Lorna Shore – Jacob’s Pavilion, Cleveland, OH – September 26, 2025 Few bands can summon sheer chaos and precision in the same breath like Lorna Shore, and their headlining set at Jacob’s Pavilion proved why they stand at the forefront of modern extreme music. Against the industrial backdrop of Cleveland’s lakefront—where freighters silently moved along the river as the stage lights burned—the band turned an already buzzing city night into something unforgettable. From the moment the first blast beat landed, the atmosphere was electric. The crowd surged with unstoppable energy, unleashing a tidal wave of crowd surfers that rarely ceased. Security and photographers alike had to navigate the barrage of bodies; shooting from the pit meant ducking boots one second and catching a perfect frame of the band’s onstage intensity the next. It was less a performance and more an endurance test, both for the fans and anyone working in front of the barricade. Lorna Shore’s technicality elevated the chaos into something grander. Will Ramos’ vocals cut through with both demonic ferocity and chilling clarity, while the guitar work unfolded with blistering sweeps and orchestrated flourishes that blurred the line between brutality and beauty. Their signature fusion of deathcore extremity with symphonic scale felt even more commanding live, filling the open-air venue with a sound as massive as the waters surrounding it.
What set this night apart was the venue itself. Jacob’s Pavilion offered a rare combination of intimacy and spectacle—an outdoor stage perched between Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River, where the city’s industrial pulse mingled with nature’s immensity. As freighters glided by under the night sky, the contrast against the chaos in the pit gave the performance an almost cinematic quality. By the end, the exhausted yet elated crowd made clear that Cleveland hadn’t simply hosted Lorna Shore—it had been overtaken. The evening was proof of the band’s unique power: to harness complexity and raw aggression, then deliver it in a way that feels both violent and transcendent. In a scene crowded with heavy acts, Lorna Shore showed once again that they play on a different level entirely. ⸻
Supporting Acts The Black Dahlia Murder brought their trademark brand of melodic death metal with unwavering precision. Their set was both celebratory and cathartic, as the band continues to honor Trevor Strnad’s legacy while pushing forward with fresh energy. Their razor-sharp riffs and relentless pace had the pit in full motion, setting a high bar early in the night. Shadow of Intent followed with a crushing performance that highlighted their ability to fuse symphonic atmosphere with deathcore’s sheer heaviness. The orchestral backdrops added cinematic weight to their set, while frontman Ben Duerr’s vocal range commanded the crowd with absolute authority. Their set was a masterclass in balancing technicality with emotional impact. Peeling Flesh opened the evening with unapologetic brutality, immediately igniting the crowd and proving why their rising reputation in the extreme metal scene is well-earned. Their raw energy and slamming intensity primed the audience for the chaos to come, ensuring no one would leave the venue unshaken.
