Last Thursday, Montreal’s Bell Centre became the holy ground for metalheads as the “Ashes of Leviathan” tour stormed through, leaving behind a trail of sonic destruction and, perhaps, a few sore necks. The lineup was a heavy metal dream—Lamb of God, Mastodon, Kerry King, and Malevolence. It was a gathering of the genre’s titans, a night that could easily have been a part of the long-lost Heavy MTL festival, which still echoes in the memories of those who lived through its glory days.
Opening the evening was Malevolence, the young blood from Sheffield, England, who had the unenviable task of kicking things off at the awkward time of 5:40 PM on a weekday. Not exactly prime time, but let’s give credit where credit is due—they handled it like seasoned pros. With their latest album, Malicious Intent, at the core of their set, Malevolence brought a fresh but fierce energy that shook the early crowd awake. They had a kind of scrappy charm, a band clearly still in the process of carving their niche in the metal world, yet possessing the hunger that makes for great live performances. By the end of their set, they had managed to turn a thin early crowd into a roaring mass, a testament to their tenacity and potential. Here’s hoping they come back to Montreal soon—preferably at a more civilized hour.
Next up was the legendary Kerry King, a name that needs little introduction in the metal community. Having seen Slayer call it quits a few years back, I was curious to see what King had to offer. What he brought was nothing short of a supergroup of thrash metal royalty. With Mark Osegueda of Death Angel on vocals, Phil Demmel of Machine Head fame on guitar, Kyle Sanders of HELLYEAH on bass, and the thunderous Paul Bostaph on drums, King unleashed a barrage of relentless riffs that could have only been forged in the fires of metal’s Mount Doom.
The set was a blistering reminder that while Slayer may have retired, King’s guitar work still has the ability to eviscerate any doubts about his ongoing relevance. His solo material, featured heavily throughout, was met with the same fervour as the classics. The man is an icon, and on this night, he proved that he’s far from resting on his laurels. If there was any criticism to be had, it’s that perhaps the set felt a tad predictable—King sticks to what he knows, and while it’s a tried and true formula, a bit more risk-taking might have elevated the performance from solid to spectacular.
Then came Mastodon, the first of the two headliners, celebrating the 20th anniversary of their seminal album Leviathan, the band took the stage like seasoned warriors ready for battle. Before a single note was played, clips from the 1958 film adaptation of Moby Dick flickered on the screens, setting the tone for the evening’s aural voyage.
Mastodon is a band that’s always straddled the line between metal and something more progressive, more expansive. Live, they’re a force to be reckoned with. The interplay between Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher’s guitars, Troy Sanders’ rumbling bass, and Brann Dailor’s intricate drumming creates a crushing and surprisingly melodic wall of sound. While the focus was on this album, they didn’t shy away from dipping into their extensive back catalogue, much to the delight of long-time fans. If there was a downside, it was that Mastodon’s complex compositions occasionally got lost in the Bell Centre’s cavernous acoustics—this band thrives in slightly more intimate settings where every nuance can be fully appreciated.
Finally, the stage was set for Lamb of God, and the energy in the room was palpable. Randy Blythe stormed out like a man possessed, prowling the stage with a ferocity that few can match. Celebrating the anniversary of Ashes of the Wake, the band delivered a set that was both a trip down memory lane and a reminder of why they’re still one of the most vital bands in metal today.
Blythe’s vocals were as venomous as ever, spitting out lyrics with a venom that resonated deeply with the crowd. The band was tight, ferociously so, with every riff, every drumbeat hitting like a sledgehammer. There’s a rawness to Lamb of God’s live performance that’s difficult to capture on record—it’s something you have to experience in person to truly understand. The setlist was a perfect blend of old and new, with Ashes of the Wake serving as the spine but with plenty of room for newer material that shows the band is still evolving, still pushing their sound forward.
This was a stellar night of metal. The “Ashes of Leviathan” tour is one for the books—a celebration of two landmark albums, but also a showcase for the enduring power of metal in all its forms.
Review & photos – Steve Gerrard
Share this :
