UnityTX, Heavy//Hitter, Boltcutter, Nihil

Beer City Music Hall, Oklahoma City, OK

March 28, 2026

Review & Gallery by: Ally Arens

Amongst the ever-growing sea of tours that come and go, it can be easy to miss some gems. For fans of the hardcore/deathcore/scene, one of these tours that should not be missed is the latest run from Philadelphia’s own Varials in support of their newest album Where the Light Leaves, joined by UnityTX, Heavy//Hitter, and Boltcutter each night. Thanks to UnityTX’s team, The Encore Nights was able to check out the tour as it stopped through Oklahoma City’s Beer City Music Hall, and what ensued was an extremely loud and raucous night, with mosh pits and crowd surfers a-plenty, making the night memorable for all – even those not brave enough to jump in the pit themselves (yes, I’m talking about myself here…). 

First to take the stage was OKC’s own Nihil. Though attendees were still trickling in when they took the stage earlier than the advertised start of 7 p.m., Nihil set the tone for the night as the middle of the floor was wide open with some attendees already beginning to spin-kick and otherwise hard-core dance to their heart’s content.

Next up was the first of the touring package, Boltcutter, a slam metal/hardcore act hailing from Eugene, Oregon. Their instrumentals were brutally sludgy, with guttural vocals so intense that it was very difficult to tell when one song ended and the next began – instead it was just 20-ish minutes of unbridled fury. Meanwhile, the mosh pit began to grow larger as the crowd got more amped up for the night ahead.

Following Boltcutter’s entrance was another hardcore act hailing from the opposite coast, Florida’s Heavy//Hitter. Though their vocals were (slightly) more intelligible than their predecessors, they continued to bring the heat, angst and intensity with songs such as “Deposition of Violence,” “No Mercy, No Remorse,” and “Heaven’s Gate.” The crowd continued to pack in and get amped up for what was to come, although not without some headache as venue security had to reign in a scuffle or two.

To top off the support before Varials hit the stage, it was then time for Dallas’ own UnityTX to bring their fusion of rap, metal, and electronic influences to the packed house. They kicked off the night with “SABOTAGE” before launching into “HEINOUS” off of their newest album SOMEWHERE, IN BETWEEN… which just released on March 13 via Pure Noise Records. Before their first three songs were done, crowd surfing had begun to enter the chat, keeping the front-of-house staff on their toes. The crowd’s intensity only increased as the set went on, with mosh pit surges during tracks such as “ENJOY THA SHOW” that transitioned to grinding to the sultry grooves of “DIAMOND DIEZ” before kicking the intensity back up with “BODY ROC” and “ROC SHIT.” By the end of their set, it was difficult to find a still figure in the room – and the night was still young. The band’s unique blend of raspy, rap-style vocals with crunchy guitars helped them stand out sonically amongst the death growls of their peers, and in my opinion made them a highlight of the evening. Especially for those looking for some heavy music that differs from the norm, I very highly recommend giving Unity TX a listen.

The Where the Light Leaves release tour continues tonight, March 31, in Pensacola, FL before making its way along the East Coast, concluding in Philadelphia, PA on April 11. While Unity’s touring plans beyond the current run have yet to be revealed, they are sure to have more in store, and all upcoming shows can be found on their website.