Blood of Heroes

Encore:
Sinklars vísa
Hold the Heathen Hammer High

Band members
Heri Joensen – vocals, guitars
Hans Hammer – guitars
Gunnar Thomsen – bass, backing vocals
Tadeusz Rieckmann – drums

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