Montreal was primed for an evening of unforgettable brutality as the mighty Nails kicked off their tour in support of their latest album, Every Bridge Burning. The mastermind behind Nails, Todd Jones, handpicked some of his favourite bands to join them on this tour.
Opening the show were Tribal Gaze from Texas. Having seen them before, I knew they wouldn’t disappoint. They blend the raw brutality of old-school death metal with a modern hardcore edge, complete with massive, chunky breakdowns. Their latest track, “Twitching on the Cross,” is an absolute banger that I highly recommend. They delivered a powerful set that had the crowd moving and stomping to the rhythm.
Next up were 200 Stab Wounds, one of the most exhilarating bands in the recent death metal scene. Their style of slow, chunky old-school death metal has garnered them fans across various extreme genres. Their set featured a mix of new tracks and classic favourites. They kicked off with the formidable “Hands of Eternity,” with its ominous intro, and then launched into “Masters of Morbidity.” The crowd headbanged along to the thunderous riffs and marvelled at the band’s impressive guitar solos. I never tire of seeing this band live and make it a point to attend every show.
Mammoth Grinder was the final opening act before the mighty Nails took the stage. They brought their distinctive brand of crust punk-infused death metal. As the first notes hit, I was nearly knocked sideways by the rush of people heading to the mosh pit. Although their mix of sludge, punk, and metal was intriguing, their performance lacked energy for me personally.
Finally, Nails was set to hit the stage after a brief sound check. Having been on hiatus for several years, their infamy had only grown since their last appearance in Montreal. With their latest album, Every Bridge Burning, a strong contender for album of the year, fans—both new and old—were eagerly anticipating their performance.
After a lengthy Motörhead intro, Nails hit the stage and immediately launched into my favourite track, “You Will Never Be One of Us.” The venue erupted into a massive mosh pit, with bodies flying in every direction. The scene mirrored the chaotic and violent energy of the band’s music.
The setlist was a mix of old and new material, with many of the new songs making their live debut. Standout tracks from the new album included “Imposing Will,” with its uncompromising speed and brutality, and “Give Me the Painkiller,” with its face-melting, gnarly thrash metal riff.
The crowd chanted along to their anthem “Violence Is Forever,” with everyone shouting “Violence! Violence!” to introduce the track. The fans didn’t stop moshing for a moment throughout the 22-song setlist.
Nails mastermind Todd Jones was a man of few words during the performance, but his interactions with the crowd clearly showed his appreciation for the chaos and intensity of our local scene.
The band concluded their set with the fan favourite “Unsilent Death,” which ignited a final frenzy of chaos and moshing.
I was thrilled to see this incredible band once again on stage and hope that the energy the crowd brought means we won’t have to wait another decade to experience their live performance in our city.
Review – Jason Maher
Photos – Steve Gerrard
