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Senses Fail & Story of the Year
Bring the Scream Team Tour to Anaheim
December 17th, 2025 Review by Joey Clark
Last week, the Senses Fail and Story of the Year co-headlined Scream Team tour proved that the love for post-hardcore and emo remains as strong as ever. What unfolded over the course of the evening wasn’t simply a nostalgia-driven package tour, but a night that honored the past while sounding fiercely alive in the present.
With Armor for Sleep opening the night, the lineup felt thoughtfully curated. It was clear as I witnessed each performance resonate deeply with a crowd that spanned multiple generations.
Armor for Sleep laid the foundation, delivering a performance that felt intimate and powerful on the heels of their latest release, “There Is No More.”
From the moment they stepped onstage, it was evident they weren’t there to coast on the past alone. Their set leaned into the band’s signature blend of melancholic melodies and emotional weight, reminding the audience why their music has endured beyond trends and eras.
Songs that once soundtracked teenage heartbreak now carried a deeper resonance, shaped by time and lived experience. Ben Jorgensen’s vocals were restrained yet emotive, striking a balance between vulnerability and control, while the band’s meticulous musicianship allowed each song to breathe in a live setting. As an opener,
Armor for Sleep did more than warm up the room – they foreshadowed an evening that would be emotionally reflective and impactful.
When Story of the Year hit the stage, the energy shifted dramatically, erupting into a wave of kinetic energy. Where Armor for Sleep leaned inward,
Story of the Year exploded outward, igniting the crowd with the kind of explosive enthusiasm that has long defined their live reputation.
From the opening notes of their latest single, “Gasoline (All Rage Still Only Numb),” the band played with a confidence earned through years of touring and reinvention.
Their setlist balanced ferocity and fun, blending classic anthems with newer material that proved the band has never lost its edge.
Highlights included “War,” “Tear Me to Pieces,” “Anthem of Our Dying Day,” “Our Time Is Now,” “Sidewalks,” “In the Shadows,” and “Until the Day I Die.”
Frontman Dan Marsala commanded the stage with ease, his vocals being a perfect mixture of raw aggression and melodic clarity.
The band’s chemistry was undeniable, each member feeding off the others’ momentum as the crowd responded in kind – jumping, shouting, and singing along with unfiltered joy.
What stood out most was how effortlessly Story of the Year bridged eras; longtime fans were rewarded with familiar choruses, while newer listeners were pulled in by the intensity of the performance. The set felt celebratory without being self-indulgent, serving as both a reminder of the band’s history in the scene and a declaration that there’s plenty of life left in the band.
By the time Senses Fail closed the night, the audience was primed and ready to dive into their unique brand of chaos. Known for their emotionally charged performances, Senses Fail approached their set with a spirit that felt both urgent and cathartic. Buddy Nielsen’s presence was commanding yet deeply personal, his vocals cutting through the venue with conviction and vulnerability. Each song landed like a shared confession, drawing the audience into a collective emotional release.
The band’s setlist spanned their discography, weaving together moments of aggression, reflection, and defiance. Rather than leaning solely on crowd favorites, Senses Fail curated a journey that mirrored the evolution of the band and its fans alike.
The heavier tracks sparked movement and chaos in the pit, while the more introspective moments brought the crowd together in unified sing-alongs, voices overlapping in a powerful reminder of how deeply this music continues to resonate with people. Some of my favorites of the night were “Calling All Cars,” “Death by Water,” “Wolves at the Door,” “Mi amor,” “One Eight Seven,” “Can’t Be Saved,” and “Bite to Break Skin.”
What made the night truly special was the way the three bands complemented one another. Armor for Sleep opened the door with introspection and atmosphere, Story of the Year tore it off its hinges, and Senses Fail stepped through to deliver an emotional reckoning.
There was a noticeable sense of gratitude in the room, not just from the fans but from the bands themselves. The night didn’t feel like a routine tour date; it felt like a shared acknowledgment of longevity in a genre that was once dismissed as fleeting. A middle finger to anyone who said loving these bands was merely a phase.
In an era where live music often struggles to balance nostalgia with relevance, this show struck that balance perfectly. The Scream Team tour stood as a testament to the enduring power of emotionally honest music.
It wasn’t about reliving the past — it was about recognizing how far everyone has come, and how these songs continue to matter. By the end of the night, one thing was clear: this scene is very much alive, and nights like this are proof that it still has plenty left to offer.
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Highway One Photography
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SID 251217 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
