LUTHARO, BLACKGUARD, KILLOTINE

In Toronto, we are fortunate to have a rich history with venues that have stood the test of time and a handful of venues as old as the Horseshoe Tavern in the Queen St. W neighborhood of downtown. Not often do we get a metal show at this venue, but that is something that is starting to get more traction, especially exiting the global pandemic. This triple-header bill of 100% Canadian talent was a night of epicness and redemption for me selfishly; a huge wrong on my end was righted on this night.

KILLOTINE

“Timing is everything.” This is one of my absolute favorite sayings, for better and for worse. Unfortunately in the worst column, the timing for me and Killotine to cross paths at a concert didn’t happen before this night, which is shocking because I should have seen them by now. The recent 2025 Wacken Metal Battle winners are opening this show, and I was very stoked to get acquainted with them and experience it firsthand. Piercing thrash metal deep from one of the biggest Canadian metal fabrication towns, Hamilton, this band stormed the stage with “zero fucks” and no bullshit. Riffs upon riffs upon riffs—the band didn’t have a lot of time on the stage but made a resounding statement on those in the venue and those pouring in. I wonder if the guitarist had a hookup with one of the metal refineries. As the band was leaving the stage, not seeing every single band across the country that entered the Wacken Metal Battle, this band representing all of Canada, we are in good hands, and I can only hope someone in Europe discovers them and ultimately signs them to the next chapter of their musical journey.

BLACKGUARD

A bit of history with myself and Blackguard from Montréal. I was supposed to see them in London, Ontario, in 2013, not knowing who they were, but for reasons I can’t remember, I never made it to the show, which is one of my biggest regrets in my concert going to date. The last visit to Toronto was in March 2019, being one of the last shows at the infamous Coalition TO lounge. I’m not sure why I missed this show either. They announced in the spring of 2024 they were to headline this same venue; I purchased a ticket and couldn’t wait to attend. However, this show was cancelled later in the summer, so third time is the charm for me? Correcting a 12-year mistake is bittersweet. I had no heads-up or idea what was coming with this band or the sheer pedigree of “who’s who” they have toured with previously (seriously, it’s a list). I went into this blindly and was left utterly speechless. So many melodies, notes, and timings of classic melodic death metal pulling in all of the best parts from bands from Scandinavia.

A special moment for me, and maybe a handful of people in the crowd, the song ‘Northern Storm’ was played and dedicated to Rob “Rab” Cranny (RIP) and also a special appreciation shout out for Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment for how much both of them have helped the band for the past two decades of being a band. This gesture might have flew over most of the crowd’s heads, but this furthered my moment of speechlessness complete with goose bumps. “A fast song, a slower song, an older song…” Blackguard brought out everything possible and even gave another shout-out at the end to Lindsay Schoolcraft as well. This performance left me speechless for a bit during the changeover. To have a band play this genre so flawlessly on this side of the world? Of course, coming from the metal capital of Canada, this band is super tight throughout and will be back sooner than the multiple-year gaps from the previous decade of playing in Toronto with new tunes, of course. I’m still riding the high of this single performance days later and instantly purchased all the music digitally as soon as I got home.

LUTHARO

Capping off this Canadian hat trick night of metal music, Hamilton legends Lutharo were the headlining band for tonight. My concert history with Lutharo is long and goes back to the first time they toured Toronto back in 2014 on Boxing Day, opening for the mighty Battlecross (first Toronto show according to online sources). Time has paid this band dividends as they continue to put reps in on stages locally and around the world, having just returned from a European tour and then leaving shortly for another tour in Europe. The band continues to get better with each performance, and I’ve seen it from then to this show.

If I didn’t mention their touring guitarist being a touring member, you wouldn’t know it, because not only does he fit in, but he also adds a depth to rounding out the guitars like none of the previous second guitarists. Speaking of how much he adds to the band, while the band was gearing up on stage, he had the crowd on the floor in the palm of his hands by getting them to do a deafening cheer a few times to get the energy up to that fevered pitch—something almost never seen any member of the band doing pre-performance. The energy of the band, working in complete synchronicity, is something that is unmatched by almost anyone locally or worldwide; everyone shared the spotlight between the stringed musicians and Krista, all making ample use of the stage and moving around.

Technically proficient in blending different genres of metal, nailing everything possible, with everyone on stage smiling the whole performance, they make it look easy, and the smart ones in the crowd know it’s not easy. Krista is a vocal powerhouse that not only blends various octaves but also does it like her instrument counterparts with a smile the whole time. Both guitarists traded guitar riffs and solos back and forth and left moments for the bassist to jump in as well for some rumbling moments, rounding out the Solar guitar and bass stringed trio. Last member to be brought up but certainly not least, their drummer and his massive kit visually put the unit to work, making his sound loud and clean, while also mouthing the words of songs along with Krista.

The set for the night invoked headbanging from the first note to the last, playing a majority of songs belonging to the recent 2024 release Chasing Euphoria, followed by the first full release, Hiraeth, from 2021, and the song ‘Wings Of Agony’ from that titled EP from 2020. The repetition of performing and the road miles of the band being together are making massive strides in performance between local visits. Don’t blink because this band is fully dialed in and will be headlining larger stages on this side and the other side of the world sooner than we know it. Europe is up next for Lutharo this summer, but when and if Lutharo decides to create new music, it will definitely unlock more doors and stages for them, which they have absolutely been putting in the work for, and I can’t wait to see this for them all.

Setlist
‘Phantom’, ‘Ruthless Bloodline’, ‘Bonded To The Blade’, ‘Creating A King’, ‘Time To Rise’, ‘To Kill Or To Crave’, ‘Wings Of Agony’, ‘Hopeless Abandonment’, ‘Reaper’s Call’, ‘Paradise Or Parasite’, ‘Born To Ride’, ‘Lost In A Soul’