Denver, CO – On a spring like evening, I approached the Fillmore Auditorium in the Cap Hill area of Denver. I heard the crowd waiting to get into the show before I actually saw them. From a block away, you could feel the energy. 4,900 people amped up and ready for a show that would surely melt faces has a certain feel about it. As I threaded my way into the venue, I knew looking at the space, that there would be no moving in the crowd tonight. It was going to be a packed house.
The lineup for this evening was going to be insane. First up was the Metalcore super band known as Light The Torch. Some may remember them as Devil You Know. They switched their name in 2017 but by either name, you know who they are. Regardless of the name, the members in the band are all familiar names from killer bands such as lead singer Howard Jones previously of Killswitch Engage, Francesco Artusato, previously of All Shall Perish, Ryan Wombacher, previously of Bleeding Through, and Alex Rüdinger, previously of Ordinance.
They lit up the stage and the audience erupted. They started the set with songs like “More Than Dreaming”, “Calm Before the Storm”, and “Let Me Fall Apart”. The show was off to a thunderous start. The powerful band didn’t relent a bit and kept going at break neck speed. They rounded out the set with “The Safety of Disbelief”, “Wilting in the Light”, and “Die Alone”. Light The Torch left the stage amid the crowd going nuts.
LIGHT THE TORCH PHOTO GALLERY
Next on stage, was the one and only, August Burns Red. If you aren’t familiar with them, I highly recommend you check them out. They hail from Lancaster, PA and have a sound that will rival a nuclear blast. The show they put on will blow you away. This band is packed with unrivaled skill. Combining Jake Luhrs (lead vocalist), JB Brubaker (lead guitarist), Brent Rambler (guitarist), Matt Greiner (drums), and Dustin Davidson (bassist), this band is one that will go down in history.
After the previous set, there was no containing the crowd. They were ready for more and they let the band know it as they came on stage. The members of August Burns Red heard the request of the crowd and obliged with honor. They began the set with a powerful set of songs to get the crowd even more riled up. They played “The Truth of a Liar”, “Meddler”, and “Paramount” to begin. The mosh pits opened like a flood gate. In the middle of the set, Jake Luhrs addressed the crowd. He said, “for this next song, I won’t be singing. You (the crowd) will be the voice of the song”. They started “The Legend of Zelda Theme” and the crowd surfers flowed to the front of house in droves. Security was all hands-on deck and took great care as they brought the surfers down. August Burns Red ended the set with “Marianas Trench”, “Composure”, and lastly, “White Washed”.
AUGUST BURNS RED PHOTO GALLERY
The last set of the night was Killswitch Engage. During the set change, we could all see a different kind of stage appear for Killswitch. It wasn’t a regular setup that we all normally expect. There wasn’t just a banner with the name on it. From the backdrop to the drummers stand, was decorated with the artwork of their latest album, “Atonement”. The traditional artwork was displayed everywhere it could be and turned into one continuous piece of art. It was clear of everything that didn’t need to be up there and when the lights faded up to the sound of Justin Foley’s drums, the crowd erupted. The rest of the band rushed on stage and got right to business. From the hypnotizing cords from lead guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, to the heart pounding strums of Mike D’Antonio’s bass, the crowd was engulfed and lost all semblance of reality. Jesse Leach’s voice was like a gut punch that brought us all back to reality in one swift strike. He lead into the first song “Unleashed” like a rhythmic assault rifle. When you attend shows like this, you expect to have your senses assaulted and we weren’t let down. They flew into songs like “Hate by Design”, “Know Your Enemy”, and “My Last Serenade”.
The break neck speed of the show never slowed down. They hit favorite songs such as “This Fire”, “As Sure as the Sun Will Rise”, and “The Crownless King” showed the audience that they came to rock. The last three songs were very special to everyone in the house. Band members and audience alike. Howard Jones came back out on stage to perform “Rose of Sharyn”, “The End of Heartache”, and “The Signal Fire”. When Howard walked back on stage, the crowd lost their minds. I’m not sure if some of them will ever find it again. It was such a special way to end the show and people will be talking about this show for years to come.
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE PHOTO GALLERY
As we all left the show, there wasn’t a soul within a mile that couldn’t feel the energy of the audience as they headed to their cars and drive home. This tour was one that will go down in the history book as one of the most memorable tours ever. If you have a chance to catch this tour, I hope you jump on it. You will not regret it.
Show Date: March 3, 2022
