TRIBVLATION NORTH AMERICA 2025

I don’t know how common it is for Toronto to receive the end-of-tour billing or why we did for this one—but for Tribvlation’s recent headlining North American tour, Toronto was saved for last. The Swedish gothic metal band closed it all out with a performance that felt like a fitting finale.

UNREQVITED

It’s a rare thing to see Unreqvited on tour. Opening this run was a massive opportunity for the project’s mastermind, William Melsness, and his touring lineup. Their set was stunning—slowly melodic, primarily instrumental, and rich in emotional atmosphere. With so many moments that spoke without words, it left a profound and lasting impression. Hailing from Ottawa, Unreqvited stands nearly alone in Canada for this genre of post-black and atmospheric metal. Although a complete setlist is difficult to confirm, it appears that most songs were pulled from A Pathway To The Moon, released earlier this year. Thirty minutes wasn’t enough—the set built-in emotional weight, and by the time it peaked near the end, I only wanted more.

Setlist
‘The Starforger’, ‘Void Essence / Frozen Tears’, ‘The Autumn Fire’

EARLY MOODS

No formal announcement was made, but for this Toronto show, Early Moods and Final Gasp swapped middle billing. Seeing Early Moods live again was like stepping back in time. Often labelled doom metal, the band fuses that foundation with an unmistakable 1980s heavy metal flair. Despite limited time, they managed to split their set between 2022’s Early Moods and 2024’s A Sinner’s Past. Their fuzz-drenched tone and commanding presence filled Lee’s Palace with a timeless force, leaving the crowd mesmerized. It’s as if they travelled forward from a darker, heavier era—only to remind us what we’ve been missing.

Setlist
‘Isolated’, ‘Blood Offerings’, ‘Return to Salem’s Gate’, ‘Live to Suffer’, ‘Soul Sorcery’, ‘A Sinner’s Past’, ‘Damnation’

FINAL GASP

Final Gasp hit the stage with no time to waste, erupting into a furious set that balanced doom and hardcore punk in equal measure. Even before a word was spoken, their body language screamed urgency. The band gave Toronto their all on this final stop—headbanging harder than much of the audience, eyes locked in on the performance with minimal banter and maximum aggression. It was over in a flash, but the impact stuck around.

Setlist
‘Look Away’, ‘Climax Infinity’, ‘Mourning Moon’, ‘Apparition’, ‘Blood & Sulfur’, ‘Temptation’, ‘Homebound’, ‘Suicide’

TRIBVLATION

Tribvlation (stylized as Tribulation on their backdrop banner) brought theatrics to match their gothic metal majesty. Four towering columns of cathedral glass and skull-laced decor framed the stage, flanking a massive logo backdrop that set a ritualistic tone. On the road supporting 2024’s Sub Rosa In Æternum, Tribvlation transformed Lee’s Palace into their cathedral for one final night. Known for previously supporting Ghost and Opeth, the band immediately commanded the crowd with their flair and finesse. Guitar duels, synchronized movement, and even a few kneeling solos added visual drama to an already tight performance. The eleven-song set felt like the perfect length, ending with ‘Strange Gateways Beckon’—a moment that stirred audible disappointment from fans, followed by Johannes’ reassuring words: “We will see you soon.”

Setlist
‘The Unrelenting Choir’, ‘Tainted Skies’, ‘Nightbound’, ‘Hamartia’, ‘Suspiria de profundis’, ‘Melancholia’, ‘In Remembrance’, ‘Hungry Waters’, ‘Saturn Coming Down’, ‘Murder in Red’, ‘Strange Gateways Beckon’