The kings of metalcore, Killswitch Engage, stopped in Fayetteville, Arkansas this past Saturday to serenade us on their North American 2025 tour. With a line wrapping around the venue an hour before doors you could see the draw these titans have on the scene. Forming in 1999, their rise to fame came in 2004 with the release of “The End of Heartache ” which rose to number 21 on the Billboard 200, and got certified gold by the RIAA for over 500,000 sales just in the US. Selling out venues and festivals all over the world for longer than some of the fans that came to see them tonight have been alive, everyone was truly grateful for this Arkansas stop.
First out tonight we see Frozen Soul, an old school death metal band formed in Dallas T exas, in 2018. Rising in popularity year after year , they have crafted a unique and powerful sound. I honestly can’t compare them to many bands soundwise. Imagine if Metallica and Bolt Thrower had a beautiful baby boy that made music for cavemen. With over 33,000 listeners on Spotify and a record deal with Century Media, their neanderthal riffs and grunts are reaching the masses. Microphone stands wrapped in skeletons, old school B.C. Rich guitars, vocalist Chad Green’s spiked gauntlets, this band definitely looked the part and their production was top notch.
Next out we had Fit For A King also known as FFAK, a metalcore band originated in Tyler , T exas back in 2007 . They released 2 individual EPs “Fit For A King ” in 2008, and “Awaken the Vesper ” in 2009. Their big rise to fame came in 2011 when they released their debut independent album “Descendants ” , following with them signing to Solid State Records. Now, on their sixth studio album that we heard hits off tonight, “The Hell We Create ” . As they jump onstage, they go right into their hit “The Hell We Create ” , a sweet introduction made by frontman Ryan Kirby, remembering faces in the crowd from their many stops here in Arkansas on their past tours. As they continued their set with the “End (the other side)” the crowd had gotten louder and started singing along, with the passing of crowd surfers above making the fans even rowdier. Building on that momentum ‘Tuck’ the bassist had started swinging his guitar around and jumping off of risers to do aerial acrobatics. Shirts and water bottles flew in the air above the crowd, security telling people to stop crowd surfing and middle fingers up, this was one experience I’m happy to have experienced as it felt true to the meaning of metal itself.
Kublai Khan, our third band of the night is a metalcore band formed in Sherman, T exas in the summer of 2009. Releasing their first EP “Youth War ” in 2010 and eventually signing to Artery Recordings February, 2014. Not too long after , they released their debut full length album “Balancing Survival and Happiness ” April, 2014. A large circle pit starts along with water bottles being thrown in the air when they launch into “Boomslang ”. With every snarl Matt Honeycutt (vocalist) makes, the crowd gets rowdier and rowdier jumping, singing along, crowd surfing and headbanging. Kublai Khan doesn’t even have to play a note to get the crowd going. The second Mr. Honeycutt took the stage with that pissed off snarl on his face, the circle pits started. Heed my warning: stay far away from the pit when Kublai Khan pit when “Swan Song ” starts unless you’re there to get rowdy.
Killswitch Engage, our headliner of the night, took to the stage with the 2015 song “Strength Of The Mind” . Shoulder to shoulder the whole crowd was taken back to hearing KSE’s canonical album for the first time wherever they were at in their lives. As they got to “Rose of Sharyn ” lead vocalist Jesse Leach came down into the crowd to greet fans singing along with him, hugging and holding onto everyone like old friends. It truly was a beautiful and touching moment to see as he worked his way up and down the barrier. Continuing into “I Believe” he made his way up the mezzanine to greet more fans above. Blazing through hit after hit, album after album, and era after era it was an insane setlist with nonstop energy. Between Adam’s class clown antics, Joel’s stoic riffage, and Jesse’s energetic laps around the venue, Killswitch Engage reminded us all why they’ve been the kings of metalcore for the last 25 years.
The tour continues on until April, 12th with stops all across the country. Get your tickets today for the stop nearest you!
