Gojira / Devin Townsend Project / The Atlas Moth @ The Phoenix, Toronto, ON, February 13, 2013

Gojira

Review and photos by Adam Wills

A capacity crowd came together at Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre last week to witness France’s mighty Gojira, Canada’s own Devin Townsend Project, and Chicago’s critically acclaimed The Atlas Moth, and what a show it was.

The Atlas Moth opened things up with a set consisting of mostly material from their 2011 release, An Ache for the Distance (Profound Lore), intricately managing a battle between atmosphere and intensity.

Devin Townsend and company returned again (do these guys ever take a break from touring?), this time in a support capacity.  A 7 song set, ranging from Infinity to their latest release, Epicloud, featured Townsend being his usual self, a caricature of a heavy metal frontman. Ending with “Grace”, Townsend promotes happiness, positivity and love – and leaves everyone with a smile on their face (and even jazz hands).

Gojira delivered one of the most crushing sets I’ve heard in a long while, and frontman Joe Duplantier knows how to take control of a crowd. From opener “Explosia” to closer “The Gift of Guilt”, Gojira showed why they’re one of metal’s next big things.

Photo Gallery

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Adam has been a photographer for Hellbound since day 1 and also has a hand in the technical aspects of running the site.