On Monday, September 8, Rochester’s Photo City Music Hal was rattled by the sheer force of heavy riffs and thunderous breakdowns as Narcotic Wasteland brought their Annihilation Tour to town. With local support from Lord Loss, Oreamnos, and Order Of The Dead, a night tailor-made for headbanging, mosh pits, and pure underground metal energy.
The evening kicked off with Lord Loss, setting the tone with their brand of dark, crushing heaviness that quickly grabbed the attention of the early crowd. Following them, Oreamnos kept the momentum alive, blending technical precision with raw aggression. By the time Order Of The Dead took the stage, the room was fully engaged, with circle pits and flying hair taking over the floor.
Finally, Narcotic Wasteland closed the night with an intense, high-powered set that proved why they’ve built such a loyal following. But before they hit the stage, NYS Music sat down with frontman Dallas Toler-Wade to talk about the tour, the band’s plans, and his creative pursuits.
When asked how the early dates of the Annihilation Tour had gone so far, Wade admitted the band was still locking in:
“It’s right at the beginning of the tour, so the machine needs a little oil, you know what I mean? But yeah, we came out of the gate swinging, it’s been good so far.”
The tour will soon make its way overseas, where Narcotic Wasteland will play Europe for the very first time. While Wade has extensive history touring there with Nile, this time feels like a milestone:
“I haven’t been to Europe in a really long time, and Narcotic Wasteland has never been to Europe. We’re very happy and thrilled to have the opportunity to do it finally.”
He also expressed excitement about revisiting old memories abroad, joking that he’s looking forward to some authentic fish and chips.
Beyond touring, Wade has been keeping busy with his YouTube channel, where he posts guitar playthroughs, tablature, and gear reviews. A recent video even featured him testing a wireless system provided by a gear company. While he doesn’t plan to reinvent himself as a YouTube guitarist, the outlet has been a fun new way to connect with fans.
As for what’s next, Wade revealed that the band’s third album is waiting in the wings:
“I’ve been sitting on the third album for years now and just haven’t had a chance to [release it]. We kept getting more offers after COVID, so we stayed on the road. There’s possible label interest, but if I don’t get what I want, I’m just gonna do it myself. More and more people are doing that.”
Wade also spoke on the changing music landscape, balancing the importance of full albums with the demand for singles in today’s streaming culture:
“I definitely intend and love putting out full albums, but with today’s attention spans, you’re kind of wasting your stuff that way. I will be putting out a full album for the diehards, and in between albums, I’ll put out a couple singles too.”
Before wrapping up, Wade made it a point to highlight the importance of local bands promoting their shows:
“If the bands that are on the bill are promoting and have a draw all their own, the show’s gonna be great. But if they just show up and didn’t promote, believe me, that happens a lot. You gotta let people know that we’re here.”
The Rochester stop of the Annihilation Tour was a testament to that effort. With strong local support and a powerhouse headliner, the night was proof that underground metal thrives when both touring and hometown bands bring their all.
Lord Loss
Oreamnos
Order Of The Dead
Narcotic Wasteland
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