On June 11th, 2024, Californian metalcore gold record-certified band OF MICE AND MEN, with local support RISING INSANE, took over Hole44 in Berlin.
RISING INSANE is a metalcore/post-hardcore band from Bremen. The audience was loud, and the stage was decorated with neon strobe lamps. Their music has post-hardcore and metalcore roots but sounds a lot more melodic and soft. Vocalist Aaron Steineker was interacting with the crowd and asking them to dance from right to left. It was entertaining to watch happy fans jumping around the venue. I was not familiar with their music, but it sounded solid and clean.
Hailing from Costa Mesa, USA, OF MICE AND MEN entered the stage to loud cheers and applause, opening their set with two bangers: “Obsolete,” followed by “Castaway,” and then “Would You Still Be There.” By this time, the audience was singing along loudly, heads nodding furiously in time with the music. Vocalist Aaron Pauley stopped to thank the audience for choosing to come to their concert. The vibe was more emotional than brutal. They closed the set with “Second & Sebring.” The OF MICE AND MEN stage set was neat and tidy. After the support band, everything except the OF MICE AND MEN drum kit was cleared off the stage. The drummer was positioned in the center at the back, and there were three risers placed at the front of the stage. The guitarists tended to stay on their own sides while vocalist Pauley moved around but mostly remained front and center. What OF MICE AND MEN missed was the presence of a human bass guitarist rather than a track, but many bands appear to be taking this approach now. Overall, OF MICE AND MEN performed their songs with such intensity and passion, taking the listeners along for the journey with them.
RISING INSANE
OF MICE AND MEN
Photos by Alexandra Aim
