Last Thursday, Left To Suffer brought "The Eternal Suffering" tour through San Antonio, showcasing a stacked lineup that reflected the continued rise of modern deathcore. With support from The Last Ten Seconds of Life, Larcenia Roe, and FR3AK, along with local standouts Trenchborn, the night was defined by face-melting breakdowns and nonstop energy from the stage to the mosh pit.
Trenchborn kicked off the night with a tight and energetic set that drew the crowd in and set the pace for the evening. As no strangers to the local metal scene, it didn't take long for them to get the floor moving, with a dedicated pit forming early for both moshers and two-steppers. When they launched into "Age of Sacrifice," the entire room hit another level. The moment their vocalist declared, "We are the new age, the new age of sacrifice," the impact was immediate, dropping into a crushing breakdown that had heads bopping across the room. A sharp guitar solo followed, flowing seamlessly back into a driving two-step section that kept the energy high and left a lasting impression.
FR3AK kept the momentum going with a set that pushed the energy even further! Honestly, words can't fully capture how blown away I was with their performance. I believe I can speak for the rest of the crowd as we all rushed to their merch table right after their set to support the nu-deathcore band. From the moment they stepped on stage, the room shifted into constant motion as the pit quickly reformed and reminded us to not skip leg day, or arm day if you swing that way. Their explosive stage presence made the performance feel larger than the room itself, with the band feeding off the crowd's intensity from start to finish. Songs like "stuckinthewomb," "swallow," and "ifuckingloveyou" stood out in particular, drawing some of the strongest reactions of the night.
Without a doubt, I can see FR3AK continuing to build momentum throughout the rest of the year, finding their way onto bigger stages. If you're not familiar with them yet, they're absolutely a band worth checking out. My personal favorite is "fracture," if you care to vibe with me!
Larcenia Roe followed with a chaotic set that leaned fully into the darker side of the lineup. The Raleigh, North Carolina, four-piece have been gaining attention since the release of their debut EP, "Dereliction," in 2023, and with the release of their recent full-length, "Extraction," there was a noticeable sense of anticipation in the room as fans speculated which songs would make the setlist. Introducing themselves as "American Horror," the band quickly established a sound and presence that felt unsettling in all the right ways.
Blending elements of death metal, deathcore, rap, and horror-inspired influences, Larcenia Roe delivered a sound that felt both unsettling and undeniably groove-driven. Much of their material balanced punishing heaviness with rhythmic sections that had the floor erupting throughout the set. Their vocalist's charm and charisma shone throughout their set, pacing and dancing back and forth across the stage while the pit surged in front of him, fully feeding into the band's energy.
The band's message of "making the world smile" felt fitting in its own twisted way, not because the guitarist loomed over us with a wide, unsettling grin behind his mouth guard, but because fans responded to every guttural and breakdown with visible excitement. My personal favorite songs of the set were "Lip Split," "Unhinged," and "Carolina Crowd Killer," and they showed exactly why they've been gaining attention and continue to connect with fans of modern deathcore.
After Larcenia Roe stirred the room into a frenzy, The Last Ten Seconds of Life took the stage and delivered a powerful set that showcased sheer intensity as the night moved closer to the headliner. Having played San Antonio regularly over the years, the connection between the band and the local crowd was evident from the moment they began their set. Known for their hard-hitting style, the Pennsylvania deathcore outfit brought the kind of energy fans were anticipating. Drummer Dylan Potts delivered rapid double-kick patterns throughout the set, with the kick pedal thumping through the floor during the heavier sections and locking the band tightly together.
The crowd stayed so active during their set that I found myself limited to only taking photos from the left side of the room, keeping just outside the action as bodies threw themselves against each other, some even hitting the floor. At one point, a fan was carried out of the pit dazed and confused by security and supportive people from the crowd, indicating that there's nothing but love in the pit. As every metal show goes, we kept chugging along to every riff.
Even the vocalist of FR3AK made an appearance during the set, joining the band onstage and adding to an already energetic performance. Songs that brought out especially strong reactions from the crowd included "Pain Is Pleasure," "The Box," and "The Dead Ones," with fans chanting along to their favorite lyrics at the top of their lungs. The Last Ten Seconds of Life delivered the set that longtime fans come to expect, providing a fitting lead into the night's headliner
Closing out the night, Left To Suffer took the stage with the room already worked into a frenzy after four heavy sets. Fans pressed toward the front of the stage as the band kicked things off, and it didn't take long for the crowd to split into a controlled pandemonium. Even late into the night, everyone showed no signs of slowing down as the headliner settled into their set.
Frontman Taylor Barber remained the focal point throughout the performance as he moved between deep gutturals, sharp highs, and rhythmic vocal patterns. His versatility was one of the defining parts of the set, which added depth to the band's sound while the tight instrumentation and heavy chugs carried across the room.
At one point, I found myself with a front-row view as guitarist Jacob Gordon leaned into the edge of the stage to deliver riffs brutal enough to melt my face off.
The collaborative spirit of the tour was on full display when vocalists of The Last Ten Seconds of Life and FR3AK joined in onstage to throw down, dropping jaws and gaining an outstanding reaction from the audience and turning one of the heaviest moments of the night into a shared performance between bands.
I was especially ecstatic to finally hear "Set the World on Fire" and "Artificial Anatomy" live. (Yes, I admit this was my first time seeing them live), and a few fan favorites based on the imaginary mosh-a-meter scale were "Crashout" and "This Comfort Won't Last."
If you missed out on this show, you missed a night that truly captured what the heavy music scene is all about. Take the time to check out these bands, stream their music, and if you're feeling extra supportive, pick up their merch online! Any support helps keep tours like this coming back through cities like San Antonio.
