Mastodon brought their 2026 Poisonous Weapons Tour to New York City for a killer evening of metal, with support from Deafheaven and France’s Alcest.
New York’s Brooklyn Paramount was the place to be as Mastodon sold out the evening, with lines stretching all the way down the block. The vibe was palpable. As the doors opened, the masses made their way into the majestic venue for what surely was going to be a most epic night.
Blackgaze pioneers Alcest wasted no time at all hitting the stage at promptly 7 PM, with a considerably good attendance already on hand for an opener. The French atmospheric metal pioneers were given roughly 40 minutes, and zero time was wasted, busting straight into “Protection” off their sixth studio album, Spiritual Instinct, which immediately set the mood.
Neige’s vocals glided above the guitars, while the rhythm section gave the music its underlying weight. The band overall was super tight, and they kept the momentum in the room moving, as though it was hypnotic. They performed “Ecailles de lune-Part 2,” which is a powerful selection that shows the band’s darker side. The song’s gradual build really worked well with the room becoming one with the combination of distortion and melody with Neige’s distinctive style.
Frontman Neige has a unique presence; he seems to have no need for constant crowd interaction or exaggerated theatrics. The band is mostly all about allowing their music to remain the primary focus. Be sure to check them out on this current tour.
The interplay of the duo guitarists, Kerry McCoy and Shiv Mehra, was killer as they both brought their styles – one pushing shimmering post metal texture and the other locking down that low-end thick, like almost tectonic riffs, bringing it all together. Drummer Daniel Tracy brought the pounding precision and passion, really driving the transitions and outright sonic bombardment. Clarke’s stage presence just tied everything together.
The setlist consisted of only eight songs; granted, they only had 40 minutes to crush it, which they absolutely did as the floor was moving from the first to last riff. Most of the tracks were centered around their newest album, Lonely People With Power, which were all received well. Deafheaven, overall, were super tight and kept the energy alive as the crowd had security busy retrieving the constant flow of crowd surfers. The band brings a full-frontal assault that will have you talking about them days later, so most definitely be sure to catch them. You won’t be disappointed.
Mastodon opened their set with “Barbarians Blood” from their newest release, which was well-received by the packed house. Troy Sanders brought a commanding presence to the stage, while Bill Kelliher and Nick Johnston crushed those heavy riffs that reverberated through the Paramount. Brann Dailor is an absolute beast on the drums and is one of the band’s defining characteristics, as his complexity and style are on another level.
The floor was packed, and heads were banging as Mastodon carried their set into “Poisonous Weapons,” the title song of their tour. It turned the Paramount into a sea of movement, front-to-back and side-to-side. At this point, Sanders brought out special guest guitarist John Baizley, frontman of Baroness, for the final stretch of the evening, launching into “Snakes for Dinner.” His additional presence added a whole other level to an already massive sound. During “Sultan’s Curse,” the larger-than-life Cysquatch made an appearance, towering over the band as the ominous and massive riffing fit perfectly into the closing portion of the night. They closed out the night with “Blood and Thunder.” From the opening riff, the place erupted with peak energy, with the crowd singing along and Baizley’s presence making the finale even more memorable.
Don’t sleep on this current Mastodon tour as they bring the fire, especially with openers such as Deafheaven and Alcest.
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