On Wednesday night, the Korn: Kanada Tour 2025 kicked off at the Canadian Tire Centre, with Loathe opening, Gojira in the mid‑slot, and Korn closing the night.
The arena was primed for a heavy evening — lots of expectations, both for nostalgia with Nu-Metal legends and for sheer intensity from Gojira’s reputation in progressive, technical metal.
After their exhilarating performance last year to open the summer Olympics in Paris, they’ve been propelled to an even larger audience with as many fans seemingly excited about them as they were for the Korn set. When Gojira took the stage, they immediately delivered a masterclass in contrast — crushing heaviness, but with texture, atmosphere, and dynamics.
Their set spanned their heavier, more technical tracks such as “The Axe” and crowd favourites like “Flying Whales.” Gojira built the tension and released it with precision; their live sound often threatened to tear the venue apart. The small pit at the front of the floor had the circle pits and crowd surfers in a frenzy for large portions of the night. Flames shot out across the stage as the pyrotechnics came in quick succession.
Finally, Korn took to the stage with a setlist stacked with fan favourites. A black curtain covering the front of the stage as the first few drum taps of “Blind” built the anticipation before the famous opening chunky guitar chords echoed through the arena.
The stage presence was what one would expect: Jonathan Davis commanding as ever, dreadlocks that spanned several feet high from head-banging guitarists while delivering that signature low end, often brutal yet groove‑laden; and an intricate lighting setup which sharpened the atmosphere without being too much.
While Ottawa doesn’t get as many of the heavy tours that come through, this was a huge night for the metal scene in town. Gojira reminded people why they’re one of the most vital bands in metal right now, and Korn showed they can still push their music to new heights.
.gif)