Counterparts Hardcore Hardpack at Town Ballroom
Hardcore is a mix of styles, and other music genres blend with hardcore. Wednesday night at the Town Ballroom, that mix was on display. It was a glorious hardcore hardpack put together with the help of Counterparts to celebrate their newest album ‘Heaven Let Them Die’. Not only did this night blend different styles across genres, but it also showcased how different cultures interpret hardcore—Counterparts is Canadian, Malevolence is from the United Kingdom and both Foreign Hands and Pain of Truth are from the American East Coast. The ensemble delivered coolness, swag, and hardcore chaos, enough to make a 90’s Joe Camel hardpack jealous.
The opener for the show was metallic hardcore Delaware-based band Foreign Hands. I had been eager to see these guys open for years, so the night felt like an answered prayer. Foreign Hands has played in Buffalo a few times before with Dying Wish and at Better Lovers’ first show here. It was clear from the start that they’re a great opener, which isn’t easy for shows that demand high-octane, hardcore energy. Foreign Hands cut the crap and got right into it, breaking a sweat-free path to get the entire crowd energized. As soon as ‘Separation Souvenir’ began, everyone was two-stepping, back and forth. Counterparts could not have picked a better opener for the tour.
Hailing from the United Kingdom, Malevolence came next. I’ve kept my eyes on Malevolence for years. They are a groove metal/metalcore band with hardcore-inspired riffs and breakdowns. Definitely a refreshing band to the metal genre. More importantly, they have some of the grooviest riffs in metal right now—oh my god. Their appearance was a sweet treat. Malevolence amplified the energy created by Foreign Hands by a thousand. The wild breakdowns, groovy riffs, and fast, thrashy tempo changes made the set feel like a true cardio workout. Everyone went crazy for their classics like ‘Broken Glass’ and ‘Keep Your Distance’. Foreign Hands showed everyone how to two-step, Malevolence showed everyone what a circle pit was, and how you should definitely not keep your distance.
Next up was Pain of Truth. Pain of Truth is more who you’d expect at a hardcore show, more so than Malevolence. Pain of Truth delivers hard-kicking, old-school, stomping New York-style hardcore. I’ve never heard of them or listened to them before this show, yet they were exactly what I expected—that classic, chuggy, two-step hardcore to the bone. I really vibed with it, as did the entire two-stepping audience on the floor. Pain of Truth is a great addition to the tour.
Lastly—COUNTERPARTS! With the other band’s equipment cleared, the stage transformed into a church-like setting. There were candles, a pew off to the side, and stained glass windows branded with a Heaven Let Them Die angel on the back wall. Counterparts came flying out of the gates with some OG songs like ‘No Servant of Mine’, ‘Monument’, and ‘Wings of Nightmares’. They of course played some hard-hitting songs from their most recent album ‘Heaven Let Them Die’ such as ‘Praise No Artery Intact’ and ‘Heaven Let Them Die’.
Having seen Counterparts over the years, it is insane how tight the band is. The drums are snapping on point; the guitars, both rhythm and lead, are extremely tight to the point where it’s almost robotic. Vocalist Brenden Murphy screamed screeching highs like I’ve never heard before. You can tell when a band puts their work in, and Counterparts is a beautiful example of that. There is a very healing energy generated from the lyrics with how humbly Brenden Murphy carries himself on stage. He’s always showing appreciation to the crowd after each song. Counterparts works hard to be who they are. Hopefully, heaven won’t let them die anytime soon.
Each band delivered an intense and energetic performance in their own unique, hardcore style. The next time any one of these bands comes to Buffalo, you will not want to miss it.
