On Thursday, October 10, 2024, the Hard Luck Bar hosted a powerful lineup of Thrash metal bands, featuring headliners Nervosa, Lich King, Hatriot, and local act Duskwalker. Thrash enthusiasts were treated to an international mix of talent, with bands hailing from Brazil, the United States, and Canada. While the crowd was on the lighter side, likely due to two other metal shows happening simultaneously across Toronto – it was still an exciting night for those in attendance. I, too, had a tough choice between shows, but my long-standing love for Thrash ultimately led me to this one. Although all the bands are rooted in the Thrash genre, each brought a distinct flavor, creating a dynamic and varied lineup. Even though I was a bit fatigued after a late night at the Obituary & Sepultura show the night before, the energy of the bands quickly recharged me as each hit the stage.

The Venue

The Hard Luck Bar in Toronto is a modest concert venue, better described as a small-to-medium-sized “Dive” bar that doubles as a live music space. It’s a frequent stop for metal bands that typically draw smaller crowds. On the positive side, it offers a casual, laid-back vibe where fans can easily mingle with the bands at the merch tables or bar area. The beer is cheap (cash-only), and there’s virtually no security or stage barriers, so if you’re up front, you can practically touch the band. However, there are some drawbacks: the low stage makes it hard to see if you’re standing toward the back, the sound quality is only so-so, and there’s always a couple of overly drunk metalheads lurking in the crowd causing issues. Despite these quirks, I’ve never had a bad experience here, though it ranks among my least favorite concert venues in the city.

DUSKWALKER
Hailing from Niagara Falls, Canada, this band was a new discovery for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed their set. After spending much of the last decade in the U.S., I’m still catching up on the wealth of Canadian metal talent since moving back to Toronto. Their sound was a blend of old-school thrash, death metal, and some modern metal influences, and their performance was delivered with intense energy. They played around 5-6 tracks, though I wasn’t familiar with the song titles; however, I suspect many were from their latest 2024 album, Underground Forever, marking their third full-length release since 2019.

Guitarist John Robinson was a standout during the live performance, delivering massive chugging riffs and dynamic solos that showcased a wide range of generational metal influences. He frequently stepped to the front of the stage to take the lead, while the other band members shifted back to give him space. Vocalist Joey Scaringi was in top form, unleashing an aggressive vocal style that at times ventured into death metal territory. Together with bassist John Neadow and drummer Cale Costello , the band was a tight, cohesive unit on stage, pulling the crowd into their high-energy performance.

At one point, Duskwalker tossed inflatable orange beach balls with their logo into the crowd. When one came my way, I hit it directly back on the stage by accident. Joey joked that I didn’t want anything to do with the band or their merch. I felt a little bad, it was just a fluke! After their set, the band members mingled with fans around the venue and sold merch. I was planning to grab their new record on vinyl, but they were still waiting for it to arrive fresh from the vinyl presses. These guys show a lot of promise, and I highly recommend checking out Duskwalker’s music. It was an impressive performance!

HATRIOT

I’ve been a fan of Hatriot since they burst onto the Thrash scene in 2011, and they never fail to deliver a high-energy live show. Earlier this year, I tried to catch them at Milwaukee Metal Fest, but they were playing in the smallest festival venue, and unfortunately, hundreds of us couldn’t squeeze in. Thankfully, that wasn’t an issue tonight. Hatriot hit the stage in their signature black face paint, all dressed in black, bringing their old-school Bay Area thrash to life. For those unfamiliar, vocalist and bassist Cody Souza is the son of Thrash legend Steve “Zetro” Souza from Exodus (who also provided vocals on Hatriot’s debut album) There’s also a family connection on drums—Cody’s brother Nick Souza rounds out the lineup.

The set kicked off with ‘Horns & Halos,’ a ferocious thrash anthem that perfectly encapsulates Hatriot’s aggressive style and immediately set the mosh pit spinning at a tornado-like pace. The band called for a circle pit, and the crowd didn’t disappoint. They followed up with fan favorites ‘Delete’ and ‘Forest of Illusion.’ The setlist was heavily focused on material from their last two albums, The Vale of Shadows (2022) and From Days unto Darkness (2019). Cody Souza, as the frontman, has a commanding stage presence, clearly inheriting some talent from his father, Zetro. Like his dad, Cody is laid-back and easily connects with fans, both on and off stage. He thanked the crowd for coming out and even reminisced about his recent performance at this very venue with Rob Dukes and Generation Kill

Hatriot closed the set with a bang, unleashing two Bay Area thrash-inspired anthems, ‘Ethereal Nightmare’ and ‘Hymn for the Wicked,’ sending the crowd into a final frenzy. One aspect I particularly enjoy about Hatriot’s music is their bass-forward songwriting, which came through strongly in the live mix. While Cody Souza shares some vocal similarities with his father, Zetro, especially on the earlier Hatriot albums, it’s clear that Cody is carving out his own distinct style, something he should be proud of. I recently heard him sing an Exodus song alongside his dad, and the difference in their vocal approaches was clear. I also want to spotlight the guitar duo of Kosta Varvatakis and Miguel Esparza, who delivered a relentless onslaught of blistering riffs and vicious solos. Lastly, Nick Souza, who likely grew up surrounded by Bay Area drum legends like Exodus’s Tom Hunting, did them all proud with his powerful drum performance on this night.

LICH KING

The band hit the stage around 9:50 PM, and the first thing that caught my attention was Cody from Hatriot playing bass. This was explained later when vocalist Zachary Smith mentioned that the band’s current bassist wasn’t able to make it across the border into Canada, so Cody stepped in. As the frontman of Hatriot, Cody has strong stage presence, which added an interesting dynamic to Lich King’s set. He was probably the most animated member of the band during the performance, yet he fit right in. The last time I saw Lich King was on the top deck of a cruise ship during 70K Tons Of Metal earlier this year, and while a club show can’t quite compare to that unique experience, their energy and effort didn’t falter. Lich King’s music is rooted in aggressive old-school thrash, with a modern metal twist and a sense of humor that shines through in their lyrics and song titles.

One of the early songs in the set came with what has to be the longest title ever: ‘Attack of the Wrath of the War of the Death of the Strike of the Sword of the Blood of the Beast.’ It’s so unusual, I had to buy a band shirt with this song title on the back. Lich King consistently delivers their ferocious brand of thrash, and they whipped the crowd into a frenzy, generating the biggest mosh pit of the night. Zachary Smith kept the mood light with his on-stage humor, announcing that Cody would handle lead vocals on ‘Combat Mosh,’ giving Zach the chance to chug a beer while Cody took over. The band’s massive, addictive riffs powered tracks like ‘We Came to Conquer,’ ‘In the End,’ ‘Devastation,’ and ‘Waste.’ It was also drummer Brian Westbrook’s birthday, and the crowd joined the band to sing him “Happy Birthday.”

Zachary engaged the crowd well, taking time between songs to chat, thank everyone for coming, and even make a reference to Exciter’s Dan Beehler while reminiscing about Lich King’s last show in Toronto. The band members were also out on the floor mingling with fans, something I always appreciate. I had some cool conversations with Zachary, Brian, and Joe, and a special shoutout to Joe for rocking a Rush T-shirt. It’s hard to say with certainty, but Lich King just might have gotten the best reception of the night. And if any of the Lich guys happen to see this – us fans would love a new album! It’s been 6-7 years since The Omniclasm was released. I also had my eye on their “I Hate Black Metal” shirt, but unfortunately, they were out of my size this late in the tour.

NERVOSA

Brazilian all-female thrashers Nervosa are still relentlessly touring in support of their late 2023 album Jailbreak, and they’ve been hitting stages around the world. I’ve had the chance to see them a few times over the past year, and they always deliver a strong live performance. It was funny to notice the crowd demographic shift suddenly when I found myself surrounded by young girls in front of the stage. Anything that expands the metal audience and secures the future of the genre is great in my book. Nervosa hit the stage around 11 PM, kicking off with ‘Seed of Death’ from Jailbreak. Guitarist, vocalist, and founding member Prika Amaral is a commanding presence, confident and powerful, rivaling any of her male counterparts. While I would have liked to see Prika engage with the crowd a bit more – possibly due to a language barrier, she was mostly focused on business, delivering song after song.

The setlist was heavily focused on Nervosa’s recent albums, with seven tracks from Jailbreak and four from 2021’s Perpetual Chaos. Some of my favorite moments included performances of ‘Endless Ambition,’ ‘Behind the Wall,’ ‘Kill or Die,’ ‘Guided by Evil,’ and the title track ‘Jailbreak.’ Guitarist Helena Kotina was locked in all night, shredding while crouched low on the left side of the stage. One of the few times Prika spoke to the crowd was to introduce the band members, explaining that permanent bassist Hel Pyre was at home attending to family matters, with session bassist Natalie Nova stepping in for the tour. I had actually bumped into Natalie earlier in the night as she was head banging in the crowd while watching the other bands. She handed me a promo card for her social media, and we chatted briefly. She fit right in with Nervosa’s intense thrash style, handling the aggressive set with ease. It was tough to spot drummer Gabriela Abu, as her small frame was hidden behind the drum kit and cymbals at the back of the stage, but the relentless snare and double bass pounding through the PA system made it clear she was holding it down back there.

Interestingly, the crowd size thinned out during Nervosa’s set, likely due to the late hour and the fact that it was a week night. Still, those who stayed watched intently, as the mosh pit quieted down during their performance. I noticed a group of Brazilian fans nearby, the exact same ones standing next to me at the Sepultura show the night before. Toronto’s vibrant Brazilian community showed up strong for both Sepultura and Nervosa. Having seen Nervosa perform at massive events like Wacken Open Air in Germany and 70K Tons of Metal earlier this year, it was a unique experience to see them play just inches away in a smaller venue. Their energy and effort were just as intense for the 100 fans in the room as they were for the 90,000 at Wacken. Lastly, I’ve heard some claim that Nervosa relies on their looks or the fact they’re an all-female band to drive attention, but that’s utter nonsense. Nervosa thrives because of their hard work, relentless touring, musical talent, and strong songwriting – period.

CONCLUSION

In Summary, the night at Hard Luck Bar was a celebration of thrash metal’s intensity and diversity, with each band bringing something unique to the stage. Duskwalker, Hatriot, Lich King, and Nervosa delivered high-energy performances that clearly connected with the crowd. From Duskwalker’s intense set to Hatriot’s family-driven thrash legacy, Lich King’s humor-infused aggression, and Nervosa’s relentless performance, the night showcased why these bands are making waves in the metal scene. For the lucky fans in attendance, it was an unforgettable night of heavy music, proving once again that Toronto is a thriving hub for metal.

October 10th, 2024 @ Hard Luck (Toronto, ON)
Images By: Billy Klare
Words By: Billy Klare