On a warm, sunny Wednesday evening on the east side of Toronto, Metalheads lined up outside of History. Battle vests, leather jackets and chains came in droves as everyone piled in, wanting to grab the perfect spot at the front of the stage to witness Mr. Bungle.
Mr. Bungle – Battles
History, Toronto – 13 September 2023
Words and Photography: Taylor Cameron
The main event and Mr. Bungle had the crowd beaming with excitement. The lights went down, and the crowd erupted into loud cheers. Loud heavy guitars, played by Trey Spruance and Scott Ian (Anthrax), fill the room, and Mr. Bungle take the stage with an iron fist. 
Mike Patton (Faith No More) steps up to the mic with aggressive vocals, commanding the stage with ease. Being the first East Coast tour in over twenty years, the crowd roared in excitement for the Heavy Metal act.
Patton prowls the stage, keeping the crowd completely captivated. 
After four growling tracks, the band slowed things down with a cover of I’m Not In Love by 10cc, the audience singing along to every word. Patton’s vocal range shone on the softer tracks, showing the incredible versatility in his vocal styles. 
The band’s set contained an array of originals and covers, making it eclectic and interesting. From Slayer to Seals & Croft and Spandau Ballet, Mr. Bungle covered it all with the wide range of genres they played.
Aggressive and enthusiastic, the audience matched the band’s high energy throughout the entire night. Dave Lombardo’s (Slayer) attack on the drums had a wave of heads headbanging along, a true sign that you are at a Heavy Metal show. 
Mr. Bungle closed out the show with an avant-garde version of the ’60s track Satan Never Sleeps by Timi Yuro and a cover of Sepultura’s Territory.
Right down to the end of the set, the band never failed to throw in surprises and versatility. 
The roars rattled throughout the venue, with no one wanting the show to end. This was a powerful evening of Heavy Metal delivered uniquely, making it a show that will have people talking about it for years. 
Kicking off the night were Battles, the experimental rock duo with John Staller on drums and Ian Williams on guitar and keys. Interesting and strange in the best ways, the crowd seemingly enjoyed their set, cheering loudly for the dynamic duo. 
From laser sounds to rhythmic drums and electric guitar, their set included it all. 