When people think of the melodic death metal genre, it’s hard to believe Arch Enemy isn’t one of the first bands that come to mind. They’ve been going strong since 1995 and have just released their 12th studio album, Blood Dynasty. Now, they’re hitting the road again in support of that album with the North America Blood Dynasty 2025 Tour. This 29-date tour made its second stop in Los Angeles, CA, at the fan-favorite venue The Wiltern, bringing with them Fit For An Autopsy, Baest, and Thrown Into Exile. The doors opened early, giving fans plenty of time to enjoy all the music that was about to be performed, and the true die-hard fans made sure to arrive early.

Opening the show were hometown heroes Thrown Into Exile. I’ve been following this band since 2016, and it was amazing to see them hit the road on a major tour like this. Vocalist Evan Seidlitz delivered a ferocious growl and grit to his voice, the perfect battle cry to kick off the night and get the fans’ blood pumping. Guitarists Mario Rubio and Austin Monzon carried the band with their dueling guitar lines, almost like a waltz as they passed riffs, melodies, and solos back and forth. They never stepped on each other’s toes, allowing each to shine in the spotlight. Bassist Javier Quinto locked in with drummer Tom Tierney, who weaponized his kit with precision strikes and beats that attacked the crowd. This tour will put Thrown Into Exile in front of so many new fans, and I can only hope it helps them reach the heights they’ve long deserved.

Up next was the death metal band from Denmark, Baest. I was completely unfamiliar with this band and had no idea what to expect, but within moments of their set, they were there to rip heads off. Vocalist Simon Olsen delivered the fiercest and deadliest screams and growls of the night, embodying the essence of black metal vocals. Guitarist Lasse Revsbech, despite injuring his foot just before the tour, didn’t let that stop him. Hobbling onto the stage in a boot, he made up for his lack of movement by doubling as the band’s hype man, often calling for the crowd to scream, mosh, and go wild while making the craziest faces as he shredded on his guitar.

Fellow guitarist Svend Karlsson and bassist Matthias Melchiorsen made up for Revsbech’s limited mobility by being highly animated, playing to the entire crowd and often joining Revsbech to keep him involved in the show. Drummer Sebastian Abildsten looked like a technician behind the kit, his eyes focused on the beats he was laying down. While Thrown Into Exile got the fans’ blood pumping, Baest got it boiling, igniting the pit with their ferocious energy. Only two bands in, and the fans were already breaking a sweat from their passion for the music.

It was then time for Fit For An Autopsy to wreak havoc on The Wiltern. Kicking off their set with “Lower Purpose,” the moshers immediately felt the energy of the music. The pit quickly opened, with crowd killers throwing limbs in every direction. Vocalist Joe Badolato commanded the stage with a minimalist presence, holding the crowd’s attention effortlessly. Guitarists Pat Sheridan and Tim Howley slammed the audience with heavy chugs and riffs, while bassist Peter Spinazola could be seen screaming the lyrics at the crowd unamplified, his energy palpable.

Drummer Josean Orta stood out with his unique stage presence. While most drummers in heavy music are visibly working hard, Orta chewed gum and strolled across his kit with ease, as if taking a walk in the park. Fit For An Autopsy kept the onslaught going with songs like “Red Horizon,” “Warfare,” “Pandora,” “Hostage,” “The Sea of Tragic Beasts,” “Savior of None,” and “Far From Heaven.”

Finally, it was time for Arch Enemy to grace the stage. Opening with “Deceiver, Deceiver,” drummer Daniel Erlandsson kicked the show into high gear with a driving drumbeat. But it was when fan-favorite vocalist Alissa White-Gluz took the stage that the venue erupted. The crowd’s excitement was palpable as they screamed for her, knowing the ferocity she brings to her performances. Alissa layers passion, aggression, and sincerity into her death metal screams, and the audience devoured every moment of it.

Though fans tend to keep their eyes on Alissa, she made sure the rest of the band had their moments to shine. Guitarists Michael Amott and Joey Concepcion, along with bassist Sharlee D’Angelo, often took center stage, rocking out together. Amott, wielding his signature Dean Flying V blood-splatter guitar, played to the audience while shredding memorable melodies, rhythms, and wild solos.

Arch Enemy’s setlist was a masterclass in melodic death metal, featuring songs like “Ravenous,” “Dream Stealer,” “Blood Dynasty,” “War Eternal,” “My Apocalypse,” “A Million Suns,” “Liars & Thieves,” “The Eagle Flies Alone,” “First Day in Hell,” “As the Pages Burn,” “Sunset Over the Empire,” “No Gods, No Masters,” “Dead Bury Their Dead,” and “We Will Rise.” They closed the night with a four-song encore: “Avalanche,” “Snow Bound,” “Nemesis,” and “Fields of Desolation.”

With The Wiltern’s stacked standing sections, mosh pits are usually confined to the bottom level closest to the stage. But Arch Enemy isn’t like most bands—their fans opened multiple mosh pits throughout the venue, letting the energy run wild. From Thrown Into Exile to Baest, then Fit For An Autopsy, and finally Arch Enemy, each band elevated the energy on stage, creating a truly memorable night of music.