By: Cullen Ronan Follow @cullenronan
The only thing that’s more consistent than Hail the Sun’s work ethic are their ability to energize a crowd from just the first note they play.
After releasing three records in only four years, along with a number of side projects, including Sufferer and Sianvar, the always busy quartet is hitting the road with Circa Survive and Foxing in support of their forthcoming album.
But before gracing the stage with one of the biggest names in progressive rock, Hail the Sun has embarked on their own short four-show headliner that has taken them from the Midwest to the Northeast.
Thursday night marked the end of the short run, as the band made its last stop at the legendary Webster Underground in Hartford, Connecticut.
In a venue meant for no more than a hundred people, fans packed around the stage and belted every word, with songs spanning the nine-year career of the group.
Whether it was ”Black Seratonin” off of 2014’s cult hit “Wake”, or “Spite” off of the 2017 extended play “Secret Wars,” fans never missed a beat when it came to bouncing along to each note.
Frontman Donovan Melero brings a fresh and intriguing voice to the stage. Transitioning from his angelic cleans, sonically in the same vein as Circa Survive’s Anthony Green, to his gritty and raw screams, the listener is always on their feet, waiting for what’s to come next.
Even for those who are not familiar with the group’s discography, it’s easy to get lost in the spectacle that is the band’s performance.
The extremely technical and complicated riffs from guitarists Shane Gann and Aric Garcia could convince you that you were watching a math rock band, only in the blink of an eye to be smothered by a breakdown and a Melero scream.
Uniquity doesn’t even to begin to describe the collective stage presence of the Chico, California natives.
Melero, who not only sings on every Hail the Sun venture, is the drummer on each record as well.
Although not entirely uncommon, as it’s something we’ve seen before with Aaron Gillespie, who throughout his time in Underoath would both sing, and play the drums live; Melero helps bring a different feel to the idea of a joint drummer and vocalist.
Melero starts the show as frontman, with the freedom to move about that stage in any way he feels. About halfway through the set, however, the touring drummer leaves the stage, and Melero takes to his throne behind the kit.
His constant energy as a frontman isn’t lost, however, as he uses each brutal crack of his drum set to further fuel the intensity of his vocals.
Eventually returning back to the front of the stage to finish up the set, it was easy to be in awe of Melero’s talent, coupled with the strong chaotic and progressive backbone set by Garcia, Gann and bassist John Stirra.
After a quick few minutes off stage following the show, the chants of “encore” echoed loud enough to motivate the group to return to the stage one final time for the night.
Ending with “Burn Nice and Slow,” the final song did just that. Starting with the classic progressive sound Hail the Sun the fans have come to know and adore, the song begins to trail into a dissonant and calm fade, encapsulating the arch of the night as a whole.
Upon leaving Hartford, the band will jump back in the van and head next to Providence, Rhode Island where they will begin “The Amulet Tour” with Circa Survive and Foxing.
The band has also recently released studio updates in preparation for the new album, which is currently being recorded and produced by Saosin’s Beau Burchell. So be sure to check the latest one out below:
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