In a city known for its nonstop clubbing, partying, and endless debauchery, metal music is not at the forefront of the sounds you expect to hear in Vegas—especially on a Thursday night. After a show like last night’s, it definitely should be! While Las Vegas has been home to the “Sick New World” festival for the past couple of years, nothing could have prepared me for the sheer amount of headbanging, moshing, and insanity that Killswitch Engage brought to the city last night.

Along for the ride, we had Kublai Khan TX, Fit for a King, and Frozen Soul. Each group brought something different to the stage, yet all of them hold on to title of “crowd-pleaser” quite well. Among the absolutely packed Virgin Theater, the crowd was a sea of fan support. Within every ten square feet, you could spot shirts or other merchandise supporting every act on the bill this night. If that doesn’t scream support and love, I really do not know what does.

Hailing from Fort Worth, Frozen Soul was our first taste of Texas metalcore this evening. The impaled skeletons props on stage were a stark contrast to the bubble machine that vocalist Chad Green grabbed and sprayed over the crowd as they dove into their set. His guttural, deep, throaty vocals got the audience fired up, and ready for the show to follow. With a consistent bass line driving things forward, the headbanging was practically none stop. As a photographer, going through their photos was a challenge—most faces were marred by hair! In all fairness though, what is a metal show without an obscene amount of headbanging?

This was the second time I have witnessed Fit For A King, and I was no less impressed than the first time. Our second dish of Texas metalcore that evening brought out a different side of the genre. While still equally hard, I feel there was more emotion, more feeling, radiating from their sound. You could hear every ounce of passion dripping from front man Ryan Kirby. Their stage presence was wonderful as well; during their entire 40 min set, every single member was continuously in motion, never holding the same spot for more than a few moments, really giving the crowd something to gawk at. Kudos to their front-of-house team for how well they kept the stage lit, as well as managing to track all the movement seamlessly.

As I was peering out into the crowd, something became clear. While there was a very diverse collection of merchandise to represent all the performers, I don’t think there was a clear way to tell who the headliner was. It was impossible to ignore how many fans came decked out in Kublai Khan TX gear—a swarm of black was littered with the band’s hats and shirts, custom made flannels, even shoes dedicated to our next treat. Even though I personally thought this was one of the less entertaining sets of the evening, the crowd’s adoration was undeniable. Audience involvement had peaked at this point, multiple mosh pits and crowd surfers galore floated through arms their entire set. What stood out to me was their “no-nonsense” style of set. They kept talking to a minimum and focused on delivering song after song with minimal talking or bridging tracks. I can appreciate bands talking and telling stories, but keeping that to a minimal gives the venue more music they love!

When you have a group like Killswitch Engage taking the stage, you expect big things—and they delivered. Playing an impressive 18-song setlist spanning their entire career, they left nothing behind. As a long time fan, I was absolute thrilled to be hearing the age-old riffs of “Rose of Sharyn” as well as their newest “I Believe.” Not only was the setlist a perfect blend for all of the fandom, the energy—oh, my— was off the charts. Frontman Jessie Leach is a natural entertainer, using every inch of the stage, pit, and barricade to engage with fans. Between his command of the crowd, the epic light show that was behind them, and the band’s complete chemistry oozing through each word and note, it felt like every song was a finale. From the first note, to the last, it was a thrill. The highlight of the night though? Former vocalist Howard Jones was welcomed back to join Leach for a monumental rendition of “Signal Fire.” That was the perfect mix of nostalgia for older fans, and excitement for newer ones.

All in all, this show proved the metal scene in Las Vegas is more than just alive—it is completely thriving! If you have the opportunity to see this tour before its conclusion, I can not recommend it enough!

FROZEN SOUL | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

FIT FOR A KING | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

KUBLAI KHAN TX | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE