Architects (w/ Stick To Your Guns, Counterparts) @ The Palladium (Worcester, MA) on February 18, 2018 [Photos & Show Review]

The “Doomsday Tour,” which sees UK metalcore giants Architects at the helm with supporting act Stick To Your Guns and opener Counterparts is currently in full swing and making its way across North America. We caught up with the tour as it came to The Palladium in Worcester, MA.

Despite it being a Sunday evening, the venue’s lower level was packed with fans by the time Counterparts took to the stage. From the get go there was a deluge of crowd surfers as the melodic hardcore band kicked into “Bouquet,” off of their latest album, 2017’s You’re Not You Anymore followed by “Stranger,” from 2015’s Tragedy Will Find Us. I’ve yet to be disappointed by Counterparts’ live performance, and tonight was no different–their set ripped! The remainder featured some of the biggest bangers from their latest release, including “Haunt Me,” “Swim Beneath My Skin,” and “No Servant of Mine.” Were the remainder of the bill to have included any other bands than Architects and STYG, Counterparts would’ve easily upstaged them.

Stick To Your Guns picked up where Counterparts left off, with frontman Jesse Barnett high-fiving crowd surfers as they rode their way over the barricade. They started things off with a new track, “Married to the Noise,” from 2017’s True View before playing fan-favorite “Nobody.” STYG were in their usual form, with guitarists Chris Rawson and Josh James leaping up and down and Barnett bounding around the stage, barking out every word. While the crowd may have ultimately been there for Architects, that didn’t stop them from going nuts for Stick to Your Guns. Things got especially rowdy for the final two songs in their set, which became giant sing-alongs, “Amber,” and “Against Them All.”

At last it was time for Architects to close the night out, emerging to set-opener “A Match Made in Heaven.” I’ve seen Architects several times, but something was different with frontman Sam Carter’s vocals on this night. His gutturals sounded more raw and brutal (excuse the cliché) than in the past or on any of their records. The set would go on to include several other tracks from All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, including “Downfall,” “Gravity,” and “Phantom Fear.”

One thing I’ve always loved about Architects is how outspoken they are when it comes to things like social issues. Tonight was no different, with Carter taking some time between songs to tell those gathered to not be afraid to say something—to stand up if they were to see someone being sexist, racist, or homophobic. He went on, saying: “Don’t be afraid to care, it’s fucking empowering. Don’t be a fucking sheep. Spread love, don’t spread hate” This was followed by the track “The Devil Is Near” from Lost Forever // Lost Together.

The rest of their performance was just as flawless, including new single, “Doomsday,” which sounds absolutely crushingly heavy live. The band returned for an encore with “Nihilist,” and “Gone With The Wind,” which was dedicated to the late Tom Searle, founding member and guitarist of the band. Fans in attendance moshed and head banged their hearts out to this last song–I think I can attribute my sore neck in the days that followed to this song alone. You can catch the Doomsday Tour through March 16th–see the remaining dates below!

Remaining Tour Dates:

02/27 – Edmonton, AB – Union Hall
02/28 – Calgary, AB – The Palace Theatre
03/01 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
03/02 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox
03/03 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
03/06 – San Francisco, CA – The Regency
03/07 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre
03/08 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
03/10 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
03/11 – Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
03/13 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill
03/14 – San Antonio, TX – Alamo City Music Hall
03/16 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade