“The Curse 2025 Tour” came to New Mexico and woke up a packed house at the Sunshine Theater with headliner Atreyu. Joining them to party that night were Zero 9:36 and He is Legend with their incredible mix of music. As each band finished, the crowd stuck it out and barely moved from their spots, waiting for the next set. The night was all about metal ringing through the streets of Albuquerque on a Wednesday night.
Zero 9:36, a combination of rap, hip-hop, and metal, was a great opener to get the crowd worked up for the evening. My first time ever hearing them, they kept me glued to the stage even after playing their first three songs. They connected with the crowd and kept the energy flowing with each song, waking up the audience.
Zero 9:36 is from Philadelphia, created by vocalist Matthew Cullen, who has been producing music professionally since 2010 but performing since he was 11. I got a chance to talk with Cullen afterwards, and he was a very personable guy who genuinely appreciated his fans. Cullen and his backing musicians were a good mix, and all of them loved the crowd as they reacted to their music.
Zero 9:36 has successfully released four albums as of 2020, with They Were Always Here being released in December 2025. They opened their show with “Underneath” and “Chasing Shadows,” featuring Brandon Saller from Atreyu—both songs from the current album None Of Us Are Getting Out, released in 2024. Their third song was “Break.” They performed a mix of other songs from their previous albums, appropriately ending the set with the song “The End.”
If you are looking for something fresh and new, Zero 9:36 brings it, and I highly recommend you take a listen to their music.
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He Is Legend, a band that has been around almost as long as Atreyu, has toured with them on many occasions. Coming from North Carolina and starting in 2003, this power band hit the stage with so much energy it became infectious. Lead vocalist Schuyler Croom‘s supercharged stage presence got the crowd going as he danced and jumped around. He even invited a fan dressed as a banana to crowd surf. The rest of the band includes Adam Tanbouz on guitar, Matt Williams on bass, and Jesse Shelley on drums. Croom, Tanbouz, and Williams all went to high school together and have been performing together ever since.
He Is Legend celebrated 21 years since the release of their first album, I Am Hollywood,, which they performed in its entirety. They started from the beginning of the album with “The Seduction,” followed by “Eating A Book,”” and then “The Creature Walks.” Croom also announced when it was time to flip the album. You could hear the old-school sound of the early 2000s in their songs, all executed exceptionally well.
If I were you, I would take a listen to their music, as it’s full of energy that you can feel in every song. Follow these links to hear more and to follow them on The Curse Tour with Atreyu.
Atreyu, coming out of California, has been performing metalcore since 1998—a year after Zero 9:36 lead singer Matthew Cullen was born. Think on that for a moment. Atreyu was formed with guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, and drummer Brandon Saller. They later added Marc (Porter) McKnight on bass and Kyle Rosa as the current drummer, as Saller moved to become the band’s vocalist in 2001.
In 2025, they re-released their 2004 album The Curse, calling it The Curse 2025, bringing their total album releases to 10 since 2002. The original The Curse sold more than 450,000 copies, and the band was featured on the soundtrack of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” with a cover of the Bon Jovi song “You Give Love a Bad Name.” Songs from The Curse were also featured in “Underworld: Evolution.“
“The Curse Tour” is a celebration of the release of the 2004 album The Curse, marking this year as 21 years since its release. Atreyu opened their show with “Blood Children,” followed by “Bleeding Mascara” and “Right Side Of The Bed,” then performed the rest of The Curse album. The entire album is full of great songs that showcase the band’s talent; these guys are pure showmen, with each song highlighting the skills of all three string players. Saller‘s clean vocals combined with McKnight‘s gravelly screams provide a powerful mix in every song. It was a pure treat to see this band at the start of their tour. My suggestion is to check out the remaining tour dates and grab your tickets as they race across the U.S.
To hear more of Atreyu and listen to the album The Curse, follow these links:
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