The first iteration of the Summer of Slaughter tour took place in summer of 2025. While this time around may have been a callback, the energy at the Ace of Spades in Sacramento felt far from stale.
With an eight band bill, it’s safe to say that the night was stacked. The crowd began to fill out early on. The show kicked off with Sacramento locals Crowd Control. Clearly loved by their scene, they set the standard with such high energy that even security was joining in on the moshing.
Purification took the stage shortly after and had no problem upping the ante, with Creeping Death following suit. This was my first time seeing both bands, and while Purification made me nostalgic for the metal and hardcore shows I attended as a kid, Creeping Death impressed me by adding a touch of something groovier underneath the typical harsh death metal riffs.
Torture was a separate vibe altogether. In the past, I’ve joked that the heaviness of Torture is more of an emotional ordeal rather than a typical listening experience, and I’d say that rang entirely true for their live performance. Known for being a deeply controversial and openly political slam-band, it wasn’t a surprise when drummer and vocalist K.K. made a point to call out the ongoing genocide of Palestinians, commenting that it is not anti-semetic to be against the human rights violations taking place, earning some scattered applause in agreement.
When Gates to Hell took the stage, guns blazing with enthusiasm, they encapsulated the energy of the room and made it palpable. Their performance took all of the nuances I love about metal and hardcore and amplified them in a way that made it impossible to stand still. The crowd seemed to enjoy every second of their set.
Incantation and Terror are two bands whose legendary names and status precede them. This was my first time seeing Incantation and they gave the type of performance I’d expect from a death metal band older than a majority of the fans attending the show, giving us something classic and timeless, while still appealing to a pocket of present diehard fans who have been following them since the 90’s. Terror, however, is another story entirely. Having seen Terror several times in the past, and leaving one of those shows with a head wound, they brought the exact intensity they have always been known for, calling on the crowd to make sure security worked twice as hard during their set. They did exactly that, bodies flying over the barricade as vocalist Scott Vogel encouraged fans to do whatever they had to do to get up to the stage.
If there is any band in hardcore whose name should be synonymous with chaos, it’s Hatebreed. Since their start in 1994, they’ve been well known for high energy performances, and in 2026, they deliver the exact same intensity and perform with the same type of passion that you’d expect from an enthusiastic up and coming band looking to cement themselves in the scene. Despite the long night and crowded bill, and despite most of the crowd having been there for well over six hours by the time their set was scheduled to start, the room lit up and exploded the second Hatebreed took the stage. Their set was filled with nonstop crowd pleasers such as “Destroy Everything”, “Proven”, and “Live For This”. Not only did it appear as if every single fan in the building was having the time of their life, but it also seemed like every member of the band was, too. The reciprocated energy and excitement fueled the entirety of their set. It was hard to believe that so many people had packed themselves into a damn near sold out show on a random Monday night.
