Eyes Set to Kill celebrates 15 years of 'Reach' in New Kensington show
The surprisingly light crowd for Eyes Set to Kill’s first Pittsburgh area appearance in six years didn’t diminish the performance put on by the melodic metalcore band.
Currently celebrating 15 years of their debut album “Reach” — although it was technically released on Feb. 19, 2008 — Eyes Set To Kill didn’t disappoint those who did show up Wednesday night at Preserving Underground in New Kensington.
Eyes Set to Kill has been around since 2003, when singer/guitarist Alexia Rodriguez and her bass-playing sister, Anissa, were in high school. Anissa Rodriguez departed the band in 2017 but returned last year, and the sisters looked right at home next to each other on stage Wednesday.
While their touring guitarist unleashed the “harsh” screamo vocals, Alexia Rodriguez handled all the clean vocals over the night. But on “Broken Frames,” she seemed to belt it out a little harder, giving it some extra oomph.
Over their career, the band has released six full-length albums and two EPs, most recently the “Damna” EP in 2021. But new music is on the way, and Eyes Set to Kill debuted a new song, “Wilderness,” on Wednesday. (Not so coincidentally, the tour is dubbed Into the Wilderness with 15 Years of Reach.)
Most of the “Reach” album was played Wednesday, with “Darling” closing out the regular set, before Alexia returned by herself to play “Give You My All” for the encore.
Related
• Icelandic jazz-pop star Laufey thrills in 2nd night with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
• Baroness bassist Nick Jost talks touring, danceable metal and more ahead of Pittsburgh show
• 2024 Pittsburgh area concert calendar
Secrets, out of Orange County, California, wasn’t originally advertised as playing this show. But the post-hardcore band delivered an aggressive set, with both guitarists and singer Wade Walters stepping up on crates and nearly reaching the ceiling.
.@SECRETSofficial setting the stage for @eyessettokill at Preserving Underground in New Kensington pic.twitter.com/d2cl9BaC0Q
— Mike Palm (@MikePalmMedia) June 27, 2024
Lost in Separation, a metalcore band out of Dallas, set the stage with a tight, aggressive set. (And bonus points to their bassist, who was sporting a black Pittsburgh Pirates Paul Skenes jersey.)
.@lostnseparation opening for @eyessettokill at Preserving Underground in New Kensington pic.twitter.com/VSd2Fq6Q0Q
— Mike Palm (@MikePalmMedia) June 26, 2024
Pittsburgh’s The Pit Crew, which includes a pair of sisters on drums and bass, opened the show and included their recently released single, “Sleep.”
Pittsburgh’s The Pit Crew opening for @eyessettokill at Preserving Underground in Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/WcqWwgvkol
— Mike Palm (@MikePalmMedia) June 26, 2024
Mike Palm is a TribLive digital producer who also writes music reviews and features. A Westmoreland County native, he joined the Trib in 2001, where he spent years on the sports copy desk, including serving as night sports editor. He has been with the multimedia staff since 2013. He can be reached at mpalm@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.