I had the chance to experience one of the heaviest tours in years this past Sunday, and I don't think I'll ever be able to get over the post-concert depression. Hatebreed gave a rebirth to The Summer Slaughter Tour, and what a slaughter it was. The Dallas, TX date incorporated a blend of hardcore, death metal, and dare I say punk and nu-metal to The Bomb Factory in Deep Ellum. Accompanied by Incite, Escuela Grind, Gridiron, Creeping Death, and Fugitive, fans in attendance were able to have the time of their life in the best way possible.
Starting the night off was Incite, a band that should not need any sort of introduction. This was not the first time I was given the luxury of seeing this band, as they were one of the openers for Cavalera back in Dallas about 2 years ago. As the band took the stage, they immediately broke out into some of the heaviest metal to grace the Deep Ellum area in quite some time. The only issue I have with Incite's set is that they weren't able to play longer.
Escuela Grind took the stage next, and I am so pissed I missed them the last time they were in Dallas, TX. This band brought the absolute chaos. You tell me how many other bands can get a venue to split into a Wall of Death at 6:30pm on a Sunday. Not only did they bring the heavy, but they were just all-around fun to watch as each member of the band was running, jumping, and head-banging the entire set. While I don't know many things, I do know that Texas desperately needs to see this band again in the DFW area!
Gridiron, another band that Music Scene Media is not unfamiliar with, took the stage next and brought a different type of vibe to the show. They still brought the heavy but combined it with their signature hip-hop sound. Seeing fans of all ages crowd-surfing and moshing to each and every song was a sight to behold. I still can't get over how great Gridiron sounded live as they played songs off their newest release, Poetry From Pain. A 10 out of 10 album from a 10 out of 10 band.
If you missed the tour itself, you messed up. If you showed up but came late, you really messed up. If you showed up, but missed hometown legends Creeping Death, you fucked up! My third time seeing the band and each time has been more intense than the last, Creeping Death is arguably one of the best things to come out of the DFW area. The band literally just finished up another tour just days before coming to join Summer Slaughter for a couple of dates. Fans exploded into chaos as Creeping Death continued to decimate the venue with the most brutal death metal to ever grace Deep Ellum. Like I said, if you missed it, you fucked up.
Talking about hometown heroes, fans were also given a treat as Fugitive came all the way from Fort Worth to unleash hell. The band hit the stage to a roar of applause that was nothing short of deafening in the best way possible. Fans, venue staff, and photographers alike were head-banging along as Fugitive played banger after banger. It was almost as if every time the riff from the next song hit, the crowd's energy was replenished and they were ready to throw down again. Easily the best and most intense set I've had the luxury of experiencing in quite some time.
After several hours of moshing, crowd surfing, and circle pitting, it was finally time for the venue to drop the black tarp hiding the stage. As it dropped, the crowd roared with cheers and applauded at a seismic level as a band that has shaped the very foundation of hardcore and heavy music took the stage. I'm talking about the legend that is Hatebreed. I had the luxury of experiencing Hatebreed back in 2017 and 2018 when they were on the Vans Warped Tour, but seeing them as a headliner on the Summer Slaughter Tour was next level. The command of the crowd that frontman Jamey Jasta had was nothing like I ever experienced before.
As Hatebreed had the crowd surf, circle pit, and mosh the night away, the energy never left fans for a second. Talk about dedication. All I know is this: Hatebreed truly is about that life. Doing this type of music as long as I have been alive, 8 albums under their belt, and God only knows how many performances, Hatebreed has been setting the standard for metal and hardcore for years now. Them bringing back the Summer Slaughter Tour to a new level full of new, fun, and upcoming bands truly shows how much they care about this music and want to see it succeed.
