Melrose Avenue Conquers the USA on First Headlining Tour

It can take skill, dedication, or even some dumb luck for a band to make it big — and Melrose Avenue is on track to do just that with a little bit of help from everywhere! Coming from the bustling streets of Sydney, Australia, this up-and-coming melodic metalcore band has taken over the USA with their first headlining American tour this spring, joined by Autumn Kings and Stray View!

Though only debuting in 2022, the group has rapidly gained fame thanks to their infectious blending of metal and pop elements, their genuine charm, and, in true metal fashion, the lead singer’s absolutely rockin’ bod. They’ve built up massive overseas fanbases after their music and silly behind-the-scenes videos trended on TikTok and showed an unfiltered, authentic side of the band that many others refuse to publish. They’ve previously toured with metal powerhouse Ice Nine Kills, and their return to the States has already made waves with their raving fans. As they approach the midpoint of the 24-stop tour this week, Melrose made a quick stop in Greensboro to tear up the walls for their fans across the Carolinas to put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen at Hangar 1819.

The four-piece group consists of Vlado Saric on lead vocals, Mitch Black on lead guitar, Shawn Mayer on guitar and backing vocals, and Jed McIntosh on drums — with every member rocking some seriously badass ink. Vlado’s unique vocal style fuses with heavy metal and synth elements to create a fiery concoction that gets your blood pumping from the very first chorus. I’ve had a lot of their music in my workout playlist for some time now, and I debated hitting up the gym for a late-night session after the show thanks to their energizing performance. 

Right after Autumn Kings left the stage, their fans flooded the center of the venue to secure a spot as close to the stage as possible, and without a barricade, all the fans at the front got up close and personal with the band. And Melrose absolutely made it their goal to interact with the fans to their hearts’ content, giving out high-fives, handshakes, fist bumps, heart signs, and more to anyone who could reach their hand that far! Vlado grabbed a fan’s phone halfway through the set to snap a few pics and a video, and she “about lost her damn mind!” They played hit after hit, from older songs like "Enemy" and "Falling Apart" to big hits like "Suffering," "Through Hell," a wonderful cover of Bring Me The Horizon’s “Drown,” and brand-new tracks from their upcoming album, with a fresh new style to top it all off.

I was blown away by the spectacular show Melrose Avenue put on this week, and it’s impossible not to notice the sheer momentum they’ve built up in their relatively short time as a touring band. They’re the pure definition of striking the iron while it’s hot, and going into the second half of their US headlining tour, I’m confident they’ll make an even bigger name for themselves on this side of the globe. For now, keep an eye out for their new record that’s on its way and for plenty more shenanigans on their social media!