Concerts Photos
Fit For A King Brings ‘Lonely God’ Tour to Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
Texas metalcore veterans Fit For A King turned the Commodore Ballroom into absolute chaos on May 8, bringing their Lonely God tour through Vancouver with support from Invent Animate, TEN56, and Acres. From the first breakdown of the night to the final crowdsurfer during “Witness The End,” the packed ballroom barely had a second to breathe.
Acres kicked things off. The UK group managed to pull the crowd in almost immediately. Tracks from their latest album The Host landed well, especially during the massive singalong sections that had even casual listeners joining in. By the end of their set, the first wave of crowdsurfers was already moving toward the barricade.
TEN56 followed with one of the heaviest sets of the night. The Paris band delivered punishing breakdowns and thick bass lines that rattled the Commodore floor. The pit only grew more chaotic with every song.
Invent Animate brought a completely different energy, leaning into atmosphere, but without sacrificing heaviness. The band sounded incredibly tight live, creating huge walls of sound that filled every corner of the room.
Then came Fit For A King. Opening with “Begin The Sacrifice,” the Texas band wasted no time sending the crowd into chaos. Frontman Ryan Kirby commanded the stage with nonstop energy, while bassist Ryan O’Leary drew huge reactions with his wild stage presence. Songs like “No Tomorrow,” “Breaking The Mirror,” and “When Everything Means Nothing” triggered deafening singalongs, while “God of Fire” and “Backbreaker” kept the pit spinning.
By the time Fit For A King closed with “Witness The End,” the Commodore looked exhausted but completely satisfied. Heavy metal music in Vancouver is alive and well.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
05/10 Billings, MT @ Pub Station
05/12 Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
05/13 Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion
05/15 Little Rock, AR @ The Hall
05/16 Huntsville, AL @ Mars Music Hall
05/17 North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
05/19 Knoxville, TN @ The Mill & Mine
05/20 Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
05/22 Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater
05/23 Albany, NY @ Empire Live
05/24 Quebec City, QC @ Theatre Capitole
05/26 Ottawa, ON @ The Bronson
05/27 London, ON @ London Music Hall
05/29 Rochester, NY @ Anthology
05/30 Harrisburg, PA @ Capitol City Music Hall
05/31 Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall
More information on the band’s website.
FIT FOR A KING
INVENT ANIMATE
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Photos
Buffalo Traffic Jam at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto
There is something magical about voices matching the season. The excitement of walking up to the Danforth Music Hall on the perfect autumn night, only to be engulfed in raw, emotive rasp.
Lydia Maes really pulled me in. There’s such an emotional quality to her voice. The way she incorporates the saxophone and the way she hypnotizes the crowd. She played a beautiful set and then later came out with her fiddle, to join Buffalo Traffic Jam.
Colin Lynch completely caught me off guard, with a voice that sounds like he sells out stadiums. He’s young, but that soulful, raspy, depth speaks to every age.
Then came the one and only Buffalo Traffic Jam. Gritty, earthy harmonies took over the Danforth and the crowd was electrified. There’s something about their sound that feels both stripped down and warm at the same time, and the moment they started, we were all at their mercy.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
BUFFALO TRAFFIC JAM
COLIN LYNCH
LYDIA MAES
All Photo Credit: Bailey Morgan
Concerts Photos
Sabaton Bring Fire and Fury to Vancouver on North American Tour Finale
After many many years away from Vancouver, Sabaton returned to the PNE Forum on October 8 for a fiery night of heavy metal, military-themed theatrics and massive sing-alongs. The Swedish metal band chose the city to close out its North American tour, and it went out with a bang.
Opening the night was Pop Evil, whose modern hard rock offered a different sound from the headliner’s power metal. Tracks like “Trenches” brought plenty of energy, giving the crowd a reason to get moving before the main event. Their heavier riffs and commanding stage presence made for a solid start to the evening despite the low lighting.
Sabaton wasted little time making its return count. Kicking off with “Ghost Division,” the band delivered a wall of sound backed by pounding drums, sharp guitar riffs and bursts of fire that lit up the Forum. The stage, complete with military-inspired hardware, gave the performance the feel of a full-scale production rather than a standard metal concert.
Frontman Joakim Brodén led the charge with his unmistakable voice and natural sense of showmanship. Songs like “The Last Stand,” “Stormtroopers” and “Night Witches” showcased the band’s knack for turning historical stories into anthems built for thousands of voices. The crowd happily did its part, singing along throughout the night.
The spectacle never distracted from the music. Flames punctuated the band’s heaviest moments, adding extra intensity to “Bismarck,” “Fields of Verdun” and “The Attack of the Dead Men.” For the latter, the band leaned into the song’s subject matter with gas masks, adding another theatrical touch to an already explosive set.
The closing stretch was pure Sabaton. “Swedish Pagans” brought another huge audience sing-along before “Primo Victoria” and “To Hell and Back” sent the Forum into the night at full volume.
After seven years, Sabaton gave Vancouver plenty of reasons to welcome them back. Closing the North American tour with a performance this tight, loud and entertaining was a fitting end to the run. With commanding vocals, memorable choruses and enough pyro to warm the entire Forum, the band left little doubt that its next visit cannot come soon enough.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
SABATON
POP EVIL
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer