It may have been a dreary, rainy night in Pittsburgh, but the Roxian was alive and positively electric. Fans crowded in for a night of intensity, melody, and raw emotion with Imminence. The Swedish metalcore powerhouse had returned to the Burgh for the third time with a vengeance, bringing The Return of The Black Tour supporting their expanded edition of The Black. Released just this past January, The Return of The Black reimagines the dark, cinematic masterpiece with fresh remixes, fierce collaborations, and three brand-new tracks deepen the album’s haunting atmosphere. With their signature mix of brutal heaviness and orchestral elegance, Imminence promised an evening of soaring highs, soul-crushing lows, and everything in between.
Kicking off the night, Jiluka wasted no time proving why they’ve been making waves in the Japanese metalcore scene. Decked out in a cyber-goth aesthetic, complete with glowing red lights, that felt as if they were ripped straight from a dystopian future, the band unleashed a sonic assault that blended technical precision with sheer chaos. Frontman Ricko’s rapid-fire vocals cut like a blade, alternating between guttural growls and piercing high screams that sent chills down the spines of unsuspecting newcomers in the crowd while seasoned fans moshed harder and harder. Ricko requested – no, demanded – that the pit open up, and open it did with a whirlwind of movement, to the sound of blistering solos from guitarist Sena that added an almost mechanical sharpness to the chaos. For many, this was their first encounter with Jiluka, but by the time the set ended, they had made their mark, one that wouldn’t couldn’t be forgotten anytime soon.
As the chaos and dust began to settle, Landmvrks took to the stage and immediately reignited the fire. The French metalcore heavyweights brought a different kind of energy, one drenched in passion and melody yet still absolutely brimming with aggression. Vocalist Florent Salfati commanded the room with an effortless balance of soaring cleans and vicious screams, his voice cutting the thick instrumentals like a war cry. “Lost in a Wave” had fans shouting every lyric back at the stage, while “Death” hit with enough force to send the pit into overdrive. The Roxian isn’t the most ideal venue for crowdsurfing, but when Salfati asked where the crowdsurfers were, out they came, wave after wave of bodies crashing over and onto each other. Intricate riffs danced between devastating breakdowns and anthemic choruses, weaving a sound that was as dynamic as it was destructive.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for. As the lights dimmed and an eerie melody crept its way through the Roxian, all eyes were on the stage, and the crowd, for the first time all night, was silent. Imminence emerged, shrouded in shadow, their presence commanding from the very first note. Frontman Eddie Berg, trusty violin by his side, stood at the center of the chaos, his haunting melodies wrapping around fans like a fleeting phantom. The set opened with “Paralyzed,” its rapid, bone-crushing riffs immediately pulling fans into the abyss.
The crowd moved as one, bodies colliding in the pit while others stood perfectly still, entranced, hanging onto every rise and fall of Berg’s voice. Drummer Peter Hanström’s relentless beats kept the momentum surging, each hit like a pulse of electricity coursing through the venue. The absolutely gorgeous set could hardly be seen at times as it was overshadowed by a wall of hair from the impressive headbanging of guitarists Alex Arnoldsson and Harald Barrett and bassist Christian Höijer. The energy was already sky-high, and the night was just getting started.
Imminence dove deep into The Return of The Black, showcasing the album’s expanded vision with a devastating intensity. “Come Hell or High Water” sent the room into a frenzy, while the new mix of “Heaven Shall Burn” twisted the original’s ethereal despair into something even darker, its pulsating electronics melding seamlessly with the band’s signature orchestral metalcore. And then there were the new tracks; “Death Shall Have No Dominium” in particular stood out, its brooding atmosphere and cinematic build-up culminating in one of the heaviest breakdowns of the night.
The intensity never wavered once through the set. Even the slower, emotional solos had fans grasping onto every ounce of the experience, feeling the pure power of live music. Berg’s voice was dripping with raw emotion, his violin’s sorrowful wail intertwining with crushing instrumentation. The crowd, exhausted but unwilling to let go, screamed for more, their voices merging into a chorus of desperate longing. With one final surge of energy, Imminence closed the night with the now-staple “The Black.” The breakdown hit like a tidal wave, sending the pit into one last chaotic spiral, while the hauntingly beautiful violin outro left everyone in a state of stunned silence. The perfect showcase of the balance of beauty and brutality that Imminence has mastered.
April 3rd, 2025
