Live music review: experimental metal act Deafheaven at Emo’s
San Francisco’s Deafheaven first turned heads with their genre-bending breakthrough full-length Sunbather, a body of work that transcended where metal stood in the current era. The LP ended up on many year-end lists, marking an instance where extreme metal attracted attention across multiple genre spheres. For a record that has maintained a steady spot on turntables of all kinds of music lovers, the West Coast bred group has never stopped riding that wave for their heavy music experimentation. Now 12 years removed from its release, Deafheaven has morphed back to peak form with 2025’s Lonely People With Power. At Austin venue Emo’s on Wednesday night, an action-packed bill helped pave the way for the screaming spectacle that didn’t let up until the last note. Upon arriving at the Riverside venue, metalheads of all ages were spotted in the audience, showing the generational appeal of fury that still holds on the masses.
We ended up missing Fort Worth shoegazers Trauma Ray, who were shown appreciation by touring mates Gatecreeper as “Texas legends.” Formed in 2018 and going viral as an act on a meteoric rise, the opportunity is enormous for a Texas band to tear through the nation for a legacy-attaining extremity such as the closing outfit.
Phoenix’s Gatecreeper took over next, a worthy addition to the touring party with a relentless approach to death metal with captivating force. Frontman Chase Mason demanded active participation, prompting the moshers to oblige with thunderous precision as the ensuing circle pits commenced for what felt like the entirety of each setlist offering. With label affiliation with both Relapse Records and Nuclear Blast, the Arizona quintet gave it their all. The slot was dominated by 2024’s Dark Superstition, their third album in a discography that maintains a blistering array of blast beats and sinister riffs. By the time the smoke cleared and Deafheaven was on deck, the attendees had little time to catch their breath.
Deafheaven took the stage with a renewed sense of aggression following this year’s successful release, opting to phase out most of their past work in favor of their recent instant classic. With some releases dabbling in their shoegaze side and others ditching the screamed vocals altogether, the raw power has returned, much to the diehards’ delight. The founding duo of vocalist George Clarke and guitarist Kerry McCoy unlock an ever-revolving carousel of creativity, never leaning into a rehash of what they’ve glazed over before and reuniting with their roots in a refreshing manner. With their touring vehicle sprinting into their second decade, the touring and writing process remains constant with no signs of a break.
The set was dominated by Lonely People With Power, delivering on a promise of playing “A ton of new songs.” The crowd didn’t take the worn road of wanting their previous work and rejoiced in the highly-anticipated new music. While not aware if Clarke was trying to butter up the Austin concert-goers with his “This is the best show we’ve ever played” comments, nonetheless the spectators ate it all up and basked in its glory. Sunbather made its routine rounds, making room for its opening number, “Dream House,” and titular track, “Sunbather.”
Deafheaven is known for their intricate compositions, with some songs clocking in at over 10 minutes, leaving room for deep analysis and dedicated flammability at every turn. After reemerging for a four-song encore, the miles-long merch line formed as the desire mounted to commemorate a heavy-hitting Wednesday night in Austin. A ripper of all proportions, the palpable enthusiasm radiating from the fans and billed talent made for a weeknight well spent.
Deafheaven wraps up their US tour this week in Arizona before embarking on a European tour this Summer. Tickets can be found via the Deafheaven website.
All photos by Drew Doggett
You must be logged in to post a comment.