Mastodon’s Poisonous Weapons Tour brings together three bands that have spent years pushing heavy music into increasingly ambitious territory, making the tour feel especially important because not only is the lineup strong, but because Mastodon are entering a new chapter in their history. With the release of Marrow Deep, Mastodon are moving forward without longtime guitarist Brent Hinds, whose death in 2025 left an enormous void within the band and its fanbase. Rather than attempting to simply recreate what came before, the current lineup has embraced the idea of evolution, making this tour feel more like a statement about where Mastodon are going next.
Before Mastodon took the stage, Alcest established the atmospheric foundation for the evening. Their blend of shoegaze, black metal, and expansive post-metal textures provided a fitting introduction to what would become an increasingly immersive night. There was a sense of patience to the performance, allowing the band’s quieter passages to build naturally before exploding into heavier moments.
Deafheaven followed with a set that demonstrated exactly why they have become one of the most compelling live acts in modern heavy music. George Clarke and company have always occupied an interesting space between black metal, post-rock, shoegaze, and hardcore, and that combination translates particularly well in a live setting.
Rather than relying solely on aggression, Deafheaven’s performance was built around contrast. Atmospheric passages gave way to massive walls of sound, while Clarke moved constantly across the stage, providing a physical counterpoint to the band’s sprawling instrumentation. Songs like “Magnolia” and “Doberman” carried the emotional intensity that has become synonymous with the band, balancing beauty and chaos without letting either side completely take over. Deafheaven even blessed the Chicago date with a new song, plus making these tracks available for purchase for the first time at the show, creating an extra special moment.
By the time Deafheaven left the stage, the atmosphere inside the Riviera had shifted. What began as an evening built around the darker, atmospheric side of heavy music was about to give way to something much larger and more familiar. Anticipation hung in the room as the stage reset, with the crowd knowing Mastodon was about to take them through more than two decades of their history.
Mastodon emerged with the kind of presence that only comes from a band that has spent years building its own world. From the opening notes, the sound was enormous, filling the Riviera without sacrificing the detail that has always made the band’s music so compelling. Rather than leaning exclusively on the newest material, the set moved freely through Mastodon’s catalog, creating a performance that felt like a snapshot of the band’s entire career.
The current tour carries unavoidable emotional weight. Mastodon continue following the loss of guitarist Brent Hinds, and his absence naturally hangs over the performance. Hinds’ contributions were such an important part of Mastodon’s identity that there is no way to simply replace that presence. Instead, the band has chosen to acknowledge its history while continuing to build something new.
That approach was evident throughout the set. Older material carried the familiarity of songs that have become staples, while the newer material demonstrated that Mastodon isn’t interested in simply recreating the past. The contrast between the two made the performance feel particularly meaningful. Songs such as “March of the Fire Ants,” “Crystal Skull,” “Black Tongue,” “Megalodon,” and “Oblivion” showcased the different eras of the band’s sound, moving between progressive complexity, sludgy heaviness, and massive melodic hooks.
The newer material added another dimension to the performance. Rather than feeling like an interruption to the classics, the songs from Marrow Deep fit naturally into the set, suggesting that Mastodon’s next chapter is already taking shape. There is a noticeable sense of reflection within the new material, but it never becomes stagnant. The songs still have the physical impact that has defined the band throughout its career.
One particularly welcome moment came when John Baizley of Baroness joined Mastodon on stage. His appearance was brief, but it felt like a natural fit given the long-standing relationship and shared musical history between the two bands. Rather than feeling like a traditional guest appearance, Baizley’s presence added another layer to an already memorable night.
Deafheaven and Alcest represent different corners of the modern heavy-music landscape, while Mastodon stand at the center as a band that has spent more than two decades refusing to stay in one place. The lineup makes sense because all three bands understand that heavy music can be atmospheric, emotional, melodic, progressive, and still absolutely crushing.
For Mastodon, however, this tour carries an additional layer of meaning. The band are navigating one of the most significant transitions in their career, and Marrow Deep represents the beginning of that next chapter. There is grief throughout the performance, but there is also an unmistakable sense of momentum. By the time “Blood and Thunder” brought the night toward its conclusion, the Riviera was completely locked in. It was loud, massive, emotional, and celebratory all at once, a fitting description for Mastodon at this point in its career.
Mastodon
Deafheaven
Alcest
