Worcester-based pop punk band Four Year Strong has always held a special place in my heart. With their poppy choruses, sing-alongs, and unique easycore breakdowns, they are a band to crowd surf to, while you cry and sing your heart angsty little heart out. I was more than excited when they announced their fall 2015 tour, especially because they were taking fellow massachusetts based hardcore band, Defeater with them. I knew immediately that the opportunity to see two bands I love in a small intimate setting was something I could not miss. I knew things would be close, packed, and personal for this show. Awesome.

I do happen to be good at attending shows, but definitely not getting myself to them. After a traffic filled stop-and-go drive down to Cambridge, I actually missed Elder Brother and Superheaven (the first two bands), but I can still boast about how awesome the last two were. First off was Defeater. All I can say is “wow.” With an entire discography telling the story of a dysfunctional family in the 1940s-50’s that was affected by death, betrayal, and alcoholism, every note of every one of their songs has meaning. Seeing their fans scream along with the lyrics with tears in their eyes was truly moving. For a melodic hardcore band, their performance was heart-wrenchingly emotional. Frontman Derek was the star of the show, and he blew me away. His face, covered in sweat and beet red the entire set, showed how much he puts into his performance. It was my first time seeing them, and after being so emotionally moved after their set, I know I will definitely be seeing them again.

After Defeater’s stellar performance, it was time for Four Year Strong. The bearded pop-punk masters of Worcester finally took the stage, opening up with “We all Float Down Here,” the first single off of their new self-titled album. They shredded through their setlist of old songs, new songs, and songs in between. Some highlights were “It Must Really Suck to be Four Year Strong Right Now,” “Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die,” and “Find my Way Back.” With all the energy they put out, the mosh pit was crazy all night.People joyfully singing along with every lyric whole pushing, flailing, and jumping around made it a strangely happy environment. Four Year Strong definitely knows how to get their fans together as one big family. Everyone in the venue was more than happy to be there, and were ecstatic to be sharing the night with like-minded fans. Ending the night with their hit, “Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)”, they didn’t hold back. Being back home in MA, it was the last night of the tour too. The emotion in the room played between the band and the audience beautifully. Up until the last note rang as they left the stage, they gave it their all, while the fans returned the favor in feedback and energy.

Everytime I see them, Four Year Strong just get better and better, which is why I’ll be attending their annual Christmas show in Worcester this December for the second year in a row. Expect a review on that, because these guys rock.

Emmure and The Acacia Strain have had a feud that has lasted a few years now. Not too long ago, the hatred between the bands’ frontmen, Frankie Palmeri (Emmure) and Vince Bennett (The Acacia Strain) resulted in a physical fight between the two. After their scuffle, they decided to put their differences behind them and stop being childish. Now, in 2014, they are shocking everyone by announcing the Eternal Enemies  tour together (named so for Emmure’s new album). I attended the kickoff show of the tour at the Worcester Palladium and was very pleased with the overall experience. The venue opened the doors to the side stage at 4:00 p.m. to let local bands play, but I’ll skip to the popular bands who are doing every show of the tour.

To start off the permanent lineup of the tour, rap-metal band Sylar from Queens, New York hit the stage and did an excellent job at opening the night with high energy and catchy breakdowns, rapping, screaming, and turntable scratching. The lead singer had an energy to him that really made it obvious he cares about what he does. The backup clean vocalist, however, did not really shine too well with his screechy, untrained vocals. After Sylar, metalcore/hardcore band Kublai Khan hit the stage with a high string energy that made the crowd explode with great feedback. People were jumping around, moshing, and crowdsurfing. For a somewhat uninteresting band with not much variety in their sound, they really know how to get a crowd to go wild. After Kublai Khan, Fit for a King took the stage with a very solid performance. Not being familiar with them, I didn’t really engage in their set as I did with the other bands, but needless to say, they still put on a great show.

Finally, it was time for the first headliner, The Acacia Strain, to start. As we waited, the people around me all told me to watch my back, as people “lose their minds” to The Acacia Strain, and being their home show (they’re Massachusetts natives), people were going to “go nuts” even more. The moment the band started started, a mosh pit the size of the entire floor broke out, and didn’t stop until they walked off stage. Having a love for moshing, I always participate in the pit, but for the first time ever, the pit was far too violent to join. While The Acacia Strain blessed the audience with their low-tuned, breakdown-filled, brutal music, I watched as people left the pit covered in blood, sweat, and black eyes. Frontman Vince Bennett’s growled vocals shook the room the entire set with its low pitch, hatefully wonderful sound, while the guitarists, bassist, and drummer completed the absolutely brutal ensemble.

After The Acacia Strain, it was time for the main headliner, Emmure to start. The moment they entered the stage with their controversial new track, which is too offensive to name in this review, the room resonated with their breakdowns, screams, and offensive lyrics. Their blend of deathcore with nu-metal and hip hop influence made it a truly fun set. Although they receive a lot of negativity for their offensive lyrics and lack of complexity in their music, they really know how to set an audience off and receive high energy feedback from a crowd. Their set covered classics from their early albums, all the way to songs off their newest release, Eternal Enemies. The vast collection of songs they played caused an energy that lasted from beginning to end. The tired, sore, and ear-ringing, hour long drive home on the mass pike was definitely worth the great night of moshing, crowdsurfing, and going wild.