While most people were getting geared up for Spring and enjoying the NCAA Basketball tournament a march of a different kind was getting ready to begin here in Syracuse. The March Into Madness Tour 2019 featuring Ice Nine Kills and From Ashes To New kicked off their tour to a SOLD Out crowd this past Wednesday night at the Lost Horizon.
I always enjoy watching bands that I have never seen live before and with a support line up this diverse it was a great way to kicked off the evening. Opening artist Hawk (formerly This or the Apocalypse) from Lancaster, PA got things into motion with no slowing down. Also bringing the noise and heavy thunder was West Palm Beach’s metalcore heavyweights, Afterlife. What I found very amazing about this band being it was my first time seeing them, was the way the band connected with the crowd and even took a moment to address the ugly and horrific topic of domestic abuse and how no matter what, it’s not ok. Some songs that really resonated with me were “Anthem” and “Throat” are a must listen in my opinion. Rounding out the evenings support was the NJ hard rock band Palisades who are a nice mix of hard rock and metal and who could go wrong with such heavy songs like “Shed My Skin” and “War,” which kept the rowdy crowd’s energy up for the entire set.
Up next, the evenings co headliner, Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s nu metal powerhouse From Ashes To New. Even though the band has had some lineup changes and sometimes change is a good thing, they brought to the Syracuse crowd a very incredible energetic set. Front men Danny Case and Matt Brandyberry not only were they a non stop moving force on stage but also had no problem engaging the crowd and getting them moving and singing along with them. I really enjoyed their Linkin Park type vibe incorporating both elements of rap and hard rock into their songs. Some of the songs that really stuck with me from their set was “Through It All, “and “Broken,” which I don’t recall seeing one person sitting still in the crowd! I must admit From Ashes to New left me with a impactful impression to where I would definitely like to see them again!
Up next, the evenings co headliner, Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s nu metal powerhouse From Ashes To New. Even though the band has had some lineup changes and sometimes change is a good thing, they brought to the Syracuse crowd a very incredible energetic set. Front men Danny Case and Matt Brandyberry not only were they a non stop moving force on stage but also had no problem engaging the crowd and getting them moving and singing along with them. I really enjoyed their Linkin Park type vibe incorporating both elements of rap and hard rock into their songs. Some of the songs that really stuck with me from their set was “Through It All, “and “Broken,” which I don’t recall seeing one person sitting still in the crowd! I must admit From Ashes to New left me with a impactful impression to where I would definitely like to see them again!
When it comes to horror most know how I really like all things horror, horror movies, horror themed music so its no surprise that as the stage was being set for the nights headliner, Ice Nine Kills. I was looking forward to their set. With a dark stage set and a solo red balloon tied to the mic stand ( premonition to IT) I knew we were in store for an amazing set! After a brief intro, Ice Nine Kills hit the stage wearing costumed tributes to such classic horror movies as Nightmare on Elm Street, Saw, IT and Texas Chainsaw Massacre launching right into their homage to such silver screen classics with “The American Nightmare.” The crowd instantly erupted into a flurry of movement and singing along with singer Spencer Charnas. It goes without saying the Boston metalcore band knows how to keep the crowd moving! Charnas not being one to shy away from getting up close with the fans had no issue engaging fans and having them sing along with him and high fiving them. I really liked how each song had its own horror theme to it with such songs as “Merry Axe-Mas,” “Thank God Its Friday,” and who could forget a giant shark coming out onto the stage during “Rocking the Boat,” a definite nod to the seafaring horror classic “Jaws.” The band ended their incredible set with a very fitting tribute to Stephen King’s “It” with the song cleverly titled “IT Is The End.”
After the final notes faded from the amps, the band had ended the set leaving the diehard fans wanting more and who could blame them, Ice Nine Kills puts on one hell of show, I am looking forward to seeing them again in the future! Thank you and enjoy the pics from this incredible show.
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