Concerts Reviews
Lorna Shore Rips Through Vancouver with a Brutal, Chaotic, and Apocalyptic North American Tour
Before the first band even hit the stage, the atmosphere was already electric. Heavy rain surrounded the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, setting the perfect tone for a dark, chaotic night of metal. It was a storm within a storm as three titans of the scene unleashed pure mayhem. Leading the charge was New Jersey’s own Lorna Shore, joined by two of metal’s apocalyptic horsemen, The Black Dahlia Murder and Shadow of Intent. Sadly, Vancouver missed out on PeelingFlesh, whose border complications kept them from joining the carnage.
As the crowd flooded toward the pit, all you could see in the sea of long hair and black clothing were fans ready to unleash their rage and excitement. By 7:20 p.m., the wait was over. Shadow of Intent stormed the stage, and within moments, the Connecticut group had the arena in a frenzy. Crowd surfers flew, mosh pits erupted, and the chaos didn’t stop for the next half hour. Even as someone outside this genre’s usual orbit, it was impossible not to feel the adrenaline surge. When vocalist Ben Durr called for a “Wall of Death,” the crowd obeyed without hesitation. The pit split open, then collided at the song’s crushing breakdown like warriors in a medieval clash. It was a brutal, breathtaking spectacle that left everyone wondering what could possibly top it. By 8 p.m., we got our answer: The Black Dahlia Murder.
The Black Dahlia Murder are no strangers to the death metal scene. They are veterans who have toured the globe since 2001 and built a fierce reputation along the way. Vancouver can’t get enough of them either, and this night marked just over a year since their last appearance in the city. Back in October 2024, they tore up the Vogue Theatre with a set that was loud, relentless, and at times downright haunting. That same energy carried straight into the Doug Mitchell Arena without losing any of its power. Crowd surfers flew, circle pits spun with greater force, and even the veteran metalheads jumped into the chaos. The connection between band and fans was undeniable. Since stepping in for the late Trevor Strnad, Brian has carried the torch with respect and raw authority, honouring the band’s legacy while commanding every eye in the room. By the end, anyone who walked in unfamiliar with The Black Dahlia Murder likely left a fan or sprinted to the merch line to prove it.
And then came the main event, the catalyst of the night, Lorna Shore. You could feel the shift the moment fans started leaping from the stands to join the pit. The growl of the bass rumbled through the arena as the kabuki screen lit up, silhouettes of the band flickering behind an enormous glowing logo. When “Oblivion” hit, the crowd erupted. Energy surged like fire through every vein in the room, while more than twenty security guards braced for impact. For a split second, silence hung in the air before chaos exploded. Crowd surfers poured over the barricade faster than ever before, bodies moving like a storm. Frontman Will Ramos unleashed screams so raw and commanding they seemed to tear through the air itself. The performance was pure madness from start to finish, a relentless display of power that didn’t ease up until the final note.
“Glenwood,” “Unbreakable,” and “Prison of Flesh” were just a few of the heavy hitters from Lorna Shore’s latest release I Feel The Everblack Festing Within Me. The setlist also tore through fan favorites like “Cursed to Die,” “Pain Remains,” and “To The Hellfire.” Midway through the chaos came a surprise celebration for tech member Collin, as both the crew and the crowd joined in to wish him a happy birthday. Throughout the set, the band repeatedly showed appreciation for the security team, who worked nonstop to pull crowd surfers from the pit and keep everyone safe. They deserved every bit of that recognition. To close the night, Lorna Shore unleashed the full Pain Remains trilogy as the encore. Fans erupted in disbelief and joy, realizing they were witnessing the perfect finale to an unforgettable night.
Just last year, Lorna Shore packed the Commodore Ballroom to the rafters, leaving fans wondering what was next. This show answered that question in full force, proving the band could dominate arenas with the same intensity and precision. The experience was unforgettable, and like many Vancouver fans, there’s already eager anticipation for whatever the band brings on their next visit.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Lorna Shore Tour Dates:
October 20 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union Event Center
October 21 Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
October 23 Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
October 24 Maplewood, MN @ Myth Live
October 25 Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
October 27 Toronto, ON @ Great Canadian Casino Resort
October 28 Laval, QC @ Place Bell
October 30 New York, NY @ The Theater at Madison Square Garden
More information here.
LORNA SHORE
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
SHADOW OF INTENT
All Photo Credit: Marquise Monno
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Goldfinger Keep the Pit Moving and the Shoes Flying in Vancouver
On April 17th, the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver felt like a ska-punk time warp, with California punk legends Goldfinger supporting their new album, Nine Lives.
Sullvn got things rolling with a set that didn’t waste any time. Within minutes, hats were flying into the crowd like it was a merch-based game show, and the vibe quickly turned into organized chaos. They brought to the stage Dicky Barrett, former frontman of Mighty Mighty Bosstones for their hit “Raise a Glass”.
Next up was Broadway Calls, proving once again that a three-piece can absolutely shake a room. Their brand of fast, hooky punk tore through the crowd, with songs like “Call It Off” and “Back to Oregon” landing like instant jolts of energy. By the time they wrapped, the room was fully ready for Goldfinger.
Right away, frontman John Feldmann started doing crowd math. “How many of you are under 20?” A few scattered hands. “Over 40?” A lot more hands. He laughed and proudly stated that to still be doing this 32 years later as the best feeling in the world. This wasn’t a band clinging to nostalgia… but they also weren’t about to ignore it.
From there, it turned into the kind of chaos Goldfinger shows are known for, a non-stop blur of songs, crowd surfers, and, of course, the sacred tradition of shoes flying through the air. Somewhere along the way, footwear stopped being optional and started being part of the performance. Pairs were held up like trophies, launched across the room, or lost to the pit entirely. If you managed to leave with both shoes still accounted for, honestly, that’s a personal victory. The setlist leaned into exactly what people wanted. “Here in Your Bedroom,” “Chasing Amy” “Counting the Days”, all the hits, all loud, all sung back at the band like it was a group project. The floor barely stayed still for more than a few seconds, and the security team definitely got their steps in from the steady stream of crowd surfers.
During “Mable,” they pulled fans up on stage to dance, turning the whole thing into a slightly chaotic, very wholesome party. And then… “Superman.” The reaction was instant. Like, no hesitation, full-body nostalgia. The second it started, it felt like half the room got mentally transported back to playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 in their living rooms. Suddenly, everyone knew every word (even the ones they probably didn’t know they knew), and the energy somehow went up another level. It wasn’t just a highlight, it was the moment.
When it wrapped at the Commodore Ballroom, the place was wrecked in the best way – sweaty, shoeless, and buzzing. Still, no one seemed in any hurry to leave.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
GOLDFINGER
BROADWAY CALLS
SULLVN
All Photo Credit: Heather Horncastle
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Face to Face with Sevendust in Riverside, Iowa
For close to thirty years, Hard Rock’s Sevendust has graced hundreds of stages all over the world, playing sell-out shows to rabid fans. The band, fronted by LaJon Witherspoon, has been recognized for its soulful vocals, hard-hitting riffs from Clint Lowery and John Connolly, thumping bass from Vince Hornsby, and monstrous drum sounds and screams from Morgan Rose. Riverside, Iowa was treated to the full Sevendust experience on Friday night.
The Riverside Casino Event Center has played host to events ranging from poker tournaments to keynote speakers, but on Friday it served as the setting for an amazing night of rock. The show started off with Iowa City–local band NonGrata. NonGrata has become very well known in the Eastern Iowa music scene, having opened for bands like Alien Ant Farm, Norma Jean, Archers, and will be opening for DED this summer. Blending groovy guitars with crisp clean vocals and harsh screams, the band delivers a sound that makes you want to jump out of your seat and stage dive. Although Sevendust was the main attraction on Friday night, everyone enjoyed NonGrata. They were a great choice to open the show and get people excited before Sevendust took the stage. NonGrata will be playing shows in Eastern Iowa throughout the year, and Midwest locals should take the chance to see a new band.
After an hour pre-show delay due to the weather, fans were itching to get out of their seats as anticipation for Sevendust taking the stage rose. Riverside was the second show of the One Tour, but there was no sign of early tour woes as the band broke right into Home. The 1999 track off the album of the same name was a great opener, carrying a hint of nostalgia and a whole lot of feeling. Witherspoon made an early effort to cross from side to side, ensuring every fan had the opportunity to interact with him. Stage presence is always among the highlights of a Sevendust show. Fans know they are going to get two things when they go to a Sevendust show: amazing music and plenty of interaction. The great music kept rolling as the second track of the night was a crowd favorite, Denial. The band was joined by hundreds of backup singers who knew every word, creating an ambiance that added essential energy to the environment.
The band seemed emotional in response to how well they were received by the Riverside crowd. After spending significant time in Europe to start the year, Sevendust said it was good to be home. Because these were among the first U.S. shows of the year, American fans had not yet had the opportunity to hear songs from the band’s upcoming album, One, live. The first chance came with the third song of the night, Is This the Real You. Although the Riverside crowd had never heard the song live, that did not stop them from singing along. Sevendust also played two other new tracks from the forthcoming album, Unbreakable and Threshold. Both sounded great live, and anticipation for the new album is high. Based on the reactions to the new material, the album will likely be well received when it comes out in two weeks on May 1.
The focus on new music did not stop Sevendust from breaking into its classics. The setlist was full of songs a Sevendust show would be incomplete without; Praise, Enemy, Waffle, and Black all had their place in the night. It truly was the complete Sevendust experience. The night could not end, however, without an encore of Rumble Fish and Face to Face. Even though the crowd was treated to a 15-song main set and a two-song encore, they still yearned for more. Unfortunately, all good shows must come to an end, but with 25 dates left on the One Tour, there will be plenty of opportunities to see Sevendust again this year.
One comes out May 1.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming tour dates:
4/20 – Indianapolis, IN
4/21 – Lexington, KY
4/22 – Birmingham, AL
4/24 – Mobile, AL
4/25 – Destin, FL
4/26 – Atlanta, GA (supporting Alter Bridge)
4/28 – Dallas, TX
4/29 – Oklahoma City, OK
More information on the band’s website.
SEVENDUST
NONGRATA
All Photo Credit: Ryan Renger