Arch Enemy – Fillmore – Minneapolis MN – April 28th 2025

Live Nation presents Arch Enemy live at The Fillmore with special guests Fit For an Autopsy, Baest and Thrown Into Exile

Review and photos by Kyle Hansen

BAEST delivered an unrelenting, bone-crushing performance that reaffirmed why they’re one of the most exciting forces in modern death metal. From the first growl to the final thunderous riff, the Danish five-piece commanded the stage with raw power, technical skill, and an energy that whipped the crowd into a frenzy.

The setlist was a relentless journey through their catalog, featuring crushing favorites like “Colossus,” “Necro Sapiens,” and “Gargoyles”. Each track hit like a sledgehammer—tight, aggressive, and loaded with groove-heavy breakdowns that had heads banging across the pit. Guitarists Svend Karlsson and Lasse Revsbech delivered a flawless twin-guitar assault, blending razor-sharp riffs with sinister melodic leads.

Frontman Simon Olsen was in top form—his guttural vocals roared across the venue, and his stage presence was both commanding and primal. Whether he was leaning into the crowd or roaring into the mic with blood-curdling intensity, he kept the energy dialed to eleven. Between songs, his brief but fiery crowd interactions hyped the audience even more without killing momentum.

The rhythm section—drummer Sebastian Abildsten and bassist Mattias Melchiorsen—was the glue holding the chaos together. Their playing was thunderous and precise, fueling the band’s signature old-school-meets-modern death metal sound with impeccable timing.

Lighting and stage design were minimal but effective. BAEST doesn’t need flashy visuals—their sound and presence do all the talking. The dark, moody lighting only amplified the intensity, casting the band in flickering shadows that matched their hellish soundscape.

A crushing rendition of “Genesis” that sent fans into a glorious spiral of moshing, shouting, and devil horns.

Verdict: BAEST live is not just a concert—it’s a war cry. If you’re into bands like Bloodbath, Entombed, or Morbid Angel but want something with a modern edge, they’re a must-see. Ferocious, focused, and absolutely devastating.

Attending a Fit for an Autopsy show feels like getting caught in a storm—loud, violent, and impossible to ignore. Their recent performance was a masterclass in what deathcore should be: unflinching heaviness paired with razor-sharp precision and emotional depth. From the first crushing downbeat to the final breakdown, the band held the audience in the palm of their collective hand.

The setlist was a devastating blend of old-school brutality and newer, more atmospheric material. Openers like “Pandora” and “Lower Purpose” lit the fuse early, unleashing seismic riffs and gut-punch vocals from Joe Badolato, whose presence is nothing short of commanding. He roared, paced, and preached with fire, connecting with the crowd not just through aggression, but through conviction.

Musically, the band was airtight. Patrick Sheridan and Tim Howley delivered punishing rhythm guitars laced with haunting melodies and eerie dissonance, while Peter “Blue” Spinazola’s bass tone felt like tectonic plates shifting beneath the stage. Josean Orta’s drumming was inhuman—blistering blast beats, surgical fills, and perfectly timed grooves kept the chaos controlled.

Crowd reactions were immediate and visceral. Circle pits opened within seconds, bodies flung themselves into breakdowns, and synchronized headbanging turned the venue into a sea of sweat and flying hair. But between the violence, there was a strange sense of unity—Fit for an Autopsy isn’t just heavy; they’re purposefully heavy. Tracks like “The Sea of Tragic Beasts” and “Red Horizon” hit emotionally as much as they did physically, challenging the crowd to feel, not just react.

The sound mix was crushing but clear—a rare feat in such an aggressive genre. Every kick drum hit and guitar squeal cut through the mix, and even the ambient, atmospheric moments shone with clarity.

Encore highlight: “Far From Heaven” brought the house down. It felt less like a song and more like a ritual.

Final Verdict: Fit for an Autopsy isn’t just another deathcore band—they’re one of the genre’s most thoughtful and punishing voices. Their live performance is a cathartic experience, equal parts brutal and beautiful. If you’re a fan of extreme music with meaning, you owe it to yourself to see them live.

Arch Enemy stormed the stage with a vengeance, delivering a relentless, precision-driven set that reminded everyone in the room why they’ve remained one of the genre’s most enduring forces. The Swedish melodic death metal titans brought fire, fury, and finesse to the night—equal parts technical brilliance and pure, unfiltered aggression.

The band launched into “Deceiver, Deceiver” with zero hesitation, immediately setting a breakneck pace. From there, it was a parade of fan favorites and new material from Deceivers, with tracks like “Blood Dynasty,” “War Eternal,” and “The Eagle Flies Alone” getting massive reactions from the crowd. The energy never dipped—each song was delivered with razor-sharp precision and devastating intensity.

Alissa White-Gluz was a vocal force of nature. Her growls were feral, her stage presence commanding. Whether charging across the stage with blue hair whipping behind her or engaging the audience between songs, she never let up. Alissa’s ability to seamlessly blend guttural lows with crystal-clear, clean vocal sections (like in “A Million Suns”) showcased her range and solidified her as one of metal’s most dynamic front women.

Guitarists Michael Amott and Joey Concepcion were in full shred mode. Their dual leads, harmonized melodies, and neo-classical solos lit up every song, adding layers of richness to the brutality. The solo sections in “As the Pages Burn” and “Liars and Thieves” were jaw-dropping, reminding the crowd that Arch Enemy isn’t just heavy—they’re musicians’ musicians.

Drummer Daniel Erlandsson and bassist Sharlee D’Angelo kept the low-end thunder rolling with tight, aggressive rhythm work, laying the foundation for the more melodic elements to shine.

Visually, the show was cinematic—complete with flame cannons, strobes, and a massive LED backdrop pulsing with video art and band insignia. Combined with their high-energy performance, it felt less like a concert and more like a war march for melodic death metal devotees.

Encore highlights: “Nemesis” and “Fields of Desolation” tore the roof off. The crowd screamed every word, fists in the air, drenched in sweat and adrenaline.

Verdict: Arch Enemy live is a thunderous, theatrical celebration of everything that makes melodic death metal great. Their mix of technicality, raw power, and showmanship is unmatched—and they’re only getting better with time.