KNOCKED LOOSE / HATEBREED / DRAIN / MILITARIE GUN

2024-11-15

KNOCKED LOOSE / HATEBREED / DRAIN / MILITARIE GUN – LIVE

By Mia Palazzo

November 09, 2024 – Saturday night at the Toyota Oakdale Theatre was nothing short of a hardcore paradise, with Knocked Loose, Hatebreed, Drain, and Militarie Gun delivering an unrelenting night of high-energy performances that left Wallingford shaken. The night was packed with fierce riffs, intense crowd participation, and a lineup that showcased both the legends and future of hardcore.

Militarie Gun opened the night with a powerful set, featuring tracks like “Pressure Cooker” and fan favorites “Ain’t No Flowers” and “Let Me Be Normal.” Their blend of catchy yet emotionally heavy music has been a recipe for rapid growth in 2024, and their performance at Oakdale showed exactly why they’re on the rise. The early crowd was fully engaged, jumping along to every track, and the energy from Militarie Gun set the tone for a night filled with raw emotion and unfiltered intensity.

Photos Mia Palazzo

Next up was Drain, who brought their signature West Coast flavor to Connecticut. Opening with “Feel the Pressure” and driving into tracks like “Watch You Burn” and “Living Proof,” Drain didn’t hold back. This was one of the most chaotic performances I have seen in my life, with the vocalist jumping into the crowd during the first song, and throwing the microphone into the pit numerous times for fans to sing along.

The crowd surfers during this set were also very notable, as there was a constant flow of people rushing over the barricade the entire set. Their final song, “California Cursed,” was a standout moment, complete with the now-infamous flying mic that had the crowd at the front on high alert. Vocalist Sammy Ciaramitaro’s relentless energy fueled a chaotic mosh pit, and by the end of their set, Drain had undoubtedly converted some new fans on the East Coast.

Photos Mia Palazzo

Hatebreed, Connecticut’s hardcore veterans, followed with a set that felt like a hometown celebration. The crowd packed in tightly for their performance, singing along to classics like “Before Dishonor,” “Destroy Everything,” and the anthemic closer, “I Will Be Heard.” Celebrating 30 years as a band, Hatebreed brought out longtime fans and newer hardcore enthusiasts, creating an electric atmosphere. Fans cheered and yelled along to every word vocalist Jamey Jasta sang, and created one of the biggest pits I have seen at any Connecticut show to date. The venue was awash in Hatebreed jerseys and tee’s, and the local love was palpable as they delivered a tight, high-energy set that reminded everyone why they remain a staple in hardcore.

Photos Mia Palazzo

Finally, Knocked Loose took the stage, and the energy reached a level I didn’t even know was possible for this venue. The stage setup, with moss-covered trees and mic stands and a towering cross inspired by their recent album, added an ominous backdrop to their performance. Opening with “Thirst” and diving into tracks like “Mistakes Like Fractures” and “God Knows,” Knocked Loose held nothing back.

The crowd was relentless, and fan-favorite tracks like “Billy No Mates” and “Counting Worms” brought waves of crowd surfers and relentless moshing. Notably, their wall of death during “Everything is Quiet Now” erupted the entirety of Toyota Oakdale’s Dome theatre into an elaborate mosh pit most metal acts could only dream of. Their Grammy-nominated song “Suffocate” added a touch of prestige to the night, proving their influence not only in hardcore but in the broader metal scene as well. The night closed with “Sit & Mourn,” leaving the audience drained yet buzzing with adrenaline, a perfect end to an unforgettable hardcore showcase.