When Vision of Disorder took the stage at the sold-out Paramount on Saturday, May 31st, it wasn’t just a show, it was a resurrection. Celebrating thirty years since the release of their debut EP Still, the Long Island hardcore titans proved they still wield the same primal energy and unrelenting power that’s made them New York legends.
With a headlining set that played like a war cry and a love letter all in one, it felt like royalty returning home and a living tribute to one of the most important bands in the history of the genre. Located in Huntington just down the street from the now-shuttered Roxy where they once earned their stripes, V.O.D. reached a milestone few could have predicted. Thirty years of coming straight for your face. Longevity without compromise.
The night opened with unrelenting force as Nailed to the Cross made their debut with new lead vocalist Leyla Eileen. Playing a short, but intense set of blistering riffs and throat-shredding screams, things in the pit got swinging early. Then in a nod to Long Island’s past and present, Skycamefalling was up next. Originally formed in 1996, the band brought a dedicated local fanbase along for the ride. Showcasing elements of metalcore and thrash, their energy took The Paramount by storm. At times, vocalist Chris Tzompanakis’ blood-curdling howls almost felt inhuman, and judging by the reaction of the now packed room, fans didn’t want it any other way.
Direct support came from Incendiary, one of today’s most ferocious hardcore bands and torchbearers of the Long Island tradition. Their pulverizing aggression and anthemic chaos proved why they’re often considered the heirs to the legacy bands like V.O.D. created. Working their way through songs like “Still Burning,” Echo of Nothing” and “The Product is You,” their brand of socially conscious aggression stirred the crowd into a frenzy from the first note and never let go. Closing with “Front Toward Enemy,” it was easy to see what the buzz is all about and why they were hand-picked for this special show.
When Vision of Disorder finally took the stage, it felt like the return of something sacred. Consisting of Tim Williams (vocals), Mike Kennedy (guitar), Matt Baumbach (guitar), Mike Fleischmann (bass), and Brendon Cohen (drums), V.O.D. has always been more than just a hardcore band. Born in the early ’90s LIHC circuit, they quickly became known for bending the genre’s rules, injecting punishing metal riffs and chaotic structure into traditional hardcore without ever losing emotional rawness. Their influence can be heard in virtually every metalcore band that’s followed. But to their fans, many of whom traveled from across the country for this show, they’re simply legends.
Launching into a one-two punch of “Element” and “Suffer,” the room erupted with fists in the air, crowd surfers sailing overhead, and bodies colliding in the pit. Williams’ vocals remain a hurricane. Raw, tortured, and cathartic, still performing with the same intensity that first turned heads three decades ago. Roaring through every line like it was his last breath, his infamous scream remains one of the most distinct and powerful in heavy music.
Tearing through staples like “Imprint,” “Zone Zero,” and “Viola” with surgical intensity, each song trigged waves of moshing and slam dancing. The energy was unrelenting, yet smiles were everywhere. This wasn’t mindless chaos, this was a celebration of something vital and foundational. Grown adults, many in their 30s and 40s, moved like they were 17 again, except now with the wisdom to savor every note. Everyone seemed to have a story about how the band had touched their lives. The merch table was stripped bare even before the show was over, a testament to the devotion of fans who had traveled from across the country. One group from Kansas City, who splurged on VIP passes, said they feared they’d never get the chance to see the band live again. That sense of urgency permeated the evening.
Giving Still it’s proper due, Vision of Disorder played nearly every track from the EP that launched their legacy, some of which would later appear on their landmark 1996 self-titled Roadrunner debut, like “Through My Eyes” and “D.T.O.” Whether screaming into the mic or holding it out to the crowd for singalongs, Tim Williams was a commanding presence. Kennedy and Baumbach’s guitar work remains untouchable, angular, menacing, and unpredictable. Mike Fleischmann and drummer Brenden Cohen laid down the thick, punishing rhythm section that has always been V.O.D.’s backbone. Thunderous and tight, showing zero signs of rust.
Notably absent from the set was any material from 2001’s From Bliss to Devastation, their most commercially visible album during their stint on TVT Records. The omission didn’t go unnoticed, and it likely wasn’t accidental. The band has long expressed frustration with TVT’s mishandling of their career, and many fans believe it contributed to their eventual disbandment. Saturday’s set made one thing clear: Vision of Disorder is writing their own legacy now.
Midway through the show, Williams cracked, “We’re the band that just won’t go away,” a tongue-in-cheek nod to the band’s improbable endurance. Later, in one of the night’s most touching moments, he brought his young child onstage to initiate a crowd-wide “V.O.D.” chant. It was a stark contrast to the heavily tattooed frontman screaming himself raw minutes earlier. A rare and beautiful glimpse into the human behind the roar that only deepened the emotional resonance of the night.
Following a nifty segue from “What You Are” into “Adelaide,” the band would round out the show with some more choice cuts for the bleeders in attendance. Songs like “7/13” and “Beneath the Green” hit like a freight train before V.O.D. landed on “Divide” to close out the set. Returning for an encore, the night ended with “Formula For Failure,” the band firing on all cylinders and the room pulsating with shared adrenaline. It was the kind of performance that makes you forget the years and remember the feeling. Not nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake, but a pure, present-tense reminder of what hardcore can be when it’s done with integrity. Vision of Disorder’s 30th anniversary show at The Paramount was a declaration. Of relevance. Of roots. Of resilience. They may never be a household name, but in certain circles, they are saints, prophets, and warriors rolled into one. Still dangerous. Still vital. Still Vision of Disorder.
Vision of Disorder | May 31,2025 | The Paramount | Huntington, NY
Setlist: Element, Suffer, Imprint, Zone Zero, Viola ~ Set To Fail, Through My Eyes, Choke, Beneath the Green, Watch Out, What You Are ~ Adelaide, Hard Times, 7/13, Divide, D.T.O.
Encore: Formula For Failure
Incendiary | May 31,2025 | The Paramount | Huntington, NY
Setlist: Still Burning, Echo of Nothing, The Product is You, Front Toward Enemy.
Skycamefalling | May 31,2025 | The Paramount | Huntington, NY
Setlist: A Penny for Your Confessions, Laura Palmer, Crown of Quiet Failure, With Paper Wins, Visceral.
Nailed to the Cross | May 31,2025 | The Paramount | Huntington, NY
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