Exhorder 2026 live at Empire Underground, Albany: Photo by Rachael Skinner
New Orleans Groove/Thrash legends Exhorder made their way to Albany’s Empire Underground as part of their U.S. tour with Skinlab, and the underground was ready for them.
The evening opened with four local and regional acts, each bringing genuine passion to the stage. Ice Queen from nearby Troy, New York, got things moving, followed by Hell They Raise out of the Hudson Valley. End of Man from Bennington, Vermont kept the energy climbing, and Albany’s own Against the Reign closed out the opening stretch.
Together, the four sets built the room up steadily and gave the crowd something to hold onto before the headliners arrived.
Skinlab hit the stage first and wasted no time amping up the crowd. These Bay Area groove-metal legends delivered an insanely high-energy performance that kept the crowd fully immersed in the moment. Their grooves were heavy, the drums hit hard, and Steev Esquivel’s vocals cut through the room with the kind of weight that reminds you why this band still matters. Behind the kit, fill-in drummer Andrew Maciejewski of Ikillya held everything together with confidence and kept the set moving without missing a beat. The crowd felt every rhythmic tone and heavy beat that transcended through the airwaves.
The long-awaited moment came when Exhorder took over the stage. Kyle Thomas came out full send with his powerful vocals and his electrifying riffs. Alongside him, ex-Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O’Brien was a force to be reckoned with throughout the night; his shredding was sharp and relentless. The two sounded like a guitar team that had been locked in together for years, feeding off each other in a way that gave the set a chemistry the crowd could feel. Jason VieBrooks anchored the low end with precision and authority with his bass wizardry, while special guest percussionist Corey Pierce of God Forbid kept flawless timing behind the kit, stepping in and making the whole performance feel seamless. Together, they delivered the thrash-grooves the crowd had been anticipating and then some. Midway through the set the band paused to honor their beloved friend Jorge, sharing a moment of remembrance that brought the room together in a way that only live music can.
The gratitude Exhorder showed for the turnout that night was genuine and heartfelt, and the crowd gave the love right back. This was a night that reminded everyone in the room why they show up. Some shows are just gigs. This show, in particular, meant something and proved to be an unforgettable experience.
Buy Exhorder music and merch here:
https://amzn.to/3QbP1qc
Buy Skinlab music and merch here:
https://amzn.to/48JAOXB
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY RACHAEL SKINNER
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