A packed crowd gathered outside the Roxian Theater in Pittsburgh tonight for The Cursed Tour featuring Paleface Swiss, Stick to Your Guns, and Nasty. The crowd was lined up across the front of the venue and several blocks down the street, with all types ready to get out their weekly frustrations this Friday eve. Hardcore, deathcore, and beatdown will be the soundtrack to usher in the weekend for all in attendance tonight.

Nasty would kick off things; this band comes from Belgium and has a metalcore/beatdown sound to them. Nasty also released their latest EP on March 14th, called Black My Heart, which features a single with tourmates Paleface Swiss entitled ‘Talk.’ From the first note, Nasty cranked the energy to 11, heavy riffs and fast, heavy vocals coming right down the barrel. The pit was going hard and fast with bodies careening into each other for the whole set. The band was just as energetic, pacing the stage while performing and running across the stage; vocalist Mathias even jumped down into the crowd for a part of the set.

With the crowd now primed and firing, Stick to Your Guns took the stage next. This Californian hardcore outfit dropped an album in early 2025 entitled Keep Planting Flowers. Their high-energy set had this Pittsburgh crowd bouncing to every song. The pit kept turning as crowd surfers were starting to come over the barricade now. The band played through many of their hits, “Invisible Rain”, “Keep Planting Flowers”, and “Spineless”, before wrapping up.

Paleface Swiss took the stage in a fury of angst. As soon as the lights rose after Un Pobre Nino Murio finished, the venue was in chaos. Vocalist Marc Zelli Zellweger ripped right into “Hatred”, pacing the stage as the crowd whipped into a frenzy. The music was fast and heavy as security had their hands full with moshers, crowd surfers, and occasional injuries along the way. The band played through “Nail to the Tooth”, “The Gallow”, and “Rivers of Sorrow” before throwing the crowd into another gear with “Please End Me”. The pace was unrelenting as the band came back out for an encore, closing out with the single Love Burns.

If you are looking for a fast-paced, heavy show, mark off the calendar to see The Cursed Tour. These bands came to play their asses off, and you won’t be able to stand still the whole show.

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George Archibald

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AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN COLLIDE TO BRING THE USA SOME KICK ASS MUSIC AND FUN.

Kim Dracula, alongside Hanabie and Crystal Lake, came into the Filmore in Silver Spring, Maryland, and brought the right kind of entertainment that we so needed.

Crystal Lake put on a super intense and chaotic live show. With super insane riffs and brutal drums, Crystal Lake opened up the show perfectly, getting the crowd into a frenzy. This was my first time seeing the band, and they brought the fierceness of the metal genre with them.

Hanabie was next, and this was my second time getting to see them. I saw them last year when they toured with Jinjer. They are a perfect mix of metal, K-pop, and all-around fun. These girls not only know how to entertain and put on a show, they also play their instruments with perfection. Such a great blend of vocals from sweet and innocent playfulness to guttural growls. The crowd was loving them, and they have such a huge following in America, and I only see them getting even bigger.

Kim Dracula was the headliner, and this was my first time seeing the band. I’m kinda new to the whole Kim Dracula scene but have jumped on board right away with their mix of music and odd and weirdness they bring to the stage. I’m an old head, so for the younger generation, the closest I could say is that Kim Dracula reminds me of Mr. Bungle with a new generation twist. The show was fun, and damn, Kim is such a phenomenal persona. Not only is it amazingly entertaining, but what an amazing voice! Kim Dracula goes from metal screams to deep voice talking to crazy fast raps to singing high chops like Rob Halford. I was surprised to hear not one but two covers. Pearl Jam’s “Even Flow” and Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi.”

Not only do you get this amazing music and musicians on stage, but then all of a sudden the song breaks out into a saxophone solo. WHAT?? So I encourage everyone to go see Kim Dracula when they tour in your area; you won’t be disappointed.

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Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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Terrifying North America Tour featuring Aborted, Ingested, Peeling Flesh, and Extermination Dismemberment at Preserving in New Kensington, PA, 3-2-2025

It was a bitterly cold Sunday, a biting cold as death metal fans lined the sidewalk in front of the old church, which is Preserving Records in New Kensington, Pa. Tonight the Terrifying North America Tour brings death metal veterans Aborted back to the Burgh. Aborted have frequented the Pittsburgh area over the last few years, having played the Roxian and building a solid fan base within the city. Along with Aborted is English death metal act Ingested. Also a season veteran in the genre, Ingested returns to the states with new vocalist Josh Davies and new guitarist Andrew Virrueta. Also opening up the tour is Extermination Dismemberment and Peeling Flesh, two bands making their rise in the scene.

Extermination Dismemberment kicked off the show. This band didn’t waste any time, grinding and slamming out of the gate; the pit was churning immediately. The band welcomed everyone for coming and made everyone aware they came from Belarus to kick their asses. The songs were filled with double bass, snare blasts, and fast-paced grinds; enough to make any hardcore enthusiast’s ears perk. When the band kicked into “Corpsepit”, the crowd was jumping up and down in unison before breaking out into chaos. The band closed out their set with “Omnivore”.

Peeling Flesh was up next; this band has been gaining quite a bit of attention in the scene lately. Having appeared on the Garza Podcast and hitting the road hard has helped in growing their following. Another slam from the start and count the bodies later band, Peeling Flesh came out in a fury. Pit churning, limbs flying, as straight out the game the band was bringing heat. “Mr. Nasty Time”, “12 Gauge Autopsy”, and “Bodega Bloodbath” really got the crowd moving. The band will throw samples and hip-hop beats in at times, then, like whiplash, head into another slamming breakdown. With snare bombs going off and bodies careening, it is like watching a car crash unfold.

UK death metal veterans Ingested took to the stage, opening things up with “Titanomachy”. New vocalist Josh Davies is full of energy and fits well into the shoes of former vocalist Jason Evans. The band sounded mean; slams and fast-paced breaks kept the crowd on its toes. These veterans know how to work a crowd, as surfers were now making their way onto the stage. Newest single “Alter of Flesh” really got the bodies moving; the band kept up the energy ripping through “Invidious” and “Cremated Existence” before closing with a wall of death on “Skinned and Fucked”.

Closing out the night was Aborted. The crowd was all fired up and had eagerly been awaiting these masters of macabre to take the stage. Vocalist Sven De Caluwe paced the stage like a madman. Known for his high-energy live shows, this crowd wouldn’t get a rest during the set. The band’s setlist was filled with heavy hitters; “Retrogore”, “Dreadbringer”, and “Death Cult” made the pit sway and churn. The band continued the mayhem, playing through “The Shape of Hate” before ending with “Hecatomb”.

Pittsburgh was such a gracious host for the Terrifying North America Tour. The crowd was enthusiastic, and the energy never dropped. If you are looking for a heavy death metal show to get the blood moving, this is the tour for you. 

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George Archibald

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