BLOOD DYNASTY TOUR 2025

For nearly three decades, Arch Enemy has been a powerhouse in metal, and after more than three years away, they made a triumphant return to Toronto. This show kicked off the first leg of their North American tour in support of the newly released Blood Dynasty. Aside from their extensive 18-date run through Mexico at the end of 2024, this night stood out as a potential milestone—and with three killer openers along for the ride, the band gave Toronto a night the local scene won’t soon forget.

THROWN INTO EXILE

This was my first time seeing this band, and I had no idea what to expect. They opened with “The Forsaken,” a track from their recently released EP Passageways, and it immediately got my heart racing with its powerful melodies and riffs. I was headbanging despite having a sore neck—but it was worth every second. The song transported me back to the melodic death metal of the late ’90s and early 2000s—impressive work from a U.S.-based band. Their short but intense five-song set featured the entire EP, and it was commanding enough to make me an instant fan. I’ve already picked up their discography to dig deeper into their sound. This wasn’t their first time in Toronto, but I’m hoping we won’t have to wait another twelve years for their return.

Setlist
‘The Forsaken’, ‘Caskets Beyond Creation’, ‘Desolation’, ‘Eternal Nothingness’, ‘You’ve Fallen so Far’

BAEST

No question—Baest was the band I was most looking forward to on this bill. That’s no slight to the others, but they’ve been a bucket list band for me since 2020, and they absolutely delivered. Hailing from Denmark and still performing with all original founding members—a rarity after a decade of making music—Baest made their Toronto debut with a set that pushed the crowd’s energy to a fever pitch. As the audience response intensified, the band fully embraced the space of the large Queen Elizabeth Theatre stage. While there wasn’t much between-song banter, vocalist Simon did share that it was his birthday and that he was thrilled to celebrate it in Toronto. Special credit goes to bassist Mattias, who was the most animated on stage, enthusiastically kicking the air in all the right moments. A shout-out as well to Lasse, who played the entire set wearing an air cast—and still moved around more than probably necessary. Seeing Baest live was a dream come true. I love crossing bands off the “must-see” list, and while thirty minutes wasn’t nearly enough, I can’t wait for their next Toronto visit.

Setlist
‘Genesis’, ‘Colossus’, ‘Misfortunate Son’, ‘Gargoyles (Dedicated to Trevor Strand of Black Dahlia Murder)’, ‘Necro Sapiens’

FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY

Seeing Fit For An Autopsy for the tenth time in just under a decade, I had a good idea of what to expect from their performance. But touring in support of their latest album, The Nothing That Is, I was surprised by how seamlessly the new material fit into the live set alongside songs from previous releases. As a deathcore band, their brand of “ass-beating” music brought the crowd’s energy to a near-maximum, especially in the mosh pit. A special shout-out goes to Josean on drums—it’s rare to see someone perform in sunglasses, but he was locked in from start to finish, driving the band’s momentum with precision. The cymbals, in particular, sounded incredibly sharp all night. ‘The Sea of Tragic Beasts’ remains one of my all-time favourite songs to witness live; the emotional journey it takes me on every time is unforgettable. Having seen Fit For An Autopsy many times, I can confidently say they’re one of the most consistent and reliable live bands out there—never a bad set. According to what I’ve found online, Toronto has yet to host a dedicated Fit For An Autopsy headlining show. Here’s hoping that changes next time they come through.

Setlist
‘Lower Purpose’, ‘Red Horizon’, ‘Warfare’, ‘Hostage’, ‘Pandora’, ‘The Sea of Tragic Beasts’, ‘Savior of None / Ashes of All’, ‘Far From Heaven’

ARCH ENEMY

I’m not sure what it officially takes for a band to earn “legendary” status, but after nearly three decades of relentless touring, Arch Enemy certainly deserves to be in that conversation. As the lights went down, Metallica’s iconic ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’ blasted through the theatre to roaring approval from the crowd. It was a smart move—Metallica had just been in town, and it’s likely many in the audience had attended one of their recent shows.

Currently touring in support of their latest release, Blood Dynasty, the setlist leaned heavily on new material. Still, with a discography spanning twelve albums, creating a “perfect” setlist is nearly impossible. Watching founding member Michael Amott—still the band’s only original member—command the stage with ease, shredding on his signature guitar, “The Tyrant” (a custom Flying V), was a true highlight. Thanks to the packed setlist, Arch Enemy delivered a solid 90-minute performance, impressive in an era where most headliners cap their sets at 60 to 75 minutes. The crowd was full of die-hard fans, many of whom left vowing to return whenever Arch Enemy makes their way back to this side of the world.

Setlist
‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’, ‘Deceiver, Deceiver’, ‘Ravenous’, ‘Dream Stealer’, ‘Blood Dynasty’, ‘War Eternal’, ‘My Apocalypse’, ‘A Million Suns’, ‘Liars & Thieves’, ‘The Eagle Flies Alone’, ‘First Day in Hell’, ‘Saturnine’, ‘As the Pages Burn’, ‘Sunset Over the Empire’, ‘Dead Bury Their Dead’, ‘We Will Rise’, ‘Avalanche’, ‘Nemesis’, ‘Fields of Desolation’, ‘Enter the Machine’