As the sun began to set, another sun rose at Rebel in Toronto. Being more than halfway through the Dark Sun Protocol United States tour, Dayseeker made a special detour from the States into Canada. Touring with Alpha Wolf, Catch Your Breath, and Kingdom of Giants, the anticipation in the air was palpable — not just from the fans, but from me as well. Dark Sun was one of my most-played records last year, and I couldn’t wait to see them perform live.
Released in November 2022, Dark Sun is the fifth studio album by California post-hardcore band Dayseeker. It’s a dreamy, emotional and genre-blending album incorporating a lot of synthwave elements with traditional heavy breakdowns. At times, it even reminds me of Hurtwave, the side project by vocalist Rory Rodriguez and former drummer Mike Karle.
As the house lights dimmed, Kingdom of Giants kicked off the night with “Asphalt” from their latest EP, Bleeding Star. The California band showcased the essence of modern metal, blending synths with crushing guitar riffs and powerful vocals. The energy from their set had already fired up Rebel.
Next up was Texas-based Catch Your Breath. I wasn’t familiar with the band until they played “Shame On Me”, a song that had frequently appeared in my shuffle. It’s an emotional and melody-driven song. And “Dial Tone” hit me so hard with its heartbreaking lyrics.
Melbourne’s Alpha Wolf then took over the stage. Being the heaviest band at the night, they unleashed chaos in the venue with powerful tracks like “Sub-Zero,” “Sucks 2 Suck,” and “Akudama”. The crowd responded with unmatched energy, inciting non-stop mosh pits and crowd surfing.
Dayseeker’s set began with “Dreamstate” from Dark Sun and they surprised the crowd with a collaboration featuring Kingdom of Giants vocalist Dana Willax during the breakdown. They then played two songs from their previous album, Sleeptalk. During “Burial Plot”, frontman Rory Rodriguez invited the audience to sing along. As the last chorus approached, I knew it’s time for Rory to encourage fans to raise their cell phone flashlights as I have watched their live on YouTube so many times and been dreaming about this effulgent moment.
The impressive visual setup featuring a 2-layer curved LED screen further enhanced the concert experience . The production team created unique neon-inspired visualizers for each song, establishing a dreamy atmosphere that perfectly complemented the entire Dark Sun album. As the show neared its end, Dayseeker treated the audience with something special: a cover of “My Immortal.” If you haven’t already, check out their acoustic collection, Replica, where they’ve reimagined many of their greatest hits, including this Evanescence cover.
If you have a chance to see Dayseeker live, don’t miss it! They’ll continue their journey back to the States, ending in Los Angeles on November 2.
GALLERY: Dayseeker, Alpha Wolf, Catch Your Breath & Kindgom of Giants at Rebel in Toronto (October 17, 2024)
