THE AMITY AFFLICTION/AUGUST BURNS RED
The Amity Affliction/August Burns Red, The Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA 5/17/2026
The Amity Affliction and August Burns Red co-headlining a show in Philadelphia is the kind of lineup metalcore fans circle on their calendars immediately. With support from Heavensgate and Boundaries, the night delivered nonstop energy from start to finish.
Opening the show was Australian metalcore band Heavensgate, who wasted no time setting an aggressive tone for the evening. They were followed by Boundaries, whose crushing set quickly opened up the pit and sent crowdsurfers flying over the barricade early in the night.
When The Amity Affliction took the stage, the production immediately stood out. Their drummer sat elevated on a towering riser while frontman Joel Birch commanded the stage with relentless energy, sprinting across platforms and repeatedly leaning into the photo pit while screaming lyrics directly at the crowd. Midway through the set, he called for a massive wall of death that instantly erupted into one of the biggest pits of the night. During “Pittsburgh,” the entire venue sang along word for word, while a pair of fans in banana suits somehow became unlikely stars of the mosh pit.
By the time August Burns Red hit the stage, the energy inside the venue was electric. Vocalist Jake Luhrs came out full throttle, swinging his microphone around as the band exploded into their opening songs. Guitarist JB Brubaker was impossible to miss, flying around the stage in his trademark sandals while effortlessly shredding through the band’s technical riffs.
As always, August Burns Red brought one of the most impressive live productions in heavy music, with blinding lasers, perfectly timed lighting effects, and CO2 blasts amplifying the intensity throughout the set. The night’s biggest moment came when they launched into “Mariana’s Trench,” their iconic fan-favorite track from the 2009 album Constellations. The crowd erupted, turning the venue into absolute chaos in the best possible way.
From the opening breakdown to the final encore, it was an unforgettable night in Philadelphia and a reminder of why all four bands continue to thrive in the metalcore scene.
Shot and Written by Jonah van Bemmelen
