On July 1st, 2023, Through the Eyes of the Dead played the last stop on their 20 Years of the Dead tour at Eastside Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee, with support from Warforged, Tracheotomy, Summoning the Lich, and Dissonation. Everyone in the crowd was supportive and enthusiastic for all five bands, but their excitement when Through the Eyes of the Dead came on could not be compared. It’s no wonder, though, considering the band almost didn’t make it to the show due to a broken-down van. Because of this, their set was cut short, but they made every single second count. 

Energy is always an important part of any metal show, and Through the Eyes of the Dead delivered in this aspect. Their vocalist never stopped moving, and when he did, it was only between songs to take a drink of water before sending the bottle into the excited crowd. At one point, during a rest between songs, it was clear the vocalist was breathing heavily (though this isn’t abnormal at a metal show), and he addressed the crowd saying, “sorry, we’re really f*cking tired.” Aside from being out of breath, though, it never showed. The entire band gave their all, and they were on fire the whole set. Their energy was so infectious that not a single person in the venue was still. Even those who stood as far away from the stage as they could were seen banging their heads. 

Metal concerts are no strangers to mosh pits, and this particular mosh pit was so much fun to witness. During the heaviest parts of the song, the pit would go wild—kicking, hitting, flailing, and sometimes even flipping. When the vocalist announced that they would be playing their last song—much to the disappointment of the crowd—the mosh pit became rowdier than they had the whole concert, and that’s saying something. Even though it was clear the crowd was sad to have the band’s set cut short, they were all incredibly supportive. In fact, many even shouted out some words of encouragement. 

Through the Eyes of the Dead not only had a fantastic stage presence, but they also had a fun light show and incredible sound mixing. All of the instruments were really loud, which can sometimes lead to the vocals being drowned out, but that wasn’t the case here. Everything came across loud and clear, which was quite impressive. 

The entire set was entertaining and full of energy, everything I love at a metal concert. This particular tour for Through the Eyes of the Dead may be over, but be sure to keep an eye out for future touring dates, because this is a band you won’t want to miss!