TVD Live Shots: Summer of Loud Tour at the Great Park, 7/6

The Summer of Loud Tour roared into Irvine’s Great Park on July 5, delivering a seismic showcase of metal’s finest with a rotating roster of powerhouse headliners. Killswitch Engage set a fierce standard with their razor-sharp precision and anthems that demanded every fist in the air, while Parkway Drive’s cinematic intensity turned the stage into a coliseum of metalcore grandeur. I Prevail’s blend of crushing riffs and melodic hooks brought a dynamic energy that had the crowd roaring back every lyric, and Beartooth’s unrelenting charisma provided the perfect, high-octane finale.

Each band brought its unique brand of chaos and catharsis, creating an unforgettable experience that pushed fans to the limit. With its relentless energy and unparalleled diversity, the Summer of Loud Tour was a masterclass in the sheer power and passion of live music, leaving every attendee at Great Park Irving screaming for more.

Kicking off Summer of Loud beneath a golden Californian sun, Kingdom of Giants seized the stage with a six-song set that instantly electrified Irvine. Every thunderous riff and razor-sharp vocal from Dana Willax radiated both precision and anguish, captivating the ever-growing crowd.

Tracks like “Bleach” and “Wayfinder” balanced hard-hitting aggression with surprising emotional depth, while Willax’s unstoppable energy surged through growing mosh pits on the left and right of the stage. As the set ended, the audience wasn’t merely warmed up; they were awakened, fully primed for a day of metal madness that promised to reverberate long after the lights dimmed.

When Alphawolf exploded onto the stage, the day’s intensity reached new, dizzying heights. With an unrelenting ferocity, the Tasmanian wrecking crew tore into anthems like “Akudama” and “Creep”, transforming Great Park into a swirling cauldron of chaos. Lochie Keogh prowled the stage with a magnetic presence, his guttural roars sparking a tidal wave of movement in the pit, where bodies collided in perfect, anarchic harmony.

Raw, visceral, and unapologetically heavy, Alphawolf’s sound seemed to shatter every boundary between band and crowd, forging an electric connection that left Irvine breathless and hungry for more.

The Amity Affliction took the stage and delivered an emotionally charged performance that I felt was both intimate and insane. With every crushing riff and heartfelt lyric, they wove a narrative of pain and perseverance that resonated deeply with the crowd. My personal favorite, “Pittsburgh,” transformed the venue into a massive choir, as fans sang every word with unmatched passion, a wave of voices echoing back at Joel Birch and Ahren Stringer.

The set reached a dramatic crescendo during “It’s Hell Down Here” when, in a shocking turn, Birch broke his foot mid-song. His fiery determination never wavered, and he wrapped the set in fine form just in time for the paramedics. Overall, the interplay between clean and guttural vocals created a tension and release that seemed to pull the audience closer, uniting everyone in a shared catharsis that won’t soon be forgotten. One of my favorite sets of the day, hands down.

When Killswitch Engage stormed the stage, it felt like the entire festival shifted into immediate overdrive. Dubbed by many as the night’s high-water mark, their performance was a masterclass in raw power and precision, blending flawless musicianship with a contagious, electrifying energy. Jesse Leach’s commanding presence soared during breathtaking renditions of “My Curse” and “The End of Heartache,” his vocals cutting through the crowd like anthems of resilience and passion.

The crowd hit a collective zenith as the band tore into “Holy Diver,” with Leach channeling the spirit of Ronnie James Dio, transforming the moment into something almost sacred. Meanwhile, Adam Dutkiewicz’s frenetic shredding and hilarious mid-set antics gave the show a sense of playful intimacy, striking a perfect balance between unrelenting heaviness and lighthearted connection. This was more than a performance—it was a celebration, cementing Killswitch Engage as one of Summer of Loud’s very best performances.

Parkway Drive transformed the Great Park into an electrifying metalcore arena, delivering a grand, cinematic performance that was as intense as it was unforgettable. While the absence of their trademark pyrotechnics—due to venue restrictions—could have dampened the spectacle, the band’s raw energy more than filled the void.

Tracks like “Glitch” and “Crushed” ignited a storm of full-circle pits and unrelenting crowd surfing, as Winston McCall’s thunderous vocals reverberated through the night like a battle cry. Every crushing riff and seismic drumbeat felt monumental, pushing the crowd to its physical and emotional limits. This 10-song set didn’t just captivate—it solidified Parkway Drive’s place among heavy music’s elite, turning their epic performance on Saturday into one for the ages.

I Prevail then stormed the stage, seamlessly blending metalcore ferocity with irresistibly melodic hooks to create a performance bursting with raw emotion and infectious energy. Tracks like “Bow Down” and “Gasoline” ignited the crowd, transforming the pit into a riotous scene of thrashing bodies and euphoric chaos.

The dual vocal assault of Dylan Bowman and Eric Vanlerberghe was nothing short of mesmerizing, as they wove clean, soaring melodies with guttural, unrelenting screams in a dynamic interplay that felt both calculated and cathartic. Pausing amidst their intensity, they extended heartfelt gratitude to the fans—a poignant moment that underscored the deep, unbreakable bond between the band and their fervent supporters. It wasn’t just a set; it was a shared experience, electrifying and unforgettable. My only gripe, well, the missing pyro and overabundance of smoke.

Beartooth brought Summer of Loud in Irvine to a thunderous close with a headlining set that was nothing short of spectacular. Caleb Shomo poured his soul into every moment, his voice oscillating between gut-wrenching screams and soaring melodies that electrified the crowd. Anthems like “The Past Is Dead” and “Disease” became communal exorcisms, as fans screamed every lyric back with raw, unfiltered passion.

The crescendo came with their final song, “In Between,” a high-octane closer that left the audience euphoric under the brilliance of dazzling lights and the band’s flawless acoustics. It was the perfect encapsulation of the night—emotive, triumphant, and utterly unforgettable.

If you haven’t yet caught the Summer of Loud Tour, don’t wait—this is a once-in-a-lifetime lineup bringing heavy music’s best straight to your city! With only a few dates left, it’s your opportunity to witness an unforgettable night of metalcore mastery and unrelenting energy. Get your tickets now and prepare for a show that will leave you breathless, bruised, and begging for more. It’s metal madness at its finest, and a show you do not want to miss!

ALPHAWOLF