HOLYWATR
Moody, loud, and soaked in attitude—HOLYWATR wasted no time setting the tone. Their frontman, a self-styled figure who simply goes by Holy, strutted onstage in a shirt that said “brat,” and he fully embodied it. From the moment they launched into their set, it was clear: this wasn’t going to be just another opening act.
Fresh off the viral momentum of singles like “Without U,” “Loose Ends,” “Fade,” and “Nail Polish,” HOLYWATR has been steadily turning up the heat. With millions of streams under their belt and over 200k monthly listeners, they’ve built a fanbase that’s just as intense as their sound. Crushing riffs meet soaring, emotional melodies in a blend that feels equal parts cathartic and chaotic. They’re not just riding the wave—they’re steering it, and now, with a full-length project on the way, they’re gearing up to cement their place as one of heavy music’s most promising new acts.
If you need a reference point, think Loathe-meets-Deftones in a rainstorm—gloomy, gritty, and soaked in distortion. It’s the kind of sound that wraps around you and drags you under, and honestly? We loved every second of it.
Truth be told, I hadn’t heard of HOLYWATR before that night. But in a lineup stacked with talent, they stood out. Their set was short, sure—but it didn’t need to be long to leave a mark. HOLYWATR feels like a band standing on the edge of something massive. And after last night, I’m fully on board for whatever comes next. If they’re playing near you? Don’t think. Just go.
ERRA
This was my second time seeing ERRA —the last time was back in 2023, and somehow, they’ve only gotten sharper since. Their set was a full-body experience: heavy, precise, and chaotic in all the right ways. Every riff slammed, every vocal line was locked in, and the whole thing felt like it could knock the wind out of you—in the best way.
They ran a few tracks off Cure, and they hit even harder live. That record already felt like a turning point for them, but hearing it played out on stage sealed it. There’s something different in their sound now—still super technical, still emotionally loaded, but more focused. More intentional. Like they’ve stepped fully into who they are as a band.
The crowd felt it too. You could see it in the way people reacted—screaming at the right moments, falling quiet at others, completely synced up with the energy coming off the stage. ERRA had full control the entire time. Watching them now, it’s wild to think how far they’ve come. They’re in their zone, and Cure is proof that they’re just getting started.
ARCHITECTS
Architects closed out the night with a set that felt massive from the very first hit. The sound was thunderous—dense without being muddy—and paired with a lighting setup that practically melted my eyeballs (in the best way possible). Blinding flashes, deep shadows, and eerie tones pulsed in sync with every track. It didn’t feel like just another performance—it felt designed. Every moment had intention behind it, and it showed.
Their latest album, The Sky, The Earth & All Between, dropped earlier this year, and it translated huge live. Produced by Jordan Fish (yes, that Jordan Fish from Bring Me the Horizon), it’s a layered, experimental beast of a record—equal parts industrial grit and arena-ready hooks. Tracks like “Whiplash,” “Blackhole,” “Everything Ends,” and the House of Protection collab “Brain Dead” brought a whole new weight in person. When they launched into “Blackhole,” the shift in the room was instant—darkness to light, chaos to clarity. “Seeing Red” landed like a grenade. It’s already a pissed-off fan favorite, and live, it rips even harder.
That being said, the start of their set threw a curveball. The five of us in the photo pit were unexpectedly pulled out before the first song even ended. No heads-up—just a shoulder tap and a mid-shot escort. It definitely shook the momentum, but we regrouped off to the side and caught the rest from the crowd.
Not ideal, but it didn’t kill the vibe.
Even with just sixty seconds to shoot, my first time seeing Architects left a mark—and yeah, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
Full Galleries
Architects- https://www.shotbypreston.com/architects
ERRA- https://www.shotbypreston.com/erra
HOLYWATR- https://www.shotbypreston.com/holywatr