Behemoth and Deicide brought their Blasphemy back to Toronto during their North American Tour “The Godless IV”

Behemoth brought their rituals back to Toronto during their North American Tour “The Godless IV” co-headlined by Deicide and featuring special guests Rotting Christ and Immolation.

The Atmosphere & Opening Bands:

Unfortunately, the opening bands were unable to perform due to a bus malfunction in Buffalo, which prevented Immolation and Rotting Christ from taking the stage in Toronto! Leaving many hardcore fans a little sad not able to see their performances, but that did not deter their will to see the main acts, Deicide and Behemoth.

A Cathedral of the most evil Death Metal was presented to the attendees when Behemoth announced their North American tour for the first time, bringing Deicide, Rotting Christ, and Immolation, and the Torontonians and every Metal head were excited for their 26 cities starting in April through May.

There are metal shows, and then there are ceremonies. When Polish blackened death metal titans Behemoth descended upon Toronto, the atmosphere at the venue shifted from standard concert-goer to something far more primal and liturgical of pure blasphemy. On a night thick with an extended Winter in the city, Nergal, Glen Benton, and company proved why they remain the undisputed high priests of the genre.

The Headliners. Deicide: the Relentless Assault.

Deicide was one of the first headliners to step on the stage, and when Glen Benton and the rest of the band took the stage, they took their performance from zero to a high speed of raw, and pure ol old-school brutality.

Unlike the highly produced headliners, Deicide stood their ground and let the music do the talking. No gimmicks, just a constant surge of speed and Benton’s legendary gutturals starting with a just “OK lets start this” and then hell came ascend to us literally sitting parts invoking rituals to Satan right on stage and their lyrics. Coming from a barebone-rattlingly loud at History’s sound system was pushed to its limits, but it held together enough to hear the intricate drum work of Steve Asheim and his kickass double bass drums and smooth performance behind his drumkit.

Jadran “Conan” Gonzalez, being the newest member of the band, stepped in during late 2025 (replacing long-time guitarist Kevin Quirion). With Taylor Nordberg both delivering shredder riffs and menacing thrashing sounds and backing vocals throughout the night, keeping the entire audience super engaged, headbanging and moshing all over the General Area at Hostory’s.

Going through a pretty hefty set of Decided’s material, extending their set by adding a few songs from their regular playlist, Deicide delivered a performance that will be hard to forget. Going from their first album, Deicide, Legion, Once Upon the Cross, Behind the Sun, and other solid songs from their extensive repertoire. Decide absolutely delivered a killer set that left us all quite mesmerized by their performance, and I hope they come back very soon!!!!

Setlist

When Satan Rules His World
Bastard of Christ
Carnage in the Temple of the Damned
Bury the Cross… With Your Christ
Behead the Prophet (No Lord Shall Live)
Once Upon the Cross
From Unknown Heights You Shall Fall
Sacrificial Suicide
Holy Deception
Serpents of the Light
Forever Hate You
Satan Spawn, the Caco-Daemon
In Hell I Burn
They Are the Children of the Underworld
Scars of the Crucifix
Dead by Dawn
Lunatic of God’s Creation
Homage for Satan

Behemoth and their amazing stage theatrics:

After a very short break, Behemoh started their set with a pretty first note that struck the venue with a solid tone. Towering, intricate mic stands—resembling occult artifacts—stood like sentinels. As the lights dimmed and the introductory chants of “Post-God Nirvana” filled the room, the crowd’s roar, chanting Behemoth’s name up rising the evil horns with their hands while engaging in pretty active, consistent moshing and bodysurfing kept the security guys very busy.

When the band finally emerged under a deluge of strobe lights and shadows, the visual impact was immediate. Dressed in their signature “corpse paint” and theatrical vestments, Behemoth looked less like a band and more like a subterranean cabal.

The Performance:

Precision Meets Chaos, opening the set with the blistering “The Shadow Elite” the band established a pace that rarely let up. Nergal (Adam Darski): A master of ceremonies in every sense. His stage presence is magnetic changing costumes during key songs; he doesn’t just sing, he commands. His vocals were crisp, cutting through the wall of sound with terrifying clarity. Inferno (Zbigniew Promiński): On drums, Inferno lived up to his name. The blast beats were so precise they felt mechanized, yet they carried a physical weight that vibrated through the floorboards. Orion (Tomasz Wróblewski): His bass tone was a literal earthquake, providing a thick, muddy (in the best way possible) foundation for the soaring guitar leads.

Setlist Highlights:

The setlist was a curated journey through their discography, balancing the anthemic tracks of The Satanist with the more experimental, atmospheric cuts from Opvs Contra Natvram in which was a very special treat for us.

The Deathless Sun left an impactful, and massive, soaring chorus that had the entire Toronto crowd chanting in unison. Conquer All an old-school fan favorite that turned the floor into a swirling vortex of a mosh pit. Bartzabel was a pure theatrical at its peak. Nergal donned a towering miter, and the slower, ritualistic tempo created a haunting, cathedral-like atmosphere. Chant for Eschaton 2000. The closing anthem. Blood (fake, presumably) was spat, the energy hit a fever pitch, and the band left the stage in a shroud of smoke. During The Return of Darkness and Evil (Bathory cover), Nergal was joined by Sakis Tolis of Rotting Christ whom just arrived at the venue, and delivered a shocking performance on stage.

The Verdict

What sets a Behemoth show apart in the Toronto metal scene is the theatricality. While many bands in the genre rely on volume alone, Behemoth understands the power of the visual. Every movement is choreographed, every lighting cue is purposeful, and every costume change adds a layer to the narrative.”We are not here to entertain; we are here to manifest.” — A sentiment felt by every fan in attendance.

If you missed this ritual, you missed one of the most polished, aggressive, and visually stunning performances to hit the city this year. Behemoth continues to redefine what “extreme” looks like, proving that even in the darkest corners of music, there is a profound sense of beauty and order.

Setlist: