Struck Dead Tour: Trivium, Jinjer, and Heriot - Winnipeg, MB

Winnipeg metal fans braved the November cold for one of the heaviest lineups to hit the Burton Cummings Theatre in years, as the Struck Dead Tour rolled into the city with a triple-threat lineup built to pulverize. For Heriot, Jinjer, and Trivium, this wasn’t just another stop—it was a night that felt purpose-built for chaos, catharsis, and a celebration of modern heavy music at its most unrelentingly powerful.

Heriot. All photos by Samuel Stevens.

Making their first-ever appearance in Canada—and in Winnipeg—UK extreme-metal force Heriot delivered a set that can only be described as scorched-earth. For many fans in the venue, this was their introduction to the band’s devastating hybrid of metallic hardcore, doom, industrial, and sludge. It took less than ten seconds into “Foul Void” for the theatre to feel like it might collapse in on itself.

Debbie Gough and Jake Packer traded vocals like they were hurling molten steel back and forth, their dual-frontperson aggression turning “Siege Lord” and “Demure” into violent, breathless avalanches of sound. The crowd—stunned at first—quickly transformed into a writhing mass of energy as Heriot tore through “Commander of Pain” and the crushing dirge of “Mourn.”

By the time they closed with “At the Fortress Gate,” Heriot had done the impossible: they made a 1,600-seat theatre feel like an underground sweatbox on the edge of implosion. Their long-awaited Canadian debut was not just welcomed—it was conquered.

Jinjer. All photos by Samuel Stevens.

Ukrainian progressive metal juggernaut Jinjer followed with a performance that fused dizzying musicianship with emotional depth. Opening with “Duél,” they immediately showcased why they’re one of the most innovative bands on the global metal circuit. Tatiana Shmayluk’s ability to pivot from clean, melodic phrasing in “Green Serpent” to bestial growls in “Fast Draw” remains one of metal’s most awe-inducing live spectacles.

The band delivered crowd favourites early, but it was “Teacher, Teacher!” that ignited the venue—the audience shouting every word as the song’s explosive time signature changes rippled through the theatre. “Perennial” brought a moment of collective release, its melancholic tone contrasting beautifully with the relentless grooves of “Rogue” and “Someone’s Daughter.”

Jinjer closed with the emotionally charged “Pieces,” a performance full of nuance and precision. Their set proved once again that technical brilliance doesn’t have to sacrifice soul—Jinjer excels precisely because they bring both in overwhelming amounts. Headliners Trivium took the stage to a full-capacity roar, launching immediately into the tidal wave that is “In Waves.” The chorus shook the walls, setting the tone for a set that balanced fan favourites, deep cuts, and powerful material from across their two-decade career. Classic early tracks like “Like Light to the Flies” and “A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation” hit with nostalgic fury, while mid-era staples such as “Strife” and “Until the World Goes Cold” showed Trivium’s skill at weaving melody through muscular riffs. Matt Heafy commanded the stage with his signature mixture of intensity and joy—few frontmen look like they truly love performing as much as he does.

A major highlight was the tour’s namesake, “Struck Dead,” which landed like a seismic event, its live debut era giving fans a new anthem of pure adrenaline.

Trivium. All photos by Samuel Stevens.

The emotional peak arrived with “Dying in Your Arms,” which had the entire theatre singing as if it were a rock ballad passed down generations, before the band unleashed the full weight of “Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr.” The pit erupted—a moment of communal chaos that felt like Trivium at their most iconic.

The finale run—“The Heart From Your Hate,” “Down From the Sky,” and “The Sin and the Sentence”—formed an encore-worthy climax even without a formal encore, each track reminding Winnipeg why Trivium remains a titan of modern metal. Precision, passion, and pure firepower. The Struck Dead Tour didn’t just bring three world-class bands to the Burton Cummings Theatre—it brought three generations of heavy music evolution together on a single stage. Heriot’s groundbreaking ferocity, Jinjer’s unmatched technical artistry, and Trivium’s arena-sized mastery created a night that felt monumental.

For Winnipeg fans, especially those witnessing Heriot’s Canadian debut, this show will be remembered as one of the standout metal events of 2025—a night where every band played like they had something to prove, and proved it tenfold.