I recently stumbled upon the mesmerizing sounds of Leprous and was captivated by their extensive discography, especially their latest album “Melodies of Atonement.” When I found out about their North American tour, I knew I couldn’t miss the chance to witness their brilliance live. Due to a medical emergency, Monuments was unable to perform on the tour as initially planned. However, Earthside and the electrifying Fight The Fight performed as opening acts, promising an unforgettable evening.
Hailing from Oslo, Norway, Fight The Fight set the stage on fire with their performance of “Serpent of the Sand.” Bathed in striking red and blue lights, they delivered an intense 30-minute set, showcasing nine songs, including tracks from their new album “Shah Of Time.” Their fusion of groove-heavy influences and a perfect blend of melody and heaviness left a lasting impression. With a stellar lineup of vocalist Fredrik Teig Bergstrom, drummer Sander Lambrechts, guitarists Tord Larsen and Tobias Rekke, and bassist Hans-Magnus E. Hermansen, Fight The Fight’s performance was an exhilarating mix of diverse sounds that left me craving for more!
SETLIST
Serpent of the Sand
Ascent
Monarch
Shining
Heart of Stone
A.I.
Alien
12800
In Memory
Earthside from New Haven, Connecticut was the next band to hit the stage. The band can be best described as cinematic progressive metal. This four-piece is quite unique as it is an instrumental quartet consisting of guitarist Jamie van Dyck, keyboardist Frank Sacramone, bassist Ryan Griffin, and drummer Ben Shanbrom. The band opened with their song “We Who Lament,” for which they recently released a video. Throughout the set, vocals from the featured vocalists on the album echoed through the backing tracks, adding a full-rounded sound to songs such as “We Who Lament” and “Let The Truth Speak.” The lighting during their set was dynamic, with lots of moody backlighting to enhance the atmosphere. The band played a total of five songs, most of which came from their newest album “Let The Truth Speak,” released in 2023 via Mascot Label Group and Music Theories Recordings. It was really cool to finally see Earthside live, especially since I’ve been online friends with Jamie for quite some time. They were truly incredible and really moved me.
SETLIST
We Who Lament
Pattern of Rebirth
Watching the Earth Sink
Let The Truth Speak
The Closest I’ve Become
The all-mighty Leprous from Notodden, Norway hit the stage next. The band put on an amazing hour and 40-minute show with a fantastic light display. They started with the opening track “Silently Walking Alone” from their new album “Melodies of Atonement”, showcasing Einar Solberg’s incredible vocal range. Throughout the set, they performed a total of 15 songs. The band’s lineup includes guitarists Tor Oddmund Suhrke and Robin Ognedal, bassist Simen Børven, drummer Baard Kolstad, and keyboardist Harrison White. During the song “Faceless”, they invited local fans onto the stage to sing with them as their choir, which was a really cool moment. They closed with my personal favorite song “Atonement” and then came back for an encore, letting the fans choose between three songs. The crowd chose “Illuminate”, which was an amazing way to end the show. It was an incredible performance that left me speechless. They prepared an amazing tour, and with Earthside and Fight The Fight alongside them, they brought a progressive metal show that was to die for.
Let me take you back 10 years. Thy Art Is Murder released their album “Hate” to the masses and captivated audiences worldwide. I’ve seen them many times throughout the years, so to hear them finally play this album in its entirety was an experience to say the least. To celebrate the album turning 10 years old, the band set out on a world tour. The North American lineup brought a mixture of hardcore punk, death metal, and of course, deathcore. Kublai Khan TX, Undeath, I Am, and Justice For The Damned came out to SLAY! This show was a banger from start to finish!
First up was first to the stage from Sydney, Australia. This was their debut tour hitting North America and they absolutely set things off strongly. They are that perfect blend between hardcore and deathcore, which is the perfect blend. This quintet consists of vocalist Bobak Raffiee, guitarists Kieran Molloy and Nic Adams, bassist Ben Mirfin, and drummer Chas Levi. The band played a 7-song set, most of which came from their 2020 album “Pain Is Power” which was released via Greyscale Records. The band absolutely set this show off CORRECTLY with high energy and headbangs.
SETLIST
Final Cataclysm
Dragged Through The Dirt
The House You Built Is Burning
Blister of the Plague
Deep Rotting Fear
Pain Is Power
Guidance From The Pain
Up next was I Am from Dallas, TX. This was my third time seeing these guys and they absolutely get better and better each time I see them. With a blend of deathcore, hardcore, and death metal, I Am truly brings it. The lineup consists of vocalist Andrew Hileman, guitarists Chris Burgess and Tom Reyes, drummer Brandon Busa, and touring bassist Jayden Baker. The band played an 8-song set, 3 of which came from their newest album “Eternal Steel” which was released in 2022 via MNRK Records. It has been amazing to see the trajectory of this band since I first saw them back in 2017 and I seriously cannot wait to see and photograph them again the next time they hit the West Coast.
SETLIST
Texas Death
Surrender to the Blade
Peel Back The Skin
Sacred Cries
Eternal Steel
Vicious Instinct
Paid In Sin
Burn Slow
Next to the stage was Undeath from Rochester, NY. This was my second time seeing and photographing Undeath with the last being in September of 2021 and boy did they once again exceed my expectations. These guys are straight up brutal death metal meets hardcore, which is such a unique combo but works out so well. The band’s lineup consists of vocalist Alexander Jones, guitarists Jared Welch and Kyle Beam, drummer Matt Browning, and bassist Tommy Wall. The band played a 7-song set with songs spanning most of their discography up until this point. I am always thoroughly impressed with these guys and highly recommend checking them out!
SETLIST
Lord of the Grave
Necrobionics
Rise From The Grave
Grave Osmosis
Brandish The Blade
Chained to a Reeking Rotted Body
Lesions of a Different Kind
Kublai Khan TX from Sherman, TX hit the stage next. This was my first time seeing the band in almost 4 years and boy did they come to DESTROY the stage. Opening with the song “The Hammer”, the band truly came out swinging. The band played a whopping 13-song set, spanning a majority of their discography including the entirety of their newest EP “Lowest Form Of Animal” which the band released in 2022 via Rise Records. The band’s lineup consists of vocalist Matt Honeycutt, bassist Eric English, drummer Isaac Lamb, and touring guitarist Nic Adams who was filling in for guitarist Nolan Ashley. I have seen this band many times, but after going so long without seeing them, it felt like that spark the band has is brighter than ever. They truly bring that metalcore and hardcore punk style to the nth degree. I highly recommend going to check them out live because the energy exuding from this band is indescribable.
SETLIST
The Hammer
Eyes Up
True Fear
Us & Them
Dynasty
Swan Song
Taipan
Resentment
The Truest Love
Loyal To None
Boomslang
Self-Destruct
Antpile
Thy Art Is Murder from Blacktown, Sydney, Australia finally hit the stage next. Opening with “Reign of Darkness”, Thy Art Is Murder showed just how hard they went on this tour. With syncopated lighting and props, the band truly set themselves up for success. The band’s lineup consists of vocalist CJ McMahon, guitarists Sean Delander and Andy Marsh, bassist Kevin Butler, and drummer Jesse Beahler. Along with playing 10-songs from “Hate”, the band also played a song from each of their other albums released on Nuclear Blast, totaling out to a 13-song set. I am truly always blown away from the sheer presence from this band live and I truly cannot wait to see and photograph them again soon! This show was so much fun and I am truly glad it was my first for the year for The Camera Affect!
August Burns Red Brings The Belasco To A New Level On Their Leveler Anniversary Tour
Venue: The Belasco Theater in Los Angeles, CA
Date: 12/8/21
August Burns Red has been a leading band in the metalcore genre for quite some time. The band solidified themselves with their sophomore album “Messengers.” They garnered a large following from then on, constantly innovating in their song structure and musicality. For the tenth anniversary of their fourth album, “Leveler,” the band re-recorded the album in its entirety, bringing on special guests and changing the tunings of the songs from then on. In celebration of this, they embarked on a 10th-anniversary tour supporting the album, which they played in its entirety. Unfortunately, a few of the crew and band members caught COVID-19 on the run of dates in October due to the pandemic, forcing the band to postpone about a week’s worth of dates to December. Regardless, I am beyond stoked I got to cover this date for August Burns Red, along with the incredible lineup of Fit For A King, ERRA, and Like Moths To Flames.
Up first was Like Moths To Flames from Columbus, Ohio. This is a band that I first got into in 2012 when I saw them on the “Scream It Like You Mean It Tour” alongside bands like Attack Attack!, We Came As Romans, and more. The band is the perfect middle ground between metalcore and post-hardcore. Since the last time I photographed and saw them back in 2018, the band found their new label at UNFD, where they dropped their fifth album “No Eternity In Gold” in 2020, along with their new EP “Pure Like Porcelain” in 2021. The band really strengthened their sound on these new releases. Chris Roetter’s vocals were showcased to the highest power on these releases, truly showing off his vocal prowess. Their single “Habitual Decline” in particular pops off like no other, both live and on record, showing off Chris’ cleans and screaming. Guitarists Zach Pishney and Jeremy Smith flourish on these releases as well, really bringing the instrumentals to new levels. I started feeling the band incorporating some elements of progressive metal on some songs, which, as many will tell you, is my favorite subgenre of metal personally. Unfortunately, bassist Aaron Evans was unable to make the rescheduled dates for whatever reason, which was my first time seeing the band without him. He has an entertaining stage presence that was sorely missed for me, but Chris Roetter was on top of that crowd, really getting people hyped like no other. Roman Garcia closed out the band’s live lineup on drums, who absolutely smashed through those drum parts with precision. The band played six songs that night, playing songs from their first album to the newest EP. Like Moths To Flames is always an incredible band to see live, and I cannot wait to hopefully see and photograph them on their upcoming co-headliner with Polaris in March – April!
SETLIST
The Worst In Me
Habitual Decline
I Solemnly Swear
Preservation Of Hate
The Anatomy Of Evil
Bury Your Pain
ERRA from Birmingham, Alabama, was up next. The last time I saw these progressive metalcore boys was in 2019, when they did a co-headlining tour with Northlane. The band has since released its critically acclaimed self-titled album via UNFD in 2021, which helped the band garner even more fans and streams galore. The band opened their set with the song “Gungrave,” which has some heavy riffage from guitarists Jesse Cash and Sean Price, the vocal stylings from JT Cavey, the deep bass grooves from Conor Hesse, and the intricate drum patterns from Alex Ballew. The song has that iconic yin and yang in vocals between Jesse’s cleans and JT’s screams. The band then went on to play their heaviest song from the self-titled album “Scorpion Hymn.” JT’s vocal prowess is on full display here, truly showing off his range. From lots of mids, screeching highs, and deep gutturals, JT is truly a powerhouse, and this song showcases all of his abilities in one. The instrumental structure of this song is much darker than many of their other songs, making this song a standout on the record as a whole. In contrast, the following song the band played is “Divisionary,” which is much brighter in sound compared to “Scorpion Hymn.” Jesse’s vocals are the song’s focal point, but those contrasting parts with JT’s screaming help give the song layers and momentum. The intricate guitar patterns really stand out to me in this song, along with a thick prominent bass tone in the latter half of the song, which gives Conor his’ moment to shine. The band played a total of 8 songs throughout the set, showcasing the band’s newest album and songs from previous releases. I was thoroughly excited to hear how these new songs translated live, and they definitely did not disappoint. I cannot wait to see and photograph these guys again on their spring tour as they support Beartooth, Silverstein, and The Devil Wears Prada!
SETLIST
Gungrave
Scorpion Hymn
Divisionary
Eye of God
Irreversible
Breach
Vanish Canvas
Snowblood
Up next was Fit For A King from Dallas, TX. This was my fifth time seeing these metalcore greats, and they once again did not disappoint. Since I saw them in November 2019, the band dropped their sixth album in 2020 titled “The Path” on Solid State Records. It was met with critical acclaim and became the band’s most successful release to date streaming-wise. The band opened the set with the song “Stockholm,” which is a heavy banger to open the set with. This is one of the heavier songs from “The Path,” with Ryan Kirby’s iconic gutturals and lower toned vocals, the deep bass grooves from Ryan “Tuck” O’Leary, those chuggy guitars from Daniel Gailey and Bobby Lynge, and the fast and tight drums from Jared Easterling. This was Fit For A King’s first tour as a five-piece since 2013, with Bobby returning to the live stage for the tour. This was also the last run of shows with drummer and founding member Jared Easterling, who announced his departure prior to the tour. The band then went on to play the song “Locked (In My Head),” which was one of the leading singles from the new album. Locked definitely has a more post-hardcore vibe, reminiscent of the bands from the early-mid 2000s while still having a modern edge. Tuck and Ryan do an incredible job going back and forth on those clean vocals, really providing an emotion-driven melodic song to the mix that helped push the band’s boundaries in terms of what can be expected going forward. Continuing this momentum, the band then played “Breaking The Mirror,” which is all about overcoming past failures and pushing forward. The band really brought it to the next level with this new record, and the crowd was eating it up, with lots of crowd surfing and moshing galore. The band played a total of 11-songs, most of which came from “The Path” and “Dark Skies” and one song from “Deathgrip.” The band has really strengthened their core sound while still broadening out on what is possible. I cannot wait to see and photograph them on their “Dark Path Tour” in the spring as they headline the US with Silent Planet, Hollow Front, and AVOID supporting them. It will be an incredible time, and I cannot wait to see these metalcore boys again!
SETLIST
Stockholm
Locked (In My Head)
Breaking The Mirror
When Everything Means Nothing
Annihilation
The Price Of Agony
Deathgrip
Backbreaker
The Path
Tower Of Pain
God Of Fire
August Burns Red from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, came up next to the stage. The band came out swinging with the brand new opening track from the Leveler re-recording “X,” a wholly instrumental track. Bassist Dustin Davidson came out front and center, plucking those deep bass notes. Guitarists Brent Rambler and JT Brubaker played these gorgeous melodic guitar riffs that created a sing-along melody that would go into the next track. Due to personal issues, vocalist Jake Luhrs could not play the rescheduled dates. Due to this, Michael Felker from the metalcore band Convictions came in to do vocals for the band. Michael came out swinging on the song “Empire,” a fast-paced and riff-heavy metalcore track. One thing that is in the forefront of all of August Burns Red’s songs is the drum playing from the impressive Matt Greiner, who is truly on point with every beat he makes. The song “Empire” is jampacked with all of the elements that have helped August Burns Red solidify their sound: progressive and intricate guitar and drum patterns, sing-along sections, breakdowns, guitar solos, and uplifting vocals. The band then went on to play “Internal Cannon,” which was the song that got me into August Burns Red back in the day. The song features Matt K. Heafy from Trivium on the studio re-recording, which really added another layer to the song. The incredible dynamics in this song make it apparent why it is a fan favorite. August Burns Red’s metalcore style creates the melody using the instrumentals, as about 99% of the vocals are screaming in their music. Internal Cannon also has this slow-down section that incorporates some influences from jazz and blues that really help give some serious contrast to the song. The band then went on to play “Leveler” in its entirety, then came back to play a few newer songs and even an instrumental cover of “Carol of the Bells,” since the show was near the holiday time, totaling in at a whopping 18-songs in their setlist. August Burns Red never disappoints, and I cannot wait to see and photograph them again on their tour going on now with Killswitch Engage and Light The Torch! August Burns Red is genuinely an incredible band!
SETLIST
X
Empire
Internal Cannon
Divisions
Cutting The Ties
Pangaea
Carpe Diem
40 Nights
Salt & Light
Poor Millionaire
1/16/2011
Boys Of Fall
Leveler
Drum Solo
ENCORE
15. Bloodletter
16. Defender
17. Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych cover)
18. White Washed
The Leveler 10th anniversary tour was a celebration of a truly incredible album from one of the leading metalcore bands in the genre, August Burns Red. Fit For A King, ERRA, and Like Moths To Flames were the perfect bands to support August Burns Red on this tour! Make sure to see all of these fantastic bands on their upcoming tours if they come to a city near you!
Volumes Sell Out Their Hometown Show To Close Out Their Fall Tour
Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA on 11/20/21
Volumes have been a band I have enjoyed for quite some time. Their progressive metalcore sound that verges on deathcore brings in a lot of fans that go absolutely nuts to their music. For their return to the stage, they embarked on a month-long headlining US Tour in support of their new album “Happier?” in 2021 via Fearless Records. They brought along a solid lineup of bands that are quite different in sound but who each bring the energy to the stage, those being Varials, UnityTX, and Kingsmen. This night was a lot of fun and brought a lot of high energy and vibes.
First up to the stage were Kingsmen from Providence, Rhode Island. Unfortunately, some issues getting in as a photographer prevented me from seeing or photographing a majority of their set. However, I was able to get in and photograph the last song and a half of the set, which I utilized each second of. The band is good ole metalcore, with music in the same vein as bands like Killswitch Engage, Miss May I, and many more. I was very much looking forward to seeing Kingsmen and seeing their 5-song set, most of which came from their 2020 record “Revenge. Forgiveness. Recovery.”, which was released via SharpTone Records. The one song I did get to see and photograph was a cover of Metallica’s “Sad But True,” which they did exceptionally well. The vocalist Tanner was on point with his’ vocals, guitarists Nick and Tim did incredibly on those guitar parts, Adam held it down strong on those bass lines, and drummer Mike slammed those drum parts. I’m sad I could only see and photograph one song, but the band killed it on that cover. I cannot wait to see and photograph them for a longer period of time next time they come out to the west coast.
SETLIST
Tipping The Scales
Nightmares
Until I Departed
Oppressor
Sad But True (Metallica Cover)
Up next were the Dallas, Texas boys in UnityTX. This band is the perfect blend of metalcore, hardcore, and rap. The band played songs from their two EPs, “Madboy” and “Hellway,” released on Pure Noise Records. Their crowds went wild and even got so violent to the point where multiple crowd members were dragged out of the venue for fighting. Their music goes HARD. What’s unique is the diverse stylings the band has. With vocalist Shaolin at the forefront, the band incorporates many hip hop and rap elements. The band weaved some full-on rap songs into their set, showcasing Shaolin’s stage prowess and rap ability. The instrumentals in the band’s set should definitely be praised as well. Those basslines from Alberto are beefy and heavy. They add a deep groove to the songs that are very much needed. Then you have the guitar tones from Ricky that add a deep emphasis on those breakdowns and get the crowd going wild with those guitar chugs. Closing out the band’s lineup is Jonathan on drums, who slammed the hell out of those drums with precision. The band absolutely blew me away and proved why they are getting as far as they are. I cannot wait to see and photograph them again next time they come to Southern California.
SETLIST
Agony
Ruckus
Cross Me
60 Seconds (Wait)
Bang Shit
Hail Mary
Walk With Me
Up next was Varials from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I’d best describe their sound as the perfect trifecta of metalcore, hardcore, and deathcore, with some minor nu-metal influences as well. This was my second time seeing and photographing the band, with the first time being back in May of 2019 when they toured in support of Sylar and Cane Hill at this same venue. Since then, the band has gone through some lineup changes, the most notable being the shift of vocalist to Mitchell. Mitchell was previously on guitar and absolutely killed it on his new position in the band. He screams and sings those parts with power and emotion. Mike is still slaying it on bass, adding some serious grit to the rhythm section. James added some grooves to the rhythm section on the guitar, which adds a lot to the band’s sound. The band brought out two touring members to finalize their live set for this tour. Kendrick is in the band BeGotten and played lead guitar on this tour, absolutely slaying those leads while also having incredibly high energy on stage that included two-stepping, windmills, and lots of headbangs. Kevin finalized the band’s lineup on drums, absolutely murdering that kit on stage. They played a 10-song set, playing songs from both of their albums, “In Darkness” and “Pain Again,” along with a couple of songs from their E.P. “Failure//Control.” I always enjoy seeing and photographing these guys and hope to do so again when they come out with All That Remains, Miss May I, and Tallah in Spring of 2022!
SETLIST
Romance
Empire of Dirt
I Suffocate
In Darkness
South of One
E.D.A.
Stigmata
Savage
Anything To Numb
The New Damnation
Volumes from Los Angeles, CA, came to the stage next. For the tour’s final date, the Southern California native band came back home to party it up. The band played a great mixture of songs to please old fans and new fans alike. Their progressive metalcore sound that borderlines on deathcore has garnered various fans. Vocalists Myke and Michael do a great job going back and forth on vocals, creating a jab punch in songs like “The Mixture” and “F.X.B.,” and creating incredible dynamics between cleans and screaming on songs like “Bend.” Bassist Raad adds those deep grooves that are ever-present throughout the band’s whole discography. Drummer Nick slams those drums with intricate patterns that create the bassline for the instrumentals to flow effortlessly. Finalizing the band’s live lineup is Mikhael on guitar, who plays those complex guitar parts flawlessly. The band really had a lot to offer in this set. They had the crowd going wild with a dynamic lighting setup to a whopping 17-song set that incorporated songs from their entire discography. Out of all the shows I covered in 2022, this was by far the rowdiest crowd I had the honor of being a part of. Volumes know how to bring the party, and they did not disappoint this time around.
SETLIST
Intro
F.B.X.
The Mixture
Holywater
91367
Pixelate
Get Enough
Weighted
Bend
Serenity
The Columbian Faction
Edge Of The Earth
Erased
Pieces
Intake
Wormholes
Encore
17. Feels Good
Volumes truly brought it on this final night of their month-long trek on the road. With bands like Varials, UnityTX, and Kingsmen, they truly brought along with them a diverse group of bands that created a dynamic night of music. I’m still sad I couldn’t see and photograph more of Kingsmen’s set, but that will definitely happen next time.
Silverstein Sells Out Their 20 Year Celebration In Los Angeles
11/19/21 at The Belasco Theater in Los Angeles, CA
In March of 2020, Silverstein was set to go out on their 20th Anniversary Tour. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the tour was postponed twice. Finally setting out on tour in November and December of 2021, the band now hit their 21st anniversary as a band. To prepare for just a significant anniversary, the band prepared one of the longest sets I’ve ever seen a band play, and they brought along with them The Plot In You and Can’t Swim for the ride. This lineup made for a night of diverse music that kept fans entertained from start to finish.
First up was Can’t Swim from Keansburg, New Jersey. I’d best describe the band’s sound in the subgenre known as “easycore.” Easycore is basically the merging of pop-punk and metalcore. Similar bands in sound would be A Day To Remember, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk, and more. The band started with the song “Set The Room Ablaze,” which comes from their newest album, “Change Of Plans,” released in 2021 via Pure Noise Records. This song has a heavy edge, with metalcore-inspired riffs courtesy of Danny Rico and Mike Sanchez. This song also features some raspy screams from guitarist Chris LoPorto. The song’s studio recording features Caleb Shomo from Beartooth, which honestly pushes the song over the edge. This is easily my favorite song from the band and having them open up with it was incredible to witness. The band then went on to play their song “Sometimes You Meet The Right People At The Wrong Time” from their 2018 record “This Too Won’t Pass,” released via Pure Noise Records. This song has an overall pop-punk feel, with the stand-out elements being the drum patterns and overall atmosphere. I focused during this song on drummer Blake Gamel, who was absolutely smashing those drums like crazy. Bassist Greg McDevitt also did a superb job on backup vocals, adding amazing harmonies that pushed the songs to another level. The third song in the set that I captured was their song “Sense of Humor,” which has a very lighthearted feel in the melodies and atmosphere. The song changes up about two-thirds of the way through with a breakdown, adding an extra layer of contrast and depth to the song that kept me jamming while in the photo pit. The band was tight as hell during their set and had incredible energy. They absolutely blew away my expectations. They played a nine-song setlist, playing songs from four of their releases. They’re a fantastic band, and I highly recommend attending their headlining tour in the spring if it comes near you!
SETLIST
Set The Room Ablaze
“Sometimes You Meet The Right Person At The Wrong Time”
Sense Of Humor
Prick
Deliver Us From Evil
Power
My Queen
Your Clothes
Stranger
Up next was The Plot In You Hancock County, Ohio. This was my second time ever seeing The Plot In You, with the first and only other time being back in 2016 when they were headlining their “Happiness In Self Destruction” tour in support of their album they had released the year prior of the same title. The band has made quite the transformation since then. The band was previously a through and through metalcore band. They experimented with more melodic elements in the album “Happiness In Self Destruction” before diving deep into their new sound in 2018’s “Dispose” via Fearless Records. Going more towards a post-hardcore and progressive rock sound, the band has genuinely diversified their more recent records. The band opened with the song “Face Me” from their 2021 record “Swan Song,” also released on Fearless Records. Face Me opens up with a beat, and vocalist Landon Tewers before the full band comes in during the chorus. The band really brought the theatrics, with a gorgeous light show that really brought their performance to the next level. The instrumentals have a truly modern vibe to them. The bass from Ethan Yoder is vibrant and prominent, the guitar is deep and full from Josh Lewis Childress, and the drums are clean and solid from Michael Cooper. The band then went on to their second song, “Fall Again,” which is my favorite track from the new record. This song plays with the band’s heavier elements, bringing in some nu-metal inspiration in the guitar tones and vocalizations. Landon Tewers is truly on fire vocally on this record, showing his vast repertoire and prowess. The band then went on to play their song “Enemy,” which has an r&b feel to it, while still dialing into their post-hardcore sound. I love the new addition of the electronics into the music, as it adds a whole other layer to their sound. The crowd was eating them up, jumping, and singing along to every word. The band played a total of ten songs, spanning from “Swan Song,” “Dispose,” and “Happiness in Self Destruction,” which are three albums that really meld nicely in the band’s current discography and their more modern sound. The Plot In You has truly grown a lot since I last saw them, and I cannot wait to see them again.
SETLIST
Face Me
Fall Again
Enemy
Not Just Breathing
Time Changes Everything
Paradigm
One Last Time
Too Far Gone
Disposable Fix
Feel Nothing
Silverstein from Burlington, Ontario, Canada, hit the stage next. Hitting two decades for a band in the heavier music genre is a massive milestone for bands in our genre and music in general. It can be easy to burn out and give up, but Silverstein has proven that a band can not only succeed but push themselves further and thrive through perseverance, growth, and rebuilding. For those who somehow have never heard Silverstein, they are that perfect blend of metalcore, post-hardcore, pop-punk, and punk rock. They started out as one of the classic emo bands and have constantly expanded upon their sound to keep previous fans impressed and gain a new, innovative following. For their 20th Anniversary Tour, the band went the whole nine yards, preparing three sets in total. They also brought an extensive amount of colorful and vibrant lighting, timed and themed perfectly to their music. The first set Silverstein played was a greatest hits set, performing songs from their whole discography. They opened with one of their newer singles titled “Bankrupt.” This track is an explosive and heavy track with a deep guitar groove courtesy of Josh Bradford and Paul Marc Rousseau. The crowd went bonkers, with crowd surfing and moshing galore. This track showcases vocalist Shane Told’s intense screams and solid clean vocals. He is a powerhouse vocalist and truly showcased that with this song. The band then went into the song “Massachusetts” from their 2013 album “This Is How The Wind Shifts,” which has a lighter sound compared to “Bankrupt.” Those intricate drum patterns from Paul Koehler are a standout in this song for me. The next song the band went into was “Smashed Into Pieces” from their debut album “When The Broken Is Easily Fixed,” which really has that classic emo and post-hardcore vibe the band founded themselves on. Bassist Billy Hamilton was on point with those harmonies and backup screams on this song, and that deep bass grove really helped push it over. The band then went into songs like “Bad Habits,” “It’s Over,” “Infinite,” and “The Afterglow.” The band even did a massive melody of songs, which included “The Artist,” “Sacrifice,” “I Am The Arsonist,” “The Continual Condition,” “My Disaster,” “Vices,” “Je Me Souviens,” and “Broken Stars.” After a short interlude, Shane Told came out to do an acoustic set while a few members joined during a song or two. The acoustic set consisted of “Rescue You,” “Untitled” by Social Distortion, “Red Light Pledge,” and “Where Are You,” all of which once again showcased how diverse and strong Shane Told’s vocals are all these years later. The band came on for their third set just a minute later to play their second album, “Discovering The Waterfront,” in its entirety. Songs like “My Heroine” and “Call It Karma” were standouts on the album for me, so to hear them live, along with the rest of the songs, was absolutely incredible. The band gave us a special treat for their encore to top it all off. As a final song, the band played “Bleeds No More” from their debut album. However, they changed things up, putting Shane Told on bass and having Billy Hamilton absolutely demolish those vocals. He was on fire, and Shane was plunking away at those chunky bass notes. This song finished off their set on such a high note. Silverstein again proves why they are a staple in their cohort, and I cannot wait to see them again in the new year.
SETLIST
Bankrupt
Massachusetts
Smashed Into Pieces
Bad Habits
The Artist/ Sacrifice / I Am The Arsonist / The Continual Condition / My Disaster / Vices / Je Me Souviens / Broken Stars
It’s Over
Infinite
The Afterglow
Replace You
Untitled (Social Distortion Cover)
Red Light Pledge
Where Are You
Your Sword Versus My Dagger
Smile In Your Sleep
The Ides Of March
Fist Wrapped In Blood
Discovering The Waterfront
Defend You
My Heroine
Always And Never
Already Dead
The Hours Back
Call It Karma
ENCORE
24. Bleeds No More
Silverstein really went above and beyond for their 20th-anniversary tour. I am beyond grateful I could see and photograph them again, along with The Plot In You and Can’t Swim. All three bands played amazing sets and made the crowd go NUTS. Give some love to all of these bands and go see them live when they hit cities near you!
We Came As Romans Plant A Seed At A Sold Out Los Angeles Show
Venue: The Regent
Date: 10/20/21
We Came As Romans announced their 10 Year Anniversary Tour for their debut album “To Plant A Seed” in late 2019. Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic, the tour was postponed not once but twice. At last, the band could embark on the long-awaited anniversary tour, a year and a half after it was initially scheduled for. Along with the band came support from The Devil Wears Prada, Dayseeker, and Hollow Front. This stacked lineup brought the heavy, the emotional, and the nostalgia to a sold-out crowd that had awaited this night for a long while.
Up first was Hollow Front Grand Rapids, Michigan. The band is on the border between metalcore and post-hardcore, with some ambient backing tracks that bring in the progressive metal influences. The band opened their set with the opening track from their 2020 release “Loose Threads” titled “Afflicted,” which the band released independently. This song is melodic and comes out the gate, showcasing Tyler Tate’s harsh, growled vocals. The dude truly owns every inch of that stage. The band then went on to the title track from their newest album, “Loose Threads,” which really showcased guitarist and vocalist Dakota Alvarez’s vocal abilities and had a slower vibe to it. Devin Attard, one of the rising drummers in the metal scene, was headbanging and smashing the hell out of the drums in the back. The band then went on to play Vegabond, also from their newest album. This is one of the heavier tracks on the record and goes deep into the downtune with deep bass tones from bassist Brandon Rummler. In total, the band played seven songs and really started the show out perfectly. The crowd was still warming up and coming in, but they definitely got the pit warmed up for the bands to come. I cannot wait to see and photograph the Hollow Front boys again next year!
SETLIST
Afflicted
Loose Threads
Vagabond
Wearing Thin
Don’t Fall Asleep
Left Behind
Treading Water
Up next was the incredible Dayseeker from Orange County, CA. Dayseeker is another band that borders between metalcore and post-hardcore, with a lot of progressive metal influences in their instrumentalization and the ambiance that is felt throughout their music. For their setlist on this tour, the band played songs all from their newest album, “Sleeptalk,” released in 2019 via Spinefarm Records. The interlude “The Embers Glow” played as the band came on stage, leading into their first song, “The Color Black,” one of the heavier songs on that new album. The song showcases vocalist Rory Rodriguez’s vocals in the forefront, with him mixing between cleans and screaming. This new album is very emotional, speaking about alcoholism, loss, eating disorders, and more. Rory really poured his heart into these vocals, and you can tell with how much emotion he has on stage. One thing that is apparent throughout Dayseeker’s music is the intricate chord progression and fluidity, which are courtesy of the band’s guitarist Gino Sgambelluri and bassist Ramone Valerio, who really add a lot of complex parts to the instrumentals. The band then moved on to their second song, that being “Gates of Ivory.” This is another of the heavier songs on the album. Still, it does such a great job as the rest, with a good yin and yang between the heavy and the melodic with those beautiful instrumentals and Rory’s vocals. The third song in the set was “Crooked Soul,” which has some of the heaviest instrumentals of the record, paired with Rory’s more melodic vocals, creating a beautiful pairing in the song. Drummer Zac Mayfield, the drummer for bands Oh, Sleeper, and Noble, filled in for this tour, truly holding down the fort on the drums. But during the fourth song in the set, “Burial Plot,” the band’s drummer Mike Karle swapped in and finished the set with the band. It was fantastic to see him there slaying as always. The band, in total, had seven songs in their set, six if you don’t include the interlude intro. Dayseeker is always a joy to see and photograph. Keep an eye out on them, as they have many more things in their arsenal to come!
SETLIST
The Embers Glow (Interlude/Intro)
The Color Black
Gates Of Ivory
Crooked Soul
Burial Plot
Drunk
Sleeptalk
Up next was the all mighty The Devil Wears Prada from Dayton, Ohio. The Devil Wears Prada has become one of the most consistent bands within the metalcore genre throughout their career, releasing seven full-length albums and two EPs. The band played a career-spanning set for their direct support slot, playing songs from almost all of their releases. They opened up the set with “Nightfall,” the opening track from “ZII,” released in 2021 via Solid State Records. This song is one of the heaviest songs the band has released in years, bringing the band to an elevated version of the heaviness they were known for in their earlier days as a band. Vocalist Mike Hranica is on full display for a majority of the song, with his mid and high range screams piercing through the heaviness. The song has a slowdown section for the cleans, which are provided by guitarist and clean vocalist Jeremy DePoyster. The band then went on to play “Outnumbered” from the “Zombie EP.” This EP stands the test of time as one of the band’s most popular releases with its sheer heaviness. The crowd went nuts, with lots of moshing and crowd surfing. During this song, bassist Mason Nagy had incredible energy, flailing and headbanging to his’ heart’s content. Keyboardist Jonathan Gering really brings a lot to this song, adding the needed synths and backing that amp up the song to new levels. The third song in the band’s set was “Born To Lose” from the album “Dead Throne.” Coming hot off the release of Zombie EP in 2010, this 2011 record saw the band continuing off the momentum they built thus far, combining the sound of their previous works with their new, more mature sound. Born To Lose is one of the highlighted tracks from this album. I was honed in on guitarist Kyle Sipress, who absolutely slayed it on those lead guitar parts, as well as drummer Giuseppe Capolupo, who is an absolute machine on those beats. I was, unfortunately, unable to get any photos of Kyle or Giuseppe, as we photographers were kicked out of the photo pit a song early due to the crowdsurfing. However, I was still able to enjoy the band’s incredible set from the crowd, where they played ten songs in total, ranging from most of their discography. This band always plays a flawless set, and I was thoroughly impressed with what they showcased to us. I cannot wait to see and photograph these guys once again in the new year!
SETLIST
Nightfall
Outnumbered
Born To Lose
Chemical
Lines of Your Hands
Forlorn
Sacrifice
Mammoth
Hey John, What’s Your Name Again?
Danger: Wildman
Finally, We Came As Romans from Troy, Michigan, came to the stage. For the 10th anniversary of “To Plant A Seed,” the band played the album in its entirety. However, they didn’t necessarily play it in order. The band played the entirety of the album but mixed in fan-favorite songs from the band’s discography. Before the band came on stage, they had a beautiful video playing on their LED screens about how impactful this album was on their careers and onto them as individuals. The band opened up with the title track “To Plant A Seed.” The stage exploded with CO2 cannons and an extensive lighting setup brought by the band. Vocalist Dave Stephens came right out the gate screaming those vocals and really controlling the crowd. What was remarkable was seeing the dynamic between Dave and bassist and backup vocalist Andy Glass. This was my first time seeing the band after the passing of the band’s founding clean vocalist Kyle Pavone. I was curious to see how the vocal duties would be split up. Andy took over, doing some of the screaming vocals, while Dave did the clean vocal parts. The band changed keys to fit Dave’s voice, and the new arrangements sounded absolutely incredible. The second song the band played was “Broken Statues.” During this song, I focused on guitarist Joshua Moore, who really holds it down on those lead guitar parts and instrumental melody. I have been a fan of his guitar playing for years, and to finally photograph it live was a dream come true. It was also so cool to see drummer David Puckett absolutely slay those drums. Formerly in the band For Today, David is quite established in the metal scene and has a range in his’ drum playing. Just hearing his’ playing on these songs that inspired me so much as a young kid was amazing. For their third song, the band played “We Are The Reasons.” I focused during this song on rhythm guitarist Lou Cotton, who truly grooved along with the rhythm section and held it down. It was amazing to finally hear songs like “Intensions” and “Roads That Don’t End and Views That Never Cease” played live since I saw them back in 2012 for the first time. It was also incredible to hear the band’s newest song, “Black Hole,” performed live, along with fan-favorite songs like “Hope,” “Tracing Back Roots,” and “Wasted Age,” among others. This is a band that has been a favorite of mine for quite some time. They were one of the first bands I got into in the scene. I remember getting this We Came As Romans gray shirt at Hot Topic back in 2011 and just being in awe. Little did I know that it would start quite the collection of metal shirts to come. We Came As Romans demolished that stage and performed a fantastic nineteen-song set, really planting their seed into The Regent in Los Angeles, California, on this Wednesday night!
SETLIST
To Plant A Seed
Broken Statues
We Are The Reasons
Beliefs
Dreams
To Move On Is To Grow
Wasted Age
Lost In The Moment
Hope
Tracing Back Roots
Black Hole
Intensions
Roads That Don’t End and Views That Never Cease
Searching, Seeking, Reaching, Always
I Will Not Reap Destruction
An Ever-Growing Wonder
ENCORE
17. Promise Me
18. Cold Like War
19. Darkbloom
The “To Plant A Seed 10 Year Anniversary Tour” was a long time coming and something I’ve had on my calendar a total of 4 different times now. I am just so happy that the bands, the management, and the venue worked hard to make it happen. We Came As Romans is an essential band in my personal musical journey, so to see the album that brought them into my life played in its entirety was a dream come true. Shout out to The Devil Wears Prada, Dayseeker, and Hollow Front for truly bringing your A-Game and bringing some incredible music to Los Angeles. Truly one of the best shows I’ve had the honor of covering this year.
As soon as I saw that this tour was announced, I knew that I had to go. The lineup was stacked, and with some of my all-time favorite pop-punk bands were all on this – State Champs, Four Year Strong, Real Friends, Just Friends, and Bearings.
First up was Bearings. The crowd was slowly starting to pour in before they took the stage. I remember the first time I saw them, and I didn’t know who they were. I instantly fell in love with their music because of the lyrics in the songs they played and was upbeat and happy. The type of music that makes you want to jump around and start singing along. I wasn’t expecting to see many crowd surfers during their set, but to my surprise, there was and their frontman, Doug Cousins even jumped off stage to help people coming over the barricade. They played songs off their newest album, “Hello, It’s You,” and some of their older songs from the past. Bearings set the show off with energy to carry on throughout the night.
Following Bearings, Just Friends was up next. It’s been a few years since I had last seen them live on Sad Summer Fest, and I wasn’t sure what to expect from them. It was the strangest yet most hypnotizing band I’ve seen in my years of going to concerts. They danced and swayed to the music and got the crowd hyped during the opening song, “Supersonic.” I’ve never seen a band like them with their energy and stage presence. At one point, most of the band turned around and started shaking their butts to the crowd. Everyone was cheering while Eric Butler slapped the bassists’ butt and taking a phone out, and taking selfies and random pictures of the other band members on stage during “Never Gonna Bring You Down” and “Flex.”
Next, we had one of my favorite bands playing – Four Year Strong. I’ve been listening to them since 2009 and have seen them countless times over the years, and they never disappoint. Starting off with “Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die” the crowd exploded while the lights flashed, and everyone was singing along. The set was a mix of songs from multiple albums, including their newest, “Brain Pain.” released last year. People were slowly coming back over the barricade crowd surfing, but even more, came during the third song they played, “It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong Right Now.” The tempo was upbeat and fast-paced and the whole time. I always lose my voice when I see them live as the music is so much fun to listen to and scream to the top of your lungs.
Real Friends came out next. I was excited to see them live as this was my first time. I have almost every single album from them, and once I heard in 2020 that they parted ways with Dan Lambton, I was sad but excited to see what the future held for them. Cody Murano, formerly of Parting Ways and Youth Fountain, they came back with their newest album, “Torn in Two.” It’s been on repeat since it came out for me, and they played a mix of songs from that album, as well as older classics such as “I Don’t Love You Anymore,” “Late Nights in My Car,” and “Me First.” I was impressed with the sound, the lighting, and the energy they had on stage.
Then, it was time for the headliner – State Champs. Yet another band I’ve seen countless times over the years since I first discovered them. They started off with “Secrets” while cryo and streamers emerged from the stage. The venue was packed with people; everyone was singing along, more people came over the barricade, crowd surfing while the photographers did their best not to get hit or kicked in the process for the three songs. I was singing the whole time as they’re one of my favorite bands, and the energy they show on stage is unmatched. They played older songs such as “Elevated,” “Criminal,” and “Mine Is Gold,” as well as some of the newer songs they’ve released recently like “Just Sound” and their cover of Fall Out Boy’s “Chicago Is So Two Years.” After the last song, the house lights stayed off, meaning that they have encore songs. They came out from behind the stage and ended the night with more pryo and playing “All You Are Is History” and “Dead and Gone.” The whole show was full of energy throughout the entire night, making it one of the favorites I’ve been to in the last 19 months since the pandemic started.
Butcher Babies Slay Their Final Battle Against Goliath at 1720 in Los Angeles, CA
Venue: 1720 in Los Angeles, CA
Date: 10/7/21
When a band hits their 10-year milestone of being together, that is a huge accomplishment that deserves celebration. Unfortunately, that milestone for Butcher Babies came during the global COVID-19 pandemic, where they couldn’t party like the rockstars they are. One year later, the band came back with a vengeance to dominate the country with their first headlining tour in well over two years, where the band would play their debut album “Goliath” in its entirety, along with other songs. In the battle against Goliath were: Infected Rain, Stitched Up Heart, and local support from The Unsung. With this quartet of bands, Butcher Babies led the clan to victory at the final date of the Butcher Babies VS. Goliath Tour!
Up first was The Unsung from San Diego, CA. This quartet is the perfect example of progressive metalcore. One thing I always note whenever I see The Unsung live is just how tight these guys are. Like bands like Periphery, Veil of Maya, and many more in the genre, the vocals are a great mixture of cleans and screaming, courtesy of Tyler Sinclair. However, what sets them apart is that their music tends to have more cleans than screaming, which helps them reach a wider audience. Guitarist Devin Castro is an absolute beast, creating melodic hooks, leads, and solos that shred the hell out of the crowd. Drummer Garret Brown is a beast, playing many different styles and rhythmic patterns throughout the band’s music, sometimes changing time signature and tempos mid-song, which is common within the progressive metal genre. Closing out the band’s lineup is Thomas Sumstine on bass, who absolutely SLAYS adding in those deep grooves and tones that are pretty much essential to the music The Unsung releases. The band played a total of 7 songs, bringing out songs from their first EP, “Rise,” for the first time in a while, along with songs from their sophomore EP “Sin Cera” and new singles “Manic” and “Awake.” The band also brought their iconic light show with them, which adds that extra edge and atmosphere that helps set the tone. It was an epic start to the show, and I am so happy to have seen them again! The last time was around Christmas time in 2019, so it had been almost 2 years without hangs and without seeing this epic band live.
SETLIST
Manic
Herald
Awake
Rise
Lacuna
Chosen
Desolation
Up next was Stitched Up Heart from Los Angeles, CA. I last saw and photographed Stitched Up Heart back in 2019, so I was excited to see and photograph them again and do so at an actual venue, this time and not at a bar. I’d best describe Stitched Up Heart’s sound as a combination between gothic metal, hard rock, and alternative metal. Touring alongside bands across the hard rock and metal genres, they have a sound that is quite versatile and diverse. The band started their set with the song “This Skin” from their 2020 album “Darkness,” released via Century Media Records. This song has a light electronic backing in parts and the downtuned guitar and bass tones, making the song a bit more light sounding than a lot of their other music. You could hear vocalist Mixi’s singing on full display out of the gate, showing a newfound strength and force behind her vocals that I didn’t hear at the last show. The second song, “Warrior,” also came from their newest album and is more of a stadium rock-style track. Those bass tones courtesy of Randy Mathias are on full display in this song, along with the crushing beats from drummer James Decker. The band then went on to their third song, “Catch Me When I Fall,” from their 2016 album “Finally Free.” Overall, this album has a darker vibe, and the guitar tones are much more gritty and dark, and guitarist Merritt Goodwin delivers on this tenfold. The band played a total of seven songs throughout their thirty-minute set, completely blowing my expectations out of the water. As it was the last day of the tour, there happened to be the last day of tour pranks. The other bands ran on stage during the band’s final song, “Monster,” and started randomly taking apart Decker’s drum kit mid-song. It was pretty funny, to say the least, and it made me wonder what pranks would come going forward. Stitched Up Heart as a whole seems to have stepped things up since the lockdown, really fine-tuning things and coming back tighter than ever.
SETLIST
This Skin
Warrior
Catch Me When I Fall
Finally Free
Lost
My Demon
Monster
Up next as direct support was Infected Rain from Chisinau, Moldova. I got into Infected Rain’s music shortly after 2019’s “Endorphin” was unleashed to the world via Napalm Records. This was the band’s first US tour, as their 2020 tour with Swallow The Sun was cancelled due to the pandemic. The band’s sound is the perfect combination of metalcore, melodic death metal, and progressive metal. The band started their set with the song “Pendulum” from that 2019 album I just mentioned. This song is the perfect showcasing of vocalist Lena Scissorhands’ vocal prowess, showing a good amount of her harsh fry screaming, along with lots of her cleans, making for probably their most dynamic song on “Endorphin.” A core part of the band’s sound is downtuned guitars with djenty riffs, courtesy of Vadim “Vidick” Ojog and Serghei Babici. The band then went on to their second song, “Mold,” from their 2017 record “86”, which the band released independently. A big part of progressive metal is the deep, intricate bass tones provided by Vladimir Babich. The band is tight as all hell, and the foundation of any tight band is the drummer, whose part is essential in terms of tempo and keeping on the beat. Drummer Eugene Voluta is an absolute beast on stage, demolishing those double bass parts and obliterating the stage. The band moved onto their third song, “Black Gold,” one of the singles from that 2019 record “Endorphin.” In my honest opinion, Infected Rain blew me away with their control of the stage and just how tight they were. I was very much looking forward to their set, and they did not disappoint. Just like with Stitched Up Heart, Infected Rain found themselves in the midst of the end of tour pranks. During the final song, “Sweet, Sweet Lies,” of the band’s ten-song set, members from Butcher Babies and Stitched Up Heart came on stage and unleashed a pillow fight onto the members of Infected Rain. It was an all-out pillow fight to the death, and I couldn’t help but hysterically laugh. Infected Rain was absolutely incredible and set a very high bar for the whole night.
SETLIST
Pendulum
Mold
Black Gold
Passerby
Freaky Carnival
Endless Stairs
Fool the Gravity
Orphan Soul
The Earth Mantra
Sweet, Sweet Lies
Finally, Butcher Babies come home to Los Angeles, CA, and hit the stage! For the band’s tenth anniversary tour, they decided to play eight of the twelve songs from their debut 2013 album “Goliath,” released via Century Media Records. I would best describe the band’s sound as a perfect blend between metalcore, death metal, thrash metal, and progressive metal. The band came prepared for this tour, with a light show and headbangs galore. Opening the show with “I Smell A Massacre,” the stage lit up bright red, showcasing the brutality and grittiness these songs from “Goliath” have. This first song is a fast one and showcases the vocal stylings of Heidi Shephard and Carla Harvey. Carla has a deeper guttural sound, while Heidi has the high screams on point. They both have a mixture of clean singing and screaming in their registers during this opening song, really showcasing a large amount of variety within this heavy song. Their second song, “The Mirror Never Lies,” opens up with this groovy guitar hook that can be heard throughout the song, courtesy of guitarist Henry Flury. This song is just groove central, even showcasing the bass in the forefront in sections. It’s moments like this where each member really shines, and you really feel all of the puzzle pieces individually come together. I love me a groovy djent song, and those bass tones from Ricky Bonazza are really showcased deep in the roots of this groove-heavy song. The band then moved on to their third song, the popular single from 2015’s “Take It Like A Man” titled “Monsters Ball.” This song is super thrashy, groovy, and heavy. You can really hear the intricate drum parts from drummer Chase Brickenden as he slams those drums to his’ heart’s content. “Monsters Ball” was the song that got me into the band in the first place, so to photograph them during this song was AMAZING. The band played many other songs from Goliath, my personal favorite being “In Denial.” This song has a classic metalcore vibe and is more on the tame side while also being heavy. It has the perfect yin and yang. The band also played quite a few of their new singles, such as “Bottom of a Bottle,” “It’s Killin’ Time, Baby!”, “Sleeping With the Enemy,” and “Yorktown.” They even played a game of Red Light, Green Light with the crowd, paying homage to the viral Netflix sensation “Squid Games.” Their set was absolutely incredible, and they seem to have somehow leveled up since the last time I saw them back in 2018. They absolutely killed it and proved why they are still so beloved 11 years after their debut in the scene. They definitely defeated Goliath in Los Angeles.
SETLIST
I Smell a Massacre
The Mirror Never Lies
Monsters Ball
It’s Killin’ Time, Baby!
C8H18 (Gasoline)
Grim Sleeper
In Denial
Bottom of a Bottle
The Deathsurround
Axe Wound
Sleeping With The Enemy
Yorktown
ENCORE
13. They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! (Napoleon XIV cover)
14. Magnolia Blvd.
Butcher Babies put on an excellent tour for their comeback. This tour commemorating their 10 years of being a band was stacked to the brim with a fantastic lineup consisting of Infected Rain, Stitched Up Heart, and local support from The Unsung. This was a fantastic show and will easily be one of my favorites of the year!
The Black Dahlia Murder Returns To California With A Bang Selling Out The Belasco
Date: September 18th, 2021
Venue: The Belasco in Los Angeles, CA
The Black Dahlia Murder is a band I constantly see live whenever they come through Southern California. As one of the staples of the melodic death metal genre, they are continually one-upping themselves with each record, staying true to who they are musically but constantly grinding like the madmen they are. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, a lot of their touring surrounding their newest album, “Verminous,” was put on hold, and in such, this is their first tour back after all of the chaos. Unsurprisingly, the tour sold out like crazy, with over two-thirds of the dates being completely sold out, with the others close to selling out as well. Not only did The Black Dahlia Murder play quite a stacked setlist, but they brought along a beastly lineup of bands. The supporting lineup consisted of After The Burial, Carnifex, Rivers of Nihil, and Undeath. With a lineup this stacked, it was no wonder why the Los Angeles date was the first on the tour to sell out.
Undeath from Rochester, New York, was the first up to the stage. Coining themselves as “skull-crushing death metal,” it is no wonder why this is the perfect term to describe these guys. Their music is HEAVY. I had to bold that word because it needed emphasis. With a gritty barebones sound similar to staple bands of the death metal genre like Dying Fetus, Nile, Cannibal Corpse, and more, this brutal death metal style set them apart from the rest of the bands on this lineup. Their vocalist Alexander Jones did a great job of crowd management. He owned that whole stage with his’ distinct vocals that you can tell have a slight black metal influence. Bassist Tommy Wall spanked that bass to give it those deep thick tones pumping through and prominent throughout Undeath’s sound. Guitarists Jared Welch and Kyle Beam add the riffage, really adding that gritty sound that pays homage to the death metal greats that came before them. The final member that closes out the band’s lineup is their drummer Matt Browning, who plays those stank beats with precision. When listening to the band’s album and witnessing their live set, I also feel a slight thrash vibe in their music, prominent throughout the brutal death metal genre. That gritty edge was showcased on their debut album “Lesions of a Different Kind,” released in 2020 via Prosthetic Records. They played 3 songs from this release, 1 song from their 2019 independent EP “Sentient Autolysis,” and one unreleased song that I, unfortunately, do not know the name of. Overall, these guys were a great way to start out the show and really set the stage for those to come with their high energy and brutal riffs.
SETLIST
Enhancing the Dead
(Unknown)
Acidic Twilight Visions
Chained to a Reeking Rotted Body
Lesions of a Different Kind
The next band up was the ever so talented Rivers of Nihil from Reading, Pennsylvania. I first saw Rivers of Nihil back in 2018 when they opened for Thy Art Is Murder and Dying Fetus, and I already thought they were great then. But boy have they risen in my ranks since then. Initially, the band’s style was very much in line with the rest of those in the technical death metal genre: fast-paced, heavy, and riffy. However, as the band found their groove and started experimenting, they started moving more into the realm of progressive metal, mixing in clean vocals, and creating a cinematic style within their music. With their new record, The Work, just weeks away from debuting to the world, we as the audience were lucky to hear two of the new songs live, those being “Clean” and “Focus.” Within the new songs, you can really hear the power of vocalist Jake Dieffenbach and bassist/clean vocalist Adam Biggs’ voices. The new songs, along with the songs from their 2018 release “Where The Owls Know My Name,” have a lot of dynamics. But it seems that Jake and Adam have a good number of trade-offs in terms of vocals with The Work. They were the only band at the show to have clean vocals, and the change really felt needed as their set was well-rounded, and I couldn’t hold back a smile underneath my mask. Drummer Jared Klein is an absolute beast behind the kit, and my eyes always go to him because some of the technical parts he plays blow me away. Guitarists Brody Uttley and Jon Topore help create the atmosphere with their melodic instrumentals, paired with Uttley’s lead guitar solos and hooks. Honestly, Rivers of Nihil continue to get better and better every time I see them, and they constantly blow away any expectations I had prior. I cannot wait to see where this band goes with the release of “The Work,” which came out in 2021 via Metal Blade Records. You MUST all check out this band and see live if you have not yet done so.
SETLIST
The Silent Life
Focus
Clean
Sand Baptism
Where The Owls Know My Name
The third band up to the stage was Carnifex from San Diego, CA. Carnifex has been one of the leading deathcore bands for quite some time, being one of the genre’s founders. Coming hot off the release of their newest album, “Graveside Confessions,” out now via Nuclear Blast Records, I was stoked to hear how the new songs would sound live. The lead singles from the record “Pray For Peace” and the title track “Graveyard Confessions” sounded epic and translated very well live. The band started their set with the title track from their 2019 record, “World War X,” and also played some of the band’s most famous songs, “Slit Wrist Savior” and “Lie To My Face,” which the band re-recorded for the new album “Graveside Confessions.” The band closed out the set with the title track from their 2010 album “Hell Chose Me,” which got the crowd wild. From the start of the set to the end, I was stoked.
As usual, the band had their large lit-up pentagrams, but they also had a bright lighting setup on stage with many strobing lights that were very well lit and timed. Vocalist Scott Ian Lewis is an absolute beast on stage, genuinely taking every inch in and captivating the crowd. Carnifex was one of the first death metal bands I got into, which came with their 2016 album “Slow Death.” What drew me straight in was the symphonic backing, along with Scott’s vocals. Something evident in Carnifex’s music is just how intricate and technical their drumming parts are, and that is all courtesy of the ever so talented Shawn Cameron on drums. This dude is an absolute beast and truly has me in awe when I hear how fast some of his parts are. A significant change from the last time I saw Carnifex to now is the band going from having two guitarists down to one. Still, guitarist Cory Arford did not disappoint in the slightest. He absolutely killed it on those leads and shredded it on that stage. Closing out the band’s lineup is Fred Calderon, who provides the headbangs and the deep tones from his bass. Bass, in my opinion, is the most underrated instrument when it comes to bands. To me, the bass is one of the most essential, as it adds some of the deeper undertones that can really bring the music to the next level, and Fred does that very well. All in all, Carnifex is an absolutely insane band to see live and is very consistent when it comes to theatrics and musicianship.
SETLIST
World War X
Pray For Peace
Slit Wrist Savior
Graveside Confessions
Lie To My Face
Hell Chose Me
Up next as direct support was the ever so talented band After The Burial from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Unfortunately, vocalist Anthony Notarmaso became sick on tour and lost his voice. The band continued on and played instrumentally, which the crowd went WILD for. After the Burial is a very technical band instrumentally. Thanks to their odd time signatures, guitar tones, and fast pacing, the band is well known in the progressive metal genre, constantly teetering between metalcore and deathcore territory. Having the instrumentals showcased in the forefront was an absolutely incredible sight and audible experience. Guitarist Trent Hafdahl was on full display. His leads and backing vocal parts were at the forefront of the band’s performance. They had beautifully timed and strobed lighting that added to the overall experience and performance. The crowd went wild when the band started the set with the fan-favorite song “Lost In The Static.” During the next song, “In Flux,” I couldn’t help but really tune in to bass player Adrian Oropeza. Adrian is really vibing on stage, with his headbanging and downtuned bass tones really adding the grit and djenty sound that the band is known for. Dan Carle closes out the band’s rhythm section, and he is by far one of the most on-point and technical drummers in the progressive metal scene, not missing a beat. I especially noticed it during the third song in the set, “Collapse.” After I left the photo pit, I got to see just how nuts the crowd was going. With a moshpit about twice the size as it was prior, they were absolutely mesmerized by the technicality and prowess the band showcased. During the lead single “Behold The Crown,” from the band’s 2019 album “Evergreen,” released via Sumerian Records, I especially saw this energy from the crowd with one of the fastest and most violent circle pits of the night. The band played two more songs before closing out their incredible set, those songs being “Exist, Exist,” and “A Wolf Among Ravens.” I am incredibly proud of these guys for trooping on through their vocalist being sick. Them playing instrumentally was incredible and wowed the whole audience in attendance.
SETLIST
Lost In The Static
In Flux
Collapse
Behold The Crown
Exist, Exist
A Wolf Among Ravens
The Black Dahlia Murder hailing from Waterford, Michigan, finally hit the stage next. To say they obliterated the stage with their talent would be an understatement. Being a band with 20 years and nine albums under their belt, they had a lot of songs to choose from for their set. I think they created a setlist that was both dynamic and crowd-pleasing. The band opened up the show with “I Will Return” from the 2009 album “Deflorate,” released via Metal Blade Records, which is the record label the band has been with thus far throughout their career. This is typically the band’s closing track when they headline, so it was cool to hear it at the beginning of the set. One thing that cannot be ignored when seeing The Black Dahlia Murder live is vocalist Trevor Strnad’s vocal prowess and control over the crowd. His vocal tone and stage presence combined have made him a figurehead within the death metal community. With crowd surfers galore and tons of moshing in the pit, the band quickly moved on to the title track “Verminous” from their newest album from 2020 that reached number 99 on the billboard 200. Strnad stated himself that the addition of guitarist Brandon Ellis was really showcased on this record. While Ellis was also a part of their 2017 record “Nightbringers,” his style and musicianship really took the helm for the new record. Bassist Max Lavelle provided lots of headbanging, windmills, and deep grooving bass tones that really mesh beautifully with the band’s sound. The band then went into their third song, “Nightbringers,” and I really noticed just how on-point drummer Alan Cassidy was during this song and throughout the whole set. The Black Dahlia Murder songs are incredibly technical, fast, and complex, and Cassidy did not miss a single beat. Guitarist and founding member Brian Eschbach absolutely shreds those rhythm guitar parts with ease. As I’ve stated, the band’s songs are challenging. But someone like Eschbach has been performing them with ease for over two decades at this point, and you can tell he is genuinely enjoying himself on stage with him smiling and exuding lots of positive energy. The band went on to play a career-spanning set, with songs from seven of their nine records. I always get excited when they play “What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse” from their 2007 album “Nocturnal,” as it reminds me of when I first discovered the band myself when I found that song on Rock Band. Fun fact, that song is still the most challenging song on Rock Band for drums. The Black Dahlia Murder once again blew me away, with their colorful green and red lighting to their technical musicianship that got the rest of the crowd and me going wild. They are always on point and are a band that must be witnessed to fully appreciate how great of a band they truly are.
SETLIST
I Will Return
Verminous
Nightbringers
Unhallowed
Funeral Thirst
Sunless Empire
Nocturnal
Statutory Ape
Removal of the Oaken Stake
Contagion
Everything Went Black
On Stirring Seas of Salted Blood
Child of Night
Kings of the Nightworld
What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse
Warborn
As Good As Dead
Deathmask Divine
Miasma
This tour was beyond incredible. After a year and a half away from shows, to have this monster of a tour with these fantastic bands be one of my first shows back; was beyond incredible. Thank you to all of the amazing bands, crew, and venue staff for making sure this show and tour ran so smoothly. This will probably go down as one of the best tours of 2021.
Atreyu Closes Out Their 20th Anniversary Celebration In Ventura
Venue: The Majestic Ventura Theater in Ventura, CA on 11/20/19
When a band hits a milestone in their career, it’s a big deal. From hitting 1 year as a band, to selling out a show, each of these milestones for bands has sentimental value in their growth. Atreyu hit twenty years of being a band, which is huge considering the many bands in their cohort of metal that have come and gone since they started. While it seemed the band would be done after 2010, the band came back in 2014 stronger than ever, continuing with the momentum they had before and then some! With seven albums under their belt, the band let the fans vote on their setlist, which showcased songs from each record. Atreyu brought along with them an interesting mix of bands. With Whitechapel as direct support bringing the deathcore, He Is Legend bringing their southern influenced Mathcore, Tempting Fate bringing the post hardcore, and Santa Cruz throwing it back with some glam rock to the table, this tour was a blend of bands that were different from one another and kept the show truly interesting. Those of us in attendance at this final date of the tour has a wonderful time!
First up was Santa Cruz from Helsinki, Finland. Opening the show up, the band brought out a flare completely different than any other band on the lineup. Their sound is a mixture of glam metal, heavy metal, hard rock, and has some elements of post hardcore mixed in. As the oddballs on the tour, they really hyped the crowd up with energy, especially frontman and founding member Archie Cruz, who shredded to his’ hearts content center stage and captivated the audience with his vocal abilities reminiscent of hair metal from the 80s. The band’s touring guitarist Joe Perez was on point, shredding both the rhythm and lead parts when he and Archie switched off, with incredible stage presence and lots of hairflipping action. On stage left, you’ll find the band’s bassist Eemi Lamberg, who played his basslines with precision and class, while also giving lots of windmills and high energy. Closing out the band’s lineup is drummer Tuomas Lehtonen, who did backup vocals along with his fast and intense drum playing. Throughout the band’s six-song set, you could feel the energy thriving on the stage. I wasn’t able to meet the band, as they took their merch away shortly after they played, but they slayed their set and executed their performance brilliantly. It was a great way to start out the show!
SETLIST
Changing Of Seasons
Bang Bang (My Worst Enemy)
True Believer
We Are The Ones To Fall
Wasted & Wounded
Aiming High
Up next was Tempting Fate from Los Angeles, CA. This band sits on the borderline of post-hardcore and metalcore, while also blending in some nu metal influences, shown especially in their song “Sik”. As an independent band, they have released two EPs and one full length record, which they incorporated songs from each release into their eight-song set. The band has an interesting dynamic, with brothers Cory Beecher on vocals and Shane Beecher on guitar. Drummer Alex Rivas played the heavy blast beat sections with ease and had a lot of energy behind the kit. Eemi Lamberg from Santa Cruz filled in on bass, providing a lot of energy and bass lines to the band’s set. It was cool for me to see the variety in the band’s sound, with songs like “Filthy” showing their heavier side, and other songs like “A Place Called Home” showing off the band’s hard rock side. I was thoroughly impressed by their set. Tempting Fate is definitely a band to keep your eyes on!
SETLIST
Filthy
Questions
Eminence
99
Falling To Pieces
I’d Rather Burn
A Place Called Home
Sik
Next to the stage was the all mighty He Is Legend from Wilmington, North Carolina. Starting out as a metalcore band, the band’s sound has progressed throughout the years, becoming more of a fusion between a plethora of sub-genres, most notably being a mixture of hard rock, alternative metal, stoner rock, psychedelic rock, sludge metal, and southern rock. Watching their set and listening to their music takes listeners on a journey, as songs can sometimes mix several of these influences together, creating an album where each song is dynamic and impressive. Vocalist Schuylar Croom is an entertaining person to watch on stage, grooving along with the music as if he is entranced in it. Lead guitarist Adam Tanbouz and rhythm guitarist Andrew Gaultier played their parts with ease and headbanging to their hearts content. Bassist Matty Williams strummed in those deep basslines that hit the spot in the band’s music, while providing tons of hairflips and energy. Jesse Shelley on drums is the final piece to the band’s lineup, holding down the fort and keeping the band on track while playing the drums with precision, even through the many random tempo changes. The band has a total of six albums, four of which they played songs from in their seven-song setlist. Overall, I was blown away by their set and cannot wait to see He Is Legend again in the future.
SETLIST
White Bat
Burn All Your Rock Records
The Seduction
The Widow of Magnolia
Attack of the Dungeon Witch
Everyone I Know Has Fangs
Boogiewoman
Whitechapel from Knoxville, Tennessee was up next as direct support. Whenever I prepare for a Whitechapel set, I know what to expect: lots of energy, lots of strobing lighting, and those groovy heavy tones that match perfectly with vocalist Phil Bozeman’s deep guttural vocals. Since they released their album “The Valley” earlier in the year, which was released via Metal Blade Records, the band played six-songs from the album, along with three other fan favorite songs, adding up to a nine-song set. Whitechapel has interesting dynamics in their band, with three guitarists: Ben Savage, Alex Wade, and Zach Householder. While Ben technically does a majority of the leads, each guitarist shines during the set, truly adding to the band’s groove metal infused deathcore. Vocalist Phil Boseman really stepped out of the box on the new record, showing off more of his’ vocal abilities in terms of clean vocals, shown in songs “When A Demon Defiles A Witch” and “Hickory Creek”, both of which they played on this tour. I’m also very amused whenever I see Gabe Crisp on stage, as the dude has a really intense presence on that stage, truly jamming out and grooving along while playing those piercing bass tones. The band’s live drummer Alex Rüdinger closes out the current Whitechapel lineup, and he does not disappoint, nailing all of the bands intricate drum patterns. One funny part of the set that stuck out to me was when Phil Boseman said, “We just wrote this next song this morning, so I hope you enjoy it”, and then going on to play the band’s most recognizable song “This Is Exile”. I always love seeing Whitechapel live because they truly have an amazing arsenal of music and it’s cool to see what songs they’re going to pull out of the vault for their sets. Whitechapel never disappoints in concert, and I am looking forward to seeing them again when they come out to Southern California next!
SETLIST
Forgiveness Is Weakness
Brimstone
Black Bear
Third Depth
When A Demon Defiles A Witch
This Is Exile
Hickory Creek
Our Endless War
The Saw Is The Law
Atreyu from Yorba Linda, California was up next to celebrate being together as a band for 20 years. The band’s setlist was voted on by the fans, adding up to a setlist with 20-songs spanning their entire discography, except songs from 2015’s “Long Live”. For the anniversary tour, the band brought an elaborate light show that lit up the whole venue, which made the 1200 capacity venue feel like a stadium show. The band’s lead vocalist Alex Varkatzas was filled with energy, truly utilizing every inch of that stage and engaging fans from every part of the crowd. One thing Atreyu never strays from is their guitar solos, and co-lead guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel truly showcased their abilities throughout the set. Brandon Staller is the member that truly sets Atreyu apart from many other bands, as he plays the technical drum parts while providing the clean vocals for the band. Bassist Marc McKnight is truly a hype man on stage, playing his bass lines while engaging the audience members and headbanging with his epic beard waving around. Since the fans voted on the setlist, it consisted of mainly songs from the band’s earlier albums “The Curse” and “A Death-Grip On Yesterday”, but I was glad to see that fans at least voted on some songs from the band’s later albums. I am truly lucky and happy that I was able to see Atreyu two times in a span of five months. They’re a very entertaining band to see and photograph. I cannot wait to see them again when they come back out here!
SETLIST
The Time Is Now
Right Side of the Bed
Ain’t Love Grand
Doomsday
My Fork in the Road (Your Knife in My Back)
Ex’s and Oh’s
Our Sick Story (Thus Far)
The Theft
Bleeding Mascara
Demonology and Heartache
The Crimson
Her Portrait in Black
Bleeding Is a Luxury
House of Gold
Becoming the Bull
Falling Down
Blow
Five Vicodin Chased With a Shot of Clarity
Untitled Finale
Lip Gloss and Black
Atreyu has been dominating the rock and metal scenes for two decades and truly went all in on their anniversary tour. Whitechapel, He Is Legend, Tempting Fate, and Santa Cruz all brought it and meshed with Atreyu beautifully to create a wonderful night of music and a beautiful end to this tour! Make sure to check out all of these bands and see them on tour at a city near you!
The Camera Affect 