Arch Enemy’s “Bloody Dynasty Tour” Rumbles Through Montreal [Photos]

We haven’t hit the month of June yet, but already Montreal has been blessed with a series of great metal shows. Perhaps blessed isn’t the right choice of word for the “Devil’s Music,” but cursed certainly isn’t the right one either. It’s a safe bet that none of the sold-out crowd that filled the Théâtre L’Olympia felt cursed as they went out of their minds. If anything, they may have been feeling blessed themselves as they roared in unison towards the altar of rock that was before them. Arch Enemy was in town, and they brought some friends with them.

Staying with the religious theme for a moment, two of Montreal’s Heavy Metal Royalty were on display on this evening. First up was Daniel Mongrain and his band Martyr. Mongrain is best known as ‘Chewy’ from Voivod, but I know him as the man with one of the greatest smiles in metal. In a genre that is known for snarls, scowls and angry faces, Chewy is non-stop smiling on the stage. After an eleven-year break, Martyr got back together in 2023, and this was their big return in Montreal. They don’t play very many shows, but when they do, it’s unforgettable. Martyr may have been an opening band on this night, but they had a home-field advantage. The band played mostly songs from their Warp Zone album as the crowd raised their fists and alternated between singing along and chanting the band’s name.

The evening also featured two other bands, Thrown Into Exile and Baest. Parental duties prevented me from seeing their sets, but my spies in the front row tell me that they were both great. I was able to hear the end of Baest’s set, and they had the building rocking. Hopefully, I’ll be able to catch them both again sometime in the future.

After a short break, Metallica’s “For Whom The Bell Tolls” played over the house PA. As the crowd sang along, Sweden’s gift to heavy music, Arch Enemy, made their way to the stage. Out last, and admittedly to the loudest applause, was singer Alissa White-Gluz, Montreal’s reigning scream queen and vocalist with the group for almost eleven years now. Filled with some hometown pride, Alissa immediately let loose her trademarked roar and began to bang her head, sending her blue hair flying in all directions.

Arch Enemy opened their set with “Deceivers,” which put their musical power on display right from the word go. “Dream Stealer,” from their most recent album, Blood Dynasty, followed shortly after. The album was released just a few weeks ago and is a perfectly brutal addition to their musical catalogue. By this time, the circle pits had already been formed, and bodies were quickly surfing by on their way to the front of the stage. It may have been raining and a little chilly outside, but Arch Enemy was raising the heat to devilish highs. That wasn’t going to stop them, or their fans, from giving their all.

What followed was a set list that kept heads banging, arms pumping, and bodies surfing until the final notes were played. Ears were probably still ringing into the next morning, but the dull voices those fans heard the next day should have only served to remind them of the awesome spectacle that they had been part of the night before. The North American “Blood Dynasty Tour” has come to an end, but Arch Enemy will surely be hitting the road again soon.

Ach Enemy (w/ Martyr) @ Théâtre L’Olympia (Montreal, QC) on May 8, 2025

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