May 2, 2026
Dethklok, Amon Amarth and Castle Rat hit the Bell Center in Montreal
I’m still getting used to seeing large metal shows at the Bell Center – and tonight Dethklok were in town, sort of, with Swedish masters Amon Amarth and the rapidly rising Castle Rat out on New York city in tow.
It would prove to be an interesting soireé, as I found myself at opposite ends of the entertainment spectrum. At one point, highly entertained and the other deeply disappointed.
See Also: Angine de Poitrine at Minotaure, Gatineau
Immediately, I thought any hope of filling the venue to capacity were beyond lofty. This, after all, is the largest capacity arena in the NHL and second biggest in the world! And an extreme metal show.
Castle Rat
This was my first chance to see Castle Rat live, while being fairly familiar with both their albums. Word on the street though, was that Castle Rat were something to behold on the live stage. I had even been told that Castle Rat could even become the next Ghost in terms of their live set.
Lofty expectations.
Now, having seen them for myself – I understand the hype. In short, Castle Rat are fun! Theatrical in the most awesomely cheesy 80s way possible, and I am all for it. Just days ago, I had spent my day watching the first two Deathstalker films and now, I felt as if those movies were playing out right in front of my eyes. Only in place of scanty clad maidens battling trolls – we had one fighting off a giant fifteen foot tall rat, and a scantily clad maiden in a giant rat skull helmet.
And yes – swords and scythes were going to clash in battle. And yay, it would be epic and highly entertaining. Castle Rat, definitely, are my cup of tea.
Not only are Castle Rat a great band, but they put on an incredible live show too that is filled with theatrics and is about as entertaining as a live band could possible be. Are they on par with bands like Gwar or Ghost, no – at least not yet, but after just two full-length albums, neither were the aforementioned acts.
I really hope Castle Rat continue to grow their fan base, so that their live show too can evolve, and play bigger rooms. Sure, tonight’s set was played in the biggest indoor space in this musical Montreal mecca, but they aren’t yet (notice I said yet!) headlining their shows. Back in September, they were playing the Piranha bar just down the street, and already are opening for Amon Amarth and Dethklok at the Bell Center! Some bands will go their whole careers without ever stepping out onto a non-festival stage of this size!
Amon Amarth
From theatrical Masters Of The Universe type shenanigans to Viking lore, this was proving to be a great night!
I’ve long been a fan of Amon Amarth. Their music just has that gang mentality to it. Almost like a tribalism. Melodic, seriously catchy choruses that have everyone in the venue singing and chanting along and I deeply enjoy all that stuff.
Viking unity. Two words that look strange side by side but there you have it.
However, tonight also came with a large dosage of deja vu, as this was practically the exact same stage set up and set list that Amon Amarth had played at Place Bell in Laval back on December 3rd of 2022. Down to the decorations used on stage, this was nearly identical. Inflatable statues of Norse gods watched over each side of the stage, towering above everyone, and while they still look great and set the tone. We’ve been here, and done this already.
The drum riser, again, was sat atop a huge Viking helmet – with inaccurate horns protruding from the sides, and on occasion, those two massive inflatable gods had the air sucked from them, replaced by a giant sea serpent and other such morsels of mythology. While cool, we’ve seen this before.
Yes, it was a great and fun show, and the stage props defiantly enhance the whole experience but its time for something fresh. I suppose such things are expensive and need to be used until their cost has become profitable, now that raids and pillages have become illegal unless you work for a WEF-funded government, and with the economy in the shambles it is currently in, it is wiser to keep a puncture repair kit backstage than invest in new visuals.
Still, and as has always been the case at an Amon Amarth show – of which I have seen many, I had a blast. Few, if any extreme metal bands are as fun to see live, and even if it is getting a tad repetitive, I welcome it. Like Castle Rat, Amon Amarth had supplied a greatly entertaining segment on the night.
Dethklok
I had been wondering how a so-called virtual band would translate to the live stage, and having never really gotten into the show minus a few clips that my meme’s pals had thrown my way over the years, really didn’t know what to expect tonight. What I got though, was nothing near what I thought I was getting myself in for.
It turns out, a virtual band live, is just shadow people standing beneath a projection screen that plays clips from the show. Whoop-tee-fuck!
Now, I hear Gene Hoglan is the drummer in this band. Awesome. Couldn’t see if that was actually the case though, because the only light on stage was that which powered the projection screen. Rumor is that Brendon Small, Bryan Beller and Mike Keneally were also there. Again. I saw shit all. So… yeah. Make of that what you will.
Musically, alright we are on to something here. I get that it is meant to be a joke of some sort. The whole Metalocaylpse thing. Yet I was amused at how good the music actually is. Its obviously created by talented musicians and I can certainly appreciate that.
I pondered though, is that enough?
Call me cynical, call me what you want – but I believe a live show should offer its audience something that can’t be found in their own living rooms. Dethklok doesn’t offer that on any scale of measurement. The crowd had shrunk between sets, and I foolishly assumed people had gone out for a smoke or hit the expensive bars, but when they hadn’t returned for the start of Dethklok’s … set, I began to wonder why. I know now why that was.
It dawned on me that beers are cheaper at the dep (that’s a convenience store for you non-Quebecer types. Or an offie for the UK types, and a bottle-o for you weirdo Aussie types) and there’s a lot more freedom when sat on your own couch than inside a massive stadium. The show would be practically the same, only pants would be optional.
In short; this sucks more than anything has sucked before!
Read More:
>> Castle Rat at Piranha Bar, Montreal
>> Amon Amarth “The Great Heathen Army’ Review
>> At The Gates “The Ghost Of A Future Dead” Review
The ridiculousness of Dethklok had left a sour taste in my mouth, almost completely undoing the greatness that Castle Rat and Amon Amarth had achieved here tonight. On the upside, I live close enough to the Bell Center that the waste of time that was Dethklok’s set wouldn’t have time to fester within me for long.
Maybe I’m too old for this shit, I thought. But no – it’s Dethklok that sucks! Not me! (And yes, I did go home and watch clips from the show on YouTube. So what!)
