Exodus Bring Their “Battle of ’24 Tour” to Montreal [Photos]

They don’t build them like they used to. That’s a popular saying that I’m sure everyone out there has heard over time. In Montreal, where there seems to be a concert venue on every corner, a consensus favourite among fans is the Théâtre Beanfield. The building dates back to 1912 and was obviously well-built, as its foundations withstood the heavy metal “Battle of ’24.” That is the tour headlined by Exodus that is currently making its way across North America.

Exodus has supported many other bands during their stops in town, but this was only the second time that they were the headline act. Montreal in 2024 has seen several metal shows come to town, but Exodus and their tourmates made a solid argument that the best had been saved for last. Joined by Dead Heat, Candy, and Havok, this fearsome foursome did their best to make the show one that would not be forgotten.

Getting the evening started off with a bang, direct from California, was Dead Heat. They are known for their fast-paced songs and full-blast live performances. From the opening notes, singer Chris Ramos was already throwing himself around the stage while unleashing guttural yells deep enough to rattle the speakers. They definitely got the crowd good and pumped. They inspired at least three different circle pits during their short set, getting the collective blood of the crowd nice and loose early in the evening.

Up next was Candy. Their sound is described as a vulgar display of modern metal power, and vocalist Zak Quiram definitely unleashed the power of his voice on the crowd. Being an old guy myself, I’m not sure that I understood the concept with their sampling and pre-recorded sound bites, but once they let loose with their guitars, the place was rocking. I was definitely in the minority, as the fans in the building were cheering on like crazy. I will definitely try to get more familiar with them.

The third band was what many fans might consider to be a modern-day equivalent to our headliners, Havok. They play the kind of metal that would have fit right in back in the ’80s. With five albums to their name, Havok already had a nice back catalogue to play with, but they are still out there recording. Singer David Sanchez mentioned how they had just released a new EP, New Eyes, earlier this year. They were very proud of the achievement as it was their first self-produced effort. Both original songs from that EP, “Death Is An Illusion” and “New Eyes,” were played and the crowd ate up every note.

Much like the Beanfield, Exodus was built to last. Part of the original thrash metal movement, Exodus has been shredding guitars and melting faces since 1979. There may have been some personnel changes over the years, but they haven’t lost any of their formidable power. Their most recent album, Persona Non Grata from 2021, packs as much of a musical wallop as some of their earlier works. Hitting the stage to “The Last Act of Defiance,” Exodus wasted little time in letting the crowd know that they may have been the old dogs on the tour, but they already knew all the best tricks.

The double guitar roar of Lee Altus and Gary Holt is as formidable as any other band out there. Singer Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza owns one of the great metal voices and was in fine form. Fist bumps were returned to all who offered, and a special effort was made to connect with those who were surfing through the crowd on their way to the front of the stage. Some bodies were pushed, some limbs got thrashed around, and one photographer took a knee to the head. Just some battle stories to share in the future about the fun/danger of covering one of thrash’s more storied bands.

It’s true that they don’t build them like they used to. Bands like Exodus and buildings like the Théâtre Beanfield may have some miles under the hood, but they are still good to go. However, that doesn’t mean that the new models have less of an impact. With bands like Dead Heat, Candy, and Havok out there, it shows that though they may be new, they, too, can still be built strong. Exodus and their Battle of ’24 tour continues through December. Be sure not to miss out on one of the heavier tours of the year.

Exodus (w/ Havok, Candy, & Dead Heat) @ Theatre Beanfield (Montreal, QC) on November 18th, 2024

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