Fans sharing the stage with The Number Twelve Looks Like You

Four incredible bands in the progressive hardcore/mathcore genres shared the stage at Cambridge’s intimate Middle East Club downstairs venue. Fans of fast, technical guitar riffs and heavy breakdowns complemented by a combination of aggressive vocals and singing had a great night lined up for them.

This night was part of the second leg of The Fall of Troy’s tour celebrating their 2008 release Phantom on the Horizon, a concept album “inspired by mushroom/pot/turning jokes into reality (“what if it was about a gHoSt PiRaTe sHiP”), guitars having midlife crises and peculiar time signatures”. It is an incredible album showcasing the band’s range of talent. Rhododendron, Strawberry Girls, and The Number Twelve Looks Like You are a perfect selection of progressive/post-hardcore bands to support this tour.

Traveling from Portland, Oregon to the East Coast for the very first time is the experimental post-hardcore band Rhododendron. Formed in 2019 in Portland, Oregan by Ezra Chong (guitar and vocals), Gage Walker (bass), and Noah Mortola (drums), Rhododendron “take sonic cues from old-school math rock and post-hardcore as well as a healthy dose of post-rock, drone, jazz and whatever music they might be listening to that day”. Their last release was Protozoan Battle Hymns in 2021 and fans can expect their new album to drop any time this year.

Rhododendron wasted no time kicking off the night with their raw energy. The setlist was mostly instrumental songs, but those few moments of aggressive vocals would stir the crowd if they weren’t already forming a pit. It was an impressive display of aggressive riffs, thick basslines, and explosive drumming that felt far too short when it ended.

Next in the lineup was Strawberry Girls, an independent instrumental band based in Salinas, California excited to be on the road again for the first time this year. The band is comprised of guitarist Zachary Garren (ex-Dance Gavin Dance), drummer Ben Rosett (Eternity Forever), and bassist Ian Jennings. It’s only been two years since Strawberry Girls last toured with The Fall of Troy for their 15th anniversary of Manipulator so they must have left a great impression to be called in again. They have also shared the stage with bands such as Chon, Plini, and Polyphia, a collection of virtuosos specializing in instrumental music which shines a light on what to expect from Strawberry Girls. It’s also been two years since the release of Prussian Gloom, their latest album, but fans should be excited to hear that they are working on a 10th anniversary edition of French Ghetto and have new music in the works.

Strawberry Girls didn’t hold back for Cambridge as they opened immediately with complex guitar melodies, precise drumming, and funky bass. The crowd pushed back and forth as the pace picked up and the front row struggled to support themselves against the motion without a stage barrier. It was entrancing to watch each member demonstrate the mastery of their instrument and remain perfectly in time for the whole set. Fans of the genre need to check them out and catch their next show.

New Jersey’s The Number Twelve Looks Like You took to the stage next. This mathcore band originally formed in 2001 and while they broke up between 2010-2016, they made quite the comeback as they toured with The Dillinger Escape Plan and then ran a celebratory tour for the 12th anniversary of Nuclear. Sad. Nuclear. Two years later they released their first album in ten years, Wild Gods. The band has a history of members but is currently comprised of Jesse Korman (vocals), Alexis Pareja (guitar), Cody McCorry (bass), and Michael DeMarco (drums).

When the lights dimmed, the crowd erupted. There was so much excitement from fans bracing themselves and cheering for the onslaught of music about to ensue. What started as a soft progressive intro between the trio of drums, bass, and guitar, changed pace immediately to traditional mathcore once the aggressive vocals were let loose. This set the pace for the rest of their set, with their odd time signatures, blast beats, and masterful fingerwork from their guitarist and bassist.

The crowd was already going nuts for The Number Twelve Looks Like You, but they took it a step further as Jesse and Alexis jumped into the crowd to play, followed by a conga line of fans led by Jesse around the venue. They wrapped their set up by bringing their top fans onto the stage and sharing a heartfelt message of support and gratitude before firing out one final song with everyone on stage. A show that their hardcore fans will remember forever.

Last but certainly not least on the lineup is the headlining band The Fall of Troy from Mukilteo, Washington, celebrating their 2008 album Phantom on the Horizon. Known for their intensity, from the complex riffs and melodies to the harsh screams counterbalanced by beautiful singing, they are a fitting end to this night of virtuosos and raw energy. The band currently consists of Thomas Erak (guitars and vocals), Andrew Forsman (drums), and Hendo Batts (bass and backing vocals), and have been touring with few breaks over the past couple of years. It’s been four years since their last album Mukiltearth released, and Thomas has been working on a new solo LP.

After an outstanding performance by The Number Twelve Looks Like You, The Fall of Troy had a high standard to meet for their set. Thomas took the stage and decided they would mix things up and Phantom on the Horizon could wait, as they lunged straight into “Laces Out, Dan!”, followed by “Mouths Like Sidewinder Missiles”, and “Seattlantis”. Some fantastic choices to keep the raw energy of the night going as opposed to the slow and gentle opening of the original setlist. This is a band that is incredible to see perform, as the level of skill required to play those riffs while screaming your lungs out is unimaginable. Sometimes it can be disappointing to see these types of bands live too, as the vocals or guitar work is usually prone to suffering when both are strained.

However, that was not a concern for this night as the band came through clearly and in perfect unison. As they moved into Phantom on the Horizon, you could get a strong feeling of their range as they moved from soft melodies and clean vocals to chaotic screaming over aggressive riffs and fast percussive beats. There was an abundance of finger tapping and hammer-ons/pull-offs that would leave any guitarist excited as songs would weave in and out of small solos. They finished up the setlist with a couple more hits and rounded the night off with “F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X.” – a fan favorite that had everyone either in the pit or singing their heart out. A fantastic end to a night of complexity and chaos!