If you had told me before Saturday’s show that I was about to enter the swamps of Florida, I would have assumed it was just a clever way of saying I was going to see Wage War. By the end of the night, I understood exactly what that meant.
Before fans even stepped back out onto the streets of Allentown, Pennsylvania, they could feel the Florida heat lingering inside Archer Music Hall. The sold out crowd was in for an unforgettable night featuring Orthodox, Nevertel, and Wage War.
Opening the evening, Orthodox wasted no time showing the crowd exactly what they were about. Security immediately realized they had their work cut out for them as crowd surfers began flying over the barricade. The rails shook from relentless headbanging while the band unleashed crushing breakdowns that blended hardcore aggression with flashes of 90s nu metal influence. It was the perfect way to ignite the chaos that would define the night.
Next up was Nevertel, bringing a modern and genre bending approach to the lineup. Their performance sounded remarkably close to the recordings fans know so well. Vocalist Jeremy Michael delivered clean vocals with impressive consistency, hitting every note with confidence. Fans throughout the venue sang along, making it clear that Nevertel earned their place on this bill just as much as the headliners.
Then it was finally time for Wage War.
The crowd was about to discover the true meaning of swampcore, and the Florida heat came with it.
Touring in support of their latest album, It Calls Me By Name, Wage War transformed the venue into complete chaos almost immediately. The floor became a nonstop wave of crowd surfers while the pit evolved from a friendly two step into a full blown circle pit within moments. Despite the mayhem, one rule remained constant: if someone went down, they got picked right back up.
Frontman Briton Bond commanded every inch of the stage, delivering punishing gutturals while Cody Quistad balanced the aggression with soaring clean vocals that had the crowd singing along at full volume. The combination created the perfect balance between brutality and melody that has become a trademark of the band’s sound.
Guitarists Seth Blake and Cody Quistad delivered bone crushing down tuned riffs with remarkable clarity, while drummer Stephen Kluesner tied everything together through technical precision and relentless energy. Every member played a vital role in maintaining the band’s balance of crushing heaviness and massive hooks.
Equally impressive was the stage production. Wage War fully immersed fans in the swamp themed world of the tour, creating a visual experience that felt larger than life. The attention to detail made it feel as though a piece of Florida had been transported directly into Pennsylvania. Long after the show ends, many fans will probably never look at a swamp quite the same way again.
Between the endless crowd surfing, the massive pit, and even one fan somehow crowd surfing while chugging a beer, there was never a dull moment. But beyond all the chaos, the night served as a reminder that metalcore is no longer an emerging genre. It is thriving.
Watching thousands of fans sing every word while simultaneously throwing themselves into breakdowns and crushing riffs proved just how healthy the scene is right now. The connection between these bands and their audience was impossible to ignore.
Heavy music is alive and well. Heavy hitting mosh anthems are being written right now, and judging by what happened inside Archer Music Hall, the future looks brighter than ever.
Wage War Tour
