Black Label Society at MTelus, Montreal ·

Black Label Society at MTELUS.
Photo by Laura Collins.

On March 31, Montreal’s MTELUS became a temple of loyalty and reverence, as Black Label Society rolled through town with a stacked lineup that felt more like a curated celebration of heavy metal lineage than a standard tour stop. With Zakk Wylde pulling double duty with Zakk Sabbath and BLS family member Dario Lorina’s Dark Chapel opening, the night unfolded as both a tribute to the genre’s past and a thunderous reminder of its enduring power.

Dark Chapel at MTELUS.
Photo by Laura Collins.

Dark Chapel kicked off the evening with a confident, no-frills set that immediately set the tone. Led by Black Label Society guitarist Dario Lorina, the band leaned into a darker, more modern hard rock sound, balancing melody with weight. Lorina, already known for his precision and stage presence within BLS, stepped comfortably into a frontman role. His playing was sharp and controlled, but it was his vocal delivery that gave Dark Chapel its identity; less bluesy swagger than Wylde, more brooding intensity. As an opener, they didn’t try to steal the show. They warmed it up, priming the crowd for what was to come.

Zakk Sabbath at MTELUS.
Photo by Laura Collins.

Then came Zakk Sabbath, and the energy in the room shifted from anticipation to full-on eruption. Featuring Zakk Wylde on guitar and vocals, alongside John DeServio on bass and Jeff Fabb ob the drums, the trio tore through Black Sabbath classics with both reverence and sheer sonic force. This wasn’t a note-for-note museum piece, it was heavier, louder, and unmistakably stamped with Wylde’s signature tone.

Midway through their set, Wylde did what few guitarists of his stature would even attempt: he descended into the crowd, guitar still wailing, carving a path through fans as if the barrier between stage and audience didn’t exist. It was chaotic, electrifying, and deeply on-brand. In that moment, the show stopped being something you watched and became something you were inside of.

Zakk Sabbath’s set also carried an emotional weight. Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, Wylde’s longtime collaborator, was woven into the performance, not as somber interruptions but as heartfelt acknowledgments. The crowd responded in kind, raising horns and voices in a collective moment of respect that cut through the distortion.

By the time Black Label Society took the stage, the room was fully primed, and they delivered with the kind of relentless authority that has defined them since their formation in 1998. The current lineup: Wylde at the helm, alongside John DeServio, Jeff Fabb, and Dario Lorina pulling double duty on guitar, was tight, thunderous, and completely locked in.

From the opening riffs, the sound was massive. Songs hit with a familiar weight, each one driven by Wylde’s unmistakable blend of blues phrasing and crushing distortion. Yet what stood out wasn’t just the volume or technicality, it was the sense of community that filled the room.

That connection reached a peak during Wylde’s now-infamous band introductions. Instead of the usual routine, he leaned into Montreal’s hockey culture, assigning each member a favorite team, taking playful jabs at Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators along the way. When he revealed himself as a fan of the Montreal Canadiens, the reaction was immediate and deafening. It was a calculated move, sure, but it worked perfectly, turning the crowd into an even more unified force.

Musically, the set balanced aggression with moments of introspection. Extended solos stretched songs into near jam territory, with Wylde frequently bending notes into emotional peaks before diving back into crushing riffs. At times, the indulgence bordered on excess, but that’s part of the Black Label Society experience. It’s not about restraint; it’s about expression.

The tributes continued here as well, with subtle nods woven into the set that reinforced the night’s overarching theme: legacy. This wasn’t just a concert, it was a lineage being honoured in real time.

By the encore, the crowd was spent but unwilling to let go. Fists were still raised, voices still shouting along, and the sense of camaraderie remained unshaken. As the final notes rang out, one thing was clear: Black Label Society didn’t just play Montreal, they absorbed it, fed off it, and gave it back tenfold.

In a genre that often leans on nostalgia or spectacle, this show managed to feel both timeless and immediate. Loud, gritty, and deeply human, it was a reminder that heavy metal, at its best, is less about perfection and more about connection. And on this night at MTELUS, that connection was undeniable.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY SETLIST at MTELUS March 31, 2026: