Rising metalcore powerhouse 156/Silence has been making waves in recent years, particularly with their 2024 breakthrough album People Watching. Just in the past year, 156/Silence has been touring nonstop, joining major acts like Fit For a King and Chiodos. On September 4, the band dropped their newest full-length album From A Distance, a long-awaited release for metalcore fans everywhere. To celebrate, the band embarked on an extensive North American headliner tour starting on September 9, hitting major cities across the country up until October 3. With many dates of the tour selling out, 156/Silence prove that they are still on an upward rise and show no signs of stopping. On September 11, the band performed to a sold-out crowd at The Foundry in Philadelphia, PA, and the relentless energy among the crowd and the band made it a night to remember for anyone who attended.
Starting off the night was Texas-based metalcore band Fromjoy. Having toured with acts such as Silent Planet, Invent Animate, and The Acacia Strain within the past year, the band has been quickly making a name for themselves in the scene. With crushing riffs, thunderous rhythms, and ferocious screams, it did not take long for the crowd to start moving. The pit remained active throughout the set, with fans consistently moshing and even forming a circle pit during one song. Fromjoy concluded their set with their hard-hitting track “Ataraxia” from their recent EP Ataraxia 19.13.8.1.19, and the fans kept moshing and headbanging until the last note. Even if it was many people’s first time hearing Fromjoy, the band certainly made an impact, fully energizing everyone for the rest of the night.
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The second band to open was Australian metalcore band Heavensgate. Despite only having released a few singles and EPs so far, the band is already becoming well-known in the scene, and even recently collaborated with We Came As Romans for a reimagined rendition of their track “red smoke”. Heavensgate delivers a brutal, raw type of metalcore that can inspire anyone to open up a pit. Opening with “RAIN” from their latest EP A HEART IS A HEAVY BURDEN, the first crowdsurfers of the night started making their way through the venue. Throughout the set, the crowd never stopped moving for a second, constantly moshing, crowdsurfing, and forming circle pits. Heavensgate made sure that there was no shortage of energy in the room, keeping everyone hyped for the headlining act.
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The final opener of the night was Swedish metalcore act Aviana. A solo project led by vocalist Joel Holmqvist, the band has continued to grow a following in America, touring consistently during the past year with bands such as Make Them Suffer and ERRA. Aviana’s aesthetic alone makes the band stand out, with each member besides Joel wearing black hoodies and white masks. Their stage presence also captivated the crowd, with both guitarists constantly kicking and spinning around the stage. As the band opened with “STORM ABLAZE” from their latest album VOID, constant crowdsurfers started making their way through the room, and this energy never slowed down for a moment. Fans continued moshing and crowdsurfing until the very end of their set, proving that they still have more than enough energy left for the headliner.
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At around 9:25pm, the lights began to dim for the final time that night as the room filled with cheers, anticipating the headlining act. Soon enough, 156/Silence walked onto the stage as the venue continued to burst with enthusiasm. The band opened with the intro track of From A Distance, “Control Burns”, a song characterized by its haunting instrumentals until vocalist Jack Murray joins at the end of the track with brutal screams. They continued with the new songs, following up with “No Arms”, the second track of From A Distance. Almost immediately, fans started crowdsurfing one after another, ensuring that the set was off to a memorable start.
156/Silence has proven that they are undoubtedly one of the most versatile and hard-hitting metalcore bands right now, fully deserving of their current spotlight. The band delivers electrifying riffs, powerful screams, and brutal breakdowns as well as atmospheric melodies, and each of these creative choices drive the emotional impact of the music. Their unmatched stage presence is also a highlight, easily inspiring the crowd to get off their feet and mosh. Throughout the set, the pit never slowed down for a moment, and it only got crazier as the show continued. For “Better Written Villain”, Jack called for a wall of death as the song began, and the fans certainly listened, splitting the room in half and then quickly letting chaos ensue.
Even towards the end of the set, there was no lack of energy in the crowd as it felt like the entire room was moving, with fans continuing to mosh and crowdsurf. The only moment where the venue saw a bit of peace was during the band’s performance of the title track of the new album, “From A Distance”, as fans waved their phone flashlights in the air. 156/Silence quickly went heavy again with their 2018 track “Undercover Scumbag”, and the fans opened the pit once again. Before they closed out the set, Pittsburgh-native Jack left Philly fans one final message: “Fuck the Flyers”. The band ended their set with their 2024 fan-favorite track “Character Development (Cold Start)”, and the fans kept moshing until the very last note. 156/Silence’s performance at their sold-out Philly show was an experience that certainly made a memorable impact on everyone who attended, and the band’s journey is only just beginning.
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