Pittsburgh outfit 156/Silence made their way through Baltimore this past Saturday, September 12th, 2026 at Nevermore Hall with supporting acts: Aviana, Heavensgate, and Fromjoy. This tour is currently showcasing their latest release from Pure Noise Records, "From a Distance".
To start off the show, Texas natives, Fromjoy, opened up with a strong set. This was actually my second time seeing them live and they are easily becoming a regular favorite of mine to listen to. If I had to describe Fromjoy to a new listener, I would compare them to an early 2000's metalcore band - meets Toonami interlude.
Labelmates, Heavensgate, played second as the venue continued to become more packed, and this was where I began to notice when the crowd surfers began to make themselves known. As they played, the energy in the room continued to build, setting the stage for the followings acts yet to come.
Aviana came next all of the way from Gothenburg, Sweden. I had actually originally heard about them on Tiktok a few years ago and was instantly hooked. I was super excited to get to see them play alongside such a solid lineup. My favorite song to hear them play was, "Rage".
They came out sporting similar masks and outfits, and lead singer, Joel Holmqvist, had a phenomenal stage presence.
156/Silence placed the final nail in the coffin and was by far the most anticipated set for the night– and for good reason. Their latest release results in an exploration of sound that delivers a hauntingly melancholic and melodic experience, perhaps representing their most developed sound to date.
Moody and eerie synths are woven throughout each track, adding to the sonic landscape while giving the listener room to take in all of the breakdowns and frantic, emotionally charged vocal delivery. Vocalist Jack Murray explores the depths of both his harsh, syncopated yells and his increasingly prominent clean vocals and choruses, giving the album a sense of contrast without sacrificing the band’s heavier edge.
He also cites influences such as Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and the music scores of Twin Peaks, which seem fitting given the album’s cinematic and at times eerie atmosphere.
Fans sported Baltimore Ravens flags towards the beginning of the set, which was a bit funny considering the rivalry between them and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Regardless of that fact, I don’t think I can recall a single time when folks weren’t crowd surfing and singing along to each song throughout their set. The room was absolutely packed, and the energy was surreal.
If any of that resonates with you, you can still catch them on tour this fall as they continue to make their rounds throughout the US.
