The Forge in Joliet saw a slow burn of a Saturday night as metal fans trickled in after VIP doors. By the end of the night, though, the venue was brimming with energy for Be’lakor’s long-awaited first North American tour.
Local openers Withering Soul set the stage with blackened Gothic melancholy. While the crowd seemed reserved at first, the mood shifted to excitement once the band announced a track from their upcoming album. With two drum kits crammed onto the stage, space was tight, but they still carved out an atmosphere of fast riffs and shadowy moods. The overall vibe was more introspective than explosive, a fitting warm-up for an evening of melodic death metal.
Withering Soul
Photo Credit: Mar Morannon
Indiana’s Departure followed with a set that showed plenty of heart and potential. Their blend of melodic metal, progressive twists, and varied vocal styles gave the crowd a lot to latch onto, and while it seems they’re still carving out their identity, the mix made for some engaging moments. The band’s youth brought a certain raw energy to the stage, and the audience, slowly filling in more, seemed curious and attentive as they riffed through their set.
Departure
Photo Credit: Mar Morannon
Everything changed once Solemn Vision hit the stage. Despite battling numerous sound issues caused by The Forge’s sound team that delayed their start and forced them to cut songs, the New York melodeath crew delivered the night’s breakout performance. Banshee shrieks of vocalist Aaron Harris (hood up, spectral and commanding) and intricate riffwork from guitarists Kadin Wisniewski and Mauricio Gutierrez were backed with fast-paced rhythms from bassist Anthony Raffery and drummer Carlos Crowcell. Their set was a showcase of energy, movement, and connection. The crowd responded in kind: pits opened, surfers flew, and at one point, Harris broke mid-set to remind the front row to catch people safely, a moment of scene solidarity that only added to the atmosphere. By the time they closed with “Unfinished Tapestry,” stretching a 30-second handshake bit between Wisniewski and Gutierrez into absurdity, the Forge was fully alive.
Solemn Vision
Photo Credit: Mar Morannon
Then came the headliners: Be’lakor, finally bringing their layered, melancholic melodic death metal to a North American stage. The contrast to Solemn Vision’s chaos was striking: this was a set rooted in tight musicianship, sweeping melodies, and a different kind of intensity. The pit didn’t vanish, but you could just as easily find people swaying (and even literally waltzing) to the band’s interwoven harmonies. The set leaned heavily on Stone’s Reach (2009) and Of Breath and Bone (2012), both beloved by longtime fans, while still drawing from across their discography. For a first NA tour, the reception was ecstatic: cheers, constant clapping, and waves of crowd surfers made it clear just how long fans had waited for this.
The night was a study in contrasts: from the moody chill of Withering Soul to the youthful experimentation of Departure, from the unrelenting energy of Solemn Vision to the hypnotic, melancholic weight of Be’lakor. By the end, The Forge felt transformed, exhausted, and a bit sweaty from a night of heavy metal debauchery.
Be’lakor
Photo Credit: Mar Morannon
