August Burns Red, The Devil Wears Prada & Bleed From Within
May 9, 2023
Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, ON
Canadian Beats Passport
2000s Metalcore icons August Burns Red are celebrating their 20-year anniversary with a North American tour. On May 9th, 2023, this awesome tour made a stop at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. Featuring support from Bleed From Within and The Devil Wears Prada, this tour is a must-see for Metalcore fans.
Opening the show was Scottland’s Bleed From Within. This was their Canadian debut and the crowd loved it. Their stage presence was remarkable and energetic. Bleed From Within offers a much more melodic and epic sound than some of their contemporaries. Although it doesn’t feel like it for us Canadian listeners, Bleed From Within has been around for nearly 20 years. Their setlist cherry-picked highlights from most of their releases. If you aren’t familiar with them, I’d highly recommend you give them a listen.
Up next was Metalcore Legends The Devil Wears Prada. Admittedly, The Devil Wears Prada is a band that I never got into until their newest release Color Decay in 2022. Their older material was very popular and relevant when I was in high school but it fell by the wayside to other Metalcore releases of that era. Their live show was the perfect showcase for a person like myself. Like the opener, their setlist was a best-of selection from their discography. I was exposed to songs both old and new that resonated with me that night. Hearing these songs live allowed me to appreciate them in a way I never have before. All the band members put on an excellent show and their stage presence was especially noteworthy. I am pleased to say that The Devil Wears Prada surprised me and won me over. Even if you are on the fence about this band, I highly recommend catching their set.
Last, but surely not least, was August Burns Red. Their performance blew my mind. I was invested in every moment they were on stage. Their songs have a tendency to feel so much larger and grandiose in the live setting. There is an emotional core to the music of August Burns Red that really shines through when you see them live. Accompanied by a stellar light show and stage setup, the atmosphere was properly set. Their setlist will surely please fans both old and new. Every album was touched and it felt like they played all the favourites you’d expect. All the members of the band are seasoned pros and their performance solidifies that. All the members are stellar are their respective instruments and their tightness was impressive. I couldn’t recommend this band enough. I might go as far as to say this was one of the best live bands I have ever seen. Please, do yourself a favour and see August Burns Red immediately!
The August Burns Red 20-Year Anniversary tour is a must-see for all fans of Metalcore. Every band on this bill has earned their rank among the Metalcore legends. Every Metalcore of the modern era owes all these bands a colossal “thank you.” I couldn’t recommend this tour enough. If there is a show anywhere near you, you will enjoy this experience and remember it for years to come.”
