Connecticut deathcore heavyweights Shadow of Intent finally stormed into Vancouver, joining The Black Dahlia Murder and headliners Lorna Shore at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena.
The lineup features Chris Wiseman (guitars), Andrew Monias (bass), Bryce Butler (drums), and Ben Duerr (vocals). However, fans were met with a surprise tonight—frontman Ben was absent, staying home as he awaits the arrival of his newborn. Stepping up to the mic was Adam Mercer (ex-A Wake in Providence vocalist), who is filling in for vocals on this tour.
Formed in 2013, Shadow of Intent have carved out a formidable discography with five full-length albums. Their 2022 release Elegy cemented their reputation as one of the genre’s most ambitious acts, and in June 2025 they unleashed their latest record, Imperium Delirium—a release that’s already earning high praise from both fans and critics alike.
Shadow of Intent’s performance at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena was nothing short of punishing. The band opened with six tracks from their newly released Imperium Delirium before closing with “The Heretic Prevails” from 2017’s Reclaimer album.
With vocalist Adam Mercer stepping in for Ben Duerr, his cavernous growls reverberated through the arena, matching the intensity of the band’s precise and unrelenting riff attack. The set left the crowd eager for more, and while comparisons to The Black Dahlia Murder’s slot are inevitable, the impact of Shadow of Intent’s showing spoke for itself.
Fans in the Pacific Northwest will no doubt be hoping for the band’s return—this time with Duerr back at the helm for a full headlining tour.
Setlist
1.Prepare to Die
2.Flying the Black Flag
3.Mechanical Chaos
4.Vehement Draconian Vengeance
5.Infinity of Horrors
6.Feeding the Meat Grinder
7.The Heretic Prevails
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