Shop of Screams: Killswitch Engage Rock Showbox SoDo

Killswitch Engage w/ Memphis Mayfire and 36 Crazyfists
Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WA
04.01.16

Alaskan exports 36 Crazyfists open the heavy metal night at Seattle’s Showbox SoDo, and while the mosh pit starts off small, the crowd seems into it from the start, head banging along with the best of them. The band is overtly loud by nature, and lead vocalist Brock Lindow is super energetic, rushing all over the stage, stopping only to strike furious metal poses. Drummer Kyle Baltus is shirtless, his chest and arms covered with tattoos as he plays a very steady and heavy beat and the four-piece’s persistent screamo sets the stage for a rocking night.

Memphis May Fire, a more melodic five-piece metal band takes the next slot, and the crowd seems to know all their songs by heart. Their rhythmic bass lines could be associated with hair metal, their lyrics almost difficult to pick up over the din. A riser sits at the front of the stage, and vocalist Matty Mullins puts up a leg or climbs on top of it while belting out lyrics, occasionally joined by bassist Cory Elder. The moshing crowd surfs to the front all the way to the end, when drummer Jake Garland tosses his sticks to the adoring crowd.

During set up for the headliner, a chant of “Killswitch Engage” rings out from the decidedly mixed-age crowd. Plenty of young women mix with bearded guys, all clad in black, tattoos and piercings aplenty. A KSE banner is raised and the cheering continues, fog machines pumping up, florescent pink duct tape holding down various cords leading to the each of mic stands.

Another chant of “Killswitch” emerges right before the lights go dark and the crowd roars with approval as the band takes the stage. Supporting the March release of their seventh studio album Incarnate, this is a high energy performance by KSE, with non-stop running, head banging and posing throughout. As the metalcore band moves through their set, they rock the new material mixed with deep cuts from their early records, their crushing power chords and heavy bass rhythms grinding through the night.

The aggressive crowd pumps their “rock on” horns and people pour over the barricade left and right, requiring extra security to man the front of the stage. Lead singer Jesse Leach jumps into the barricaded area himself, letting the crowd sing along into his mic during “A Bid Farewell.” And the rest of the band members jump around on the stage platform, appearing to be having a great time on stage. About the eighth song or so, they slow it down to a very deep sludge metal before breaking back out into full-on speed metal.

Killswitch Engage Set List
Strength of the Mind
A Bid Farewell
Fixation on the Darkness
Alone I Stand
Beyond the Flames
Just Barely Breathing
Take This Oath
Hate by Design
Vide Infra
Always
Just Let Go
Rose of Sharyn
Cut Me Loose
My Last Serenade
The End of Heartache
My Curse
In Due Time