March 6, 2025 | The Factory | St. Louis, MO
Photography by Michael Haley Photography | Review by Vulgar Display of Podcast
Three-time Grammy-nominated titans Killswitch Engage returned to the road this March, bringing their crushing live show to St. Louis’ premier venue, The Factory, in support of their upcoming album This Consequence. On March 6, a near-capacity crowd packed the Chesterfield venue for a night of genre-spanning chaos that featured support from Kublai Khan TX, Fit For A King, and Frozen Soul.
From the opening note to the final encore, the energy never dipped. This stacked lineup brought out fans from every corner of the heavy music spectrum — metalcore kids, death metal diehards, old-school scene veterans, and more. The camaraderie in the room was palpable, a shared appreciation for loud guitars, guttural screams, and riffs that shake your ribcage.
Opening the evening was Frozen Soul, who continue to rise with the resurgence of American death metal. Their icy precision and relentless tone set the stage ablaze early. Tracks like “Morbid Effigy” and “Merciless” were met with thunderous approval. The Texas outfit brought a sound that felt vintage yet vital — a perfect table-setter for what was to come.
Next up was Fit For A King, a band that’s long blurred the lines between metalcore, melodic hardcore, and even nu-metal influences. Each song felt like a genre journey in itself, weaving clean vocals into breakdown-heavy chaos without losing cohesion. Their set was both polished and passionate, a reminder why they’ve remained a staple in modern heavy music.
It’s hard to follow Kublai Khan TX — and that’s not a knock on anyone else. Simply put, they stole the damn night. With a set that was tight, visceral, and raw, the Texas hardcore crew whipped the pit into a frenzy. Songs like “The Hammer” and “Boomslang” hit like a truck, and vocalist Matt Honeycutt’s commanding presence had the room on a string. It was a heavy set, emotionally and sonically, and it landed.
Then came the legends. Killswitch Engage have nothing left to prove — yet they continue to raise the bar. With Jesse Leach in top vocal form and Adam D delivering both searing riffs and his signature on-stage antics, the band ripped through a setlist that seamlessly blended classic anthems with a fiery glimpse into the future via their upcoming album This Consequence.
The crowd was already fired up, but things went next level when they were treated to a surprise stage appearance by none other than St. Louis transplant Brian Fair of Shadows Fall. A longtime friend of the band and former vocalist of Overcast — one of the most influential acts in shaping Killswitch’s early sound — Fair’s appearance was a full-circle moment and a heartfelt nod to the roots of metalcore.
Fan-favorite staples like “My Curse” and “The End of Heartache” earned the biggest sing-alongs and reactions of the night — they’re still evolving, still relevant, and still absolutely essential in the metal world. For a group that’s been in the game for over two decades, Killswitch feels anything but tired. Their set felt like a victory lap and a mission statement.
This tour is one of the most well-rounded and dynamic packages in recent memory. Each band brought their own identity to the table, and the crowd embraced every minute of it. Whether it was nostalgia, discovery, or just good ol’ heavy music appreciation — this show delivered.
The Factory was the perfect host — great sound, great lighting, and a setup that made every band feel massive.
Killswitch Engage may be promoting This Consequence, but the consequence of this tour is clear: metalcore and its adjacent genres are alive, evolving, and more unified than ever.
The Barn 