On Friday, May 29th, Wage War's "It Calls Me By Name" tour stopped at the Masquerade Heaven in Atlanta, Georgia for a night of heavy music and high energy.

Opening the show was Orthodox, a hardcore group from Nashville, Tennessee. Their 11 song setlist consisted of heavy hitters that immediately got the crowd fired up. Sometimes at shows, the crowd can be less than enthusiastic for openers, but that was not the case for Orthodox. The mosh pit opened during their very first song, and rarely did it close. Wave after wave of crowd surfers could be seen atop the crowd. And when vocalist Adam Easterling called for two-stepping, almost everyone was happy to oblige. The band's unstoppable momentum was paired with strobing back lights and dim front-lighting. The atmosphere was definitely hardcore, and by the time they'd finished, the audience was fired up and ready for more.

Next to perform was Nevertel, a band from Tampa, Florida who seamlessly blends genres such as nu-metal and hip-hop. This group was a crowd favorite, evident from the way fans were singing along to all the words. Something I particularly enjoyed about their performance was the blend between their two vocalists, Jeremy Michael and Raul Lopez. While Lopez's technique was more focused on rap and unclean vocals, Michael brought forth the clean harmonies, that when combined, created a powerful sound. While this style of music isn't always to my taste, I found myself particularly engaged with their set. Not only were their vocals on point, but their instrumentals sounded great, too. Even without a traditional bass presence, the low end remained full and resonant, providing an extra punch to the songs. Their performance was definitely a highlight of the night.

Finally, it was time for Wage War, the metalcore group from Ocala, Florida, to perform. Since this tour is promoting their recent EP release "IT CALLS ME BY NAME," it was only fitting they opened with "4x4," one of the heaviest tracks off the record. It was the perfect way to set the tone of high energy and non-stop movement, both from the band and crowd. Those at the barricade were headbanging so hard, I'm surprised the thing wasn't shaking. Meanwhile, the middle of the room wasted no time in opening a mosh pit that stayed active for almost the entire set.

Something I particularly enjoyed about Wage War's performance was the stage setup. One of the songs off the new EP is called "Song of the Swamp," and the cover art is of an alligator's scales, so it made sense that the stage was decked out as if we were actually in a swamp. At the back of the stage was a wooden, worn-down-looking bait shop, surrounded by long grass that might grow at the edge of water. Meanwhile, moss and vines were draped around the mic stands and drum kit, while camo netting hung across the front of the stage, which really tied the whole theme together. Additionally, the lighting was expertly crafted to enhance not only the visuals but also the energy of the music. The entire experience was incredibly immersive and a definite highlight of the night.

I've had the pleasure of seeing Wage War live a few times now, and each time I'm always amazed at their captivating stage presence, especially displayed by vocalist Briton Bond. His ability to command a crowd is nothing short of impressive. And with the rest of the band's intensity, it's an unforgettable experience. Additionally, since the crowd was so fired up and constantly on the move, it felt as if the band was feeding off them. The energy displayed from both the crowd and the band was aggressive in the best way possible. At one point, Bond mentioned this had to be one of, if not "the best" nights of the tour so far, and thanked the fans for their enthusiasm.

A fun moment came when members of the crew threw inflatable alligators into the crowd. Alligators could be seen flying across the room, and some even made it into the mosh pit, while others accompanied crowd surfers. Another standout moment was when vocalist Jeremy Michael from Nevertel came onstage to sing "Magnetic" with clean vocalist Cody Quistad. Their voices blended so well, and they made an already great song sound that much more incredible.

Wage War played 20 songs during their set, and it was a truly well-crafted setlist. It really highlighted the new songs off their EP, while also showcasing their varied discography. If you haven't yet, I highly recommend giving the new EP a listen. It's a great blend of all the sounds the band has experimented with over the years and displays just how much they've grown musically.

I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have seen the "It Calls Me By Name" tour. If you get the chance, trust me, this is not one you want to miss!