Unprocessed Showcases the Future of Progressive Metalcore in Toronto

Progressive metalcore has been evolving fast, and Unprocessed sits right at the center of that shift. On April 30, the German outfit brought their Angel tour to The Opera House in Toronto, with support from Allt and Midwinter, a lineup that reflected where the genre is heading right now

Ohio-based five-piece Midwinter started the night with their best-known song “Dislocated.” The song begins with an ambient synth intro that immediately shows off their experimental style. Vocalist Billy Toth delivered his signature pitched screams, bringing a heavier emotional tone into the room. Then the co-vocalist/guitarist Kody Archer entered with clean vocal lines that are surprisingly catchy, layering perfectly on top. The guitar work was almost djenty with a distinctly glitchy character. Within the first minute, heads behind the barricade were already nodding in sync.

Next, Swedish band Allt brought an even darker, apocalyptic sound and presence to the stage. If you have been following them, you know their artwork is almost strictly black and white, and the lighting design was a perfect extension of that aesthetic. Relentless white strobes flashed in sync with vocalist Robin Malmgren’s brutally raw screams as the band played “Aquila,” “The Orphan Breed,” “Paralyzed,” and more. There were moments when the house went completely dark, and you genuinely felt like this night might be the end of the world. It was the kind of moment you just lean into.

Finally, Unprocessed took the stage. They kicked off their set with “111,” the opening track from their 2025 album, Angel. This song was the perfect showcase for how progressive their music is. It started with heavy, djenty riffs and blast-beats mixed with the signature thumping — a complex, rhythmic fingerstyle technique similar to what you might hear from Animals as Leaders. When the chorus hit, vocalist/guitarist Manuel Gardner Fernandes pulled everything back, delivering melodic, pop-tinged hooks. What impressed me the most was watching Manuel screaming the narrative lyrics of a fallen angel while simultaneously playing complex guitar runs on his 8-string fingerboard.

After the first three songs from the photo pit, I moved to the back of the crowd, already spotting people whirling on the house floor during “Hell.” Their setlist drew heavily from Angel, including “Sacrifice Me,” “Snowlover,” and “Solara,” alongside a cover of Metallica’s “Creeping Death.” Midway through the set, Manuel took a moment to shout out the fans for their incredible support. He mentioned that they were playing at a much smaller venue two years ago in Toronto, now taking such a huge step up to here. Shortly after, he treated the crowd to a technically demanding guitar solo and phones started rising across the room.

Unprocessed closed the night with a two-song encore. “Deadrose” felt like a brief reset, pulling the room into a more atmospheric space with its math-rock textures, giving everyone a moment to catch their breath. As soon as “Terrestrial” kicked in, the floor opened up again. Even the bassist David John Levy stepped forward to add his own screams. Knowing it was the final song, the crowd gave everything back, filling the last few minutes with nonstop movement, from jumping to mosh pits.

With the Angel tour now halfway through, Unprocessed will continue their run across the U.S. If progressive metal is your thing, consider grabbing a ticket while you still can.