Unearth, Lacuna Coil, In Flames, and Machine Head – A Night of Pure Metal Energy

On May 7, 2025, a night of intense performances from Unearth, Lacuna Coil, In Flames, and Machine Head left fans buzzing for days. With four powerhouse bands on the same stage, The Grey Eagle Resort and Casino in Calgary, Alberta was alive with riffs, crowdsurfers, and non-stop energy. Each band brought their own flavour of metal, and it was clear from the start that this was a show not to be missed. 

Unearth – Setting the Stage on Fire

Unearth hit the stage at 6:00pm, and from the first note, they played like they were headlining. The crowd was instantly drawn in, with circle pits and crowdsurfers appearing within seconds. Their sound was spot-on, raw and live, with no gimmicks or backing tracks. It was pure metal energy running through the room.

As for their performance, the rhythm guitarist had sick energy, and the lead guitarist held his ground. The bass player’s vocals were a great mix, adding a unique layer to their sound. For me, Unearth didn’t need to win me over. I’ve been a fan since I first picked up the ticket for this show and had a listen to a couple of albums. This was everything I hoped for and more, and I’ll definitely be seeing them again someday. Maybe not as an opening act next time. They’re more than capable of headlining.

Lacuna Coil – Powerful but Controlled

Lacuna Coil took the stage just before 7pm. They didn’t have the high-energy vibe of Unearth, but they more than made up for it with a powerful, controlled performance. The female vocalist had an incredibly powerful voice, and when mixed with the gutturals of the male vocalist, it was a great combination. They complimented each other well.

Musically, the band was tight. I don’t recall much in the way of solos from the guitarist, but that may just be because the tracks flowed incredibly well, with the solos blending seamlessly into the whole experience. There were some backing tracks for the female vocals on a couple of songs, but they were more to fill in, and I feel like the show wouldn’t have been any worse off without them. People go to live shows for the experience, and bands need to stop trying to reproduce exactly what’s on the album in a live environment. Fans need to quit expecting to hear exactly what’s on the album when they go to a live show. Lacuna Coil nailed this.

While the crowd wasn’t as wild as it had been for Unearth, I think Lacuna Coil’s fan base is a bit different. The second-to-last track was the best. The powerful vocals and lyrics really got the crowd a little more responsive.

I wasn’t really into Lacuna Coil before hearing them at this show, but after seeing them live, I’ll definitely be digging into their discography more in the coming weeks. I would most definitely see them again, hopefully with more experience with their music at that time. 

In Flames – Solid Performance, But Lacked That Spark

In Flames came out around 7:55, and while the light show was amazing and the sound was incredible, I expected more energy. The performance was good, but they were a little tame on stage, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I really can’t stand when a metal band thinks they’re playing a show meant for boy band fans.

The crowd was on fire. I think most of the crowd wasn’t there for either In Flames or Machine Head, and those who came for In Flames really showed up. Still, I’m expecting the Machine Head crowd to take it up a notch. While the In Flames crowd was moshing, thrashing, and crowd surfing, it wasn’t at the level I expected.

Nothing really stands out in terms of highlights. It was a solid set, great music, amazing musicians, but nothing made me go “holy fuck, that’s what I came for!”

The performance was about what I expected, but a little less of a show. The lights did most of the entertaining, other than the music, of course. If that makes sense? I’ll probably see them again, but I’m not sure I’d pay for a headliner show of theirs or see them if they were the only band playing. I’ll need to listen to more of their music, though. While their live performances didn’t convert me into a superfan, I did love what I heard.

Machine Head – Raw, Relentless, and Everything I Wanted

When Machine Head hit the stage at around 9:40, it was clear that they were ready to close out the night with a bang. The visuals were amazing, and the sound was exactly what I was hoping for, raw, heavy, and intense. The stage setup was simple, but the massive drum riser and visuals behind the band really helped to tell a story without distracting from the music.

Musically, Machine Head was on point. Their sound was even rawer live than on their recordings, and it hit harder. Despite being in a decent-sized venue, it felt like we were in a small, dingy bar, with the drums and bass kicking you in the chest. Rob’s vocals were just as ruff and raw as they are on their studio tracks, and the entire band played with that intense energy that made you feel like you were in the pit with them.

The crowd went absolutely wild during their set. Rob Flynn knows how to get the crowd going. When he asked, “Where are my crowd surfers?” no less than 6 or 7 jumped up right away. When Rob told them to push the circle pit out, wider, the crowd followed his direction like the true Head Cases they are.

Machine Head doesn’t just play music. They live it, breathe it, and feed off the crowd’s energy. This wasn’t just a concert. It was a visceral, high-energy experience, and I loved every second of it. Their mix of new and old material hit just as hard, and hearing the new songs live only solidified my views on their new material. Machine Head didn’t disappoint, and I’ll be seeing them again. 

Final Thoughts – A Night to Remember

This was one of those shows that reminded me why I love live music. Each band brought something different, but they all had one thing in common, they brought the energy. Unearth set the bar high, Lacuna Coil showed how to deliver power with control, In Flames gave a solid performance but didn’t fully meet my expectations for energy, and Machine Head closed out the night with a raw, intense performance that left me wanting more.

The crowd was fully engaged from start to finish, and you could feel the intensity of the night building as each band took the stage. From the high energy of Unearth to the epic close from Machine Head, this was a show that I’ll remember for a long time.