Violin and Metal: Imminence’s The Return of The Black Tour in Toronto

Swedish metalcore band Imminence is back with The Return of The Black (2025), an extended edition of their fifth studio album, The Black (2024), featuring a few more new tracks and remixes. They launched a North America tour of the same title spanning 22 cities and I had the chance to witness one of the two Canadian stops at History in Toronto. The nearly sold-out show was supported by Japanese Visual Kei metal band JILUKA and France metalcore band LANDMVRKS, making it one of the most international lineups of the year so far!

JILUKA fans had already packed into the venue early, proudly displaying a Canadian flag covered in handwritten messages to welcome the band from the far continent. Not only did they deliver a high-energy set including “S4VAGE,” “BLVCK ” and “VENØM,” they also showcased Japanese subculture through their stunning markups and outfits, as well as unique personalities of each member.

LANDMVRKS returned to History one and a half years after their last visit, bringing “Creature,” a newer track from their upcoming album The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been (2025). It featured the band’s signature djenty guitar tones and vocalist Florent Salfati’s dynamic blend of rapping and screams. By then, the crowd was already on fire, sending non stop crowd-surfing and mosh pits.

A mysterious prelude was introduced as the venue went completely dark and I can vaguely see the violin hanging alone in the middle of the stage. “The anticipation is killing it!’” someone near the barricade exclaimed. As the frontman and violinist Eddie Berg took the stage, some older songs were played including “Paralyzed,” “Ghost,” and “Erase” — alongside newest tracks like “Death Shall Have No Dominion.” Fans finally caught a brief breath during the suspenseful interlude “Cul-de-Sac.”

Imminence debuted “God Fearing Man,” released just a week before the tour began. This final-boss-battle song perfectly showcased their epic, distinctive style. While many modern metal bands incorporate orchestra elements into their production, what truly set this performance apart was Eddie’s effortless transition between playing what could be considered a classical violin and delivering intense metal screams.

The night reached its emotional peak with “The Black.” Eddie screamed directly into the violin pickup instead of the microphone, creating a raw, haunting sound that echoed through the entire venue. As the song reached its final minute, all other instruments faded into silence, leaving only Eddie’s soul-stirring violin solo.

Imminence has definitely become one of the bands that defines what modern metal truly is. They dare to push boundaries, infuse unexpected elements into their sound. THEY ARE UNREAL. If you have the chance, don’t miss their remaining runs across the U.S.