The house lights dropped like a hammer.

A split second of darkness… then boom — the first hit of pyro ignited in a vertical plume of flame as the stage exploded into red. Spotlights ripped through the fog like hunting beams, and the crowd lost their minds.

From the haze emerged the unmistakable silhouette of Gabriel — tall, lean, and absolutely electric in a black sleeveless tee, claws curled around his Ernie Ball DarkRay 5 like it was a living thing. Behind him, Thane stepped out into a wash of icy blue light, jeans scuffed from the road, black polo tight across his shoulders, claws flexed and eyes locked on the roaring crowd.

The sound that followed was seismic.

Cassie’s voice soared as they launched into “Wolves Awake,” the opening track from their upcoming album — a driving, snarling anthem that hit with the force of a freight train. Jonah’s kit lit up with programmable LEDs synced to every beat, and Mark had rigged vertical trusses with moving head beams that scanned the crowd like sentient floodlights.

“THIS IS SAN DIEGOOO!” Cassie screamed between verses, and the entire amphitheater shouted it right back.

Rico tore into his solo during “Midnight Collapse”, sparks flying — literally — as the new stage rig dropped a curtain of cold pyro behind him. Maya and Cassie stood back-to-back, guitars screaming, silhouetted in rotating blue strobes. Every camera phone in the crowd was locked on.

Gabriel didn’t just play — he prowled. His basslines growled and throbbed through the subwoofers like heartbeat thunder. At one point, during “Howlcore”, he stepped up onto a riser at the edge of the stage and pointed directly at a cluster of fans in the pit.

“You’re pack now!” he roared.

They howled back.

Thane was everywhere — checking mics on the fly, adjusting monitor levels, giving hand signals from behind the amp stacks, and still finding time to stand beside Gabriel during “Blood Anthem” for a spine-shaking chorus that had fans weeping and headbanging at the same time.

And then came the closer.

The lights dimmed. The crowd held its breath.

Cassie stepped forward slowly, the first soft chords of “Run With Me” echoing through the night air. But this wasn’t the acoustic rooftop version — this was the full, fiery, soul-splitting storm version.

A video montage played across the massive LED backdrop — fan-submitted clips, rooftop footage, and that silent hug between Gabriel and Rowan. As the final chorus hit, the entire crowd raised their arms in a tidal wave of movement, singing back every single word.

Tears. Cheers. Fire.

When the lights went out, the silence lasted a full five seconds before the scream returned.

It was deafening.

Backstage, soaked in sweat and grins, Gabriel collapsed onto the nearest bench and gasped, “I’m gonna need another root beer and a ten-minute nap.”

Thane handed him a towel and a chilled bottle. “Or both at once.”

Mark looked up from his tablet, still processing the camera feeds. “Y’know what this show looked like?”

Gabriel leaned in. “A freakin’ thunderstorm with guitars?”

Mark smirked. “No. It looked like a band that can sell out Madison Square Garden.”