Iced Earth, Sanctuary and Kill Ritual Ignite Toronto

I left Kingston at 9:50 a.m. for a two-hour and forty-minute drive toward Toronto. The highway was busy but calm, and I spent most of the trip watching the Anvil documentary and listening to Megadeth to get into the right mindset. As soon as the skyline began to rise and the CN Tower appeared, I knew I had arrived where I needed to be.

The Phoenix Concert Theatre was the perfect venue for this stop of the Incorruptible World Tour 2018. Supporting the headliners were Sanctuary and Kill Ritual. Doors opened at 7 p.m. and the venue filled quickly, something very common in Toronto’s dynamic metal scene. I made my way to the merchandise area, only to discover that most of the vinyl editions had already sold out in previous dates. With no real choice, I grabbed a couple of tour shirts despite their steep pricing.

Kill Ritual opened the evening, a band formed by former members of Imagika, Dark Angel and Eldritch. Their mission was tough: warm up a crowd eagerly waiting for two legendary acts. They delivered a solid performance and took the opportunity to showcase their new album, All Man Shall Fall, released earlier that February. Tracks like Rise from Karma Machine and a surprising cover of UFO’s Lights Out stood out. It was a strong start.

Next came Sanctuary, still mourning the loss of their iconic vocalist Warrel Dane, who passed away in Brazil in December 2017. The band faced a difficult decision: end their journey or continue forward the way Warrel would have wanted. They chose to honor him, naming the tour “Farewell to Warrel Dane.”

Stepping into the most pressurized role of the night was Joseph Michael (White Wizzard, Witherfall), whose task was nothing short of monumental. Warrel was deeply cherished not only by Sanctuary fans, but also by the Nevermore community. Joseph rose to the challenge with grace and talent, earning respect from everyone in attendance.

Founding members Lenny Rutledge and Dave Budbill, joined by George Hernandez and Joseph, delivered more than ten songs of pure passion. Highlights included Die for My Sins, Seasons of Destruction, Arise and Purify and Soldiers of Steel. It was emotional, heavy and cathartic.

Finally, the stage belonged to Iced Earth. Led by the mastermind Jon Schaffer, alongside vocalist Stu Block (Canadian and former Into Eternity vocalist), Brent Smedley, Luke Appleton and Jake Dreyer, they came to promote their album Incorruptible and prove why they remain one of metal’s most consistent forces.

Their fifteen-song set was a storm of precision and power. Burning Times, Dystopia, I Died for You, Vengeance Is Mine, Brothers and Travel in Stygian hit with surgical sharpness. Iced Earth did not miss a single note. Decades of experience echoed in every riff, every transition, every synchronized headbang.

One of the most emotional moments came near the end: Watching Over Me, from Something Wicked This Way Comes, was dedicated entirely to Warrel Dane. The crowd erupted, and many found themselves overwhelmed by the tribute. It was a powerful reminder of how deeply intertwined metal is with memory, pain and celebration.

After the final applause, I headed back into the cold to begin a nearly three-hour return trip to Kingston. Exhausted, half-frozen but full of adrenaline, I drove through the night knowing every kilometer had been worth it.

Written by Gino Alache – Music Journalist