Richmond, VA – I have been doing the music review thing since late 2018 and the power still surprises me from time to time. Such was the case on April 7, 2025 at the Canal Club in Richmond, VA. What I expected was to see three different bands with increasing followings as the night progressed. I knew all three, Archetypes Collide, Halocene, and Fame on Fire, were hard core pop, rock, somewhat metal bands. My normal experience is that the crowd is there for one of the bands, normally the headliner but not always, and there is varying degrees of interest for the rest. Most often the crowd grows as the night climaxes. This night was different as the crowd that greeted Archetypes Collide was quite large and into it and the night never let up.
The first thing that gave it away was the crowd density close to the stage when the night kicked off. Honestly, it is often pretty easy to maneuver close to the stage for the opening act. Not so this evening. It was packed. From the start Archetypes Collide, Kyle Pastor (vocals), Brandon Baker (guitar), Jared Knister (guitar), Ky Sanders (bass), and Tyler Flamm (drums) took control and had heads banging in no time flat. The cool thing was, the crowd sang along to so many of the songs. I am likely quite naive, but I can say I have never heard this many people singing along while banging heads at the same time. The band ate it up and was thriving on the massive energy.
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Archetypes Collide Setlist
Your Misery
My Own Device
One Step Closer
The Problem
What If I Fall
Becoming What I Hate
Hollow High
I have to be honest, the middle band, Halocene, was the driving force getting me to the Canal. A video by The Rock Orchestra, featuring Halocene randomly popped up on my YouTube Feed and caught my attention. The vocals of Addie Nicole Amick blew me away. Halocene did not disappoint. We were treated to a wide variety of music with several degrees of pounding ranging from a sorta sing along in “Vita Nova“, to a dark look into mental health stuggles with “When Demons Come to Life“, and finishing up with “Maleficent“. They also included an unreleased piece called “Euphoria” which was pretty awesome!! The great thing about this band is that it is independent and get quite a good amount of attention. I am looking forward to seeing them pass through Richmond again!
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Halocene Setlist:
Just Won’t Die
Glory Days
When Demons Come to Life
Unholy
Vita Nova
Euphoria
This Is Our War
The Kill
Maleficent
I think the great thing about random YouTube feeds is that one gets introduced to some really awesome music that takes you on a journey down the rabbit hole. I was ecstatic that Halocene was coming to town, which in turn made me check out the opening band as well as look into the headliner, Fame On Fire. If hardcore headbanging is your thing, this lineup was heavenly.
The Fame On Fire team included Bryan Kuznitz (vocals), Blake Saul (guitar), Paul Spirou (bass), and Alex Roman (drums) who introduced a metal adrenaline rush leading off with “No Tomorrow“, Bryan’s ability to work the crowd was amazing. The packed Canal Club audience was giving in to their every pounding beat with hands in the air and heads jolting almost violently (in a good way) to the beat. It was something to behold.
Watching the movement in unison, I would say “Welcome to the Chaos” was a very appropriate song… in a very organized way. “Spiral“, “Plastic Heart” and “Chains” rounded out the set followed by a three song Encore finishing up with a bangin’ “Cut Throat“. That was all she wrote! What was supposed to be a quiet start to my work week ended with a massive metal ruckus in the best possible way.
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Fame on Fire Setlist
No Tomorrow
Nothing Left
Suicide
Nightmare
Welcome To The Chaos
Ketamine
Her Eyes
Desire
HEADSPACE
Spiral
Plastic Heart
Chains
Encore:
Lie to me
Numb
Cut Throat
Archetypes Collide, Halocene, and Fame on Fire Gallery
Show Date: April 7, 2025
