A Door Left Open—and Blown off it’s Hinges: Orthodox in San Antonio Recap
Orthodox felt like a war zone — full-bodied chaos, purpose-built for movement.
Saturday, July 26, 2025 –Orthodox didn’t just stop by San Antonio — they ripped through it like a storm that forgot to knock. Touring behind their punishing new album A Door Left Open (released May 2025 via Lambgoat), the Nashville heavyweights brought a four-band wrecking crew to The Rock Box on Saturday, July 26. The result? A night that tested both eardrums and concrete, leaving no doubts about the current state of live music in San Antonio.
The set from Orthodox drove home the emotional force and structural control that critics have highlighted on A Door Left Open, and with that, Orthodox has carved out a tighter, darker sound—one that leans into dissonance without losing control. That transformation was fully realized onstage in San Antonio, where their set veered between haunting restraint and total sonic annihilation.
From the first downbeat, frontman Adam Easterling commanded the room like a man exorcising demons. The band’s angular riffs and blast beat eruptions echoed the Chicago Reader’s take on the album: "leaner, meaner territory." And in The Rock Box, that territory felt like a war zone — full-bodied chaos, purpose-built for movement.
Every band on the lineup brought their own take on heavy. Omerta had one of the rowdiest crowds of the night — fans came ready, and the band fed off it with nonstop energy. Their genre-bending moments got a strong reaction.
Mugshot followed and gave the night a little more balance. They’re heavy, but there’s a steadiness to their sound that carried well in the room. You could tell people were feeling it — lots of movement, lots of fists in the air.
Fromjoy and Joust opened things up and really helped set the tone. Fromjoy’s sound was chaotic in the best way, and Joust made a lot of new fans with their set —
Overall, Orthodox delivered, and the whole night reminded everyone why San Antonio continues to show up and support their favorite artists.
