April 29th — The Velvet Underground, Toronto. Amid the numerous bars, restaurants, and clubs of Queen Street West, American synthwave trio Magic Sword transformed Toronto’s Velvet Underground into a portal to a retro-futuristic fantasy realm. Having known about Magic Sword since their early releases and watched them grow the last 10 years from afar, it was an almost spiritual experience to finally see one of the bands that’s been part of my life since high school. Cloaked in mystery and wielding a glowing LED sword, the band—hailing from Boise, Idaho —delivered a performance that blurred the lines between concert, comic book epic, and ’80s sci-fi/fantasy cult classics. This was a pilgrimage long overdue for a fan of synthwave’s darker, rock-infused edge.
A Night of Neon Mythology
Arriving just as the lights dimmed (thanks to a stubbornly slow “trendy” burger joint), I plunged into a crowd already buzzing with anticipation from Mega Ran’s opening set. Magic Sword’s set opened with a gravelly voiceover narrating a cryptic prologue—think Conan the Barbarian meets Star Wars—as The Keeper (keyboards), The Seer (guitar), and The Weaver (drums) took their positions, masked and cloaked in shadow. Their aesthetic, a fusion of pulp fantasy and cyberpunk grit, was amplified by strobes that sliced through the smoke like digital lightning.
The music? A relentless onslaught of contrasts. Pulsating synth arpeggios collided with The Seer’s face-melting guitar solos, channelling the bombastic energy of Judas Priest and the icy precision of John Carpenter’s soundtracks. Tracks like “Legend of the Keeper” and “Uprising” oscillated between brooding tension and triumphant crescendos, while the crowd—a motley crew of leather-clad rock veterans, EDM ravers, and pop culture convention cosplayers—thrashed in unison.
Then came “In the Face of Evil.” The band’s breakout hit, perhaps most famously featured in Thor: Ragnarok’s trailer, erupted in what felt like a faster, heavier incarnation. The Seer’s shredding bordered on apocalyptic, while The Weaver’s drums hit like a hydraulic press. Bass frequencies rattled ribs; the floor itself seemed to breathe.
Some photos from the night:
A Live Experience Forged in the fires of ’80s culture
Magic Sword’s genius lies in their refusal to half-step. This isn’t mere nostalgia—it’s world-building. The glowing sword, wielded ceremoniously during peaks, isn’t a prop; it’s a narrative anchor. Some fans even waved their DIY blades, turning the venue into a sea of neon-lit rebellion. The crowd’s diversity (ravers alongside metalheads, comic nerds air-guitaring besides goths) mirrored the band’s genre alchemy.
The trio’s influences are worn proudly: Vangelis’ grandeur, Daft Punk’s anonymity, and the campy theatrics of ’80s fantasy films. Yet their sound feels urgent, modern. Tracks from their 2023 album Badlands leaned into industrial textures, while “The Way Home” (a Hotline Miami 2 staple, and a personal new favourite that I hadn’t heard until this performance) fused chiptune nostalgia with dystopian dread.
Why Toronto’s (and Canada’s) Scene Needs More Sword-Wielding Synth
Magic Sword’s Toronto stop—part of their North American tour—underscored the city’s role as a haven for diverse styles and musicians that are hard to find elsewhere in Canada. I know we’re Blast Toronto, but I’m starting to see the need for other Canadian cities to have a Blast. For example: Hamilton, ON has more than double the population of, say, one of the three Texan cities on the tour (like, I’m sorry, you’re saying you can make it work in a city of less than 200,000 people but not one of more than 700,000? I don’t buy it). I feel like it’s rare that I see a non-Canadian band tour more than three cities. While we share our luck with Montréal and Vancouver, nights like this prove Toronto’s appetite for genre-defying spectacle.
I’m so happy I saw them
Magic Sword isn’t just a band—it’s an invitation to join a secret order and whole world of imagination. Their live show thrives on paradox: anonymity that fosters connection, retro aesthetics that feel futuristic, and music that’s equally suited for headbanging or hacking into the Matrix. I’ve been lucky lately in getting to review music that I didn’t get to hear live until I moved to a city. Check out my previous reviews/articles on HarlowBardot – “You Sleep” and Harkness.
Magic Sword’s discography, including Badlands (2023), is streaming now. Follow their cryptic updates here—and keep your LED sword charged for their next Toronto incursion.
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