Northlane Puts Minneapolis at Mirror’s Edge

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Rockstar Culture in Concert Reviews // 0 Comments

▣Varsity Theatre | Minneapolis, MN ▣Sunday, June 30th 2024
▣Photographer/Journalist: Angel Salas

Northlane and record label UNFD brought the Mirror’s Edge Tour to Minneapolis this past Sunday. Electrifying the city and making this stop one for the books.

Starting off the night, Windwaker set the pace for the rest of the night with their vibrant energy and engaging attitude. Known for their dynamic incorporation of genres, the band delivered a set that perfectly complemented the entire tour package. Their music, characterized by a mix of melodic hooks and heavy riffs, created an electrifying atmosphere and showcased what a powerhouse these underdogs are.

Keeping that momentum, the next set stirred excitement right out of the gate as Thornhill‘s “Views From The Sun” riff slowly crept up while they took the stage. This kicked off an onslaught of crushing classics like “Coven” and their single “Obsession” with its hip-thrust inducing breakdown. Thornhill’s unmatched sound and precision make them a juggernaut in modern metal. The intoxicating blend of 90s rock vocals reminiscent of bands like Muse and the heavy down tuned nu-metal riffs kept the crowd jumping in unison as well as lighting the mosh pit on fire.

This was perfect set-up for the Texas metalcore giants Invent Animate to come out swinging and hit the crowd with their signature heavy ambient sound. “Sleepless Deathbed” shook the entire place and within minutes security had their hands full with crowd surfers. Despise front-man, Marcus Vik suffering from an infected wisdom tooth, they did not disappoint and delivered one of the best performances I’ve seen in a while. The group’s versatility was demonstrated with songs like “Purity Weeps” and “Heavener” revealing the more intimate vulnerable side of their latest project, then bringing the mood right back up with the aggressive mosh enducing “Immolation of Night”. This proved once again why their status has been solidified among the modern metal scene.

Finishing the night was a display of sheer musical brilliance and energy brought forth by Northlane. The band, known for their innovative metalcore sound, delivered a set that was viscerally powerful, emotional, and technically impressive. This mix created an immersive experience for everyone at Varsity Theater. Northlane treated the crowd to old and new favorites spanning their entire catalogue from the aggressive and melodic songs like “Bloodlines” and “Talking Heads” from their 2019 album Alien, to new and innovative sounds of tracks like “Echo Chamber” (Obsidian, 2022), “Afterimage”, and “Miasma” from their latest EP “Mirror’s Edge”. The performance was a testament to Northlane’s status as one of the premier bands in the genre, leaving fans asking for more.

Check out our contributor photographer, Angel Salas photos now!