All Photos By Rocky Kessenger/@through_the_metal_lens
Band Photo Credit: Cameron Nunez
What do you get when you mix bands from some of the best genres in metal hailing from Texas, New Jersey, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Florida, all together on one stage for a fall night in Charlotte, NC? You get what's fittingly titled "The Nothing That Is" Tour. A brutal lineup with each band ready to bring their unique take on metal straight to the heart of the crowd. This show had it all, from crossover thrash to melodic death metal even and unrestrained deathcore energy, each set pushing the limits of intensity and crowd chaos in its own way. Buckle up, because here's the breakdown of a night that will be hard to forget.
JUDICIARY
Launching into the night with unfiltered intensity, JUDICIARY, the hardcore/crossover thrash powerhouse from Lubbock, Texas, brought their brand of brutal, Texas-sized fury to the stage. Opening with "Blood" from their latest album, Flesh, they wasted no time setting the Underground ablaze. Following up with "Pure Fury" and "Paradigm Piercer", their sound reminded the crowd why everything out of Texas just hits a little harder no frills, no compromise, just unrelenting riffs and a visceral onslaught of sound.
Midway through the set, frontman Jake took a moment to size up the crowd, asking if anyone had seen them before. Seeing only a few hands, he promised he'd make sure everyone would remember them, vowing to "destroy them with pure fury". That declaration was the spark for "Social Crusade", a track that saw the pit explode into motion, bodies clashing as waves of energy pulsed from the stage. Each crushing breakdown seemed to fuel the chaos in the pit as JUDICIARY commanded the crowd with raw power.
They wrapped up with "The Axis of Equality", delivering a final punch that left the audience breathless, fully primed for the mayhem to come. JUDICIARY proved that hardcore's heartbeat is still strong, and their Texas-bred grit is something fans won't soon forget.
Final Review: 4 out of 5 Horns - great show and stage presence that brought new fans to band
SYLOSIS
When SYLOSIS hit the stage, it was clear that this wasn't just another gig-this was Josh Middleton's craft at its finest. Hailing from Reading, Berkshire, England, this thrash/melodic death metal outfit is as much a reflection of Middleton's genius as it is a testament to their UK metal roots. As a fan who discovered SYLOSIS back in 2013, shortly after Monolith dropped, I'd been waiting 11 long years to see them live. With A Sign of Things to Come released just over a year ago, it's been one of my most-played albums, so my expectations for this performance were as high as they could be.
They opened with "Poison For The Lost" and "Pariahs", two tracks off the latest album that hit every bit as hard live as they do recorded. I couldn't help but sing along with Josh during "Poison For The Lost"'s chorus while snapping photos, a "fanboy" move as one of my fellow photographers teased after their set. But how could I resist? Middleton's control over both the crowd and his own craft was mesmerizing, as he quickly reminded everyone of why they'd come out: "for the old circle pits". With that, the mosh pit took on a life of its own as SYLOSIS unleashed "Cycle of Suffering", feeding the frenzy with every blistering riff.
They dipped back into their earlier catalog with "Teras" and the hauntingly melodic "Worship Decay", capturing the essence of what drew me and countless others to SYLOSIS in the first place. By the time they reached the final song, Middleton had the crowd hyped, fists raised in anticipation, before tearing into "Deadwood". It was a powerful, closing anthem that had the whole venue moving.
Was the show everything a die-hard like me hoped for? Pretty close. Although the lighting setup could've highlighted the band's intensity a bit more, and I'd have loved to hear "Servitude" to really hook new fans, this performance was close to perfection.
Final Review: Solid 4.5 out of 5 Horns - Now, we just need a headlining tour because I'm ready for a full set and that interview with Josh!
DISTANT
DISTANT, hailing from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, is an embodiment of energy, intensity, and sheer brutality in the realm of deathcore. Although I've only recently gotten into them, this band has been creating a name I couldn't ignore, especially with their latest album, Heritage. The hype around the track "Argent Justice", featuring a "who's who" of deathcore guest appearances, had me wondering-could they bring that jaw-dropping deathcore sound to the live stage?
They opened with a slow, anime-inspired intro that felt almost theatrical before launching into "Loveless Suffering", diving headfirst into a night of Dutch deathcore devastation. From the first drop, it was clear that DISTANT's live energy was relentless. Frontman Alan commanded the stage with the force of a freight train, his evil, demonic expressions adding to the intensity as the band tore through a setlist blending both new and older tracks. With "Oedipism", "Fleshweaver", and "Born of Blood", each song was like a sledgehammer, capturing everything fans expect from a deathcore act.
But it wasn't just the sound-it was the look, the stage presence, the feel. Alan's piercing gaze and menacing expressions had an almost cinematic quality, driving home the dark and heavy atmosphere DISTANT embodies. Yet, for as powerful as their presence was, a bit more interaction with the crowd would have really sealed the connection, especially for those unfamiliar with them. Deathcore is known for its in-your-face intensity, and bringing the crowd into that chaos a bit more could have made new fans along the way.
That said, DISTANT crushed every moment of their performance. For those there specifically to see them or for die-hard deathcore fans, they delivered exactly what they promised.
Final Review: 4 out of 5 horns - knowing that a little extra connection with the crowd could take their already brutal show to new heights.
BODYSNATCHER
BODYSNATCHER, the relentless metalcore/deathcore force from Melbourne, Florida, set the Underground on fire. I'd caught them live a few years ago without knowing much about them-and that ignorance didn't last long. Fast-forward to tonight: a bigger stage, a familiar discography, and an eager crowd primed to dive into BODYSNATCHER's punishing set.
Right out of the gate, the tone was set. Kyle Medina's onstage greeting, a straightforward, "What's up, bitch? ... Fuck you!" was met with roars from the crowd. This wasn't going to be a warm-up act-BODYSNATCHER was here to leave an impression. The crowd-surfing began almost instantly, with Kyle making it clear he was counting them out loud. After "King of The Rats", he declared, "You fuckers are at 5, let's go!" The energy surged even higher with "Behind The Crowd", where he announced there were now 26 surfers riding the wave of chaos. As the set continued, "Take Me To Hell" saw that number climb to 38, and by the time they reached "Murder8", there were an astounding 50 who rode the crowd to the front barriers, creating an electrifying atmosphere that was impossible to ignore.
"King of The Rats" perfectly embodies the raw, no-nonsense attitude that drives BODYSNATCHER's sound. Medina has described the song as a callout to those who act "holier-than-thou" but live in negativity and hypocrisy-a title well-earned if they're willing to wear it. Kyle's onstage energy was electric; he sprinted from one side of the stage to the other, guitarists thrashing beside him, smiling like he was exactly where he wanted to be. It was impossible not to be swept up in the contagious, brutal joy they brought to the stage. It was like someone forgot to tell BODYSNATCHER they weren't the headliners.
As their set progressed, "Severed" brought an edge of catharsis to the night, channeling feelings of resentment and betrayal into an outlet for release and closure. Then came "Murder8", a deeply personal track for drummer Chris Whited, who shared with the audience the devastating story behind it: "Murder 8" is a street name for fentanyl. Chris lost his older brother to fentanyl in 2022, followed by his younger sister in 2023. He dedicated the song to anyone who has lost someone to an overdose, which struck a personal chord with me, as my brother lost his best friend in his arms to fentanyl. Rest in peace, MB. It was a powerful moment that resonated with everyone in the room.
BODYSNATCHER brought Florida deathcore to Charlotte tonight, showing us exactly why they're destroying the scene. By the end of their set, anyone unfamiliar with them knew exactly who they were-and why they'll be a force in this genre for a long time to come. They took us all to hell and made sure we loved every minute of it.
Final Review: 4.75 out of 5 Horns - only shy because they weren't officially the headliner, but they were a solid competitor
FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY
FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY closed out the night with a performance that tore into the crowd, soul first. After four hard-hitting sets, the audience showed no signs of slowing down, and the band fed off this relentless energy, locking in with each note. From the very start with "Lower Purpose", the band showed why they're masters of crafting brutality with purpose. Joe's vocals cut through the venue like a war cry, filled with the raw rage of a working class fed up with a system that doesn't serve them. The crowd was right there with him, fists raised in defiance as Pat, Will, and Tim shredded through riffs that weighed like an indictment of modern existence. The pit surged, a battleground of flailing limbs and energy, as if the crowd itself was rejecting their own "lower purpose".
They kept this relentless pace with "A Higher Level of Hate", and the bass throbbed so hard you felt it in your chest, every beat pounding like a heartbeat of shared fury. Joe's guttural screams felt like they could tear down walls, and the crowd, drawn into the band's vision of turmoil, gave back with all they had. Tracks like "Red Horizon" and "Black Mammoth" drove that message home, striking with the force of a sledgehammer and reinforcing FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY's unfiltered, unapologetic approach to confronting humanity's darkest truths.
"The Sea of Tragic Beasts" submerged the entire room into the depths of sorrow, the song's brutal yet haunting riffs like waves crashing over the crowd. By "Warfare", every ounce of energy in the room was absorbed, transformed, and thrown back tenfold, each riff sharper, each scream fiercer, as bodies collided, surfed, and crashed through the sea of fans.
When they got to "Pandora", it was like the band was delivering a forewarning, touching on the theme of inevitable environmental ruin. The crowd, exhausted but devoted, held on to every word as Joe's vocals painted a grim picture, filling the room with both fury and reflection.
By the time "Hellions" and "Far From Heaven" hit, it felt like FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY had everyone hanging by a thread. People screamed, cheered, and threw every ounce of what was left into the pit. Every riff and every guttural notes were felt down to the bone.
For the encore they launched into "Hostage", a song that dives deep into the chains of trauma and grief, a raw look at the heavy burden people carries. The room felt connected through that shared experience, even the quietest listeners visibly drawn in. "Two Towers" closed the night, an introspective journey that explores the weight of past choices and unchangeable realities. The track's final notes left the room in a kind of stunned silence as fans soaked in the emotional aftermath of FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY's intense performance.
Final Review: 5 of 5 Environmental Gas Masks
Remaining tour dates:
- 11.01 Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theater
- 11.02 Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory OC
- 11.04 Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
- 11.05 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
- 11.06 Seattle, WA El @ Corazón
- 11.08 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
- 11.09 Denver, CO @ Summit
- 11.10 Wichita, KS @ Temple Live
- 11.12 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
- 11.13 Chicago, IL @ Metro
- 11.14 Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew's Hall
- 11.15 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
- 11.16 McKees Rocks, PA @ Roxian Theatre
- 11.17 New Haven, CT @ Toad's Place
Check out some more photos from the show!
All Photos By Rocky Kessenger/@through_the_metal_lens
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