Bleed From Within Bring Relentless Energy to Dallas on First U.S. Headlining Tour

Photojournalist: Brian McLean

The time finally arrived for the Scots of Bleed From Within to embark on their first U.S. headlining tour. The Glasgow-based metal band is currently on its North American Zenith tour in support of Zenith, its latest release through Nuclear Blast Records. The 27-date run takes the band coast to coast, hitting major markets such as Montreal, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas.

Sylosis, Great American Ghost, and Life Cycles signed on as support for the intense metal trek. The tour made only two stops in Texas—Austin, followed by a visit to the historic Granada Theater in Dallas.

The sun shone brightly over Dallas earlier in the day, but dreary clouds rolled in as showtime approached, casting a gray cover with the threat of light rain.

San Antonio–based Life Cycles delivered good old Texas crossover thrashing to a crowd that continued to file in throughout the band’s high-energy set.

With the crowd’s adrenaline already simmering, Boston’s Great American Ghost took the stage and pushed things up a notch. Fronted by Ethan Harrison, the band worked the audience with a blend of hardcore punk laced with fast-paced thrash. The intensity was undeniable as the band tore through its set. Harrison even remarked that he needed to remove his jacket as the stage lights made things a bit too heated.

Turning in a strong performance is only part of a band’s role; being fan-friendly is another. From the stage, Harrison mentioned he would be at the merch table, and true to his word, he was there following the set. He spoke cordially with fans and engaged in conversations about music—exactly the kind of interaction that helps build a loyal following, especially when paired with a blistering live performance.

Reading- and Berkshire-based Sylosis took the stage amid a flood of red lighting and bright white strobes, ready to deliver a British metal beatdown. Keeping in step with the night’s relentless energy, the band opened with “Beneath the Surface,” the first track off New Flesh. Sylosis pulled four tracks from the new album for its eight-song set, including the title track, “All Glory, No Valour,” and “Mirror Mirror.”

The band is currently touring in support of New Flesh, its seventh studio album, also released through Nuclear Blast Records.

Taking the stage for the first time as a headliner in Dallas, Bleed From Within delivered more than just a milestone moment—it was an electrified performance packed with excitement in the name of metal.

Touring behind Zenith, released just weeks ago, the Granada Theater’s production was spot-on, with constantly shifting and strobing colored lights enhancing the ferocity of the performance. The effect was immersive, stimulating the senses of everyone in attendance, whether pressed against the stage or watching from one of the theater’s tiered levels.

It was only fitting that “Violent Nature,” the opening track on Zenith, served as the set opener, followed by the title track. In total, seven songs from Zenith appeared in the 15-song setlist, offering a strong representation of the new material in a live setting. The night concluded with “In Place of Your Halo,” the final song in a three-song send-off.

The tour is now closing in on its final six dates. After a day off for travel, the band will hit Tampa on May 1, followed by stops in Atlanta, Greensboro, Richmond, Baltimore, and a concluding show in New York.

Four bands delivering full-on metal is not a bad way to spend an evening. This tour comes highly recommended for anyone looking to release some pent-up energy.

BLEED FROM WITHIN

SYLOSIS

GREAT AMERICAN GHOST

LIFE CYCLES