REVIEW: He Is Legend w/ Foreign War | 3.16.15 @ Exit/In [PHOTOS]

He Is Legend
w/ Foreign War, We Are the Finale
Exit/In; Nashville, TN
March 16, 2015

Photos by Shayne Garcia

Scene favorite genre-bending North Carolina metal act He Is Legend recently returned to Nashville for a performance with locals Foreign War and We Are the Finale. Check out a photo set from contributing photographer Shayne Garcia below!

Foreign War. Photo by Shayne Garcia.

Self described as “chaos pop,” local five-piece We Are the Finale kicked off the show and lived up to their hype. A little more contemporary in their approach to heavy music, the group took cues from the likes of metalcore and pop punk/hardcore hybrid acts that have become a really popular trend in recent years. By the time fellow locals (by way of Indiana) Foreign War took the stage, the room was buzzing with a healthy mix of friends and fans, showing strong support for the hometown acts. The group is working on a new record, and showcased some new tunes amidst the aggressive, hardcore punk and metal cuts from their killer debut, This Island Earth. A great match for He Is Legend, Foreign War set the tone of the night with rowdy, gut-punch of a performance.

He Is Legend. Photo by Shayne Garcia.

It’s been an interesting decade-plus journey for He Is Legend, who, over four full-lengths, a handful of lineup changes, and even a brief hiatus, have managed to morph from the buzzy, trendy, metalcore meets punk meets alt rock debut I Am Hollywood, to the sludgy, psychedelic, stoner metal inspired act that gave us last year’s Heavy Fruit. Throughout their career journey and various incarnations, the one constant has been the band’s ferocious, dependably intense yet unpredictably wild live show, so beloved by fans that they’ve managed to make it to Music City at least twice a year lately. Paying fan service and sticking with what works best, the group leaned heavily on favorites for their set, including old cuts like “China White” and “The Seduction” and new classics like “This Will Never Work” and “Miserable Company.” Great because they don’t aim to be trendy or gimmick-y, He Is Legend are an expensive, constantly evolving act that every fan of heavy music can enjoy, and we always appreciate their stops in Nashville.