Fans packed into Tempe’s Marquee Theatre this week to catch Killswitch Engage on their latest North American tour. The metalcore act was joined by Machine Head for one of the most highly anticipated runs of the summer, filling the room with energetic moshing and positive connections.
A horde of Machine Head fans pushed towards the barricade to see the thrash metal legends in full effect as they warmed up the already sweaty crowd. The first notes of “Imperium” had bodies flying over the barricade, starting a relentless onslaught of crowd surfing that kept up for the entirety of the band’s set. Midway through the performance, the room was split in two for an impressive wall of death considering the size of the room and the eagerness of the audience to throw themselves into the roiling mass of the pit. The band concluded their high-octane set with “Davidian” as their fans regrouped for the final band of the night.
Killswitch Engage has always found a warm reception in Arizona and this week’s show was no exception. Fans on the barricade crowded even closer as the band took the stage under a wash of green light and crashing guitars to start the set with “Daylight Dies” and “My Curse”. Singer Jesse Leach preferred to get up close and personal with the audience, jumping down onto the barricade to sing with the audience and high five the kids watching from the side. That camaraderie with their fans from the start elevated the energy in the venue, with another constant stream of crowd surfers flying towards the front as the night went on.
From the band’s blinding production to the live debut of some deep cuts from their extensive discography, the performance was a bright entry into the many visits Killswitch Engage has made to Phoenix over the years. Fans exited Marquee sweaty, exhausted and thrilled at the band’s dedication to providing a top tier live show time and time again.
