Left To Suffer and Distant are touring North America this summer with special guests Justice For The Damned and Cabal. Snag your tickets on Left To Suffer’s Bandsintown.
Breathing Theory is a band that toes the line between heavy and melodic with an unrivaled precision (think Starset meets Gemini Syndrome meets Breaking Benjamin), and they have proven this yet again with the release of their new album. Artificial hit all streaming services on May 26th. The album is made up of ten songs that run the gamut from provoking thought to tugging the heartstrings, and all are unforgiving in their extremes.
Artificial opens with the electro-metal-symphonic “Replicas,” an introduction to the theme set by the album’s title: a dystopian future run by artificial intelligence. The very first song begs the questions “Can we define what it is that makes us human? Are we alive, or are we just replicas?”
“Replicas” is succeeded by “Beautiful Disaster,” which showcases Breathing Theory’s hard-hitting riffs paired with heartfelt lyrics and frontman Cory Britt’s strong singing voice. The band sends listeners into audio whiplash by diving straight into the relentless “Collapse.” Here is a prime example of Cory’s harsh growls and screams, echoing the anger and frustration of the lyrics – “They’re starting fires so the smoke and hate won’t clear/Misdirection keeps you trapped in fear” – and juxtaposed by the pure cleans of the chorus.
The next track – “Your Frequency” – is another switch, not exactly a ballad but certainly on the more melodic end of things. This is one of my favorites on the record. The words are gorgeous, and I have the utmost respect for Breathing Theory’s refusal to shy away from that side of their genre.
“The Cure” is crafted into solid verses and an extremely catchy chorus. It is followed by “Transcend,” the heaviest song on the album, and “My Cancer,” the softest. “Tethers” feels like something you would hear on the radio (in the best possible way). It makes the head bob and is easily imaginable as one of the sing-along moments during a Breathing Theory show.
And then, the band drops in their rendition of Journey’s “Separate Ways.” I’ll admit, I didn’t see that one coming, but I cannot stress enough how much it absolutely works! Breathing Theory manages to maintain the integrity of the original while also making it their own, a truly impressive feat.
Artificial wraps with “Blackout,” and I am going to call this a ballad. Slow and steady, with sad lyrics, Cory’s haunting vocals, and a moody guitar solo (can guitar solos be moody?), I think it fits the bill.
There is not a single track on this record that I don’t like. A mix of alternative rock and metal with a metalcore edge and a trace of the grunge element, Breathing Theory definitely knows how to keep listeners intrigued and on their toes. Give Artificial a listen, or several, and follow Breathing Theory on their socials to see what’s next!
Alesana has announced The Trilogy Tour, Part II. They will be playing the second installment of The Annabel Trilogy, A Place Where the Sun is Silent, from front to back! Joining them on this tour will be Limbs, Vampires Everywhere!, and Across the White Water Tower. Tickets are available at bandsintown.com/alesana, and you can purchase Alesana VIP packages at meetandscream.com.
Underoath and The Ghost Inside will be co-headlining a tour this summer, and they’re bringing along We Came As Romans and Better Lovers. Tickets and VIP can be found at underoath777.com.
7/15 – Mansfield, OH – Inkcarceration Festival 2023*
7/16 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
7/17 – Louisville, KY – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall
7/19 – Reading, PA – Santander Arena
7/21 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall
7/22 – Syracuse, NY – Sharkey’s Summer Stage
7/23 – Toronto, ON – RBC Echo Beach
7/24 – Montreal, QC – L’Olympia
7/27 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage
7/28 – Coney Island, NY – Coney Island Amphitheater
7/29 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion
7/30 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium Outdoors
8/1 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
8/3 – Tampa, FL – Yuengling Center
8/4 – Boca Raton, FL – Sunset Cove Amphitheater
8/5 – St. Augustine, FL – The St. Augustine Amphitheatre
8/6 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
8/8 – New Orleans, LA – Orpheum Theater
8/10 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
8/11 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port
8/12 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum
8/14 – Albuquerque, NM – Revel Entertainment Center^
8/15 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre^
8/18 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield^
8/19 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory Festival Grounds^
In This Moment and Motionless In White are bringing The Dark Horizon Tour to a city near you, with special guests Fit For A King and From Ashes To New.
Raven Black is setting out on The Scream Tour alongside Living Dead Girl and Owls & Aliens. The run starts August 12th in Salt Lake City, Utah, and ends August 26th in Houston, Texas. Snag tickets at ravensrejects.com, or you can get tickets and VIP for Living Dead Girl at livingdeadgirl.ca.
Make sure to check the notes at the bottom for the dates that Living Dead Girl will not appear on.
8/12 – Salt Lake City, UT – Leatherheads Sports Bar
8/13 – Denver, CO – Herman’s Hideaway
8/14 – Wichita, KS – Jerry’s Bar & Grill
8/15 – Overland Park, KS – Vivo
8/16 – Springfield, MO – Kiss Bar & Grill
8/17 – Chicago, IL – WC Social Club
8/18 – Dayton, OH – Oddbody’s
8/19 – Battle Creek, MI – Michigan Metal Fest 2023*
8/20 – Braidwood, IL – Top Fuel Saloon
8/21 – Knoxville, TN – The Concourse
8/22 – Nashville, TN – The Cobra
8/23 – Birmingham, AL – The Nick
8/24 – Fort Walton Beach, FL – Downtown Music Hall
8/25 – Long Beach, MS – Trax Bar & Grill^
8/26 – Houston, TX – BFE Rock Club+
* Raven Black only! Living Dead Girl will be playing a show at DAJ in Elkhart, IN, that night.
^ No Living Dead Girl. They will be appearing in Tallahassee, FL, on this date.
+ No Living Dead Girl. Raven Black will be with Owls & Aliens, Scream at the Sky, Horizon Shyft, and Suffering in Silence.
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