Poison The Well, Coverage, Spy & Balmora
April 7, 2026
History, Toronto, ON
Metalcore legends Poison the Well have periodically been on and off hiatus since the 2010’s. In 2020, the band reunited in a seemingly more permanent manner and released their sixth studio album Peace in Place, their first release in nearly 17 years in March of 2026. To celebrate such a momentous occasion, Poison the Well embarked on an epic North American tour. On April 7th, 2026 this tour made a stop at History in Toronto. Supporting acts for this show include Converge, Spy and Balmora.
Balmora is a fairly new band, having only been active since 2022. In a short time Balmora has proven to be an act worth paying attention to. Their music is a well executed and sincere throwback to the early 2000’s MySpace metalcore and deathcore sound. The songs of Balmora pull heavily from the melodic death metal influence of bands such as At the Gates while weaving in and out of quick and snappy breakdowns. Though the crowd was small, they made sure to leave an impact. The room was enthusiastic and energized by such a talented new band opening for their heroes. Be sure to keep an eye out for Balmora as they continue to grow. This was their first Toronto show but all signs point to them returning in the near future.
All the way from California, Spy came in like a runaway freight train. Their chaotic brand of old school hardcore is some of the best around, especially in a sea of hardcore bands hopping on the trends of beatdown and tough guy hardcore. Each song is a snappy collection of riffs, brutal yells and two-steps while being under two minutes. Time flies by so quickly during a Spy set as they whip through their small yet impactful catalog.
Converge are an iconic metalcore band that hardly need an introduction. Ever since they dropped their seminal album Jane Doe, Converge has been renowned as masters of their craft. Earlier this year Converge put out Love Is Not Enough which was prominently featured in their setlist. Fan favourites such as the spastic Concubine and Dark Horse remind you of their legacy while also showcasing a new album that is comparable to their classics. Throughout their performance Converge plays extremely tight while moving around and dominating the space on stage.
Poison the Well hit the stage around 9:45PM to an enthusiastic crowd anxiously awaiting to see the metalcore greats. Opening with their iconic song Botchla allowed the set to start soft, melodic and atmospheric before diverging into utter chaos as the song expands into an anthemic banger. This opening song set the tone for what can be expected from the musical arsenal of Poison the Well. Their songs often fuse melodic chord progressions with heavy old school metalcore riffage that is sure to satisfy the crowd. The setlist was filled with fan favourites such as Slice Paper Writs, Crystal Lake and the iconic Nerdy. Poison the Well continue to prove why their music has had such a lasting impact despite their music not conforming to the changing trends within the metalcore genre. Truth is; their music is timeless and it seems like younger audiences are taking pleasure in revisiting this classic band.
All the bands on this tour package fit together spectacularly and left no room for boredom. The entire roster played tightly and showcased their best material. Newer bands like Balmora and Spy complimented the legendary Converge and Poison the Well. I highly recommend you check out one of the remaining dates of this tour as you won’t regret it.
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