On October 6, Nevertel brought their North American tour to The Song & Dance in Syracuse, with Australian metalcore outfit Ocean Sleeper and alternative rock duo Rivals joining them for an energetic night of heavy music.

Despite the show falling on a Tuesday night, a solid crowd made their way to The Song & Dance, filling the room as the three-band lineup worked its way through the evening. The tour has been making its way across North America since September, with Syracuse landing in the middle of a run that also included stops in Buffalo, Cleveland, Worcester, New York City and Allentown.

Ocean Sleeper

Kicking off the night was Ocean Sleeper, who made the trip over from Australia. The Melbourne-area metalcore band has been building momentum internationally, and their latest album, Peace When I’m Dead, gave them plenty of new material to showcase.

The band wasted little time getting the night moving, opening with the album’s title track before launching into “Break The Cycle.” Their sound combines crushing metalcore instrumentation with melodic vocals, creating the kind of contrast that immediately grabs the attention of a live audience.

Throughout their roughly 35-minute set, Ocean Sleeper moved between the heavier and more melodic sides of their sound, playing songs including “Someone Better,” “Never The One,” “Punishment,” “Maybe Death Is All I Need,” “My Forever Drug,” and “King of Nothing.”

The band’s newest material translated particularly well to the stage. Peace When I’m Dead deals heavily with themes of grief, guilt and regret, but live, those darker themes became an outlet for the crowd rather than simply something to listen to.

For an opening band traveling all the way from Australia, Ocean Sleeper made the most of their time on stage and gave the crowd a strong introduction to what they have been building.

Rivals

Next up was Rivals, a band that continues to prove that you don’t necessarily need a large lineup to produce a huge sound.

The group took the stage as a two-piece, but you would hardly know it from the sound coming through the speakers. With a combination of live instrumentation, vocals and production, Rivals created a much larger sonic presence than their lineup would suggest.

Their set included “Adrenaline Rush,” “World’s Worst Valentine,” “Fake Rich,” “Copacetic,” “When Does It End,” “Bleeding Star,” “Dark Matter,” “Nobody Loves Me,” and “Bite the Bullet.”

“Adrenaline Rush” immediately lived up to its name, setting the pace for the rest of the performance. The duo maintained that intensity throughout the set, balancing heavier moments with the more melodic and atmospheric elements that have become part of Rivals’ sound.

By the end of their performance, it was clear why the band was a fitting addition to a tour built around modern rock and metal that doesn’t stay inside one particular genre.

Nevertel

Tampa, Florida’s Nevertel took the stage around 8:50 p.m. and immediately turned the room up another level.

The band has spent the last several years carving out its own space within the modern rock scene by blending rock, nu-metal and hip-hop influences. That combination was on full display throughout the evening, with the band moving effortlessly between aggressive instrumentation, catchy hooks and rhythmic vocal sections.

The set opened with “OTHERSIDE,” the band’s newest single, before moving into “Did It All” and “Sacrifice.” From there, the band continued through a set that included “Losing Faith,” “Starting Over,” “Back On Me,” “Break The Silence,” “Last Breath,” “SYM,” “No Reverse,” “Good Intentions,” and “Dark Cloud.”

Nevertel’s live performance demonstrated just how much the band has grown through constant touring. Rather than simply standing in one place and playing through the songs, the members brought a noticeable amount of energy to the stage, feeding off the crowd and keeping the room engaged throughout the set.

Songs such as “Losing Faith” and “Break The Silence” showed off the band’s ability to combine heavy guitars with memorable vocal hooks, while “SYM” and “Dark Cloud” brought some of the darker elements of their sound to the forefront.

The band’s momentum was especially apparent during the newer material. With their debut album Start Again behind them and new music continuing to arrive, Nevertel appears to be entering the next stage of their career. The band has already built an impressive touring résumé, including appearances at major festivals such as Welcome To Rockville and Sonic Temple, as well as tours with acts like Sleep Theory and Memphis May Fire.

For a Tuesday night, the crowd at The Song & Dance showed up ready to make some noise.

Ocean Sleeper opened the evening by bringing Australian metalcore to Syracuse. Rivals demonstrated how much sound two musicians can create when they know exactly how to use the tools at their disposal. Then Nevertel closed the night with a high-energy performance that showcased why the Tampa band continues to gain momentum in the active rock world.

With three very different approaches to modern heavy music sharing the same stage, Nevertel’s North American Tour made for a strong night at The Song & Dance — and a reminder that sometimes Tuesday nights are worth staying out late for.