Published: February 13, 2019 · 7:10 AM EST
A stormy Canadian evening becomes a battlefield of riffs and adrenaline at The Mod Club
The journey began early in the morning, departing from Kingston toward Toronto across 264 kilometers of highway under a brutal winter storm. Temperatures dropped to -28°C as icy winds followed the route along the ON-401 West. By the time downtown Toronto came into view, freezing rain made the weather even more challenging, but the excitement of seeing Soulfly live in Canada was stronger than anything nature could throw at us.
After trekking through slush, ice and puddles along College Street, I arrived at The Mod Club, a warm and intimate venue ready to host a heavy lineup and an eager crowd.
At 8 p.m., the night opened with Alukah, a crushing death metal band from Maryland. Opening for a Canadian crowd is never easy, yet they delivered with conviction. Tracks like Avecsion, Catharsis, Locust and Demagogue showcased tight execution and fierce stage presence. Alukah earned genuine applause and quite a few new listeners.
Next came Incite from Phoenix, bringing a groove-driven assault reminiscent of Pantera and Machine Head. Led by vocalist Richie Cavalera, the band turned the venue into a whirlpool of riffs and breakdowns. An interesting detail: Richie was also working the Soulfly and Incite merchandise table earlier that night, connecting with fans face-to-face. When he stepped onto the stage, however, he became a force of nature. Highlights included Built to Destroy, Ruthless Ways, Resistance, Stagnant, Backbone, Savior Self and The Slaughter. On drums, his brother Zion Cavalera added fuel to the fire. A perfect score for Incite.
Then it was time for Montreal’s own Kataklysm. I had been waiting years to see them live, and they did not disappoint. They are a runaway locomotive onstage, delivering a relentless wall of Canadian death metal. The band arrived supporting their latest album Meditations (Nuclear Blast), praised both by critics and fans.
Guitarist Jean-François Dagenais, a master decorated with a Juno Award, executed razor-sharp riffs with ease. Beside him, vocalist Maurizio Iacono commanded the crowd with authority, backed by the thunder of drummer Oli Beaudoin and bassist Stephane Barbe. Their set included Narcissist, The Black Sheep, Thy Serpents Tongue, 10 Seconds From the End, Guillotine, As I Slither, The Resurrected, Crippled & Broken, The Ambassador of Pain, Outsider and At the Edge of the World. A flawless, adrenaline-rich performance.
Finally, the moment everyone was waiting for. Soulfly stormed the stage, led by the legendary Max Cavalera, a key figure in Latin American metal history. This tour promoted their latest release, Ritual, launched in late 2018 under Nuclear Blast. Positioned right beside the stage, I witnessed Max up close as he unleashed wave after wave of pure energy. His son Zion commanded the drum kit, Marc Rizzo shredded guitar lines, and Mike León held down the low end with deadly precision.
The crowd erupted from the very first note. Max’s charisma is undeniable, and fans connect with him instantly. Wearing my wool hat embroidered with “Peru,” I caught his eye. He pointed, shouted “Peru!” and later addressed the entire crowd saying, “Peru is here!” followed by applause around the venue. At one point, he approached, shook my hand and said, “Thank you, Peru.” A simple gesture, but immensely meaningful so far from home.
The setlist ignited the room: Ritual, The Summoning, Under Rapture, Fire/Porrada, Prophecy, Babylon, I and I, Arise Again, Rise of the Fallen, Dead Behind the Eyes, Back to the Primitive, No, Jumpdafuckup and Eye for an Eye. Max proved once again that his influence, creativity and instinct remain untouched.
Exhausted but exhilarated, I rushed back toward the bus terminal. Outside, the storm raged with violent winds, heavy snow and sheets of ice. None of it mattered. Every kilometer back to Kingston was worth the experience, the music and the memory of a spectacular night of metal.
Written by Gino Alache – Music Journalist
