Korn, Gojira, and Loathe - Live In Winnipeg, MB

On the warm evening of September 25, 2025, the Canada Life Centre was rattled to its foundations as Korn brought their Kanada Tour to Winnipeg, joined by the crushing support of Gojira and Loathe. The lineup promised a night of heaviness that spanned generations and styles, and it absolutely delivered—three distinct bands converging to show how wide the spectrum of modern heavy music can reach.

Loathe. All photos by Samuel Stevens.

Opening duties went to Liverpool’s Loathe, who have steadily grown from underground favourites to one of the most exciting acts in modern metalcore. Their set was a journey through aggression and atmosphere, kicking off with “Revenant” and “Aggressive Evolution,” both of which whipped the early crowd into motion. The band balanced punishing breakdowns with haunting melodies, particularly on “Dance on My Skin” and the fan-favourite “Is It Really You?”—a song that had the audience singing as loudly as they screamed. Closing with the chaotic “Gored,” Loathe proved that they’re no longer just an opener, but a force poised to headline in the near future.

Gojira. All photos by Samuel Stevens.

Next came France’s Gojira, masters of marrying groove, precision, and spiritual weight. From the first blast of “Only Pain,” their sound engulfed the arena like a tidal wave. Guitarist and vocalist Joe Duplantier led with his trademark guttural roar, while drummer Mario Duplantier put on a performance clinic—flawlessly switching between blast beats, polyrhythms, and thunderous grooves. Winnipeg roared in unison during “Flying Whales,” while “Stranded” and “Backbone” ignited pits across the floor. Their setlist pulled from across their catalogue, climaxing with “Amazonia,” its tribal rhythm and environmental urgency hitting harder than ever. Gojira once again proved why they’re considered one of the finest live metal bands on the planet.

As the lights dropped and a familiar bassline pulsed through the speakers, the arena erupted—Korn had arrived. Opening with the one-two punch of “Blind” and “Twist,” Jonathan Davis and company wasted no time in delivering a visceral, career-spanning performance. The crowd bounced to classics like “Here to Stay” and “Got the Life,” while deep cuts such as “Porno Creep” and “Dirty” reminded longtime fans of Korn’s willingness to dive into their darker corners.

Korn. All photos by Samuel Stevens.

The set was peppered with surprises—most notably when the band weaved a chilling snippet of Metallica’s “One” in during their performance of “Shoots and Ladders,” and later in the set, the band added a playful nod to Queen’s “We Will Rock You” during “Coming Undone.” Ra Díaz’s bass, Munky and Head’s grinding guitar riffs, and Ray Luzier’s drumming were locked in at full power, delivering the low-end crunch that defines Korn’s sound.

The encore struck an emotional chord when Davis dedicated “4 U” to Ozzy Osbourne, a heartfelt tribute that had the crowd holding lighters and phones aloft. From there, the energy surged back into chaos with “Falling Away From Me” and “Divine” before exploding into the inevitable closer, “Freak on a Leash.” The chorus echoed from every corner of the arena, a communal catharsis two decades strong.

Korn’s Kanada Tour stop in Winnipeg wasn’t just a concert—it was a multi-generational celebration of heavy music. Loathe showcased the future, Gojira embodied the present pinnacle of technical heaviness, and Korn reminded everyone why they remain the titans of the nu metal genre after three decades. By the time the final notes rang out, there was no question: this night belonged to the enduring power of heavy music and the fans who live for it.