Metalheads feasted this week - the Into Oblivion tour, with Sanguisugabogg, Fit for an Autopsy, Kublai Khan TX and Lamb of God hit Minneapolis' Armory on Tuesday, and it was a neck-crushing night of breakdowns, circle pits, and the busiest security night of the year as wave after wave of crowd surfer made it to the front.

Ohio's Sanguisugabogg opened the show. Their sound is like if you channeled forth the murkiest, simplest (in a good way) metal a sewer mutant would put together - and it rips. A band totally focused on riffs and eliciting a stank face from listeners, they got the night of crowdsurfing started early as they played a few tracks off their 2025 album Hideous Aftermath. Some much-appreciated crowd pandering was performed by vocalist Devin Swank when saying he has “bled purple and gold from birth, I’ve been a Vikings fan all my life. Anyway, this next song is about ripping someone’s face off. It’s called ‘Face Ripped Off’.” That’s pretty much their energy to a T, and it’s as effective as it is charming.

Deathcore old heads (can we say that now?) Fit for an Autopsy were up second, who packed their own lighting rig onto the stage. They wasted no time putting forth exactly what an effective deathcore band is known for - copious breakdowns, copious squeals, and riffs galore. Their set was short but sweet - just seven songs, but they packed in as much intensity as a band could be expected to in that timeframe. A highlight for me was “Hostage” in the middle of their set, which really showed off their deft combination of progressive sensibilities and bone-crunching heaviness. They also played a brand-new track - “The Wretch” - which had come out only a week before, and it seems like things are shaping up pretty well for the next album.

Texas’ Kublai Khan TX were up third - a band bringing back the ’90s era of metalcore, trying to make Earth Crisis proud. I didn’t really jive with this performance - it certainly seemed more than capable, but something about their aesthetic or their overall approach to composition just didn’t quite click with me. The crowd was popping off though - a ton more crowdsurfers made their way to the front of the Armory for their set, so they’re certainly connecting with some folk.

Lastly, of course, was Lamb of God. There probably wasn’t a single metalhead who lived through the 2000s without hearing “Laid to Rest” on repeat, and what a treat that was. While others could be argued to have made a greater mark on the elements that would comprise The New Wave of American Heavy Metal, Lamb of God were easily the most popular, and as one listen of their new 2026 album Into Oblivion will tell you, by far the most consistent. The new album is front-to-back quality material, with my personal favorite being the slow-burner “Sepsis,” anchored by a nasty bassline by John Campbell.

They remain as visceral as ever, even with a few lineup changes in that timeframe, and there’s really no one who carries a vocal performance quite like Randy Blythe. That’s more evident than ever when you see them live - where their effortless energy and incredible performances translate perfectly to the stage. Randy is a curled-up ball of vitriol, dancing across the stage and contorting his face in full-throated screams and roars, jumping on his riser and fully arching his back into a monstrous growl - it really is an enormous treat to see someone giving no less than 100% of their energy after so many years.

They played songs all across their discography, with heavy features from Into Oblivion, Ashes of the Wake, Sacrament, and As the Palaces Burn (they opened with “Ruin” and “Laid to Rest,” which was pretty much a dream-come-true 1-2 for me). Considering how much material they’ve put out and simply how many songs deserve to be played live, I would say this night seemed a little bit more focused on mixing their very oldest material with their very newest. With that juxtaposition in mind, it’s incredible how good Lamb of God have remained for well over 20 years.

Lastly, as a Minnesotan, it’s worth mentioning their dedication of “Omerta” to Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Lamb of God has always been on the right side of things when it comes to social issues, so it’s no surprise that they would do this - but it means a lot to see a platform the size of Lamb of God’s used to give voice to the downtrodden.