Mastodon recently kicked off a 27-date trek across North America. Titled the “Poisonous Weapons Tour,” the band came packing serious heat, bringing along Deafheaven and Alcest to create an absolute trifecta of heaviness.
The tour made its New York City stop on Thursday evening at a packed, sold-out Brooklyn Paramount. It marked Mastodon’s first visit to the Big Apple since their 2023 performance at Coney Island alongside Gojira and Lorna Shore, proving once again that the Georgia titans know how to assemble a legendary bill.
ALCEST
A day of hectic stress followed by two mezcalitas and a THC soda led to the best possible outcome, as Alcest felt as though they were curated from the heavens to usher me into a state of pure bliss. Their post-rock atmosphere seamlessly gives way to black metal in a manner that never feels forced, but rather deeply necessary and striking.
There was immense passion and heart behind every note. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a band inspire both a raging circle pit and moments of eyes-closed meditative transcendence over the course of a single set, but here we are.
DEAFHEAVEN
Deafheaven was the yang to Alcest’s yin. The heart is just as broken, but they harness anger where Alcest embraces sorrow. Having been fortunate enough to see Deafheaven perform on a handful of occasions, this set was unequivocally their best. And that’s saying something, as I’ve never walked away from one of their shows anything less than blown away by their brilliance and sheer intensity.
Deafheaven’s set leaned heavily into their latest material, but they made sure to reward longtime fans by closing out with their staple anthem, “Dream House.”
MASTODON
As the storm of Deafheaven passed, the stage gave way to a torrential downpour of riffs from Mastodon. The band is 100% Grade-A heavy metal and a genuine thrill to watch. If Alcest is the yin and Deafheaven the yang, then Mastodon is the total sum of those parts: equal parts head-nodding and headbanging energy.
2025 was a rough year for Mastodon with the departure and tragic passing of guitarist Brent Hinds, a trauma explored through the writing of the band’s newest album, Marrow Deep. Bassist and vocalist Troy Sanders spoke to that struggle when introducing “In The Ruins,” a track that speaks directly to the experience.
There was a visible catharsis in their taking to the stage to process it all, and the crowd welcomed them with open arms, and plenty of mosh pits, too.
The latter half of Mastodon’s set featured fellow Georgia-bred guitarist John Baizley of Baroness joining the fray to up the ante. The band’s setlist touched on their extensive discography, giving fans from every chapter a treat to enjoy. Their return to New York City can’t come soon enough.
Mastodon’s Poisonous Weapons Tour tour continues through the end of October. Check out the dates below and the band’s website for ticket links:
09/27 MONTREAL, QC at MTelus
09/28 TORONTO, ON at Rebel
09/29 BUFFALO, NY at Buffalo Riverworks
10/01 DETROIT, MI at Fillmore
10/02 CHICAGO, IL at The Riviera
10/03 MINNEAPOLIS, MN at Palace
10/06 SALT LAKE CITY, UT at The Complex
10/07 BOISE, ID at Revolution
10/09 OAKLAND, CA at The Fox
10/10 LOS ANGELES, CA at Hollywood Palladium
10/11 SAN DIEGO, CA at The Sound
10/14 DENVER, CO at Fillmore
10/16 DES MOINES, IA at Val Air Ballroom
10/17 ST. LOUIS, MO at The Pageant
10/18 MEMPHIS, TN at Satellite Music Hall
10/20 CLEVELAND, OH at Agora
10/21 GREENSBORO, NC at Piedmont Hall
10/22 ATLANTA, GA at The Eastern
10/24 DALLAS, TX at Sick New World Dallas
