Chicago, IL – Swedish symphonic metalcore band Imminence arrived at Chicago’s historic Riviera Theatre, bringing along their friends JILUKA and LANDMVRKS, for a visually breathtaking and emotionally charged evening. The Riv, as it’s known by to the locals, is a venue with deep roots in the city’s entertainment history. Originally a movie palace, it has since evolved into a premier concert destination, hosting some of the biggest names in rock and metal.
First up this evening was JILUKA, Japan’s rising visual kei metal powerhouse, delivered a breathtaking performance that was both visually stunning and sonically punishing. Dressed in all black with glowing red lights attached to their outfits, the band that features Ricko (vocals), Boogie (bass), Zyean (drums), and Sena (guitar) looked like specters of the underworld as they took to the red light drenched stage. Without hesitation, they launched into their newest release, “KVLT,” an ominous, ritualistic track that blended eerie whispers with piercing screams, immediately setting the tone for the remainder of their set.
The intensity only grew with “BLVCK,” a crushing anthem that mixed gothic undertones with brutal instrumentals, sending waves of energy through the crowd. JILUKA kept the momentum going with “S4VAGE,” a relentless track filled with machine gun drumming and razor sharp riffs. “OVERKILL” lived up to its name, pushing the crowd into a frenzy with its breakneck speed and ferocious growls, while the pulsating red lights flickered like warning signals through the haze of the show.
Closing the night with “VENΦM,” JILUKA slowed things down with a menacing, sludgy intro before erupting into a devastating finale, their black silhouettes glowing against the backlight crimson lights. It was a masterclass in visual kei metal—dark, theatrical, and utterly unrelenting. JILUKA proved once again why they are a force to be reckoned with in the scene, leaving fans mesmerized and craving more.
Next on the lineup was metalcore powerhouse LANDMVRKS, who hail from Marseille, France, and delivered an electrifying performance that simply left the audience in awe. Their set kicked off with their powerful single “Creature,” a track from their upcoming album The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been, set to be released on April 25th this year. The energy in the venue was palpable as the band launched into their set with this intense opener. Following the explosive start, LANDMVRKS treated the crowd to a mix of their classic hits and new material, erupting when they played favorites like “Death” and “Blistering,” showcasing their signature blend of aggressive riffs, punishing breakdowns, and melodic hooks, proving why their past work continues to resonate so strongly with fans.
The band’s ability to seamlessly transition between heavy and melodic elements was on full display. In a surprising and emotional moment, the band took a brief semi-acoustic detour, as vocalist Florent Salfati took to the stage alone with an acoustic guitar, and began a stripped-down version of “Suffocate” from their 2022 album, Lost in the Waves. The hauntingly beautiful rendition showcased Salfati’s dynamic range, bringing a moment of calm before the storm resumed, when fellow band mates Paul Cordebard (rhythm guitar), Kévin D’Agostino (drums), Rudy Purkart (bass), and Nicolas Exposito (lead guitar), rejoined Salfati on stage and re-upped the tempo midway through. This partially stripped-down electric rendition allowed the band’s raw emotion and musicality to shine through, providing a poignant contrast to the rest of their high-energy set. The band also introduced the audience to three other tracks from their latest album, including “A Line in the Dust,” “Sulfur,” and “Blood Red.” Each song demonstrated the band’s growth and evolution, with intricate guitar work and powerful vocals that captivated the audience.
LANDMVRKS closed out their set with “Self-Made Black Hole”, an anthemic and crushing finale. The energy in the room never wavered, and as the final notes rang out, it was clear that the band had given everything they had. Their performance was a testament to their growth, their passion, and their undeniable place at the forefront of modern metalcore.
Finally, Imminence. Kicking off their set the symphonic metalcore visionaries launched into “Paralyzed”, a fan-favorite from their 2019 release Turn The Light On. Frontman Eddie Berg immediately captivated the crowd, seamlessly shifting between haunting clean vocals, soul-piercing screams, and his signature violin melodies. Coupled with the crushing instrumentals, it set the tone for what would be an unforgettable night. The band, who also feature Alex Arnoldsson (lead guitar), Christian Höijer (bass), Peter Hanstrom (drums), and Harald Barrett (rhythm guitar), are currently touring in support of their latest March 7th release, The Return of the Black. The newest album is an extended edition of their 2024 album The Black, that features not only new singles such as “God Fearing Man” and “Death Shall Have No Dominion”, but also re-recordings of fan favorite tracks featuring guest appearances by Joel Holmqvist (The Call of the Void), Tim Charles (Come What May), Niklas Karlsson (Continuum), and Lucas Woodland (Death By A Thousand Cuts).
The setlist was packed with emotional highs and crushing lows, as Imminence delivered a powerful mix of tracks spanning their career. Songs like “Ghost” and “Infectious” had the crowd in a frenzy, their anthemic choruses resonating through the theater. The band brought an emotional depth to the performance with “Alleviate”, showcasing Berg’s haunting clean vocals before erupting into a cathartic breakdown. The set continued with “Come Hell or High Water”, a track that blended symphonic elegance with relentless metalcore aggression, and “Heaven Shall Burn”, which sent the crowd into overdrive.
To close out the night, Imminence unleashed “Le Noir”, a fitting finale that left the audience breathless. The combination of dramatic violin swells, gut-wrenching screams, and powerful instrumentals made for an unforgettable ending. Imminence’s performance at the Riviera Theatre was a masterclass in modern metalcore, proving once again why they are one of the most captivating bands in the genre today.
IMMINENCE SETLIST
Paralyzed
Ghost
Beyond the Pale
Erase
Death by a Thousand Cuts
Continuum
Death Shall Have No Dominion
Cul-de-Sac
The Call of the Void
86
Infectious
Alleviate
God Fearing Man
L’appel du Vide
Come Hell or High Water
Desolation
Heaven Shall Burn
Temptation
The Black
Le Noir
JILUKA Online
Website | Spotify | Instagram
LANDMVRKS Online
Website | Facebook | Instagram
IMMINENCE Online
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Show Date: March 14, 2025
