Kickstarting the night were Nevertel, a multi-fusion act that blend metalcore and EDM influences, creating a sound that is like a mixture of Linkin Park, Bring Me The Horizon, and Issues filled with melodic verses, hip-hop influences choruses, and EDM/metalcore breakdowns. With obvious charismatic and upbeat energy to their set, Nevertel feeds off of each other, curating an entertaining and engaging performance. Being the opening slot on a massive tour like this can sometime prove difficult, but Nevertel navigate it with ease.
One of the hottest rising acts in metalcore right now, Boundaries followed up with a ferocity and intensity like none other, demonstrating in real time that they’re the future of the genre and for good reason. Coming off the back of their latest record, Death is Little More, and a headlining tour supporting it, Boundaries are now embarking on, what I’m assuming to be their biggest tour so far, opening up for modern metalcore staples Beartooth. I was able to catch Boundaries on said last tour and was taken by complete surprise at just how good they are live along with how wild and crazy the crowd reception was for their set consisting on front-flips, stage dives, a non-stop pit, and the energy you would find at a hardcore show, not necessarily a current metalcore show. Boundaries are on a mission to prove how they’re the future face of the genre through their dark, intense, and haunting sound that walks the tightrope of technical and heavy alongside intense melodies and choruses.
Currents are another (somewhat) newer band that are also pushing the standard for modern metalcore whereas most bands diminish in size with each release, Currents are finding themselves continually growing with each release and tour. Striking a balance between technical musicianship, melodies, and heavier chugs and breakdowns, Currents find themselves getting closer and closer to that perfect middle ground of musical ease of access and high-level technique. While still trying to find that happy space, Currents are currently at a good place between simplicity leaning on chugs and simple breakdowns and masterful instrumental moments, sprinkling a good amount of both across their latest tracks. Overall, Currents appease multiple listeners packed in a fairly captivating performance and style package.
It feels like yesterday (because it basically was) that I was catching Beartooth on their last sold-out winter North American tour after not having seen them since they were touring off the first record. Now I’m lucky enough to catch them a second time at the Horseshoe in Hammond. The last time I attended a show at the Hammond Horseshoe was last summer for Gojira/Mastodon (which was one of the best shows for me last year, to no surprise), so to be catching Beartooth with their massive festival/European tour production level was something I couldn’t miss.
I said this last time, but it’s still crazy to me just how massive Beartooth have gotten as I remember them playing at the 11:00 a.m. time slot on the smallest stage at Warped Tour and doing house show tours across the Midwest. Now they’re selling out entire North American tours, headlining massive festivals, and playing the biggest venues, such as the Hammond Horseshoe, which holds 3,000-plus people. Not only this, but it also sunk in more as I was at a party the other weekend seeing multiple people in Beartooth shirts and talking to some old high school friends who have just started getting into the genre noting Beartooth as one of their favorites and reasons for digging more into this style of music, putting the Toof’s growth and impact into a more grounded perspective.
A Beartooth show is always a memorable one, and tonight was no different. Ripping through a well-balanced setlist of Toof classics and new tracks, Beartooth were full pedal to the metal from start to finish, putting on a raw, in-your-face, electrifying performance. Engaging and contagious, Caleb Shomo and the rest of the Toof crew know how to work the room creating a nonstop whirlwind of chaos while matching their energy on stage further fueling the flames (literally) within the Hammond Horseshoe.
Only 30 minutes from the city, for many fans, that night it served as a part two to their Chicago date back in the winter or for many the chance to get tickets since their winter tour sold out so fast. Attending a show at the Hammond Horseshoe, like the Gary Hard Rock, is such a unique experience by itself and can be a cool change of pace for showgoers. Where else can you watch your favorite band and then walk downstairs to (hopefully) win big on the casino floor? Not to mention the free, on-site parking (you can’t get that in the city).
More importantly, when tours come through these huge casino venues, they bring with them their larger than life production, giving fans the chance to see Beartooth performing at their biggest and best as if they were at a massive fest, but all in the comfort and (somewhat) intimacy of a venue. Having caught part one of this tour in the winter, I do wish the setlist would have been switched up more to highlight tracks they haven’t played in a while, change up the order, etc. Regardless, the vibes were on point the entire night. Every note, riff, and breakdown hit hard, while Caleb manned the helm commanding a presence like none other showcasing why Beartooth are at the top of their game with the sky being the limit.
Beartooth
Currents
Boundaries
Nevertel
