Lorna Shore, Aborted, Ingested, Angelmaker, Ov Sulfur
November 19, 2022
Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON
Canadian Beats Passport
Lorna Shore’s Pain Remains tour is the summation of a genre. A collection of bands that are relevant and are prime examples of what deathcore can and should be. On November 19th, 2022, Lorna Shoreput on an impressive show to a sold-out crowd at the Phoenix in Toronto. This stunning tour package also contained Aborted, Ingested, Angelmaker, and Ov Sulfur. Unfortunately, our photographer missed the first two bands for photos due to the weather.
Opening the show was Ov Sulfur. Although the band has only been around since 2021, some might recognize the vocalist, Ricky Hoover, from the deathcore band Suffokate. Admittedly, they were the band I knew the least. They certainly did a terrific job at setting the stage and warming up the crowd with their exciting tunes.
Up next was one of my all-time favourite bands, Angelmaker. The only Canadians on the bill, Angelmaker brings the heat. Two vocalists, and three guitar players, along with bass and drums, ensure that the sound is huge. Despite being a sound person’s worst nightmare, they were impeccable. Wasting no time, they played many fan favourites both new and old. The impression I got was the crowd was on board and fully invested. They pack so much energy, and their music translates to the stage perfectly.
UK slam legends Ingested have come a long way. It was only recently that they were playing small clubs in North America. It seems they have finally found their audience overseas, and their music is becoming more popular. Their performance was filled with catchy grooves, deep growls, and infectious breakdowns that will make any metal fan bang their head. Their last two records were their biggest yet, and their set list backed this up, playing mostly new material. This was certainly a good call because the crowd went wild. It was around this time of the night when the show’s energy was really picking up. A spectacular display, to say the least.
Aborted might have given Lorna Shorea a run for their money. Most definitely, a worthy co-headliner. Aborted’s music is wild, catchy, and break-neck fast. Their stage props decorated the space with eerie lighting a what appeared to be glass cages filled with macabre creatures. Their songs are short, which gave them plenty of time to play songs from different eras of their career. I have seen them before, and I like them more every time. They are one of the best live metal bands of this era.
Finally, Lorna Shore reminded everyone why they are kings of deathcore. Their recent blowout success should be no mystery to anyone that has seen them since the joining of vocalist Will Ramos. Ramos is a charismatic frontman which is only matched by his vocal abilities. Their set list was an hour & a half long, which is an impressive feat considering how difficult their music is. Every guitar part is fast, bombastic, and technical. Every drum part is riddled with blast beats and blistering double kick. The vocals should only be attempted by the best of the best. Simply put, whatever Lorna Shore does, they set a new standard of excellence. Despite the long set list, it was wickedly entertaining the entire time. Playing mostly new material, they know what the fans wanted to hear.
At the time of this review, the tour has concluded. I was so fortunate to be a witness. This tour will surely go down in history as a legendary run. The Pain Remains tour has captured a moment in time when all these bands are influential; all the while, the headliner has blown up to almost mainstream status, a rare accomplishment for such a heavy band. This was an amazing night and one that I’ll never forget. A perfect show.”
