Blog — Page 5 of 285

The Mars Volta just wrapped up their US tour in support of their new album, Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacio, and on their run, they brought their show to the Riverside Municipal Auditorium. It was Black Friday and the holidays were in full effect around downtown Riverside where the venue sits, as the city celebrates its Festival of Lights. Concertgoers were among the many roaming around downtown. Traffic made it difficult to find parking in time for the first opener Feliz Y Dada. I wandered in just in time to catch the uniquely costumed Latin artists finishing up their set.

Next up was Kiani Medina. The vocalist was accompanied by her brother Javius to serve as her multi-instrumentalist backbone. They performed a short set, but it was packed with beautiful vocal melodies that were soaring through the room while Javius maintained the rhythm.

Despite being a long-time fan of The Mars Volta, this was my first time catching them live. I went in with expectations based on past videos and second-hand accounts, but I was not prepared for the extravagant show they put on. Cedric kicked off the night with the a capella opener, "Fin," from the new album. The setlist would go on to consist of the entire new album played front-to-back. Fans of the old material were going to be out of luck, but The Mars Volta made it clear that it wasn't about playing a set of hits or fan-favorites. It was about celebrating the power of music through an experience that transcends a traditional live show.

With Cedric stationed in the middle of the stage with nothing but a blue light shining on him, he let his airy vocals entrance the audience before the rest of the band joined in on "Reina tormenta." A welcome addition to the live performance was Le Butcherettes' Teri Gender Bender. She shares the vocal duties with Cedric while also offering her form of interpretive dance.

Throughout the night, the band would go into a jam and improvise. Moments to let themselves go and feel free with Omar showing off his fancy fretwork. The crowd welcomed the sensory overload and allowed the music to take over. Before leading into "Morgana," Cedric let his voice ascend and harmonize with the ambiance that surrounded him. The set reached its crescendo in "Cue the Sun (Reprise)" as the band threw everything they had at the audience. After finishing their nonstop playthrough of Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacio, Cedric took a moment to address the crowd by thanking them for being so accepting of the openers and for their attention. The band then said goodnight and walked off. It was one of the more mesmerizing shows I've seen this year. 

Unearth @ The Opera House
Toronto, ON, CA
November 27, 2025

Unearth Live Review – Atreyu - 'The Curse' 20+1 Years Anniversary Tour

Unearth saved the best for last.
Closing out their seventh tour date in Toronto as part of Atreyu’s The Curse Anniversary Tour, they delivered an explosive, high-energy set that had the entire Opera House headbanging from the first riff to the final breakdown.

The last time I saw Unearth was on April 28, 2025, at History with Machine Head, In Flames, and Lacuna Coil. I actually had to scroll back through my archived videos to remember just how wild that night was — especially the moment Buz walked off stage onto a ledge mid-solo like it was nothing. In a lineup that stacked, they were easy to overlook, but clearly they never missed.

That’s what made last night at the Opera House so special. Smaller, more intimate venues give you a completely different connection to the band — no barriers, no distance, just pure energy in the room. Up-close and personal is exactly how Unearth should be experienced.

Seeing Unearth live — or diving back into their catalogue — feels like stepping into an unpolished forge: constant heat, unrelenting rhythm, and emotional rawness. Clean choruses aren’t their thing. Instead, they bring guttural vocals, galloping double-bass, searing riffs, and breakdowns that demand movement.

Yet within all that grit, there’s real precision. Melodic leads, tight song structures, and tempo shifts that catch you off guard show the musicianship behind the chaos. Every note, every growl feels intentional.

And maybe that’s what makes Unearth stand out after all these years. They’ve never chased trends. They show up with heavy riffs, honest grit, and unapologetic metalcore — and that kind of integrity hits just as hard as their breakdowns.

Setlist:
1. The Great Dividers
2. Failure
3. This Lying World
4. Bloodlust of the Human Condition
5. Endless
6. False Idols
7. Zombie Autopilot
8. Lie to Purify
9. Predetermined Sky
10. Black Hearts Now Reign

All photos by @front.row.fans

Zakk Sabath @ The Vine Showroom at del Lago Casino 
Waterloo, NY, USA
November 21, 2025

Zakk Sabbath Live Review – American Winter Tour 2025

It’s officially official: Zakk is carrying the torch for Ozzy and Black Sabbath’s legacy.

The sold-out venue kicked off the night with Bonfire, an AC/DC cover band all the way from L.A. Not your typical tribute act either — they focused on the early Bon Scott era and absolutely crushed it. Their high-energy set had the crowd fully warmed up for the heaviness to come.

Zakk made his entrance in the most Zakk way possible: wearing his “Ultimate Warrior–style” wrestling mask, video-recording with his phone, action figures in hand, casually walking among fans like a metal superhero doing his pre-show ritual — mostly to film the crowd and build excitement. And if you look closely, he’s added an Ozzy figure to the group.

If you’ve never seen Zakk Sabbath, be prepared — this is next-level musicianship. This is Black Sabbath at its heaviest. The sound is massive, and Zakk’s guitar playing is aggressively heavy and hypnotic.

The lineup was stacked with his Black Label Society brothers:
John “JD” DeServio delivering those thick, punchy bass lines with full swagger, and Jeff Fabb smashing the drums like they personally offended him.

When Zakk plays these Sabbath classics, he doesn’t copy them — he supercharges them. He takes the DNA of Iommi’s riffs and pumps it full of raw power, turning the heaviness up until it’s almost overwhelming. It’s Sabbath, but fed through Zakk’s hands and Zakk’s fury. It’s chaos and precision crashing into each other at full speed.

And the way he performs it? Hair flying, guitar in the air, squeals slicing through the room, leaning into JD like they’re summoning some ancient metal spirit — the whole thing feels less like a concert and more like a ritual. A full-on, high-volume ceremony to honor the legend of Black Sabbath while showing everyone exactly why Zakk is the one carrying the torch now.

And of course, Zakk knows how to work a crowd. Not just from the stage — he literally walks into the pit mid-solo, shredding while fans gather around him, cameras up, trying to capture every second.

And then the Ozzy moment. Zakk chanting his name. The entire venue shouting it back. A wave of emotion you could physically feel.

This is the closest we’ll ever get to Ozzy again — and Zakk delivers it with so much love and power that it hits straight in the heart.

Setlist:
1. Supernaut
2. Snowblind
3. Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes
4. Tomorrow's Dream
5. Wicked World
6. Fairies Wear Boots
7. Into the Void
8. Children of the Grave
9. After Forever
10. Hand of Doom
11. Behind the Wall of Sleep
12. Bassically
13. N.I.B.
14. War Pigs

All photos by @front.row.fans

It's bittersweet to be making this post. Murder by Death are currently on the road for their Farewell Tour. Murder by Death have been a part of my life for the past 20 years. Some of my longest-lasting friendships were formed through this band, and my love for them and their music is unconditional. It's sad to say goodbye, though it's not for forever. The band will continue to get together for their cave shows, and hopefully some other one-off events here and there, but for the most part, their touring career is coming to an end. When the band announced the dates for their farewell tour, I knew without a doubt that I was not going to miss their Halloween show. I can't imagine a bigger bang to go out on. 
They enlisted the help of Folk-Punk rockers AJJ to send them on their way. AJJ is another band that played a part in my youth. The pairing was perfect, and I couldn't have been more excited. I arrived at the venue in an entire blue jean ensemble and red puffer vest. My best attempt at Marty McFly. Amongst the crowd I spied Ozzy, a hot dog, a few mothmen, Chas Tenenbaum and his children, and many other would-be trick or treaters. 

When the time came for AJJ to take the stage, the band had been replaced by Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, but they still ran through a number of AJJ hits like "Brave as a Noun," "Heartilation," and "Big Bird" from the band's critically acclaimed, Knife Man. AJJ still performs with every ounce of gusto they've maintained their entire career. Honestly, though, the highlight of the night was when someone requested "Rainbow Connection" and Sean Bonnette as Floyd Pepper, went on a rant about never mentioning that song or bringing up Kermit. The stage banter was every bit as entertaining as the performance.

In the lead-up to the show, Murder by Death had been hinting at being cryptids for Halloween. Which ones they would all take the role on as was a mystery. As a video played displaying a poignant message about the farewell tour, and how many shows they have played (This was their 1939th show. The first time I saw them, they were only at 563.), out came The Lochness Monster, Bat Boy, Cerberus, Cyclops, The Abominable Snowman, The Mothman, and Baba Yaga. Throughout the night, Nessie made notes of how they wanted the setlist to be more spooky-themed. Naturally, that meant they had to include songs like "Ghost Fields," "Ash" and the classic kid-zombie tale of "Killbot 2000." However, they didn't shy away from fan favorites and classics like "Brother," "Comin' Home" and "Foxglove." Turla even asked for advice on how to make pizza spooky to properly include "Pizza Party! (at Gloria Estefan's House)." 

The night was beginning to wind down. The cryptids left the stage for the encore. Soon Baba Yaga and Nessie came back out to kick off "No Oath, No Spell" with the rest of the cryptid collective joining them midsong. They ended the night with the only song appropriate for their farewell tour: "Alas." 

I know this won't be the last time I see Murder by Death. They're one of my favorite bands, always will be, and I'm sad that this is goodbye for the foreseeable future. After nearly 2000 shows, they've earned their rest. Thanks for all the years of shows and music Murder by Death, and any time you've given to speak to me, whether for an interview, to hear my song requests, or just to fawn over your band. You all always did things your way and made being a fan of your band unique and exciting. From book clubs, shows in caves or haunted hotels, or the opportunity to cover any song suggested to you, being a fan was always a pleasure. Thanks for being real ones. 

Thrice @ Danforth Music Hall
Toronto, Canada
November 4, 2025

Thrice Live Review – Horizons/West Tour 2025

I was genuinely thrilled to finally get the chance to see and photograph Thrice — a band that’s been on my radar for years.

Their latest release, Horizons/West, feels like a powerful step forward: deeply introspective yet full of urgency, blending their trademark grit with sweeping, atmospheric tones. It’s clear that Thrice continue to evolve while staying true to the emotion that’s always defined them.

The venue was completely sold out, absolutely packed, with the energy buzzing even before the band hit the stage. A thick fog and dim, moody lighting set the perfect tone for what was to come.

As a new concert photographer, I quickly realized how challenging it can be to shoot under such dark, shifting lights — but once I put the camera down, experiencing the show from the crowd’s perspective was something else entirely. The waves of color — pinks, oranges, yellows, blues, purples, and greens — moved with the music and created a completely immersive atmosphere. Thrice truly know how to let their sound take control of the room.

The band delivered a strong, well-balanced setlist that flowed seamlessly between old favorites and new material.

The standout moments for me, both musically and through the crowd’s reaction, were The Dark Glow, Crooked Shadows, and Albatross. Each song hit in its own unique way and showed the band’s range perfectly.

If you get the chance to see Thrice live, expect a performance that’s tight, heartfelt, and full of purpose. You won’t find wild stage antics — instead, you’ll experience an honest, dynamic show that’s musically rich and deeply engaging from start to finish.

Setlist: Thrice @Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, ON, Canada

Intro. Dusk
1. Blackout
2. Gnash
3. The Artist in the Ambulance
4. Hurricane
5. Holding On
6. For Miles
7. Paper Tigers
8. The Dark Glow
9. Still Life
10. The Window
11. Stare at the Sun
12. Crooked Shadows
13. In Exile
14. Of Dust and Nations
15. Black Honey
16. Albatross
17. Beyond the Pines
18. Robot Soft Exorcism
19 The Earth Will Shake
Encore:
20. Vesper Light
21. Deadbolt

All photos by @front.row.fans