Friday night at Rogers Arena was a triumphant display of heavy-hitting energy as Wage War, Three Days Grace, and Volbeat lit up Vancouver with a co-headlining extravaganza. The sold‑out crowd, buzzing with anticipation, filled every corner of the iconic venue, clad in band tees and ready to unleash their collective roar. From the moment the lights dimmed, it was clear that this lineup was primed to deliver an unforgettable evening of metal and hard rock mastery.
Wage War kicked things off with blistering precision. Opening with the punishing riffs of “NAIL5,” the Florida metalcore outfit immediately commanded attention. Frontman Briton Bond’s fierce vocal delivery on “Low” and “Circle the Drain” had the pit churning, while the groove‑laden “BLUR” and galloping “TOMBSTONE” showcased the band’s tight musicianship. A highlight came with “MAGNETIC,” its infectious chorus prompting sing‑alongs even before the arena had fully warmed up. Closer “Manic” sent the opening salvo crashing into the crowd, leaving a palpable hunger for more heavyweight action.
When Three Days Grace took the stage, the energy ratcheted up even further. They tore in with “Animal I Have Become,” Adam Gontier’s successor Matt Walst leading the charge with raw, aggressive vocals. The new‑era anthem “So Called Life” and the blistering “Break” kept the momentum rolling. Mid‑set, the band slowed the pace with heartfelt renditions of “Home” and “The Mountain,” before crashing back into hard‑edged territory with “Chalk Outline” and the ferocious “Time of Dying.” Their live debut of “Apologies,” a haunting new ballad, was a poignant surprise, its emotional weight felt in every silent moment between notes. By the time they tore through staples like “I Hate Everything About You” and “Pain,” the crowd was fully invested, culminating in anthemic sing‑alongs for “Never Too Late” and an explosive “Riot” to close their set.
Headliners Volbeat stormed the stage to deafening cheers, opening with the punishing “Seal the Deal.” Michael Poulsen’s swagger was on full display during “Lola Montez,” and the audience erupted for the live debut of “Devils Are Awake.” A powerhouse run through “The Devil’s Bleeding Crown” only amplified the fervor, and when “Sad Man’s Tongue” kicked in over the unmistakable Johnny Cash riff from “Ring of Fire,” the arena lit up in a sea of lighters and phone screens. Volbeat continued to thrill with not one but three more live debuts-“Demonic Depression,” the epic “In the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan’s Spawn in a Dying World of Doom,” and the haunting “By a Monster’s Hand.” Each new song wove seamlessly into classics like “Black Rose” and “Wait a Minute My Girl,” before the raucous “Better Be Fueled Than Tamed” reminded everyone why Volbeat remains a powerhouse on any stage. They closed the night with “The Devil Rages On,” the tender “For Evigt,” and the relentless “Still Counting,” leaving fans breathless and clamoring for an encore that, delightfully, never fully ended.
Across three distinct acts, Friday’s show at Rogers Arena delivered a perfect storm of intensity, melody, and stagecraft. Wage War’s raw onslaught, Three Days Grace’s emotional and anthemic duality, and Volbeat’s genre‑blending prowess combined to make Jun 7, 2025, a night Vancouver metalheads will reminisce about for years to come.
