As I Lay Dying Dominates Albany, New York: A Night Of Metal Mayhem
Photography By: Mia Palazzo
July 23 - As I Lay Dying brought their U.S. summer 2024 tour to Albany, NY for a night of heavy-hitting deathcore. The band was joined by deathcore icons Chelsea Grin, led by Tom Barber previously of Lorna Shore, and currently in the upcoming two-piece deathcore project, Darko US. Opening the show was Entheos, a three-piece supergroup consisting of one of the fiercest female-fronted acts currently in the metal scene.
Empire Live, Albany’s main venue for all your metal needs filled up quickly with fans anticipating a night of heavy music. Packing in the venue early, the room was almost full for the opening band, Entheos. A band known for their technical precision and boundary-pushing compositions, they did a great job at displaying it in their set. Since 2015 the band has carved a niche in the progressive metal scene with their complex dynamic sound. With Chaney Crabb on vocals, Navene Koperweis on drums, and Evan Brewer on bass, all musicians who have previously been involved in well-known bands, Entheos is unstoppable.
Their set consisted of some of their biggest tracks, “All For Nothing”, a song that perfectly displays Crabb’s powerful vocals and Koperweis’s precise drumming; “Absolute Zero”, the perfect song to display the sheer brutality of the band. At this point in the set the crowd was starting to get into it, the mosh pit had grown a substantial about, and the first crowd surfer prepared security for a long night.
Entheos played through some of their biggest hits, “I Am the Void” and “Absolute Zero” off of their 2023 album Time Will Take Us, as well as their 2024 singles, “All for Nothing”, “Life in Show Motion”, and “An End to Everything”. Their set perfectly prepared the crowd for the chaos that was yet to ensue.
Entheos: Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | TikTok | Spotify
Chelsea Grin was next on the lineup and Albany showed up for them. Not one second of their set was there, not a pit, not a moment of peace during their blistering performance. Chelsea Grin has been around since 2007 and has made waves time in the deathcore scene since then. Their current lineup, Tom Barber on vocals, Stephen Rutishauser on guitar, David Flinn on bass, and Pablo Viveros on drums is known for their sheer ability to create the most intense riffs with intricate melodies and vocals that are bound to make anyone bang their head. This set was no exception to proving why Chelsea Grin is a force to be reckoned with in Deathcore.
The set opened with “Recreant”, the eerie guitar tone in the intro prompted a massive pit to instantly form, and the second Tom started the first line of the song, bodies immediately came flying over the crowd, with people screaming along to every word. This prompted the first of many of Chelsea Grin’s hard-hitting breakdowns. They proceed with a bit more of a technical song, “Sonnet of the Wretched” off of arguably their biggest album, Desolation of Eden. The set continued with a mix of old songs, and new “The Isnis”, an oldie but one that got people feral in the pit. They continued the set with “Bleeding Sun” and “Playing With Fire”.
The last four songs of the set were quite possibly the most intense of the night, starting with “Dead Rose”, an ultimate fan favorite, which left the crowd screaming along, this was followed up with an old song, “My Damnation”, next was “Sing to the Grave”, and finally the set closed out with Chelsea’s biggest hit, “Hostage”, which had the crowd screaming every word back, with moshing and crowd surfing at a max. Chelsea most definitely prepared the crowd for the star of the show, As I Lay Dying.
Chelsea Grin: Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Spotify | YouTube
Finally, it was time. Fans were chanting and screaming as the lights went off, and slowly members of As I Lay Dying began to set on stage. The crowd erupted into cheers, and the opening riffs of "Nothing Left" sent the mosh pit into a frenzy. The band played a mix of fan favorites and newer tracks, including "Falling Upon Dear Ears" and "Through Struggle," each song met with roaring approval. These songs were followed by one of the bands bigger hits, “Redefined”, tonight, they were joined by Chaney Crabb of Entheos, the first night they had preformed this song live together and the crowd loved every second of it.
Vocalist Tim Lambesis was a commanding presence throughout the night. His interactions with the audience were a highlight, often leaning over the barrier to deliver fist bumps to the front row, creating an intimate connection despite the high energy. His growls and screams were on point, matched by the band’s tight instrumentation. Popular songs like "Parallels" and "94 Hours" were standout moments, with the crowd singing along to every word. The technical prowess of guitarist Nick Hipa and the relentless drumming of Jordan Mancino were particularly impressive, showcasing the band’s musical evolution over the years.
The band closed out the night with “The Sound of Truth”, with everyone in the pit singing back every word, the most pit exploded into a final frenzy, and crowd surfers kept the security busy through the whole song, and at the end As I Lay Dying proceeded off the stage, leaving everyone in darkness.
But of course, that wasn’t the end. The band came out with the opening riff of “My Own Grave” at the start of their encore and not one person wasn’t moving, moshing, headbanging or off their feet. The second song in the encore, “Confined” had the same energy, with even the band going the hardest they had the entire night. As the final notes of "Confined" rang out, the audience was left chanting for more. As I Lay Dying proved once again why they remain a force to be reckoned with in the metalcore world. The night was a testament to their enduring appeal and the deep connection they share with their fans.
