Photos: Chiodos, Hawthorne Heights, Emmure, Big Ass Truck at Empire Live

An amazing lineup for the elder emos. Big Ass Truck has been on a serious run lately, so I was stoked to see them on the tour. Hawthorne Heights sounded exactly like the record in the best way. Sweet, heartfelt, and locked in. Craig Owens sounded great live, and hearing All’s Well That Ends Well in full was a real highlight. The album wasn’t treated as a museum piece, instead the songs had a clear 2025 edge, with heavier breakdowns, the occasional blast beat, and subtle changes that keeps the music feeling evolved. The lighting across all the sets added a lot to the experience, and the energy never dipped, with the crowd keeping the crowdsurfing and pit active throughout.