The Metal Show Becomes a Show Again: Amonklok Conquest 2026 Toronto Review

By Tony Rachtman

As a millennial now stuck on the wrong side of 35, I’m happy to report I was there for the great metal resurgence of the late 2000s. It was 2008. Solos were back. Long hair was back. And the purity-pissing contest metalheads are famous for was running at full throttle across North America.

Legendary bands were suddenly playing bigger venues to bigger crowds for the first time in over 15 years. Newer acts were blowing up overnight thanks to YouTube. Dethklok, Brendon Small’s brilliant Cartoon Network creation, had become a late-night TV phenomenon, while Amon Amarth were conquering new territory with Twilight of the Thunder God.

I saw both bands that year as a 19-year-old fresh out of high school, and they stood out for one simple reason: they were actually putting on a show. While most metal bands at the time were just dudes in black t-shirts and jeans playing their songs, Dethklok and Amon Amarth brought back the larger-than-life spectacle that hadn’t been seen since the glory days of Dio, Priest, and Maiden in the ’80s.

Fast forward to 2026, and the two melodic death metal titans have finally joined forces for the co-headline tour metal fans have been waiting nearly two decades for. Dethklok, celebrating 20 years, and Amon Amarth, at the absolute peak of their powers. This is one of the first true arena-sized death metal tours North America has ever seen.

First up were Brooklyn’s rapidly ascending doom outfit Castle Rat, keeping with this tour’s theme of theatrics. Fresh off their viral KEXP performance, they delivered a brief but highly effective 30-minute set. Without wasting a second, new and curious fans were treated to a show that combined equal parts Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Dark Crystal, Heavy Metal Magazine, Spinal Tap, and a touch of cabaret. The Rat Queen herself, Riley Pinkerton, sounded just like the recordings, same for the band. Short set or not, this is the perfect launchpad for them. Watch out for the Rat Queen and her minions in the near future.

In less time than it took to line up for a beer, Amon Amarth then took to the stage, turning The Theatre at Woodbine into a Viking battlefield. With a nearly sold-out 5000-capacity crowd, the ensuing Scandinavian tour de force finally seemed to be able to bring most of their live stage concepts to life, at least in Toronto, for the first time ever. Johan Hegg was in absolute beast mode, with thunderous roars and growls barely discernible from the studio records. Drummer Jocke Wallgren continues to prove himself an irreplaceable live addition with his airtight, metronome drumming. The live sound at the venue was crystal clear, and everything could be heard in balance, despite many early claims of The Theatre having difficulties adapting to the live PA sound of heavier bands.

The set was heavy on later-era material but still delivered the goods, with highlights like Asator, Live for the Kill, and Hermod’s Ride to Hel- Loke’s Treachery; while long-time setlist staples like Cry of the Blackbirds and Death in Fire rocked the crowd in a battle-frenzied rage. The production featured an actual Shield Wall for the song of the same name, with a column of Viking troops lined up in convincing sets of chainmail armour. Put your back Into the Oar starred what was said to be the largest “Viking row pit” of the tour so far. One Thousand Burning Arrows presented some archers, with everything culminating in Johan Hegg’s battle with the Midgard Serpent during the show finale of Twilight of the Thunder God.

Over 30 years into their career, Amon Amarth is sounding better than ever, and looking more imposing on stage than ever before. If you haven’t seen them with this full production yet, fix that immediately.

Dethklok took to the stage and closed the night with the same lengthy set. Though I hadn’t seen them live in many years, I always forget how difficult it must be for a live band to play along to the animated video recordings from the series. Then again, when you have a drummer like Death/Testament legend Gene Hoglan pounding the skins for you, it doesn’t seem so hard to imagine. Dethklok, now celebrating its 20th year, featured a setlist consisting of classics like Birthday Dethday, Awaken, and The Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle, as well as newer tracks like The Gears, Dethsupport, and Aortic Desecration. Longtime mascot for Dethklok, Facebones, provided plenty of laughs in between sets of songs, and hearing them all in a much larger venue than Sound Academy years ago certainly made for an impressive, and nostalgia-driven setlist containing the very best of the past two decades of Dethklok.

Everything went right on Friday night. The venue audio, the musicianship, the enthusiasm of the crowd. This is a tour that seemed long overdue, and one with such a level of live showmanship that its almost tragic that more heavy tours aren’t like the Amonklok tour. I couldn’t possibly think of anything that could’ve have gone better on this particular tour date, and long may we continue to get tours like these.