Loathe at HISTORY in Toronto: A Night of Chaos [Photos]

As early as 3 pm in the afternoon, fans were waiting excitedly outside HISTORY in Toronto, eagerly anticipating Loathe’s performance. As the set times got closer, the lines started getting longer, with crowd members wearing different outfits that matched the vibe. Many were wearing metal concert merch, including bands like Slipknot, Thornhill, or Deftones and more. Others wore clothes that were alt‑styled, involving a combination of lots of heavy silver jewelry like belts or chokers with spiked studs and dark clothing. This resulted in security requiring the removal of belts and heavy jewelry to check for dangerous items.

Opening the show were American bands Prostitute and Fleshwater, with electrifying performances warming up the audience for Loathe’s appearance.

Prostitute opened the night with their chaotic and abrasive energy that immediately perked the crowd’s attention. Their set leaned into harsh riffs and conflicting vocals that created a jarring but intentional contrast for the more atmospheric acts that followed. Although their style was uniquely uncommon, the audience responded with curiosity and intensity, creating a memorable aura for the starting evening.

Fleshwater’s set presented itself as a bridge between chaos and melody as their hazy guitars and vocals pulled the crowd into a more introspective mood. With the band’s amazing chemistry and enthusiastic performance, their dynamic control stood out, impressing fans that have never seen or heard them before. They controlled the energy, making it more and more on edge in preparation for Loathe’s arrival.

Finally, the atmosphere changes, the lighting resets, and their opening track starts, creating a misty, beautiful scene as audiences cheer in excitement. Loathe delivers a set that was an incredible mix of cinematic elements and metal. With seamless transitions, meticulously crafted tones, and a blend of melodic and heavy vocals, the crowd was locked in from the first note.

This tour supports the promotion of their newest album, A Stranger To You, while covering various parts of North America, with this show being only their second stop. Most notably known for their metalcore and nu‑metal songs with a mix of shoegaze and progressive rock. Formed in 2014 by lead singer Kadeem France and Erik Bickerstaffe in Liverpool, the band caught wind after releasing I Let It In and It Took Everything right before the pandemic in February 2020. The song “Is It Really You” from this album became their most popular and widely known song to this day.

Together, the three bands created an unforgettable night for audiences from the GTA. The curated showcase of the spectrum of modern heavy music left the audience buzzing long after the end of the show.