Saturday night in Denver, and the city was finally starting to thaw after a recent arctic blast. The streets were clear, people were out, and HQ was hosting a stacked lineup courtesy of 4130 Management and Braeburn Records. Talking Point, Chew Thru, Irah Nox, and Suicide Cages filled the bill—a mix of post-hardcore, punk, deathcore, and old-school metalcore set to tear through a tight three-hour stretch. With the venue packed, the sound dialed in, and the energy in the crowd steadily building, the night promised controlled chaos and a show to remember.
Talking Point, out of Fort Collins, opened the night with a set that showed off their emo and post-hardcore roots. Their sound was packed with echoing riffs and moody melodies, all backed by a heavy hitting bass tone. The set was short but tight, well-played, and a strong way to get things started.
Denver-based hardcore crossover band, Chew Thru, delivered a high-intensity set packed with riff-driven energy. Blending punk with post-hardcore, they embodied the DIY ethic in both sound and presence. The drummer drove the chaos from behind a no-frills kit, keeping the momentum relentless as the venue filled. Toward the end of their set, they announced an upcoming EP, set for release in the coming months.
Next up was Irah Nox, a name that’s been making the rounds for a while. I was eager to finally see what they’d bring to the stage. Their latest album, Morticorigin, which dropped in October, is a solid banger—but everyone knows that to truly gauge your dedication, you’ve got to see a band live. Fortunately, their performance didn’t disappoint.
Their brand of deathcore was as precise as it was heavy, with Danny Duche channeling the chaos with crushing vocals. Rich Ash was a nonstop force on guitar, covering every inch of the stage with relentless energy. Their set came with a few surprises—Devon Rombough from Suicide Cages jumped in on “Motives”, igniting the pit, while Brady Palmer of Eyesawgod joined for “Bludgeoned to Death”, a Suicide Silence cover and a nod to Ash’s former band. The crowd was a writhing pit of energy, and Irah Nox made it clear they came to throw down.
Finally, it was time for the headliners, Suicide Cages—and they blew me away. With a sound rooted in mid-'00s metalcore, and they weren’t just heavy; they were locked in. After three and a half years as a band, they played with the cohesive precision that was undeniable from the crowd. Devon Rombough on vocals, Mhyk Monroe on guitar, Matt Rinehart on bass, and Andrew Richo on drums shifted the energy in the room so completely with such driving intensity that it pulled me out of my surroundings—and my own head.
Andrew Richo honestly deserves his own paragraph. His presence behind the kit was something else—commanding, relentless, fun. I don’t even think he was aware of anyone else in the room; he just did his thing and, in the process, a small crowd gathered on the side of the stage to watch.
Overall, it was a killer night—good bands, great sound, impressive rhythm sections, and a room full of people who came ready to throw down. What more could you want?
Suicide Cages upcoming tour dates:
3/15 Wheat Ridge, CO- Clancy’s
3/19 Salt Lake City, UT- Ace’s High
3/ 20 Reno, NV- Davidson’s Distillery
3/21 Oakland, CA- Victory Stables
3/22 Simi Valley, CA- Rapid Skateboarding
4/25 Denver, CO- HQ
4/26 Colorado Springs, CO- Black Sheep
5/09 Denver, CO- The O
Irah Nox upcoming tour dates:
3/21 Murrieta, CA- Solaris Brewing
3/22 Simi Valley, CA- Rapid Skateboarding
4/18 Englewood, CO- Mutiny Comics
5/1 Grand Junction, CO- Copeka Coffee
5/9 Denver, CO- Oriental Theater