Gebäude 9, Cologne, Germany 18th September 2025
Ten56. - EU/UK Tour 2025 - Special guests: The Dali Thundering Concept, Cabal, Vctms
With uncompromising sound and brutal live energy, French Deathcore darlings TEN56. embarked on their first major headliner tour through Europe and Great Britain in 2025. The band, known for their dark sonic force and intense stage presence, brought not two but three explosive special guests with them. Besides VCTMS and THE DALI THUNDERING CONCEPT, which were announced before, the Danish combo CABAL joined the pack in the very last minute to make this a memorable evening.
The Dali Thundering Concept
Formed back in 2010 in France, THE DALI THUNDERING CONCEPT is a Progressive Metal band with significant influences from Djent, Jazz Fusion, and even Industrial and Electronic music. They are on their third studio album with the latest being called ‘All Mighty Men’ from 2022. Check out https://thedalithunderingconcept.com for more info.
Music & Performance
It comes with the honour of being number one on the long list of bands for the evening that THE DALI THUNDERING CONCEPT had to start super early only 30 minutes of door opening. As a consequence, only very few fans had found their way into the cozy Gebäude 9.
Singer Sylvain Connier encouraged everyone to come forward to the stage where so far only a dozen people lingered. But undiscouraged, THE DALI THUNDERING CONCEPT gave their all, and gradually fans got drawn in by the intensive performance. While the band’s performance radiated energy, the sound engineers unfortunately seemed to be asleep at the wheel, as Sylvain’s vocals and Leo Natale’s guitar work were mostly eclipsed by the muffled base drum and bass guitar.
But this was overcome in the course of the set, and by the end of their 30-minute playtime, THE DALI THUNDERING CONCEPT had a room full of people clamouring and applauding. All in all, it was a noteworthy performance, teeing up the rest up the evening.
Vctms
Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, VCTMS is a prominent Deathcore band that emerged in 2013. The band’s music is an uncompromising blend of Deathcore, Nu-Metal, and Metalcore, characterized by a raw, emotional intensity. Their sound is defined by crushing breakdowns, fast-paced rhythms, and guttural vocals, all while incorporating atmospheric and melodic elements that set them apart.
VCTMS is known for their deeply introspective and dark lyrical themes, often exploring mental illness and personal struggles. Their discography is a chronological series of “Volumes,” each serving as a new chapter in their musical journey. Their latest album is called ‘Vol. V: The Hurt Collection’ (2023). Check out https://www.vctmsofficial.com
Music & Performance
Opening with the poignant track ‘Feed the Vice,’ VCTMS immediately drew the crowd’s full attention into their world by exuding a solid amount of confidence. Also, the sound mix was a step into the right direction, with Blake Hill’s guitar piercing your ear drums just in the right way, and Meredith Henderson’s drumming striking the right balance between accentuation and sheer power.
Singer John Malone fired up the pit with his raw energy, which got the Cologne crowd moving really fast. The relentless sonic assault reminded me strongly of GIDEON. With this fuelled performance of insane energy, VCTMS made a lot of new fans.
Cabal
Hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, CABAL is a Deathcore band that has quickly become a formidable force in the European Metal scene since their formation in 2015. Their music is an incredibly dark and brutal blend of Deathcore, blackened Death Metal, and Hardcore, with a strong emphasis on oppressive atmospheres and crushing breakdowns.
The band’s sound is characterized by its visceral and destructive nature, often incorporating unnerving soundscapes and subtle electronic elements to create a sense of pure chaos. Their discography spans four studio albums, with the latest being called ‘Everything Rots’ from this year. https://cabalcult.com
Music & Performance
The energy vector continued its upward trajectory. While VCTMS fired up the pit pretty well, CABAL took things to a new level. This was partially due to the incredibly energetic vibes of singer Andreas Bjulver, who took to the stage with a big grin, visibly enjoying his moment in the spotlight. But also, both guitarists, Chris Kreutzfeldt, and Christian Hammer, with their brutal shredding and supportive growling upped the ante, giving the Cologne crowd what they came for: an incredibly abrasive opportunity to practice their two-step pit moves.
Things reached an early climax, when TEN56. singer Aaron Matts joined CABAL on stage with both singers engaging in a growling match. When CABAL finished their set, Andreas and his crew invited the crowd over to the merch stand to say hi, have a beer, and maybe buy a T-shirt, so - as Andreas jokingly mentioned - he can convince his mom that this a real job.
Ten56.
Formed in 2020 by former BETRAYING THE MARTYRS frontman Aaron Matts, TEN56. is a French Deathcore band known for their extremely heavy and dark sound. The band’s name is a reference to a US police code for a suicide attempt, which sets the tone for their intense and introspective lyrical themes, often touching on mental health and personal turmoil. Their music style is a raw and chaotic fusion of Deathcore with elements of Nu-Metal, Industrial, and Trap music.
It’s characterized by punishing, down-tuned riffs, jarring electronic soundscapes, and Matts’s signature guttural vocals. TEN56. has quickly gained a reputation for their “no compromise” approach, creating a sound that is as unsettling as it is captivating. TEN56.’s discography primarily consists of EPs and a debut album, with their early work being presented in two parts before being compiled. Their most recent release is the studio album ‘IO’ from September 2025.
Music & Performance
Finally - shortly after 9pm - it is time for the main act of the evening. Dimmed lights and an obscure radio chatter intro announce TEN56. for their first headline tour. All hell breaks loose when the opener ‘GOOD MORNING’ kicks in. This is what the Cologne crowd has been waiting for, and the crowd is immediately amalgamated by the sheer energy unleashed by the band’s expertly curated punches into the sonic gut.
This is the type of psychoactive ingredient which reliably turns pure spectators into a maelstrom of bodies and limbs, with both the crowd and the band visibly feeding on the energy. Witnessing TEN56.’s playing style was nothing short of mesmerizing. The band members displayed exceptional technical prowess, effortlessly transitioning between intricate guitar riffs, atmospheric synth textures, and scorching breakdowns.
And frontman Aaron visibly loved his job and delivered his vocals with such wrenching energy and gut-punching passion, it was a marvel to look at. The only downside was that the gig was over after 60 minutes, with a two-song encore closing out with ‘Boy’, the lights coming on signalling the end of the show. For fans of heavy music with insane infectiousness and intensity, TEN56 is a band not to be missed live.
Setlist
01. Intro
02. GOOD MORNING
03. Saiko
04. Diazepam
05. Doormat
06. ICU
07. Yenta
08. I Know Where You Sleep
09. Earwig
10. Pig
11. Sick Dog
12. Traumadoll
13. RLS
14. PTY FCK
15. Ender
---
16. IO
17. Boy
All Pictures by Christian Beyermann
