Concert Review: Deafheaven w/ Gatecreeper, Trauma Ray at Irving Plaza, Manhattan, NY

Deafheaven have returned with a vengeance to reclaim their rightful throne in the metal world. It’s been a long four years since their post-rock opus Infinite Granite, and an even lengthier wait for fans of the blackgaze style that put the California based quintet on the map, but with Lonely People With Power, Deafheaven brings together elements of black metal, shoegaze, and even drone music to cultivate a monumental triumph of a record. In what felt less like a tour and more like a victory lap, the group announced a run across the United States to promote the record, accompanied by the death metal titans in Gatecreeper and rising shoegaze group Trauma Ray.

My first experience with Deafheaven was in May 2023 when they opened for Coheed and Cambria at The Rooftop on Pier 17. Throughout the frenetic guitars and throttling drums of their 2013 hit “Dream House,” George Clarke screams of “fantasizing the sight of Manhattan,” with the Manhattan skyline quite literally right behind him. They sounded nearly identical to the records they were playing songs from, and while this is admirable from any band, it's especially true for one of the black metal genre, where every sonic element cascades in destructive force and unintelligible sound. I am delighted to report that this trait was shown through during their return to Manhattan at Irving Plaza on their Lonely People With Power tour.

After a thirty minute segment of the mostly ambient “Lonely People With Power Radio,” the band took to the stage with “Doberman,” a track that blasted audience members with pummelling bass drums and a thunderous breakdown. The group wasted no time, immediately launching into their first Lonely People With Power single “Magnolia,” which, much like the preceding track, translated beautifully in a live setting. There were swaths of fans in the front row screaming every word, and while this isn’t uncommon behavior at any concert, I was quite impressed considering Deafheaven’s music isn’t exactly the most intelligible with their deeply poetic lyrics. It goes to show how devoted the fans are and their willingness to truly engage with this style of music instead of simply listening to it.

Deafheaven mainly stuck to tracks from Lonely People With Power, including the downright ridiculously heavy “Revelator,” the ethereal yet violent “The Garden Route,” and frontman George Clarke’s favorite “Amethyst.” Just like on the Rooftop two years ago, they sounded just as fleshed out and complete as they did on the record. The group also broke out a few older tracks, including New Bermuda classic “Brought To The Water” and Sunbather hits “Sunbather” and “Dream House,” the latter of which brought the crowd to life in a way the previous nine songs hadn’t. The sound of over a thousand people screaming the ending mantra “I Want To Dream” is a testament to how much that song has defined the genre and the band at large. However, in a move that defied Deafheaven’s typical headliner formula, the group didn’t end their set with “Dream House” but instead with the newest instant classic from the band, “Winona.” It was a fantastic switch up that seemed to translate well with the audience, and with the number of people showing up for tonight’s show (and a sold-out Brooklyn show the next day), it’s clear that Deafheaven is getting the flowers they have always deserved.

DEAFHEAVEN

On the lineup for direct support was Arizona based death metal outfit Gatecreeper. My first exposure to Gatecreeper came through their 2021 EP An Unexpected Reality, a record that took a little bit to warm up to. However, it was really their latest record Dark Superstition that put them in my regular rotation thanks to the band’s unique blend of melodic elements mixed with their ultra heavy songwriting. Their performance did a wonderful job displaying their growth in a live setting as well, as they felt incredibly energized and furious. Vocalist Chase Mason growled and grunted his way through the set with little sprinkles of humor to keep the audience engaged such as when he asked the crowd what the score of the game was before telling everyone to “bounce like a basketball” before going into “Dead Star.” Gatecreeper proved through their ferocious performance they are THE band to watch in the death metal scene, and judging from their relentless touring schedule, the next chance to see them could be coming sooner rather than later.

GATECREEPER

If Gatecreeper represented the heaviest aspects of Deafheaven’s catalog, Trauma Ray could be considered their hazier counterpart. The Texas shoegaze outfit have made a name for themselves amidst their contemporaries due to their leanings into grungier styles of songwriting and their all green aesthetic. The group mainly stuck to tracks from their latest record Chameleon, blazing through it with their pedalboards at the max. While the room might not have been completely full at this point in the evening, the band were filling every crevice of Irving Plaza with their massive wall of sound. I find that shoegaze and metal complement each other quite nicely when the genres are in competent hands, and Trauma Ray are a group that knows exactly how to pull it off amidst a landscape of heavier music.

TRAUMA RAY

The Lonely People With Power tour is wrapping up quickly with the final stop in Arizona on May 20th, but the album the tour derives from is available on Apple Music and Spotify. For anyone who’s into death metal, shoegaze, emo, post rock, really any alternative music style with leanings on heavier tones, this is easily one of the most important records of the year to check out. It’s going to be tough to beat a record like this in 2025, and I can’t wait to see what Deafheaven accomplishes next.