I can’t in good conscience review this show without starting in the basement of Metropolis. I was sitting with members of all four bands, just finishing up an interview with Miss May I lead vocalist Levi Benton when news struck of the terrible events that took place in Paris. Everyone was refreshing their phones as quickly as possible trying to get more info. The crowd was starting to pile in to what is a very similar venue to Paris’ Bataclan where so many people had just lost their lives. Totals weren’t final yet and the whereabouts of the performers, Eagles of Death Metal, were still in question. The atmosphere had quickly gone from light and playful to eerie.
There was a sense that taking the stage on this night would be different than any other show any of these musicians had ever played. There was also a sense that if our culture was under attack, the only reasonable response was to go out there and offer a buttload of it. Rock music has always been an outlet to stick it to the man. When you’re a kid your parents are the man, then you grow up and it’s your boss i, sometimes it’s your government. Ont his night, it was clear that they were all going to go out there and stick it to the cowards who had taken the lives of innocent music lovers, innocent people.
Australia’s In Hearts Wake had the daunting task of kicking off the show. The band’s themes of war and political corruption with an outlook towards peace and hope fit the bill well. Jake Taylor’s screams and Kyle Erich’s cleaner vocals play the juxtaposition well.
Fellow Aussies Thy Art Is Murder were next and hit the stage like a juggernaut. This was by far the heaviest band of the night. If you like gutteral growling, which the audience definitely did, then you’ll love vocalist CJ McMahon. I did however question his choice on this night to hit the stage in head to toe black, including a hooded bomber jacket and black ski mask. He then proceeded to tear them off and update the crowd on the situation, dedicating their set to the people of France who were currently “standing up for freedom.”
Miss May I, the only Yanks on an otherwise Australian bill, came out blistering with new single” I.H.E.” Their latest effort, Deathless, displays a new anger in the band. With half of their 8 song set coming from the album, the anger translated to their live show. Their set showed a band more experienced, but who’s developed a chip on their shoulder. There are musicians you can tell sincerely enjoy doing what they do, this unit feeds off the crowd. By the time they closed with fan favorite “Hey Mister”, the crowd was primed for the main event.
Parkway Drive hit the stage with lead guitarist Jeff Ling in a wheelchair. They have a reputaion as daredevils, rhythm guitarist Luke Kilpatrick toured in a wheelchair in 2011 after a surfing accident. They opened with powerhouse “Destroyer”, from their lates IRE, and it was clear that Ling’s injury wasn’t going to slow him down. One wonders if he’ll end up with a more metal version of Dave Grohl’s guitar throne.
They kept the new tunes coming with “Dying to Believe” before diving into their back catalog. Throughout, the band held the crowd, rock horns pumping in unison.
Vocalist Winston McCall has become a beast on stage. He’s come a long way from the skinny kid who started this band. He has learned to command a stage and an audience. During encore opener “Crushed” he took a crowd that had been at it for four hours and made sure they left every ounce of energy they had in that pit. The crowd chanted “oh ohh’s” along with “Home Is For the Heartless” to close out the evening.
For a few hours, culture conquered terror. Montreal is a city closely linked to Paris and on this night this city made sure their voices were heard loud and clear.
Review – Richard Brunette
Photos – Steve Gerrard
