mastodon gojira lorna shore tour

MASTODON And GOJIRA Announce 'The Mega-Monsters Tour' With LORNA SHORE; BLABBERMOUTH.NET Presale

Teaming up for what promises to be an unforgettable jaunt of epic proportions, iconic Grammy Award -winning heavy rock band MASTODON will join forces with Grammy Award -nominated French heavy metal luminaries GOJIRA for "The Mega-Monsters Tour" , a massive co-headline tour across North America in 2023 along with special guests LORNA SHORE on all dates. It finds these two juggernauts taking over arenas and amphitheaters throughout the spring and summer, alternating closing sets each night.

A special BLABBERMOUTH.NET presale will begin on Wednesday, January 18 at 10:00 a.m. EST and end on Thursday, January 19 at 10:00 p.m. local time. When prompted, type in the presale code "HUSHED" to access tickets before the general public. General on-sale will be Friday, January 20 at 10 a.m. local time.

The tour kicks off at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon on April 18, stops at legendary venues such as the Forum in Los Angeles, California on April 21, and steamrolls through MASTODON 's hometown of Atlanta for their biggest Georgia headlining gig to date at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre. The first leg concludes at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania on May 11. Meanwhile, the tour resumes with a second leg from August 9 through September 2.

MASTODON will hit the road in support of their critically acclaimed ninth studio album, "Hushed And Grim" . Meanwhile, GOJIRA are out supporting their seventh full-length album, "Fortitude" , which garnered a Grammy Award nomination in the category of "Best Metal Performance" for "Amazonia" . These two titans previously canvased North America together in 2014, and this reunion represents yet another major milestone in their respective careers.

Tour dates:

Apr. 18 - Portland, OR - Veterans Memorial Coliseum ( buy tickets ) Apr. 20 - Concord, CA - Concord Pavilion ( buy tickets ) Apr. 21 - Los Angeles, CA - The Forum ( buy tickets ) Apr. 22 - Phoenix, AZ - AZ Federal Theatre ( buy tickets ) Apr. 23 - Las Vegas, NV - Virgin ( buy tickets ) Apr. 26 - Dallas, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory ( buy tickets ) Apr. 28 - Houston, TX - 713 Music Hall ( buy tickets ) Apr. 29 - Austin, TX - Moody Center ( buy tickets ) Apr. 30 - Oklahoma City, OK - Zoo Amphitheatre ( buy tickets ) May 02 - Nashville, TN - Municipal Auditorium ( buy tickets ) May 04 - Boca Raton, FL - Sunset Cove Amphitheater ( buy tickets ) May 05 - St. Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Amphitheatre ( buy tickets ) May 06 - Atlanta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre ( buy tickets ) May 07 - Asheville, NC - Harrah's Cherokee Center ( buy tickets ) May 09 - Richmond, VA - Virginia Credit Union Live ( buy tickets ) May 10 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Pavilion ( buy tickets ) May 11 - Reading, PA - Santander Arena ( buy tickets )

Aug. 09 - Cincinnati, OH - MegaCorp Pavilion ( buy tickets ) Aug. 10 - Cleveland, OH - Jacob's Pavilion ( buy tickets ) Aug. 11 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE Outdoors ( buy tickets ) Aug. 12 - New York, NY - Coney Island Amphitheater ( buy tickets ) Aug. 13 - Syracuse, NY - OneCenter ( buy tickets ) Aug. 15 - Detroit, MI - Masonic Temple ( buy tickets ) Aug. 17 - Toronto, ON - RBC Echo Beach ( buy tickets ) Aug. 18 - Montreal, QC - Place Bell ( buy tickets ) Aug. 19 - Portland, ME - Cross Insurance Arena ( buy tickets ) Aug. 20 - Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall ( buy tickets ) Aug. 23 - Milwaukee, WI - BMO Pavilion ( buy tickets ) Aug. 25 - Hammond, IN - Horseshoe ( buy tickets ) Aug. 26 - Omaha, NE - Westfair Amphitheater ( buy tickets ) Aug. 27 - Minneapolis, MN - Waite Park Amphitheater ( buy tickets ) Aug. 29 - St. Louis, MO - The Factory ( buy tickets ) Aug. 30 - Kansas City, MO - Azura Amphitheater ( buy tickets ) Sep. 01 - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheater ( buy tickets ) Sep. 02 - Denver, CO - Fiddler's Green Amphitheater ( buy tickets )

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).

Mega-Monsters Tour with Mastodon and Lorna Shore!

Privacy Policy . I understand that I can opt-out at any time by emailing [email protected] .--> By submitting my information, I agree to receive personalized updates and marketing messages about Gojira based on my information, interests, activities, website visits and device data and in accordance with the Privacy Policy . I understand that I can opt-out at any time by emailing [email protected] .

Welcome to the Gojira's mailing list!

Privacy Policy . In addition, if I have checked the box above, I agree to receive such updates and messages about similar artists, products and offers. I understand that I can opt-out from messages at any time by emailing [email protected] .-->By submitting my information, I agree to receive personalized updates and marketing messages about Gojira based on my information, interests, activities, website visits and device data and in accordance with the Privacy Policy . In addition, if I have checked the box above, I agree to receive such updates and messages about similar artists, products and offers. I understand that I can opt-out from messages at any time by emailing [email protected] .

America!!!! We are excited to announce the Mega-Monsters Tour with our friends Mastodon and Lorna Shore! Tickets go on sale Friday, January 20th at 10am at  https://www.gojira-music.com/tour .

VIP Meet n’ Greet packages will be available, visit the page for details, we can’t wait to see ya on the road!

• < Prev
• Next >

• Album Release Calendar
• Festival Guide

Mastodon + Gojira Announce Co-Headlining 2023 Tour With Lorna Shore

Mastodon and Gojira have just announced a co-headlining Mega Monsters North American tour with special guest Lorna Shore .

The first leg of the tour will stretch from April 18 through May 11 with the second leg kicking up on Aug. 9 with an end date set for Sept. 2.

View the complete list of dates below.

Look for tickets to go on sale on Jan. 20 at 10AM local time with a pre-sale beginning on Jan. 18 at 10AM local time. Check the Mastodon website or  Gojira website for VIP packages and further ticketing information.

The tour unites three of the biggest forces in 21st century metal, Mastodon and Gojira being the established veterans while Lorna Shore have asserted themselves as a genuine breakout band in the 2020s with viral success thanks to their revolutionary brand of deathcore.

The co-headliners are each hitting the road in continued support of their 2021 albums —  Hushed & Grim (Mastodon) and  Fortitude (Gojira). Meanwhile, Lorna Shore will be touting last year's  Pain Remains , which Loudwire named the Album of the Year .

Mastodon + Gojira 2023 Tour Dates With Lorna Shore

April 18 — Portland, Ore. @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum April 20 — Concord, Calif. @Concord Pavilion April 21 — Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Forum April 22 — Phoenix, Ariz. @ Arizona Financial Theatre April 23 — Las Vegas, Nev. @ Virgin April 26 — Dallas, Texas @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory April 28 — Houston, Texas @ 713 Music Hall April 29 — Austin, Texas @ Moody Center April 30 — Oklahoma City, Okla. @ Zoo Amphitheatre May 02 — Nashville, Tenn. @ Municipal Auditorium May 04 — Boca Raton, Fla. @ Sunset Cove Amphitheater May 05 — St. Augustine, Fla. @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre May 06 — Atlanta, Ga. @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre May 07 — Asheville, N.C. @ Harrah’s Cherokee Center May 09 — Richmond, Va. @ Virginia Credit Union Live May 10 — Baltimore, Md. @ Pier Six Pavilion May 11 — Reading, Pa. @ Santander Arena

Aug. 09 — Cincinnati, Ohio @ MegaCorp Pavilion Aug. 10 — Cleveland, Ohio @ Jacob’s Pavilion Aug. 11 — Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Stage AE Outdoors Aug. 12 — New York, N.Y. @ Coney Island Amphitheater Aug. 13 — Syracuse, N.Y. @ OneCenter Aug. 15 — Detroit, Mich. @ Masonic Temple Aug. 17 — Toronto, Ontario @ RBC Echo Beach Aug. 18 — Laval, Quebec @ Place Bell Aug. 19 — Portland, Maine @ Cross Insurance Arena Aug. 20 — Boston, Mass. @ MGM Music Hall Aug. 23 — Milwaukee, Wis. @ BMO Pavilion Aug. 25 — Hammond, Ind. @ Horseshoe Aug. 26 — Omaha, Neb. @ Westfair Amphitheater Aug. 27 — Minneapolis, Minn. @ Waite Park Amphitheater Aug. 29 — St. Louis, Mo. @ The Factory Aug. 30 — Kansas City, Mo. @ Azura Amphitheater Sept. 01 — Salt Lake City, Utah @ USANA Amphitheater Sept. 02 — Denver, Colo. @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater

Your Guide to Rock + Metal Bands Touring in 2023

More from loudwire.

Mastodon and Gojira Announce ‘The Mega-Monsters’ Co-Headlining Tour

By Larisha Paul

Larisha Paul

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Gojira and Mastodon — the band, not the Twitter replacement website — are teaming up for an upcoming co-headlining “Mega-Monsters” tour . Lorna Shore will join for all dates of the two-leg trek scheduled to begin in April.

The heavy-metal-meets-heavy-rock tour will span 35 dates beginning with a show at Portland’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum on April 18. Mastodon and Gojira will make stops in Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Richmond, New York, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Denver, and more cities.

General sale for the Mega-Monsters tour begins on Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. local time via both Gorija and Mastodon ‘s websites.

'MaXXXine' Brings Back Old-School Porn and Horror, 1980s Style

Chace crawford went from 'gossip girl' to octopus sex on 'the boys' — and he loves it, neil gaiman denies sexual assault allegations made by two women, maga senator suggests without proof that white nationalist group's march is a 'false flag'.

LEG 2 Aug. 9 – Cincinnati, OH @ MegaCorp Pavilion Aug. 10 – Cleveland, OH @ Jacob’s Pavilion Aug. 11 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE Outdoors Aug. 12 – New York, NY @ Coney Island Amphitheater Aug. 13 – Syracuse, NY @ OneCenter Aug. 15 – Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple Aug. 17 – Toronto, ON @ RBC Echo Beach Aug. 18 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell Aug. 19 – Portland, ME @ Cross Insurance Arena Aug. 20 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall Aug. 23 – Milwaukee, WI @ BMO Pavilion Aug. 25 – Hammond, IN @ Horseshoe Aug. 26 – Omaha, NE @ Westfair Amphitheater Aug. 27 – Minneapolis, MN @ Waite Park Amphitheater Aug. 29 – St. Louis, MO @ The Factory Aug. 30 – Kansas City, MO @ Azura Amphitheater Sept. 1 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheater Sept. 2 – Denver, CO @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater

Nicki Minaj Cancels Festival Gig in Romania Due to 'Safety Concerns' Over Bucharest Protest

• 'huge disappointment'
• By Daniel Kreps

Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch Threatened by Southern California Wildfire

• 'Zero Percent Contained'

Chace Crawford Went From 'Gossip Girl' to Octopus Sex on 'The Boys' — and He Loves It

• Deep Thoughts
• By Brian Hiatt

Welcome to the Hannah Montana Generation of Pop Music

• Best of Both Worlds
• By Brittany Spanos

How the Inseparable Lijadu Sisters Fought for Afropop as We Know It

• Living Legend
• By Mankaprr Conteh

Most Popular

Xbox live goes down in nearly seven-hour outage, "hawk tuah girl" hailey welch finds representation, king charles iii might have a different plan for royal lodge amid prince andrew eviction attempts, kendrick lamar defeats drake by unanimous decision with "not like us" video, you might also like, kevin spacey wins folkestone independent film award for ‘control’ voice acting role, exclusive: jeweler fred taps bts’s jin as first global brand ambassador, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, it’s official: paramount and skydance are merging, nfl 2023 national revenue hit $13 billion, $400 million-plus per team.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

Find anything you save across the site in your account

Mastodon and Gojira Announce 2023 Co-Headlining Tour

Mastodon and Gojira have announce a 2023 co-headlining tour. Dubbed the Mega-Monsters Tour, it will take place this spring and summer across North America. Opening each date will be Lorna Shore. Find the full itinerary for the co-headlining tour below.

The Mega-Monsters Tour will begin on April 18 in Portland, Oregon, before the bands move across most of the West Coast and the South. After a brief break in June and July, Mastodon and Gojira will head back on the road, performing on the East Coast and Midwest before concluding the trek on September 2 in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Mastodon released their latest and eighth album, Hushed and Grim , back in 2021. Before that, the Atlanta-based sludge metal band also dropped the compilation Medium Rarities . As for Gojira, their newest album also came out in 2021: Fortitude . It was the follow-up to the French avant-metal group’s 2016 full-length, Magma .

Read about Mastodon’s 2004 full-length LP Leviathan on Pitchfork’s list of “ The 200 Best Albums of the 2000s .”

All products featured on Pitchfork are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Gojira and Mastodon:

04-18 Portland, OR - Veterans Memorial Coliseum 04-20 Concord, CA - Concord Pavilion 04-21 Los Angeles, CA - The Forum 04-22 Phoenix, AZ - Arizona Financial Theatre 04-23 Las Vegas, NV - Virgin 04-26 Dallas, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory 04-28 Houston, TX - 713 Music Hall 04-29 Austin, TX - Moody Center 04-30 Oklahoma City, OK - Zoo Amphitheatre 05-02 Nashville, TN - Municipal Auditorium 05-04 Boca Raton, FL - Sunset Cove Amphitheater 05-05 St. Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Amphitheatre 05-06 Atlanta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre 05-07 Asheville, NC - Harrah’s Cherokee Center 05-09 Richmond, VA - Virginia Credit Union Live 05-10 Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Pavilion 05-11 Reading, PA - Santander Arena 08-09 Cincinnati, OH - MegaCorp Pavilion 08-10 Cleveland, OH - Jacob’s Pavilion 08-11 Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE Outdoors 08-12 New York, NY - Coney Island Amphitheater 08-13 Syracuse, NY - OneCenter 08-15 Detroit, MI - Masonic Temple 08-17 Toronto, Ontario - RBC Echo Beach 08-18 Laval, Quebec - Place Bell 08-19 Portland, ME - Cross Insurance Arena 08-20 Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall 08-23 Milwaukee, WI - BMO Pavilion 08-25 Hammond, IN - Horseshoe 08-26 Omaha, NE - Westfair Amphitheater 08-27 Minneapolis, MN - Waite Park Amphitheater 08-29 St. Louis, MO - The Factory 08-30 Kansas City, MO - Azura Amphitheater 09-01 Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheater 09-02 Greenwood Village, CO - Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Pitchfork. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Duran Duran Announce 2024 Fall Tour Dates

Heart cancel world tour due to ann wilson cancer diagnosis, watch: geezer butler joins foo fighters at birmingham concert, pierce the veil announce fall 2024 headlining shows, shifty shellshock, crazy town frontman, dies at 49, shiprocked 2025 lineup announced: parkway drive, hollywood undead, the struts, and more, powerwolf unleash epic video for new single “sinners of the seven seas”, paul mccartney announces fall concerts in mexico, jelly roll announces first-ever international tour dates, monsters of rock cruise 2025 lineup: tesla, extreme, krokus, and more, gwar announce 2024 fall u.s. tour, olivia rodrigo adds two l.a. concerts to 2024 tour, crobot announce new album, unleash first single “come down”, review + photos: bleachers are as dynamic as ever on their 2024 tour, foo fighters debut unfinished demo at uk tour kickoff, eagles announce 8-show residency at sphere in las vegas, def leppard release new single “just like 73” with tom morello, riot fest 2024 lineup announced: slayer, beck, fall out boy, and more, creed announce ‘human clay’ 25th anniversary vinyl, deluxe cd release, godsmack are releasing ‘faceless’ album on vinyl for the first time ever.

Mastodon, Gojira Announce 2023 Tour with Lorna Shore

The Mega-Monsters Tour attacks North American this spring

Metal juggernauts Mastodon and Gojira are hitting the road together this spring on the Mega-Monsters Tour. The trek kicks off on and wraps up on. Very special guests for the run will be one of last year’s biggest breakout acts – Lorna Shore. The first leg of the trek kicks off on April 18 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon and wraps up on May 11 at the Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania. In August, the bands will return for a second run starting on August 9 at MegaCorp Pavilion in Cincinnati, Ohio. Check out the fill tour itinerary below.

Back in 2014, Mastodon and Gojira mounted a brief U.S. tour together.

Pre-sale tickets will be available tomorrow, January 18 at 10am local venue time. The pre-sale runs through Thursday, January 19 at 10pm. General public 0n-sale begins Friday, January 20 at 10am local venue time. For more information and to purchase tickets, go HERE .

VIP Meet & Greet Passes for Mastodon will also be available.

Mastodon released their ninth album Hushed and Grim on October 29, 2021. The double-LP featured the GRAMMY® Award-nominated track “Pushing The Tides.” It performed well commercially, peaking at No. 20 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums Chart. It also marked the band’s third straight chart-topping album on Billboard’s Top Hard Rock Albums.

Nearly two years since its release, Gojira are still riding the wave of their latest effort Fortitude (Roadrunner). The album’s hit single “Amazonia” earned the band a GRAMMY® nod for Best Metal Performance. The record topped both Billboard’s Top Rock and Top Hard Rock Albums charts. It peaked at No. 2 in their native France.

Death metallers Lorna Shore formed in 2009 and released three full-length albums from 2015 to 2020. Last year, however, the band finally broke out with their massive hit LP Pain Remains (Century Media). The album hit No. 2 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums chart. With the release of the critically-acclaimed record, the band are in the forefront of a new class of modern metal acts.

April 18 – Portland, OR – Veterans Memorial Coliseum April 20 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion April 21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum April 22 – Phoenix, AZ AZ – Federal Theatre April 23 – Las Vegas, NV – Virgin April 26 – Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory April 28 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall April 29 – Austin, TX – Moody Center April 30 – Oklahoma City, OK – Zoo Amphitheatre May 2 – Nashville, TN – Municipal Auditorium May 4 – Boca Raton, FL – Sunset Cove Amphitheater May 5 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre May 6 – Atlanta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre May 7 – Asheville, NC – Harrah’s Cherokee Center May 9 – Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union Live May 10 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion May 11 – Reading, PA – Santander Arena Aug 9 – Cincinnati, OH – MegaCorp Pavilion Aug 10 – Cleveland, OH – Jacob’s Pavilion August 11 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE Outdoors August 12 – New York, NY – Coney Island Amphitheater August 13 – Syracuse, NY – OneCenter August 15 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple August 17 – Toronto, ON RBC – Echo Beach August 18 – Montreal, QC – Place Bell August 19 – Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena August 20 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall August 23 – Milwaukee, WI – BMO Pavilion August 25 – Hammond, IN – Horseshoe August 26 – Omaha, NE – Westfair Amphitheater August 27 – Minneapolis, MN – Waite Park Amphitheater August 29 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory August 30 – Kansas City, MO – Azura Amphitheater September 1 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheater September 2 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater

Privacy Overview

Hi, what are you looking for?

Metal Injection

• New Albums Out This Week
• Top Tracks Of The Week
• Top Stories Of The Week
• Upcoming Releases
• Funny Stories
• Photo Gallery
• Latest Videos Listing
• Music Videos
• Metal Injection Exclusives
• Live Footage
• Funny Videos
• Slay At Home
• ASK THE ARTIST
• Kids In Metal
• Mashups & Covers
• Rockumentary
• View All Channels
• Apple Playlists
• Spotify Playlists
• Los Angeles

GOJIRA, MASTODON & LORNA SHORE Announce North American Tour

Well, this rules.

Want More Metal? Subscribe To Our Daily Newsletter

Enter your information below to get a daily update with all of our headlines and receive The Orchard Metal newsletter.

Sponsored Links from Around the Internet

You may also like.

Latest News

Gojira's mario duplantier to fill in on late night with seth myers (again).

Happening next week.

In The Studio

Is mastodon in the studio.

Brann Dailor is up to something.

LORNA SHORE's WILL RAMOS Covered CANNIBAL CORPSE's "Hammer Smashed Face" With NIK NOCTURNAL

Nik Nocturnal did all the instrumentals.

LORNA SHORE, WHITECHAPEL, KUBLAI KHAN TX & SANGUISUGABOGG Announce North American Tour

Lorna Shore will play Pain Remains in full.

ZOLTAN BATHORY On Big Metal Bands Like FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH & DISTURBED: "Without Us, You're Not Gonna Be Able To Recruit People To The Genre"

GOATWHORE, VITRIOL & NECROFIER Add More Dates To Their Tour

MIKE PORTNOY Praises ELOY CASAGRANDE, Jokes He Is "The Second-Best Drummer For SLIPKNOT"

CANNIBAL CORPSE's Entire Discography, Ranked By You

DANI FILTH Confirms CRADLE OF FILTH's New Album Is Finished: "It's An Aggressive And Very Catchy Record"

CHRIS BARNES On The Expense Of Modern Touring: "Lately It Has Been Taken To A Whole Other Level"

Breakups & Shakeups

Wormrot parts ways with longtime drummer vijesh ghariwala.

Mastodon and Gojira announce The Mega-Monsters co-headlining US tour

The 35-date Mega-Monsters tour will tour the US from April, with support from Lorna Shore

Perog-metal titans Gojira and Mastodon have announced a co-headlining US tour. The 35-date Mega-Monsters tour is split into two legs, with the first kicking off in Portland, Oregon on April 18 and climaxing in Reading, Pennsylvania, on May 11. 

The tour will pick up again on August 9 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and end on September 2 in Denver, Colorado. Rising deathcore stars Lorna Shore will support at all shows. Full dates below.  

Tickets for the Mega-Monsters tour go on sale on January 20 at 10am local time via both band's websites and via the usual agencies .    

Gojira's upcoming European tour starts in Dublin on February 11. Dates are available on the band's website .  Mastodon and Gojira previously toured together in 2014, with support from Kvelertak. 

Gojira, Mastodon & Lorna Shore: The Mega-Monsters Tour 2023

Apr 18: Portland Veterans Memorial Coliseum, OR Apr 20: Concord Concord Pavilion, CA Apr 21: Los Angeles The Forum, CA Apr 22: Phoenix Arizona Financial Theatre, AZ Apr 23: Las Vegas Virgin, NV Apr 26: Dallas The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, TX Apr 28: Houston 713 Music Hall, TX Apr 29: Austin Moody Center, TX Apr 30: Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre, OK May 02: Nashville Municipal Auditorium, TN May 04: Boca Raton Sunset Cove Amphitheater, FL May 05: St. Augustine St. Augustine Amphitheatre, FL May 06: Atlanta Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, GA May 07: Asheville Harrah’s Cherokee Center, NC May 09: Richmond Virginia Credit Union Live, VA May 10: Baltimore Pier Six Pavilion, MD May 11: Reading Santander Arena, PA Aug 09: Cincinnati MegaCorp Pavilion, OH Aug 10: Cleveland Jacob’s Pavilion, OH Aug 11: Pittsburgh Stage AE Outdoors, PA Aug 12: New York Coney Island Amphitheater, NY Aug 13: Syracuse OneCenter, NY Aug 15: Detroit Masonic Temple, MI Aug 17: Toronto RBC Echo Beach, ON Aug 18: Laval Place Bell, QC Aug 19: Portland Cross Insurance Arena, ME Aug 20: Boston MGM Music Hall, MA Aug 23: Milwaukee BMO Pavilion, WI Aug 25: Hammond Horseshoe, IN Aug 26: Omaha Westfair Amphitheater, NE Aug 27: Minneapolis Waite Park Amphitheate, MN Aug 29: St. Louis The Factory, MO Aug 30: Kansas City Azura Amphitheater, MO Sep 01: Salt Lake City USANA Amphitheater, UT Sep 02: Denver Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater, CO

Metal Hammer Newsletter

Sign up below to get the latest from Metal Hammer, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox!

Online Editor at Louder/Classic Rock magazine since 2014. 38 years in music industry, online for 25. Also bylines for: Metal Hammer, Prog Magazine, The Word Magazine, The Guardian, The New Statesman, Saga, Music365. Former Head of Music at Xfm Radio, A&R at Fiction Records, early blogger, ex-roadie, published author. Once appeared in a Cure video dressed as a cowboy, and thinks any situation can be improved by the introduction of cats. Favourite Serbian trumpeter: Dejan Petrović.  

"You’re going to have to prioritize staying clean over everything else." The vital advice Guns N' Roses legend Slash gave Lamb Of God's Mark Morton on kicking addiction

"He was my hero." HIM legend Ville Valo reveals the iconic goth film character that inspired him

Shawn 'Clown' Crahan believes Slipknot's next album will be "widely accepted" by fans, has "a really, really spiritual feeling" about it

Most Popular

• Cover Story

Gojira and Mastodon announce huge U.S. tour with Lorna Shore

Gojira, Mastodon and Lorna Shore are taking their aptly-named Mega-Monsters Tour through America this year.

Mega (quite literally) tour alert! Gojira and Mastodon have announced a co-headline U.S. run entitled The Mega-Monsters tour.

The bands will be joined by the mighty Lorna Shore for this 35-date, two-leg tour, which kicks off in Portland on April 18 and eventually wraps up in Denver on September 2.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, January 20, at 10am local time.

Catch The Mega-Monsters Tour 2023 at the following:

18 Portland Veterans Memorial Coliseum, OR 20 Concord Concord Pavilion, CA 21 Los Angeles The Forum, CA 22 Phoenix Arizona Financial Theatre, AZ 23 Las Vegas Virgin, NV 26 Dallas The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, TX 28 Houston 713 Music Hall, TX 29 Austin Moody Center, TX 30 Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre, OK

2 Nashville Municipal Auditorium, TN 4 Boca Raton Sunset Cove Amphitheater, FL 5 St. Augustine St. Augustine Amphitheatre, FL 6 Atlanta Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, GA 7 Asheville Harrah’s Cherokee Center, NC 9 Richmond Virginia Credit Union Live, VA 10 Baltimore Pier Six Pavilion, MD 11 Reading Santander Arena, PA

9 Cincinnati MegaCorp Pavilion, OH 10 Cleveland Jacob’s Pavilion, OH 11 Pittsburgh Stage AE Outdoors, PA 12 New York Coney Island Amphitheater, NY 13 Syracuse OneCenter, NY 15 Detroit Masonic Temple, MI 17 Toronto RBC Echo Beach, ON 18 Laval Place Bell, QC 19 Portland Cross Insurance Arena, ME 20 Boston MGM Music Hall, MA 23 Milwaukee BMO Pavilion, WI

25 Hammond Horseshoe, IN 26 Omaha Westfair Amphitheater, NE 27 Minneapolis Waite Park Amphitheate, MN 29 St. Louis The Factory, MO 30 Kansas City Azura Amphitheater, MO

1 Salt Lake City USANA Amphitheater, UT 2 Denver Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater, CO

Read this: Lorna Shore: “Things are unbelievable right now… we’re excited to see how far we can take this”

Check out more:

Now read these.

Lamb Of God and Mastodon announce epic North American co-headline tour

Lamb Of God and Mastodon are hitting the road together for the Ashes Of Leviathan tour, in celebration of 20 years of two classic albums. Oh yeah, and they’ll be joined by Kerry King and Malevolence!

20 rock and metal songs to welcome in winter

From Woods Of Ypres to Weezer, we present the perfect soundtrack for the darkest evenings of the year...

Lamb Of God have announced the first-ever Headbangers Boat cruise

Lamb Of God, Mastodon, Hatebreed, GWAR and more are setting sail on the Norwegian Pearl next year…

The big review: Download Festival 2022

Download Festival is back at full-scale for the first time since 2019! Here’s all the action from Donington Park…

Ghost announce North American tour with Mastodon and Spiritbox

Ghost are crossing the pond with their Imperatour – and they’re bringing along the fantastic supporting cast of Mastodon and Spiritbox.

Failure share extended trailer for new doc, featuring Hayley Williams, Maynard James Keenan and more

Watch the seven-minute-long trailer for Failure’s upcoming documentary film, which features interviews with the likes of Hayley Williams, Maynard James Keenan, Tommy Lee, Butch Vig and Troy Sanders.

The Kerrang! staff’s top albums of 2021

There have been plenty of absolutely incredible albums released in 2021. Here are all the records that have rocked our individual years…

The 50 best albums of 2021

It’s here: the Kerrang! verdict on the 50 albums that shaped 2021…

The best of Kerrang! delivered straight to your inbox three times a week. What are you waiting for?

Gojira & Mastodon announce co-headlining North American tour with Lorna Shore

Official press release:

Teaming up for what promises to be an unforgettable jaunt of epic proportions, Grammy Award-nominated French heavy metal luminaries Gojira will join forces with iconic Grammy Award-winning heavy rock band Mastodon for a massive co-headline tour across North America in 2023. "The Mega-Monsters Tour" finds these two juggernauts taking over arenas and amphitheaters throughout the Spring and Summer, alternating closing sets each night.

The tour kicks off at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, OR on April 18th and includes stops at legendary venues such as the Forum in Los Angeles, CA on April 21st. The first leg concludes at Santander Arena in Reading, PA on May 11th and resumes with a second leg that runs August 9th through September 2nd. Special guest Lorna Shore serves as direct support on all dates. Fan pre-sales for tickets begin January 18th at 10:00am local time and include both Mastodon and Gojira artist pre-sales, alongside Blabbermouth, Spotify and local promoter / venue / radio pre-sales. General on-sale will launch January 20th at 10:00am local time with VIP ticket packages available at www.gojira-music.com and www.mastodonrocks.com .

Mastodon hit the road in support of their critically acclaimed ninth studio album, Hushed And Grim . Meanwhile, Gojira are out supporting their seventh full-length album, Fortitude , which garnered a Grammy Award nomination in the category of "Best Metal Performance" for "Amazonia." These two titans previously canvased North America together in 2014, and this reunion represents yet another major milestone in their respective careers.

Leg 1 04/18 Portland, OR @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum 04/20 Concord, CA @ Concord Pavilion 04/21 Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum 04/22 Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre 04/23 Las Vegas, NV @ Virgin 04/26 Dallas, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory 04/28 Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall 04/29 Austin, TX @ Moody Center 04/30 Oklahoma City, OK @ Zoo Amphitheatre 05/02 Nashville, TN @ Municipal Auditorium 05/04 Boca Raton, FL @ Sunset Cove Amphitheater 05/05 St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre 05/06 Atlanta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre 05/07 Asheville, NC @ Harrah's Cherokee Center 05/09 Richmond, VA @ Virginia Credit Union Live 05/10 Baltimore, MD @ Pier Six Pavilion 05/11 Reading, PA @ Santander Arena Leg 2 08/09 Cincinnati, OH @ MegaCorp Pavilion 08/10 Cleveland, OH @ Jacob's Pavilion 08/11 Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE Outdoors 08/12 New York, NY @ Coney Island Amphitheater 08/13 Syracuse, NY @ OneCenter 08/15 Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple 08/17 Toronto, ON @ RBC Echo Beach 08/18 Laval, QC @ Place Bell 08/19 Portland, ME @ Cross Insurance Arena 08/20 Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall 08/23 Milwaukee, WI @ BMO Pavilion 08/25 Hammond, IN @ Horseshoe 08/26 Omaha, NE @ Westfair Amphitheater 08/27 Minneapolis, MN @ Waite Park Amphitheater 08/29 St. Louis, MO @ The Factory 08/30 Kansas City, MO @ Azura Amphitheater 09/01 Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheater 09/02 Denver, CO @ Fiddler's Green Amphitheater

31 Comments

Related news.

Related Links

Top news this week.

The Mega-Monsters Tour Announced W/ Mastodon, Gojira, & Lorna Shore!

Jan 17, 2023

Posted By Tracy Fuller

Mosh pit kaiju heaven awaits the mega-monsters tour announced w/ mastodon, gojira, & lorna shore.

Mosh Pit Kaiju Heaven awaits for fans of heavy metal across the United States! That’s right! Mastodon , Gojira , and Lorna Shore will be teaming up to tour together via “ The Mega-Monsters Tour 2023 ” for 35 explosive, bone-crushing concerts! Here is the official “The Mega Monsters 2023 Tour” press release right below!

Mega-Monsters Tour Official Press Release:

Teaming up for what promises to be an unforgettable jaunt of epic proportions, Grammy Award-nominated French heavy metal luminaries Gojira will join forces with iconic Grammy Award-winning heavy rock band Mastodon for a massive co-headline tour across North America in 2023. The Mega-Monsters Tour” finds these two juggernauts taking over arenas and amphitheaters throughout the Spring and Summer, alternating closing sets each night.

The tour kicks off at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, OR on April 18th and includes stops at legendary venues such as the Forum in Los Angeles, CA on April 21st. The first leg concludes at Santander Arena in Reading, PA on May 11th and resumes with a second leg that runs August 9th through September 2nd. Special guest Lorna Shore serves as direct support on all dates. Fan pre-sales for tickets begin January 18th at 10:00am local time and include both Mastodon and Gojira artist pre-sales, alongside Blabbermouth, Spotify and local promoter / venue / radio pre-sales. General on-sale will launch January 20th at 10:00am local time with VIP ticket packages available at www.gojira-music.com and www.mastodonrocks.com .

Mastodon hit the road in support of their critically acclaimed ninth studio album, Hushed And Grim. Meanwhile, Gojira are out supporting their seventh full-length album, Fortitude, which garnered a Grammy Award nomination in the category of “ Best Metal Performance ” for “ Amazonia .” These two titans previously canvased North America together in 2014, and this reunion represents yet another major milestone in their respective careers.

The Mega-Monsters Tour Leg 1

04/18 Portland, OR @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum 04/20 Concord, CA @ Concord Pavilion 04/21 Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum 04/22 Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre 04/23 Las Vegas, NV @ Virgin 04/26 Dallas, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory 04/28 Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall 04/29 Austin , TX @ Moody Center 04/30 Oklahoma City, OK @ Zoo Amphitheatre 05/02 Nashville, TN @ Municipal Auditorium 05/04 Boca Raton, FL @ Sunset Cove Amphitheater 05/05 St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre 05/06 Atlanta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre 05/07 Asheville, NC @ Harrah’s Cherokee Center 05/09 Richmond, VA @ Virginia Credit Union Live 05/10 Baltimore, MD @ Pier Six Pavilion 05/11 Reading, PA @ Santander Arena

08/09 Cincinnati, OH @ MegaCorp Pavilion 08/10 Cleveland, OH @ Jacob’s Pavilion 08/11 Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE Outdoors 08/12 New York, NY @ Coney Island Amphitheater 08/13 Syracuse, NY @ OneCenter 08/15 Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple 08/17 Toronto, ON @ RBC Echo Beach 08/18 Laval, QC @ Place Bell 08/19 Portland, ME @ Cross Insurance Arena 08/20 Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall 08/23 Milwaukee, WI @ BMO Pavilion 08/25 Hammond, IN @ Horseshoe 08/26 Omaha, NE @ Westfair Amphitheater 08/27 Minneapolis, MN @ Waite Park Amphitheater 08/29 St. Louis, MO @ The Factory 08/30 Kansas City, MO @ Azura Amphitheater 09/01 Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheater 09/02 Denver, CO @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater

Join Our Inner Circle: Be the First to Know About New Releases, Interviews, Contests and More!

Join our exclusive community of music lovers and receive the latest news, interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights straight to your inbox. Don't miss out on the ultimate music experience!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Submit a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

 subscribe to our newsletter

Submit Comment

THEPRP News

Gojira & Mastodon Announce North American Co-Headlining Tour, Lorna Shore To Open

Progressive metal favorites Gojira & Mastodon will co-headline ‘ The Mega-Monsters Tour ‘ this coming spring & summer. That North American trek will find rising deathcore stars Lorna Shore in the opening slot.

Fan club, venue, etc. pre-sales will launch tomorrow, January 18th at 10:00am local time. The general onsale will follow this Friday, January 20th at 10:00am local time. That trek will play out across the following two legs:

04/18 Portland, OR – Veterans Memorial Coliseum 04/20 Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion 04/21 Los Angeles, CA – The Forum 04/22 Phoenix, AZ – AZ Federal Theatre 04/23 Las Vegas, NV – Virgin 04/26 Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory 04/28 Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall 04/29 Austin, TX – Moody Center 04/30 Oklahoma City, OK – Zoo Amphitheatre 05/02 Nashville, TN – Municipal Auditorium 05/04 Boca Raton, FL – Sunset Cove Amphitheater 05/05 St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre 05/06 Atlanta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre 05/07 Asheville, NC – Harrah’s Cherokee Center 05/09 Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union Live 05/10 Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion 05/11 Reading, PA – Santander Arena

08/09 Cincinnati, OH – MegaCorp Pavilion 08/10 Cleveland, OH – Jacob’s Pavilion 08/11 Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE Outdoors 08/12 New York, NY – Coney Island Amphitheater 08/13 Syracuse, NY – OneCenter 08/15 Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple 08/17 Toronto, ON – RBC Echo Beach 08/18 Laval, QC – Place Bell 08/19 Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena 08/20 Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall 08/23 Milwaukee, WI – BMO Pavilion 08/25 Hammond, IN – Horseshoe 08/26 Omaha, NE – Westfair Amphitheater 08/27 Minneapolis, MN – Waite Park Amphitheater 08/29 St. Louis, MO – The Factory 08/30 Kansas City, MO – Azura Amphitheater 09/01 Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheater 09/02 Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater

Related Stories

The Mega-Monsters Tour: Mastodon and Gojira with special guest Lorna Shore

Presented by promowest north shore and opus one, mastodon, gojira, lorna shore, lorna shore, the used, story of the year, amira elfeky, is for lovers & hawthorne heights present: 20 years of tears, hawthorne heights, thursday, anberlin, armor for sleep, stick to your guns, this wild life, megadeth – destroy all enemies tour, megadeth, mudvayne, all that remains, underoath "the'yre only chasing safety 20th anniversary" tour, underoath, static dress, dayseeker: dark sun protocol, dayseeker, alpha wolf, catch your breath, kingdom of giants.

This is a past show

This show occurred on Friday August 11, 2023 .

The Mega-Monsters Tour: Mastodon and Gojira with special guest Lorna Shore

Clear bag policy | covid-19 guidelines.

Luxury Suites

Doors open 6:00pm show starts 7:00pm.

Clear Bag Policy

COVID-19 Guidelines

Helpful Resources

Accessibility Information

Parking Information

• Latest News
• Show Reviews
• Photo Galleries
• Album Reviews
• Featured Videos
• Artist Spotlight

The Mega Monsters Tour – Mastodon, Gorjira, Lorna Shore

Review By Jenn Cackett | Photographs By Nadine Swiger

The Mega Monsters Tour – featuring co-headlining acts Mastodon and Gojira, with the opening act Lorna Shore, proved to be a monumental night of metal music that left the crowd utterly enthralled.

Kicking off the evening was Lorna Shore, a New Jersey native band that is making waves with their dark, symphonic deathcore sound. Supporting their latest album release, “Pain Remains,” Lorna Shore unleashed a mesmerizing set that captivated the audience from the moment they started playing “Sun//Eater.” The blend of aggressive vocals, melodic undertones, and bone-crushing breakdowns kept the audience entranced, almost hypnotized, by their sonic assault. The culmination of their performance came with the hauntingly powerful “Pain Remains III – In A Sea of Fire,” as the crowd raised their illuminated phones in the air, creating a breathtaking sea of firefly-like lights.

As the night progressed, Gojira, hailing from France and armed with their latest release “Fortitude,” took the stage and ignited an inferno of energy. Opening with “Born For One Thing,” the band used pyro flames to set the stage ablaze, igniting the excitement of both newcomers and devoted Gojira fans. The use of fiery elements combined with intricate backdrop visuals designed to complement each song enhanced the overall sensory experience. Throughout their performance, the crowd remained in constant motion, a testament to Gojira’s ability to channel their music’s raw power into an electrifying live show. A standout moment was Mario Duplantier’s thunderous drum solo, followed by his playful interaction with the crowd, urging them to scream louder and louder. The set’s climax, marked by the collective voices joining in “The Chant,” created a sense of unity and purpose, as the audience and band merged into a single force of metal energy.

Closing out the night, Mastodon took the stage and showcased their legendary status and mastery of the metal genre. With their latest album, Hushed and Grim , as the driving force behind their performance, the Georgia-based band transported the audience through a dynamic journey of groovy, progressive, and psychedelic metal. From the moment the curtain fell and the first notes of “The Wolf Is Loose” resonated through the venue, it was clear that Mastodon’s presence was a force to be reckoned with. The setlist spanned their illustrious career, featuring tracks like “Andromeda,” “Sultan’s Curse,” and several selections from Hushed and Grim . The versatility of Mastodon’s sound, ranging from the bizarre to the profound, kept the crowd on their toes and fully engaged.

The pinnacle of their performance was the closing track, “Iron Tusk,” a nod to their 2006 album Leviathan , based on Herman Melville’s Moby Dick . The sonic onslaught and unbridled passion of Mastodon left an indelible mark, making sure the night ended on an unforgettable note. Even as the final notes faded, the energy of the show lingered in the air of Syracuse’s Oncenter War Memorial, a testament to the enduring impact of these mega metal monsters.

The Mega Monsters Tour continues its journey, with upcoming stops in Portland, ME and Boston, MA, then head to the Mid-West before returning to Toronto and Montreal, Canada. The tour will continue on into Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia. The memories of this spectacular night will undoubtedly echo in the hearts and minds of all who were fortunate enough to experience the power and majesty of Mastodon, Gojira, and Lorna Shore.

PHOTO GALLERY

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

About Static Noise

Get in touch.

Address: Keuka Park, NY

Email: [email protected]"> Email: [email protected]

The Mega-Monsters Tour (Mastodon, Gojira, Lorna Shore) Tramples Toronto’s Budweiser Stage [Photos]

Billed as a coheadlining tour between Mastodon and Gojira, add on opening act Lorna Shore and you’ve got a recipe for an evening of musical mayhem at Budweiser Stage.

Originally booked at Echo Beach for Thursday, August 17th, this show wound up getting an upgrade to Budweiser Stage , but on the night before (Wednesday, August 16th) shortly after it was announced. Billed as a coheadlining tour between Mastodon and Gojira , where both bands play the same set lengths and rotate who closes, fans were treated to a metal double-header this evening. Add on opening act Lorna Shore , a band more appealing to the younger patrons than either headliner, and you’ve got a recipe for an evening of musical mayhem.

Lorna Shore took the Budweiser Stage at 7:00 pm, performing a relentless thirty minutes of material as the band was washed in the Toronto sunset. Vocalist Will Ramos marvelled at how many people had arrived early this evening and thanked the audience for checking them out. Ramos and his band-mates (lead guitarist Adam De Micco , drummer Austin Archey , rhythm guitarist Andrew O’Connor , and bassist Michael Yager ) pummeled the audience with high-decibel black metal. It was almost like they knew they had to squeeze every minute of their shorter set time to wow the audience – fans were coming over the security rail within minutes of their performance starting. Lorna Shore crushed through all three movements of “Pain Remains” to wrap up their set (doing what all savvy entertainers do best) and left the crowd wanting more.

A large black curtain adorned with the Gojira logo was pulled from the stage to the roof. After a quick stage turnover, it was flooded with smoke as Mario Duplantier , Joe Duplantier , Christian Andreu , and Jean-Michel Labadie strode onstage backlit by bright lighting as they launched into “Ocean Planet.” As the curtain dropped and the crowd embraced the band with hails of cheering, the venue felt excited. Gojira mixed their bright backlighting with a combination of flames, confetti, and fireworks while shooting pillars of dry ice 50 feet over the audience from the front of the stage.

Nothing short of a force to be reckoned with, the band launched into “Stranded” three songs into their set, and for most of the audience, the evening had already paid for itself. Labadie spun himself around so many times throughout the Gojira setlist it was hard to tell if he was playing his guitar or attempting to toss it into orbit. Everything about the Gojira set was impeccable. I was saddened that “The Heaviest Matter of the Universe” wasn’t played this evening. Given that that track lives on their 2005 album From Mars to Sirius , amongst so many other incredible songs (many that they played this evening), I can only hope it will make its way back onto their setlist down the road.

What Gojira delivered in bright lighting and intense pyro, Mastodon delivered the goods in a different direction with laser lighting and mind-boggling floor-to-ceiling graphics projected behind the band. Brann Dailor , Brent Hinds , Bill Kelliher , and Troy Sanders (along with touring keyboardist João Nogueira ) launched into Blood Mountain ’s “The Wolf Is Loose” as a similar curtain with the Mastodon logo dropped to the base of the stage, revealing a sinister animated interpretation of their 2006 album cover throughout the song. There was some pyro during Mastodon’s set, but less so than Gojira. A twenty-foot-tall fuzzy monster walked about on stage behind the band during Circle of Cysquatch,” its single iridescent eye gazing out into the crowd as the song culminated. Many animations projected behind Mastodon were quite sinister, lifting from album cover themes and some song titles—lots of tentacles, HP Lovecraft -style lurker from beyond eyeballs, and unearthly terrains and territories.

Brent Hinds, Bill Kelliher, and Troy Sanders were all very animated this evening, delivering lots of high kicking and guitar posturing throughout their performance. This evening felt like a treat for older fans; a lot of deep cuts got played, older material that has fallen off their setlists of late as they have been out promoting their latest double album, Hushed and Grim . As the band wrapped up their set with the mighty “Blood and Thunder,” it struck me that my first time seeing Mastodon was 18 years ago, playing at the same venue in the summer when they opened for Iron Maiden . “Blood and Thunder” blew me away at that show, and it did the same again tonight.

While opinions on Mastodon and Gojira can vary amongst fans, there are similarities between the two bands. Aside from their behind-the-scenes friendship (they have toured together numerous times as of this writing), both bands have been around for about 25 years, and both have maintained a continuing line-up of the same people for that same time. Gojira replaced a bassist in ’98, and Mastodon replaced a short-lived vocalist in 2000. In an era when band members can fall in and out every few years, there is something to applaud for Mastodon and Gojira; both acts are pushing a quarter of a century, and both bands boast a very passionate fan base. With the lawns closed off, the estimate this evening was 8,000 people in attendance!

Metal audiences are the best; the enthusiasm in audiences at metal shows is different than in other musical genres. The camaraderie amongst the patrons of metal is unlike any other genre of music, and it was undoubtedly in the air this evening.

Gojira Setlist Toronto:

Ocean Planet Backbone Stranded Flying Whales The Cell The Art of Dying Drum Solo Grind Another World Silvera Amazonia The Chant The Gift of Guilt

Mastodon setlist Toronto:

The Wolf Is Loose Crystal Skull Megalodon Divinations Andromeda Sultan’s Curse Fallen Torches Pushing the Tides More Than I Could Chew Aqua Dementia Steambreather Iron Tusk March of the Fire Ants Mother Puncher Circle of Cysquatch Crusher Destroyer Blood and Thunder

Quick & Dirty: Get to Know Rising R&B Artist Claire Reneé

Tamar Berk – ‘Tiny Injuries’ [Album Review]

I like mojitos, loud music, and David Lynch.

You may like

An Unforgettable Evening with Underworld at The Piece Hall in Halifax [Photos]

Cage The Elephant Ignites Vancouver with Their “Neon Pill Tour” [Photos]

Bryan Adams Continues a Summer of Rock at Thetford Forest [Show Review]

Stereo Six: EVILDEAD Recollects Some of Their Favourite and Influential Records

Johnny Marr Heads Up a Night of Indie Classics at Scarborough Open Air Theatre [Photos]

French Duo AIR Bring Sophistication and Class to The Piece Hall in Halifax [Photos]

downcast Announce New EP ‘WTF HAPPENED???’

Verse & Vision: Exclusive Conversation with Astrid Young on Music, Writing, and Creative Mastery

Track-by-Track: The Midnight Revival Mull Over Their Self-Titled Album

P!nk’s Huge “Summer Carnival” Tour Returns to Party at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium [Photos]

Placebo Deliver Huge Performance at The Piece Hall in Halifax [Photos]

Richard Ashcroft Brings Forest Live to a Fantastic Conclusion at Dalby Forest [Photos]

Royal Blood Celebrate 10 Year Anniversary with Raucous Brixton Academy Gig [Photos]