Adorned in a black robe and mask like the high-priest of toxicity — or the R&B Phantom of the Opera — The Weeknd used the third night of his MetLife stadium tour stop for a virtuoso exercise in musical theater. For this edition of his After Hours til Dawn Tour stop, Abel leaned into all his powers of ambiance and mystique while also reminding everyone that, of course, those theatrics are still surpassed by a voice and catalog that have dominated the pop culture landscape since he completely broke into the mainstream about 12 years ago.

Stepping into the building for the action, Okayplayer soaked up all the vibes. Here are our top five moments from the show.

5. Abel Embodies the Abyss

With beams of goldish light streaming down atop a stage set of collapsed buildings, Weeknd’s performance ground looked like the aftermath of a dystopian riot. Amid the grim, yet stylish scenery, Weeknd surfaced. Clad in a creepy black robe with a band of red demon ghouls in the foreground, Abel let loose his ghostly tenor to sing “The Abyss,” with a visual that absolutely looked like it. Haunting, yet futuristic, it was the best kind of aesthetic and sonic symmetry.

4. Playboi Carti Joins Weeknd for “Rather Lie”

Maybe an hour-and-a-half after serving up his own fairly electric set, Playboi Carti popped out for to join Weeknd on their best collaboration. The energy between the two was palpable, and Carti’s less linear vocal stylings added a nice sonic contrast to Weeknd’s heavenly hedonism that, obviously, defined the night.

3. “After Hours” Transitions to “Starboy”

Besides Weeknd’s vocals, the symbiosis between the visuals and the music was a through line of the whole performance. The opening sequence of songs — so, like the first 12 minutes or so — was more or less the apex of the connection. Particularly from “After Hours” to “Starboy.” As The Weeknd departed the nocturnal disco of the former, the cross-shaped stage lit up with a series of diamond-ish stars as he entered “Starboy” for a micro showcase that evoked the cosmos. Starboy, indeed.

2. “Is There Someone Else?” Turns Into “Wicked Games,” Then “Call Out My Name”

I would have preferred the OG “Wicked Games” instrumental, but the celestial light show combined with the ambiance of the “Is There Someone Else” is an elite collision with Weeknd’s reedily powerful voice. And with that folding into “Call Out My Name,” you get an extended trip to the realm of eerie excellence.

1. “Blinding Lights” Is Blindingly Good Live

The show was already gradually — and slowly and sexily — approaching an epic crescendo when the fireworks popped off during … you know, “Fireworks.” But when “Blinding Lights” began playing and the stage lights started beaming from every direction, it all reached another level of epicness. On one hand, it was all actually kind of blinding and disorienting; but in a really cool way where you’re pulled into the euphoria of the moment. On the whole, Weeknd proved the ability to pull you into which ever feeling he was emitting at the time — whether it was explosive thrills or cosmic loneliness. The range of emotions and sensations served as portals between your favorite spot to go after hours and the sobering morning isolation after dawn.