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Spiritbox Sell Out MTELUS in Montreal on Their First Canadian Headline Tour
On a chilly April night in Montreal, MTELUS was bursting at the seams as Spiritbox took over the venue for a sold-out show — their first-ever Canadian headline tour. Fans lined up around the block for a night packed with intensity, emotion, and sonic variety. The lineup brought together a mix of hardcore, punk, and ethereal metal, and each band carved out their own moment to shine.
Poor Sport Open With Heart and Hooks
Replacing Gel on select dates following the band’s recent breakup, Victoria, BC’s Poor Sport kicked off the night with a set that felt like the warm-up lap before a race — all energy and earnestness. Their pop-punk sound stood in contrast to the heavier acts on the bill, but that made their presence all the more refreshing. There was a brightness to their tone, a kind of emotional accessibility that won over early arrivers in the crowd.
Poor Sport’s melodic approach, paired with a driving rhythm section, laid down a strong foundation for what would become a night of escalating sonic weight. Their set was tight and polished, but what stood out most was the genuine passion behind their performance. The band seemed fully aware of the unique opportunity they were stepping into — filling in for Gel on a major tour — and they rose to the occasion with clear gratitude and excitement.
Their songs leaned into classic pop-punk themes — resilience, heartbreak, the ache of growing up — but felt modern in execution. Think early 2000s Warped Tour vibes, but without the nostalgia hangover. For a crowd hungry for catharsis, Poor Sport offered a more upbeat and singable entry point. It was the light before the storm, and it worked.
Dying Wish Bring the Fire and Fury
Next up was Dying Wish, the Portland-based hardcore powerhouse fronted by vocalist Emma Boster. If Poor Sport warmed up the venue, Dying Wish set it on fire. The pit came alive from the first downbeat, and the energy never dipped. This marked their fourth time playing in Montreal — and the crowd knew it. There was a familiarity and reverence in the room that only comes with repeat visits and real fan connection.
Their recent single, “I Brought You My Soul,” released in February, already seemed like an anthem. When they launched into it mid-set, the entire front half of the floor turned into a storm of movement — bodies bouncing, fists pumping, voices screaming along. Dying Wish don’t just play shows; they make statements. Emma’s vocals carried immense power, shifting seamlessly between guttural screams and melodic passages that were both haunting and heavy.
For those unfamiliar with their catalog, the band’s performance offered a crash course in modern hardcore done right — raw yet technically precise, emotionally honest without ever dipping into cliché. There’s a sense of mission to what they do. Whether it was through their crushing breakdowns or the commanding presence of Boster herself, Dying Wish turned MTELUS into their personal battleground and walked off stage victorious.
This was not just another support slot. This felt like a band pushing toward headliner status, and fast.
Loathe’s Atmospheric Assault
Liverpool’s Loathe followed, bringing a slower, more textured flavor of hardcore to the mix. Their sound felt like a deep inhale after Dying Wish’s explosive set — heavy, yes, but also patient, layered, and introspective. Loathe’s brand of post-metal-influenced hardcore leaned into mood and space, utilizing long, ambient intros and mid-tempo grooves that gave the audience a chance to sink into the atmosphere rather than explode outward.
The lighting design during their set was nothing short of stunning. With carefully timed strobes, moody washes, and silhouette-driven staging, Loathe transformed MTELUS into a shadowy dreamscape. Their visual aesthetic matched their sonic one: cinematic, slightly dystopian, and beautifully brooding.
They weren’t the most talkative band of the night, but their presence spoke volumes. Each song was delivered with a hypnotic intensity, as if every note was being conjured from deep within. Fans familiar with their work moved along in sync, heads nodding in slow unison, clearly locked into the meditative rhythm of it all.
What made Loathe stand out was their ability to command silence as well as chaos. In a lineup filled with big vocals and frenetic movement, they played with contrast — and won. Their set reminded everyone that “heavy” doesn’t always mean fast or loud. Sometimes, the slow burn hits the hardest.
Spiritbox Take the Throne
Liverpool’s Loathe followed, bringing a slower, more textured flavor of hardcore to the mix. Their sound felt like a deep inhale after Dying Wish’s explosive set — heavy, yes, but also patient, layered, and introspective. Loathe’s brand of post-metal-influenced hardcore leaned into mood and space, utilizing long, ambient intros and mid-tempo grooves that gave the audience a chance to sink into the atmosphere rather than explode outward.
The lighting design during their set was nothing short of stunning. With carefully timed strobes, moody washes, and silhouette-driven staging, Loathe transformed MTELUS into a shadowy dreamscape. Their visual aesthetic matched their sonic one: cinematic, slightly dystopian, and beautifully brooding.
They weren’t the most talkative band of the night, but their presence spoke volumes. Each song was delivered with a hypnotic intensity, as if every note was being conjured from deep within. Fans familiar with their work moved along in sync, heads nodding in slow unison, clearly locked into the meditative rhythm of it all.
What made Loathe stand out was their ability to command silence as well as chaos. In a lineup filled with big vocals and frenetic movement, they played with contrast — and won. Their set reminded everyone that “heavy” doesn’t always mean fast or loud. Sometimes, the slow burn hits the hardest.
When Spiritbox finally took the stage, the entire venue felt like it had reached a boiling point. With a dramatic stage setup and an impeccable light show that could rival any major arena act, the band delivered a performance worthy of their meteoric rise. This was more than a show — it was a statement of arrival.
Frontwoman Courtney LaPlante stunned the crowd with her vocal versatility, moving effortlessly between ethereal cleans and demonic screams. Her control and power were jaw-dropping, and hearing her live reaffirmed why Spiritbox has become one of the most talked-about bands in modern metal. The setlist leaned heavily into their new album Tsunami Sea, released in March 2025, with fans already singing along to every word like it had dropped months ago.
From the moment the band launched into their first song, it was clear this wasn’t just another tour stop. The production was theatrical, with coordinated lighting and visuals that elevated the entire experience. Spiritbox created a world onstage — one part sci-fi, one part spiritual, and all-encompassing.
And the crowd? Completely unhinged in the best way. MTELUS was packed wall-to-wall, and you could feel the collective release in every chorus, every breakdown, every moment of silence before the storm.
Spiritbox’s debut Canadian headline tour already feels historic. They’ve been nominated for two Grammy Awards and four Junos — but on this night, none of that mattered. What mattered was the raw connection between band and audience, the sense that something special was happening. If this is just the beginning of their headline era, the future looks massive.
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