Just last week, I wrote a piece about how recent tours that have hit MTelus seem to start late and end early. Machine Head and Co. bucked that trend as hard as they could last Sunday, kicking off the Montreal stop of their stacked 2025 North American tour at 6 p.m. sharp.
You know when Huey Lewis & The News’ “The Power Of Love” replaces the metal playlist over the PA that you’re about to witness something brutal, and metalcore darlings Unearth absolutely delivered in that respect. Thanks in part to it being a Sunday, the floor was surprisingly full even in the early hours of the evening. As sweep-picked arpeggios introduced the onslaught of aggression, a pit opened up quite quickly under frontman Trevor Phipps’ command. The blazing half-hour set never let up on the gas pedal, and after all the nostalgic harmonized guitar leads, blistering double kicks, and perfectly matched energy from an enthusiastic crowd, the Massachusetts band made a promise to return sometime soon.
Definitely the odd one out of the bands on this tour, Lacuna Coil took the stage next. The Italian gothic metal group is one that I’ve unsuccessfully tried to get into in the past, but I must admit, I was unfamiliar with their game. Corpse paint, elaborate costumes, and a well-paired visual aesthetic made for the most immersive stage production of all the bands that night. After a song and a half marvelling at the theatrics and being serenaded by Cristina Scabbia’s alluring voice, the crowd all simultaneously remembered that they’re at a metal show. Movement on the floor often went from 0 to 100 in seconds flat, and back to zero again, multiple times over. Co-lead singer Andrea Ferro’s screams certainly contributed to the crowd movement, and helped the band feel right at home with the heavier bands performing that night, despite a very unique but very welcomed energy.
As the lights dimmed for In Flames, I was starting to think most people tonight were here for them. A significant amount of freshly bought merch, chants, and cheers were all noticeable throughout the venue. The band kicked in with “Cloud Connected,” and the crowd immediately popped off. The following songs were expertly performed, and through a setlist that spanned their decades-long career, there were multiple calls from frontman Anders Fridén for circle pits that the audience happily followed—just in time for the floors to be freshly lubricated with their half-finished beers. Nice.
I’ll be honest, I adore Anders’ aura of seemingly rather being anywhere else, but it has contributed to In Flames feeling a bit low energy the last couple times I’ve seen them live. This wasn’t the case this time around, and the energetic crowd is largely to thank for that. They packed the MTelus floor to the busiest it’s been all night by the end of their set. In Flames are a tight group that are best witnessed from the eye of the storm they create, rather than from the seats in an arena or at the back of a field at a music festival. I hope they come back as headliners soon—this city loves them.
I was worried that Machine Head would have a tough time following In Flames, based on the crowd response for their set. But I had to remember who we’re dealing with here. Robb Flynn and the boys’ experience headlining some of the biggest metal festivals in Europe translated to a relatively quaint Montreal theatre with absolute ease. Sure, a few In Flames diehards took off, leaving the floor a bit less crowded, but from the get-go, Robb’s powerhouse of a voice and attention-demanding stage presence commanded every single person in that room.
The band played an expertly paced 90-minute set without a single lull in momentum. Even the transitions between the songs felt expertly calculated. In the moments where the music stopped altogether and Robb addressed the crowd, all eyes were still on him. He showed genuineness and passion as he spoke, threw cups of beer into the audience, and thanked us for the support over the decades.
Robb’s a controversial figure—one that metalheads have strong opinions on one way or another—but there’s no denying he’s a phenomenal frontman. He may have an ego, but he uses it to elevate Machine Head’s live show to a whole other level. Montreal witnessed absolute professionalism from the headliners that night, with a healthy side of kickass metal to boot. If his biggest fault of the night was repeatedly misremembering which day of the week it was, he’s done great.
Their set was the cherry on top of a night full of music that sounded like my body would hurt the next morning—and good lord, it did. But headbanging and moshing over the course of five hours isn’t something I’ve done in a while, and I’m grateful that I had the opportunity at a tour stop this stacked.
Review – Mathieu Perrier
Photos – Eric Brisson
