Word and Live Photos: DJ
Myglobalmind and Screaming Digital Productions
April 23, 2025 – Huntsville, Alabama
History was made last night as Silverstein brought their “25 Years of Noise Tour” to Huntsville for the very first time, transforming an ordinary Sunday night into a milestone event for Alabama’s post-hardcore faithful. While I’ve never personally seen these Canadian veterans live before, our outlet covered them during Warped Tour’s final run in 2019 (where they had been fixtures, playing the traveling festival approximately eight times throughout its history).
Before diving into the headliner’s performance, it’s worth noting the solid foundation laid by three impressive opening acts. First up was Greyhaven—a band I was not familiar with before the show. But after hearing tracks like “The Welcome Party” and “Echo and Dust PT I,” I’ve now been properly introduced. Delivering metalcore at its most authentic—an in-your-face, non-stop set—they provided the perfect energetic kickoff to the evening.
Next came Broadside, a group I’d heard some material from in the past. Despite being plagued with lineup changes throughout the years, it was refreshing to see these guys still around today. I thoroughly enjoyed their more downtempo numbers and synth-electrified tunes like “Cruel,” alongside more popular tracks “Heavenly” and “Dazed & Confused.”
Their performance gave way to Real Friends, another band I’d never experienced live. My resident punk expert informed me that frontman Cody Muraro is one half of Youth Fountain—cool factoid, but whatever the case, this dude came on stage and obliterated the set with some insane intensity. From “Waiting Room” through “From The Outside” to the crowd-uniting “I’ve Given Up on You,” this was truly electric. It was during their performance that circle pits properly formed and bodies started legitimately surfing.
By the time Silverstein took the stage, the crowd was primed and ready. Fresh off the release of “Antibloom“—the first half of an ambitious double album project—the quintet brought their A-game. From the onset, their sound was electric. Massive video walls, spontaneous lighting, and grandiose distortion created a wall of sound that immediately erupted the crowd.
Opening with “Skin & Bones,” frontman Shane Told came out belting impressive highs as they began their journey through their discography from most recent to oldest works. The driving energy of “Confession” had the crowd moving early, while “The Altar” highlighted the band’s technical precision. Drummer Paul Koehler‘s complex rhythms provided the perfect foundation for guitarists Paul Marc Rousseau and Josh Bradford, while bassist Billy Hamilton commanded his side of the stage with infectious energy.
By “Infinite,” fans were crowd surfing with good old-fashioned circle pits flowing through the audience. “Bad Habits” and “The Afterglow” showcased the band’s balance of aggression with melody, while “Aquamarine” demonstrated their sonic evolution. “A Midwestern State of Emergency” prompted one of the night’s most passionate crowd responses, with the Huntsville audience drowning out Told during the song’s anthemic chorus.
The momentum continued with “Massachusetts” and “One Last Dance” before “Sacrifice” unleashed another wave of crowd participation. When the band launched into “Vices,” the room erupted with perhaps the biggest reaction of the night. “The Tide Raises Every Ship” maintained this energy with Told expertly commanding the crowd through every breakdown.
As the main set approached its end with “The End” and “My Disaster,” the energy in the room only seemed to build toward “Your Sword Versus My Dagger” and “Call It Karma” before closing with the always-explosive “Smile in Your Sleep.”
The encore began with a surprise acoustic version of “My Heroine,” with some cell phone lights illuminating the venue. The peaceful moment was short-lived as Silverstein unleashed a ferocious finale with “Smashed Into Pieces” and “Bleeds No More“—two tracks from their 2003 debut album “When Broken Is Easily Fixed.”
It seems like the “25 Year Anniversary Tour” is becoming the hot new trend in music these days. Just last week I was down in Birmingham covering Disturbed‘s celebration of their debut album hitting the quarter-century mark. Nothing says “rock is still rebellious and dangerous” quite like celebrating your silver anniversary with a commemorative tour and limited-edition vinyl box sets. Nothing screams “youth culture” like watching guys in their mid-40s scream about teenage angst while we all pretend our knees don’t hurt in the mosh pit. But hey, at least we can afford the $15 beers now. Just more signs of the times—some of us are getting old, and the music industry is here to remind us with mathematical precision.
As the house lights came up and sweat-drenched fans filed out of the venue, the overwhelming sentiment wasn’t just appreciation for a band that has survived 25 years in a notoriously fickle industry, but hope that it wouldn’t take another 25 years for them to return to Huntsville. In a genre where longevity is rare and relevance beyond a few years even rarer, Silverstein stands as the exception—25 years of noise with no signs of quieting down anytime soon.
The Canadian quintet delivered a performance that showcased not only their impressive longevity but their continued relevance in a genre where many of their contemporaries have long since faded. Fresh off the release of “Antibloom”—the first half of an ambitious double album project—Silverstein demonstrated precisely why they’ve survived and thrived for two and a half decades.
Website: https://silversteinmusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silversteinmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/silverstein
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silverstein/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@silversteinmusic
North American Tour Dates:
(w/ Real Friends, Broadside, Greyhaven)
4/18 – Albany, NY @ Empire Live
4/19 – Portland, ME @ Aura
4/20 – Hartford, CT @ Webster
4/22 – Norfolk, VA @ NorVa
4/23 – Knoxville, TN @ The Mill & Mine
4/24 – Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Club
4/26 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
4/27 – Huntsville, AL @ Mars Music Hall
4/29 – Little Rock, AR @ The Hall
4/30 – FT. Worth, TX @ Tannahill’s Tavern
5/02 – Wichita, KS @ TempleLive
5/03 – Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
5/04 – Madison, WI @ The Sylvee
5/06 – Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall
5/07 – London, ON @ London Music Hall
5/08 – Ottawa, ON @ Bronson Centre
5/10 – Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple *
5/11 – Allentown, PA @ Archer
5/13 – Richmond, VA @ The National
5/14 – Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819
5/16 – Daytona Beach, FL @ Welcome To Rockville *
6/6 – Granby, QC @ Festival Au Lac *
6/14-6/15 – Washington, DC @ Vans Warped Tour *
7/26-7/27 – Long Beach, CA @ Vans Warped Tour *
* – indicates Festival Date
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