According to Pure Reason Revolution frontman Jon Courtney, it has been 20 years since the band’s last show in Montreal. Having lived here for 18 and a half years, it suddenly makes sense why I’ve never seen them here. For me, tonight is one of those bucket-list shows I’m happy to finally cross off.
Headlining the third and final day of ProgStorm 2026 could hardly be a more fitting setting. It has also been 20 years since the release of their stellar debut, The Dark Third, and that’s how the show begins, with the record played from start to finish. Rejoice!
The instrumental Aeropause opens proceedings, gradually building the soundscape before giving way to Goshen’s Remains. Jon and co-vocalist Annicke Shireen harmonize gloriously over its sinister, apocalyptic undertone.
Space-age bleeps trickle into the outro and carry the song into Apprentice of the Universe. Seriously heavy riffs from Jon and guitarist Ali collide with the electronics, creating a genuine post-rock and prog hybrid.
Another seamless transition leads into the signature 12-minute opus The Bright Ambassadors of Morning. Annicke’s soft vocal draws us towards Jon’s mantra, prompting a huge clap-along before anyone onstage needs to summon it. The explosive riff that arrives around eight minutes in, just as the song is purring at its quietest, is every bit as colossal as I hoped it would be. A sea of heads nods in approval with every beat.
Things finally fall silent for a moment, long enough for Jon to exclaim, “Thank you, beautiful Montreal!” The cheers coming back suggest the feeling is mutual.
The next section of the record rumbles into life with Nimos & Tambos, another dazzling display of harmonies that ends on a metronomic beat. That rhythm becomes the foundation for Voices in Winter / In the Realms of the Divine, before the band moves into Bullitts Dominæ. Annicke’s vocal provides a striking contrast to the storming riffs around her.
Annicke and Jon trade vocals during the first verse of Arrival / The Intention Craft, then lock into perfect harmony for the chorus. Ali joins Jon for the second verse, adding another voice to the exchange.
Album closer He Tried to Show Them Magic! / Ambassadors Return reprises the mantra from The Bright Ambassadors of Morning, bringing the full performance of The Dark Third to a suitably immense conclusion.
The rest of the set reaches into the band’s catalogue from the intervening 20 years. Dead Butterfly mixes piano with thunderous guitars, while Ghosts & Typhoons sounds positively grungy. Drummer Ravi Kesavaram steals the show on that one, his playing absolutely devastating.
Black Mourning and Deus Ex Machina land somewhere between Absolution-era Muse and Nine Inch Nails, driven by sludgy industrial keys and riffs. New song Spin Like Fire closes the main set in spectacular fashion, with AVO and its Depeche Mode synths making up the encore.
By the time the band leaves for good after an hour and 40 minutes, Jon is still buzzing.
“You’re the best crowd we’ve ever had!” he exclaims.
Always nice when the band has as much fun as you do. Hopefully, it won’t be another 20 years before we do it again.
Setlist
Aeropause
Goshen’s Remains
Apprentice of the Universe
The Bright Ambassadors of Morning
Nimos & Tambos
Voices in Winter / In the Realms of the Divine
Bullitts Dominæ
Arrival / The Intention Craft
He Tried to Show Them Magic! / Ambassadors Return
Dead Butterfly
Ghosts & Typhoons
Black Mourning
Spin Like Fire
Deus Ex Machina
Encore
AVO
Review – Simon Williams
Photos – Ryan Rumpel & Simon Williams
