Chelsea Grin hit up Toronto this past Wednesday as part of their North American run featuring support from Disembodied Tyrant, Signs of the Swarm, and co-headliners Shadow of Intent. For death-core enthusiasts, this was a bucket-list lineup. Fans eagerly lined up outside the iconic Danforth Music Hall, bracing for a night of bone-crushing riffs, guttural vocals, and unrelenting energy. With nearly two decades of experience in this scene, Chelsea Grin is definitely a household name. Known for their dark, nihilistic, and eerie sound, seeing them live feels like stepping into a horror film – in the best way possible. Disembodied Tyrant kicked off the night as attendees quickly poured into the venue. What began as a solo project has now evolved into a full-fledged four-piece symphonic death-core force, with front man Blake Mullens still handling both vocals and guitar duties. Though newer to the scene compared to the other acts, their set was met with an impressive reaction. Fans surged forward to the barricade, screamed along in unison, and helped set the tone for the night ahead. 
Signs of the Swarm followed, wasting no time in unleashing chaos. Their stage presence was nothing short of commanding. With brutal intensity and precision, vocalist David Simonich delivered a flawless blend of low growls and demonic snarls that kept the crowd locked in. Chants, roars, and flying limbs filled the room as the energy prepared the crowd for what was still to come. Next up were co-headliners Shadow of Intent, and their arrival on stage was undeniably met with anticipation. Conversations in the crowd revealed that many had travelled specifically to catch them live, eager to see their performance. Being around since 2013, this band has built up an extremely devoted fan base, despite not having ties to a record label and releasing all their music independently. Their set was breathtaking, quite literally as fans moshed, screamed, and barely had a second to breathe. Shadow of Intent are definitely a testament of dedication, passion, and raw energy. Finally, Chelsea Grin stormed the stage and dove headfirst into their set, opening with “Hostage”. The room erupted as fans kicked into action. Known for their mix of guttural growls, shrieking highs, and just a touch of melodic undertones, their set brought all those layers to life. Each scream from vocalist Tom Barber was met with a wave of crowd energy. 
Barber called for crowd surfers, and soon waves of bodies were coasting toward the stage, looping back and doing it all over again. As expected, a wall of death was also inevitable, a staple for any metal show. Midway through the set, Tom demanded the crowd split in two. Without hesitation, the room divided, awaiting the drop. As the breakdown hit, chaos exploded; flawlessly executed mayhem and destruction. Toward the end of the night, we witnessed a truly wholesome moment. A young fan was welcomed on stage and took the mic for parts of “My Damnation”, stunning the audience (and Tom) with an impressive vocal range and stage energy. Clearly, they had been preparing for this moment – and they nailed it. The concert was a perfect fusion of the beautiful and the beastly, a showcase of what makes death-core such a unique experience.
For all the fans that didn’t get the privilege of seeing the concert, luckily we got it covered with a full exclusive gallery just below featuring all four bands. To stay up to date with Chelsea Grin you can follow the band on Instagram @ChelseaGrin.
Article & Photos By Claudia K (@ThinkTwicePhoto)
