Article and Photos by: Kimmi Taylor

Baltimore, MD – It was a special night in Baltimore, Maryland when Chiodos came to the Nevermore Hall to preform songs from their 2005 album, All’s Well That Ends Well. It becomes an unforgettable evening filled with powerful, high-energy rock. Four bands, each a heavy hitter in their own right. They all delivered performances that walked the razor’s edge between chaos and craftsmanship. From symphonic savagery to guttural grit, the night was a full-body assault in the best possible way. If you weren’t there, you missed one of the tightest, most solid deathcore shows in recent memory.

Big Ass Truck opened the night. They opened the night with intense riffs and powerful growls. Their energy never dipped once. They played a seven-song setlist featuring tracks such as “Big Ass Dog,” “BIG ASS BEER,” and “Corn-Fed.” This metal band fits the show perfectly, charging through a smoke-filled stage with wild kicks and constant motion. They made many new fans tonight.

Next up was Emmure. Their performance achieved a precise balance of hip hop and raw intensity hardcore rock. The crowd reacted at once, hands thrown into the air as voices rolled across the venue, meeting the band’s tight, high-impact performance in a surge of shared adrenaline. The energy was building so much in the venue, the fans started to mosh and go crazy. Cinematic and forceful, they opened their set with “You Asked for It,” a track that immediately set the tone with its heaviness and energy. Their entire set was packed with meaty power riffs and a healthy dose of classic rock stances.

The show was halfway over and it was getting a bit later, but with still so much energy in the room, Hawthorne Heights took to the stage. Lead singer, JT Woodruff, took a moment to talk to the crowd about  pretending to step back in time during their set because there is so much crazy in the world. “Pens and Needles, Hard to Breathe, “and “Niki FM,” kept the nostalgia adrenaline high. Crowd surfers started to storm up to the stage as the chorus began for “Ohio Is for Lovers,” with people yelling the lyrics right back to the band. While they only had a nine song set, it was one to remember

Last but certainly not least, Chiodos. The band storms the dark stage, but it’s singer Craig Owens who immediately seizes the crowd’s attention as the lights flash on and he jumps on the center raiser on front of the stage. By this point, the lights are brighter and the smoke is filling the stage and the crowd is loving it. They kept the momentum rolling with “There’s No Penguins In Alaska,” a song that blends metalcore touch with sweeping melody. The thirteen-song set includes the entire discography of the album, All’s Well That Ends Well. The build-up led into the song “All Nereids Beware” to start the hour and thirty-five minute long set. A heavy beginning for an extremely diverse set. Songs like “Two Birds Stoned At Once,” “No Hardcore Dancing in the Living Room,” and “We’re Gonna Have Us a Champagne Jam,” filled the set. The band doesn’t let up for a single moment, and neither does the crowd, before closing with “Baby, You Wouldn’t Last a Minute on the Creek.” The crowd still screamed with joy and continued to yell “One more song” before the lights came on and the amazing night had come to an end.

As the crowd filtered out of the venue, you could hear people saying the wait in the rain had been worth it the moment the doors opened. Choidos never lets its fans down, consistently delivering an unforgettable performance. Their tour runs through December 21st in the U.S., so be sure to check the dates and see if they’re heading to a city near you.