Between The Buried and Me, Hail The Sun, and Delta Sleep Brings Progressive Firepower to The Masquerade (9/27/2025)
As I usually start my drive to Atlanta from Augusta, everything feels easy—a smooth drive with no hassle parking in Underground Atlanta and a clear path to The Masquerade. When I stepped inside the city-like complex, I was reminded why I’ve always liked this venue: the four distinct spaces — Altar, Purgatory, Heaven, Hell — give it a layered, intimate feel unlike many others. Tonight’s show filled the Heaven portion of the venue. Before the doors even opened, I found myself chatting with fans in line and making a few new friends along the way. Everyone was buzzing with excitement for the Blue Nowhere tour. We passed through a metal detector before entering, and once inside, the energy was intense. I immediately grabbed a Shirley Temple from the bar. There was easy access and fast service, which made it simple to keep the good vibes going all night.
Delta Sleep — Opening with Intricate Precision
Delta Sleep walked on first, and though I’d never seen them live before, they proved an excellent way to begin the evening. The UK math-rock quartet delivered a tight, confident set full of technical flourishes and textural depth. Delta Sleep formed in Brighton, England, in 2010 and quickly became a cornerstone of the UK math-rock scene. Their early EPs showcased their penchant for complex time signatures and shimmering guitar interplay, but it was their debut album, Twin Galaxies (2015), that put them on the international map. Follow-up records like Ghost City (2018) and Spring Island (2021) expanded their sound, blending intricate musicianship with heartfelt storytelling.
The band—Devin Yüceil (vocals, guitar), Glen Hodgson (guitar, backing vocals), Dave Jackson (bass, backing vocals), and Blake Mostyn (drums, backing vocals)—has earned a reputation for amazing live shows and globe-spanning tours that bring their meticulous yet emotional sound to life. They kept the pacing tight and balanced their most well-known songs, like “Camp Adventure,” with deeper cuts. Though their set was relatively short, Delta Sleep left enough of a mark that many around me were nodding, discussing the unusual time signatures, and making mental notes of songs to explore later. By the time they exited, I was already someone who wanted to dive deeper into their catalog. Their merchandise table also drew a steady crowd—shirts, stickers, and unique designs that reflected their creative sense.
Setlist:
1. Lake Sprinkle Sprankle
2. The Softest Touch
3. Slow Burn
4. Camp Adventure
5. Spy Dolphin
6. The Detail
Hail the Sun — Punch, Melody & Emotion
After a quick turnover, Hail the Sun took over—and they demanded attention from the first note. Their sound leans into post-hardcore with adventurous melodic instincts, and tonight they struck a powerful balance between intensity and nuance. Emerging from Chico, California, in 2009, Hail the Sun built their name in the progressive post-hardcore world through relentless touring and a sound that blurs the line between technical precision and raw emotion. Early releases like Pow! Right in the Kisser! caught underground attention, while albums such as Wake (2014) and Culture Scars (2016) established them as scene leaders. Over time, they’ve embraced more melodic and experimental elements without losing their bite. Their lineup features Donovan Melero (vocals, drums), Shane Gann (guitar, backing vocals), Aric Garcia (guitar), and John Stirrat (bass).
Donovan’s ability to front the band while simultaneously drumming was really cool to see for two songs. One highlight was that mid-set atmospheric stretch: guitars chimed, tension built, and then everything descended into heavier riffs. The crowd responded in kind—arms raised, voices echoing, energy surging. You could tell Hail the Sun’s dynamics are precise; they know when to pull back and when to release. Special shoutouts during the set performed a communal feel — especially the dedication to Kit and Kenzie’s engagement, which drew cheers throughout the room. Their merch display was just as packed as their set—hoodies, tees, posters—drawing a long line of eager fans. By the time their set closed, the room had shifted. What started as curiosity became genuine enthusiasm. New fans were born tonight, I’m sure.
Setlist:
1. The Drooling Class
2. Human Target Practice
3. Secondary Worship
4. Mind Rider
5. Tithe (Dedicated to “the sickos and weirdos who run the Catholic Church”)
6. Blight
7. Made Your Mark
8. Doing the Same Thing and Expecting Different Results (Dedicated to Kit and Kenzie, the couple who got engaged in the crowd)
9. Live Forever
10. The “Fun” in Dysfunction (Donovan on drums)
11. Missed Injections (Donovan on drums)
12. War Crimes
13. Maladapted
Between the Buried and Me — Headline Precision & Power
When Between the Buried and Me (BTBAM) took the stage, the energy became something else entirely. The set felt like a narrative arc, pushing through moods, tempo, contrast, and catharsis. Between the Buried and Me formed in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2000 and rapidly evolved from a promising metalcore act into one of the most innovative forces in modern progressive music. Albums like Alaska (2005), Colors (2007), and The Parallax II: Future Sequence (2012) redefined what heavy music could be—blending death metal, prog-rock, jazz fusion, and ambient textures into sprawling compositions. Their current lineup—Tommy Giles Rogers (lead vocals, keyboards), Paul Waggoner (guitar, backing vocals), Dan Briggs (bass, backing vocals, keys), and Blake Richardson (drums)—has been together for over a decade, developing an almost telepathic musical chemistry. Now touring in support of 2024’s The Blue Nowhere, they continue to push boundaries.
While 11 songs might seem modest on paper, it’s important to note that Between the Buried and Me’s compositions are often double the length of typical songs in their genre. Each track unfolds like a journey, filled with movements, shifts, and thematic reprises. The setlist pulled heavily from The Blue Nowhere, with a few fan favorites from previous albums sprinkled in. They opened with ambient swells, gradually layering in riffs and vocals until the full force hit. Tommy’s vocal flexibility stood out— screams, harmonies, melodies—all in service of each song’s structure. Waggoner’s guitar provided both a rhythmic foundation and solo flights; Briggs quietly navigated between supporting lines and melodic counterpoints; Richardson held the whole thing together, driving transitions cleanly and powering peaks with clarity. Their merchandise section was massive, with a huge variety of Blue Nowhere gear, and fans crowded around after the set to snap up some goodies. In the encore, they closed with a blow-your-mind final stretch that made you feel they’d saved their heaviest, most emotional statements for last.
Setlist:
1. Disease, Injury, Madness
2. Absent Thereafter
3. House Organ
4. Stare into the Abyss
5. Prehistory
6. Things We Tell Ourselves in the Dark
7. God Terror
8. Specular Reflection
9. Extremophile Elite
Encore:
10. The Blue Nowhere
11. Informal Gluttony
Crowd, Venue & Overall Vibe
The crowd was a force unto itself. From the pit to the back, the room was alive with movement, headbanging, fist-raising, and communal energy. Yet even in that intensity, there was respect—people gave space where needed, and transitions felt smooth. The bar access between acts was well handled; even in the thick of the crowd, I never felt blocked from grabbing another Shirley Temple or stepping back to breathe. The Masquerade’s layout — with its four rooms — gives each show a sense of spatial awareness. Tonight, Heaven held us in close quarters to the stage, amplifying every riff, drum hit, and vocal inflection. The adjacency to Purgatory, Altar, and Hell ensures that sound leakage, pre-sets, or warmups echo around — and on this night, the energy felt building across the whole venue, even outside Heaven. Everything leading in felt seamless. That’s worth noting: a show is heightened when logistics don’t pull you out of the moment. What’s even more, I met a lot of friendly people along the way. Conversations erupted between sets: “What’s your favorite from the setlist so far?” “Which band pushed you hardest?” “What’s next in your playlist?” The camaraderie reminded me again: shows are as much about shared experience as they are about the music. For someone who’d never listened to Delta Sleep or Hail the Sun before, tonight changed that. With BTBAM anchoring the evening, the lineup proved adventurous and thoughtful. The night left me excited, inspired, and ready to dive deeper into all three bands. Every time I leave The Masquerade, I think: this venue offers something unique. The four-tiered rooms, the tight walls, the proximity to the stage — it feels personal even when it’s full. Pair that with a crowd that’s all-in, and bands that deliver with heart and skill, and you’ve got one of those nights you’ll replay in your mind. The Blue Nowhere tour? It’s not just a string of dates. It’s a living, evolving statement. If this show is any indication, fans in every city are in for the show of a lifetime.
Be sure to follow all three bands on their bandcamp!
Delta Sleep - https://deltasleep.bandcamp.com/album/blue-garden-2
Hail The Sun - https://hailthesun.bandcamp.com/album/divine-inner-tension
Between The Buried and Me - https://btbam.bandcamp.com/album/the-blue-nowhere-24-bit-hd-audio