Cycles of Catharsis: Like Moths To Flames and the Resilience of the Road at Bogart’s
The air in Bogart’s had the dense, metallic charge of a storm waiting to break. For a genre often dismissed as simple rage, Metalcore, at its most honest, is the sound of catharsis earning its intensity. On a charged Friday night in Cincinnati, Like Moths To Flames (LMTF) and their touring partners transformed the storied venue into a pressure chamber where psychological vulnerability was weaponized into sonic demolition.
The Melodic Architecture of the Pit
The night’s groundwork was meticulously laid by the supporting acts, showing the fierce breadth of the modern heavy scene:
Heavensgate, the newest blood on the bill, delivered a set built on frenetic, visceral energy, attacking the crowd with a forward-thinking brand of metalcore that prioritized technical precision and sheer impact. They set the tone: if you were here, you were here to move.
Next up was Acres. Just days prior, the atmospheric post-hardcore band announced that lead vocalist Ben Lumber would be missing the first leg of the tour, with bassist Jack stepping in to cover vocals. It was a situation that should have signaled a scramble, but instead, it became a story of unflinching resilience. Acres delivered a set galvanized by the challenge, with Jack pulling a heroic double duty on the mic. He didn’t just fill a spot—he CRUSHED IT, channeling the band's core themes of emotional struggle with a raw conviction that proved the creative unit runs deeper than any single member.
Bridging the gap was Kingdom of Giants, the veteran melodic force. Their set was a masterclass in tight execution, combining complex, technical rhythms with anthemic, singing choruses. The interplay between unclean and clean vocals was flawless, turning tracks like "Wasted Space" and "Bleach" into massive, communal singalongs that solidified their reputation as true mainstays of the scene.
The Generational Mosh: A Safe Space in the Chaos
As the support bands reached a fever pitch, the true heart of the community revealed itself in the chaotic energy of the pit. Caught in the center of the swirling activity was an impossible, joyful spectacle: a father and his middle-school-aged son.
The boy, barely tall enough to see over the barrier, was grinning ear-to-ear, participating in the circle pit and launching himself toward the ceiling for a frantic, joyful crowd surf multiple times throughout the evening. This was more than just a family outing; it was a testament to the safety and kindness embedded in the culture. Every single person in the mosh and circle pits—from the seasoned veteran to the newcomer—became a collective guardian. They protected the duo, created space for them to move, and carefully guided the son as he crowdsurfed, ensuring his safe return. In that powerful exchange of sweat and passion, this community proved it is fundamentally built on passion and kindness, where even the most aggressive music creates a truly safe space for all ages to thrive.
When Like Moths To Flames finally took the stage, the collective energy of the room—charged by the resilience of Acres and the communal joy of the pit—shifted to confrontation.
LMTF: The Sound of Trying to Cope
Their latest album, The Cycles of Trying to Cope, is heavy with introspective themes of self-sabotage and the painful pursuit of self-repair (epitomized by the album's thematic centerpiece, "Kintsugi"). On the Bogart's stage, LMTF physically embodied the struggle. Vocalist Chris Roetter used the physical violence of the metalcore sound—the massive breakdowns and the guttural shrieks—as a cathartic weapon against the psychological pain in the lyrics. Every chord felt earned, every breakdown felt like a painful emotional release. It was a visceral reminder that the band’s intensity isn’t mere aggression; it’s the sound of relentlessly battling your own demons, and that shared fight is what binds the crowd together.
The Greater Cycle: Music as Essential Therapy
When the house lights finally came up, the noise didn't end; it lingered as a shared understanding. LMTF's relentless pursuit of catharsis through sound—battling internal demons in the most public, visceral way—was mirrored perfectly by the collective kindness and protection offered in the mosh pit. This is precisely the space our sound project aims to chronicle. More than just writing articles, our goal is to capture the why—to share the valuable knowledge of resilience from the bands and the proof of community from the fans. The night at Bogart’s was a testament that live music is essential therapy, providing a passionate, welcoming, and safe environment where everyone, regardless of age or struggle, can find the power to cope.
