Counterparts, Thrown, 156/Silence, and Split Chain turned McKees Rocks into a full-blown demolition site on Thursday night when their fall 2025 tour hit the Roxian Theatre presented by Citizens.
Split Chain opened the night and wasted zero time warming anyone up. If you showed up late, and I know most of you did, you missed a fantastic opening act. Their set had that perfect mix of classic nu-metal with a touch of modern shoegaze magic. These guys came all the way from the UK to join this tour and were a great addition to the lineup. Split Chain has only been around since 2023, and they are already making an impact on the heavy music scene. Don’t sleep on these guys!
Then 156/Silence came out and proved exactly why they’re one of Pittsburgh’s heavyweight champs. The moment they hit the first note, the whole floor just erupted. Vocalist Jack Murray was everywhere. His stage presence was intense, maybe more intense than 156’s music. “Target Acquired” was the perfect opening track with 156’s target being mayhem. Most of “People Watching” was on the setlist, but they also played their newest track “Our Parting Ways.” I spoke with drummer Kyle O’Connell after their set in an unofficial capacity, so I can’t share his insight into their new music, but I can say it’s coming and it’s going to be awesome. Also, when I say I spoke with him, I made a couple comments during his conversation with my fellow photographer Chris West. Regardless, it sounds like what’s coming next for 156/Silence is going to keep their loyal fans happy.
Thrown followed, flying in all the way from Sweden to prove that the classic fast and simple beatdown hardcore is still in style. We don’t need flashy guitar solos and layers of effects to throw down. Thrown was another crowd favorite, and as small as the pit area is at the Roxian, this was easily one of the most extreme pits I’ve ever seen. These dudes were tight, confident, and clearly were on a mission to ignite the crowd. Every riff hit like a punch in the chest. Thrown’s songs are short, their latest album being just over 20 minutes, so their tracks go hard from the word go.
Then came Counterparts. These guys have been touring hard since the surprise release of “Heaven Let Them Die.” This EP was a bit of a departure from their original sound, but that’s not a bad thing. It’s heavier, with more of a hardcore edge and less of the quick, punk sound. The riffs are tight, complex, and driving. All the emotion is still intact, which makes this heavier sound more antagonizing in the best possible way.
The stage was set and Counterparts took us to church. “A Martyr Left Alive” opened the set, followed by “Bound to the Burn” and “With Loving Arms Disfigured.” “Heaven Let Them Die” was played in its entirety throughout their 18-song set, which ended with the emotionally heavy “Whispers of Your Death.” I love this new sound, and the set theme really drove the crowd deeper into the dark atmosphere the latest EP set.
There are still a few stops left on this US tour before Counterparts heads overseas this winter. I highly recommend not missing this one if you can help it.