It was a night of endless hardcore music as Drain headlined The Opera House in Toronto. The band are headlining their tour to support their new album, Living Proof, released under their new label at Epitaph Records. The jam-packed crowd was ready to rampage through everyone with a plethora of the best of hardcore music.
New York hardcore band Combust was the first band of the night. After first seeing the band late last year, I knew there were going to bring an energetic performance. Lead vocalist Andrew Vacante was moving throughout the set and got some of the crowd to move in the middle.
Gel was the second band of the night, and they were terrific as always. The band has gotten more popular since the release of their album, Only Constant, so it was no surprise the crowd was more amped up in the pit. Sami Kaiser’s screams were powerful while her bandmates ripped through the set effortlessly.
Lineup:
Sami Kaiser – Lead vocalist
Anthony Webster – Guitar
Maddi Nave – Guitar
Bobko – Bass
Zach Miller – Drummer
Setlist:
1. Bitchmade
2. Dicey
3. Attainable
4. Mental Static
5. Fortified
6. XOXO
7. Assumption
8. Predominant Mask
9. Honed Blade
10. Composure
Magnitude brought down the house with their first performance in Toronto as the third opener. Lead vocalist Russ commanded the set with his energy, which included himself getting up to the crowd. Numerous circle pits were ordered from Russ, as the band pulled off an impressive showing in their Toronto debut.
Lineup:
Russ – Lead vocalist
Matt – Guitar
Paul – Guitar
Connor – Drummer
Meatle – Bass
Setlist:
1. Defy
2. Opposition
3. Vital Emergence
4. Counterattack
5. Essence
6. Ceaseless
7. Rectify
8. To Whatever Fateful End
Drug Church was the final opener of the show. Knowing that I saw them opening for The Bronx last year, I knew they know how to entertain a crowd. Lead singer Patrick Kindlon was not impressed by the crowd’s energy at the start of their set. After getting them fired up after “Avoidarama,” an endless amount of crowd surfing started flowing through the crowd for the entire set.
Lineup:
Patrick Kindlon – Lead vocalist
Nick Cogan – Guitarist
Cory Galusha – Guitarist
Patrick Nguyen – Bass
Chris Villeneuve – Drummer
Setlist:
1. Fun’s Over
2. World Impact
3. Avoidarama
4. Grubby
5. Myopic
6. Bliss Out
7. But Does It Work?
8. Unlicensed Guidance Counselsor
9. Unlicensed Hall Monitor
10. Weed Pin
11. Million Miles of Fun
The lights got brighter to signal the arrival of Drain. Sammy Ciaramitaro hyped up the audience to a frenzy before the start of “Feel the Pressure.” A few seconds into the song, Sammy goes offstage and joins the audience at the barricade. He gave an opportunity for the audience to scream the lyrics, as he gave the fans a moment to savour. Sammy gave a shoutout to his family, who came from Hamilton, and to Steel City Hardcore, a community promoting hardcore shows in Hamilton.
The energy and chaos were at an all-time high from start to finish. The band members continued to smash their guitars and drums while Sammy screamed with all his might. Endless mosh pits and dancing were at their craziest. From the many times I have been to The Opera House, this is the first time I have seen the venue this packed and chaotic. But the energy and craziness Drain performed made the show one of the best I had ever seen in this venue. I and many others in the crowd hope Drain comes back soon to tear up another show!
Lineup:
Sammy Ciaramitaro – Lead vocalist
Cody Chavez – Guitar
Tim Flegal – Drummer
Setlist:
1. Feel the Pressure
2. Watch You Burn
3. Evil Finds Light
4. Good Good Things (Descendents cover)
5. Weight of the World
6. Army of One
7. Sick One
8. Intermission
9. Devil’s Itch
10. Living Proof
11. California Cursed
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Andrew Wu is a music photographer based in Toronto, Canada. His work focuses on capturing and documenting special moments of performers during concerts and various events. His photos have been featured such as music publications in Spill Magazine, Imprint Entertainment, and Patchchord News. In 2020, he completed his BFA in photography at OCAD University.
Andrew is a massive fan of music, as he enjoys a variety of genres such as pop, alternative, rock, hardcore, and metal.