All photos by Kyle Dehn and Julius Aguilar
You know when you go to a show so heavy you need at least three days to recover? Well, that’s exactly what happened when we went to Architects’ Holy Hell Tour with Thy Art Is Murder and While She Sleeps.
What started as a regular evening walking into the venue quickly turned upside down once While She Sleeps hit the stage – and we mean HIT. THE. STAGE. – and ripped into their pit-inducing “You Are We.” With vocalist Lawrence Taylor setting up shop in the crowd as he head-walked and stage dove repeatedly onto unsuspecting showgoers, we knew right away this night was going to be one to remember.
As everyone wiped the sweat from the foreheads after being whipped into shape by the rowdy English act, it was now time for Aussie outfit Thy Art Is Murder to lay down the deathcore hammer and completely demolish everyone in attendance. Opening up with bruisers such as “Holy War,” “Dear Desolation” and “Reign of Darkness,” frontman CJ McMahon and company had those at the gig on high alert as they begged not to be slaughtered by the band’s ear-shattering and life-threatening breakdowns.
Moving on to the headliners of the night, for those who were able to survive the bloodthirsty first two acts, fans were treated to nearly 80 unrelenting minutes from the one and only Architects. Crushing 16 songs new and old, the Epitaph act were on fire from the beginning absolutely smashing any and all expectations of the performance. Ending with the heartwrenching “Doomsday,” Sam Carter, Dan Searle and the rest of the band left the crowd in utter shambles as they walked off the stage.
Now if you’re thinking to yourself, “C’mon, there’s no way the entire show was that heavy,” we have proof from two photographers who were able to withstand the sheer brutality that was put forth from the stage that night. To check out photos from Noise contributors Kyle Dehn and Julius Aguilar be sure to look below. Afterward, make sure to grab tickets to the remaining North American Holy Hell tour dates here.
