Review by Adaline Cornell & Scott Cornell | Photos by Scott Cornell

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Last night at The Fillmore in Minneapolis, Spite opened the 3 act show with a bang. The five-piece from California, led by vocalist Darius Tehrani of Californian deathcore metal band, Spite, brought heavy rhythmic low-end metal that fans of Thy Art Is Murder, Acacia Strain, After the Burial and Suicide Silence will appreciate. All wearing plain black shirts, the band wasted no time and Tehrani requested a circle pit with no delay.

Multi-colored LEDs strobed and streaked through the lightly hazed air of The Fillmore, setting the tone for the rest of the night. Spite played third and by the crowd reaction, "I.E.D." was seemingly a fan favorite. The energy was aggressive, with plenty of rhythmic banging heads across the stage. The band utilized the platforms that lined the front of the stage to better interact with the crowd, and Tehrani commanded the audience with a raised fist expecting full-bodied screams from the fans.

Spite delivered a loud and hardcore performance that was not for the faint of heart. The vocalist even went as far as spitting on the crowd and encouraging them to spit on him. The crowd engagement was solid, and the huge LED logo in the back only added to the overall experience. The setlist included "Lord of the Upside Down," "Caved In," "Dedication to Flesh," and "Kill or Be Killed."

The frontman used every available perch to sing, scream or make his demands, and the set closer "Crumble" introduced the first white stage lights of the show. Spite played a 30-minute set that left the audience wanting more. If you're a heavy metal fan, don't miss the chance to see Spite live.

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Nothing, Nowhere, (stylized as nothing,nowhere), took the stage at The Fillmore in Minneapolis as haze billowed over the crowd. nothing,nowhere, a rapper, songwriter, frontman, and band namesake led the four-piece in all-black Carhartt overalls with custom screen printing. An audio issue presented itself as an additional layer of vocals during “THIRST4VIOLENCE,” but the vocalist spent a moment correcting the issue and continued the song without missing a beat. The guitarist and bassist kept to their side of the stage despite it being opened up from the crowded and amped-backed Spite setup.

The bass shook the floor, walls, and every air-filled set of lungs throughout The Fillmore. nothing,nowhere spoke of a previous cancellation of a Minneapolis show due to mental health issues and encouraged the crowd to embrace and celebrate the little mental health wins. A Spider-Man-dressed fan was spotted crowd surfing, to which Nothing, Nowhere gave a shout-out.

A large LED screen displayed the nothing,nowhere logo, silhouetting the drummer who sat in near complete darkness. Guest vocalist Jacob Lilly of Chamber joined the quartet on stage during “TRAG3DY.” nothing,nowhere was rarely static during the set, and the frontman spoke to the crowd quite a bit.

The setlist included “PSYCHO_PSYCHIATRY,” “SUICIDE_PACT,” “dread,” “ANX13TY,” “Skully,” “buck,” and “Hammer.” The style was a mix of indie and emo, post-hardcore, rap rock, stylings like Falling in Reverse, and Highly Suspect’s love child.

The venue was illuminated by mobile phone lights and lighters for “VEN0M” during which the low end was so pronounced it drowned out the frontman, the crowd, and any high end from the performers. The show had more than 80% capacity and was a testament to the dynamic sound and presence of nothing,nowhere. If you're a fan of rap rock and hardcore music, make sure to catch nothing,nowhere live.

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Wage War Brings High Energy to the Stage on the Manic Tour.

As the crowd eagerly waited for Wage War to take the stage, a rotating 3D "double W" logo was prominently displayed, setting the tone for the headlining act. The energy in the room was palpable, and fans erupted into nostalgia as Crossfade's hit "Cold" played in between sets. The band's 2D logo bounced across the LED screen, signaling the beginning of Wage War's 17th performance on the Manic Tour.

The quintet from Ocala, Florida took the stage, bathed in red light and silhouetted by perfectly timed visuals on the stage-wide LED screen. Lead vocalist Briton Bond, lead guitarist Seth Blake, rhythm guitarist and clean vocalist Cody Quistad, bassist Chris Gaylord, and drummer Stephen Kluesener brought their A-game to the stage, playing through their catalog of hits and fan favorites.

The unseated members of the band took turns on the stage platforms, engaging with each other and the fans throughout the nearly 60-minute set. Frontman Bond displayed his charismatic personality, interacting with the crowd and keeping the energy level high. As crowd surfers were passed hand over hand, the band's stadium-level energy was apparent.

Synchronized headbanging was a frequent occurrence during the breakdowns, solidifying the bond between bandmates while still showcasing their individual style and personality. Bassist Chris Gaylord even showed off some fancy footwork that is more commonly found with pop acts.

All five band members were dressed in all black, and every sense was pummeled during Wage War's 19-song set. "Death Roll" brought a waterfall of bodies to the barricade as hair violently twirled on stage. The band ended with "Circle the Drain" before briefly exiting the stage prior to the two-song encore.

The encore featured a stripped-down version of "Johnny Cash" and "Manic." Frontman Bond declared the crowd the best they've ever played for, and the use of CO2 blasts added an impressive touch to the already high-energy show.

Overall, Wage War's Manic Tour was an electrifying experience that left the crowd buzzing with excitement long after the final note was played.