On July 13, 2026, it was a hot summer evening in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. From Ashes To New were scheduled to perform at the Coca-Cola Coliseum, and people were lined up around the block waiting to get into the venue. The tour kicked off two days earlier, on July 11, at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and will run through the end of August.
From Ashes To New formed in 2013 in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. After a few lineup changes, the band has settled into its current lineup: Matt Brandyberry and Danny Case on vocals, Lance Dowdle and Jimmy Bennett on guitars, and Mat Madiro on drums. Since 2016, they have released five studio albums, including the most recent, Reflections, which came out via Better Noise Music on April 17, 2026.
The Coca-Cola Coliseum was constructed in 1921, with the official opening on December 16 of that year. It was built for the Canadian National Exhibition and hosted livestock and horse competitions, agricultural showcases, fairs, and wrestling events until the early 1940s, when it became a military training base for the Royal Canadian Air Force. In the early 2000s, it received some major renovations before reopening as an event centre called Ricoh Coliseum. In January 2018, it was renamed the Coca-Cola Coliseum after Coca-Cola Canada acquired the naming rights, and today it hosts concerts, women’s hockey, and trade and consumer exhibitions.
Doors opened at 6 p.m. sharp, and fans started trickling in. The line was way down the block, and people had been waiting hours for the show. People made their way to their seats or to the floor in front of the stage and waited patiently for 7 p.m. to arrive. As the lights dimmed, we saw the shadows of guitarists Lance Dowdle and Jimmy Bennett and drummer Mat Madiro as they walked onto the stage and started playing. Vocalist Danny Case made his way out onto the stage and headed down the catwalk to the B-stage, where he began to sing the first lines of \"New Disease.\" Moments later, vocalist Matt Brandyberry walked down the catwalk, belting out a catchy rap verse before screaming, “I can’t fucking hear you, Toronto!” Danny came back in with the explosive chorus immediately after, before the breakdown hit. Both vocalists let out a long, growling scream: “overdooooooooooose.”
From Ashes To New performed some of their biggest hits, such as “Drag Me” and “Barely Breathing,” which reached the #1 and #2 spots, respectively, on the Billboard Radio Chart, as well as a song that’s popular among the fanbase and gaining attention, “Die For You.” “Drag Me” has quickly become one of the biggest songs of their career thus far and receives regular heavy rotation on SiriusXM’s Octane.
Lance brings precision and attention to detail to his guitar work while adding some theatrics to his performance with his stage outfits and distinctive masks. Jimmy complements Lance’s guitar work by delivering powerful riffs that add depth and drive the heavier moments. Mat drives the intensity with his hard-hitting beats that help enhance the heavier sound of their live performance.
They closed out the set with “Panic,” which showcased their signature sound and vocal chemistry. “We are From Ashes To New. Thank you so much for coming out tonight and catching our set.” They then let out one final scream, bowed to the crowd, and ran back down the catwalk to the main stage. The band thanked the screaming crowd before exiting the stage.
From Ashes To New managed to blow the crowd away with their explosive and cohesive sound that blends rock, metal, punk, rap, and electronic elements together. Because of their unique sound, they’re able to fit in with many different tours and festivals, and they’re slowly becoming a staple across various genres. I highly recommend checking them out if they come to a city near you.