The Word Alive Celebrating Two Album Anniversaries on Massive Summer Tour

The Word Alive just gave fans a very good reason to clear their summer calendars. The Phoenix-born metalcore outfit announced a 21-date North American headlining tour that celebrates not one but two album milestones, and they're bringing a seriously solid lineup along for the ride.

The run kicks off July 11 in Chicago and wraps August 8 in Detroit, hitting 20 cities across the US and Canada. The whole tour is built around the 15th anniversary of their debut album Deceiver and the 10th anniversary of their fourth record Dark Matter. Two records that hit at very different points in the band's career, both getting their moment this summer.

Two Records That Defined Different Eras

Deceiver dropped on August 31, 2010 through Fearless Records and put The Word Alive on the map in a big way. It hit No. 97 on the Billboard 200, No. 37 on Rock Albums, and cracked the top 15 on Top Independent Albums. Tracks like Epiphany and The Hounds of Anubis became staples in the scene. The fact that record is now 15 years old honestly makes me feel ancient, but it holds up.

Dark Matter came out on March 18, 2016, also through Fearless. Produced by Matt Good and Scott Stevens, it was a bold pivot for the band. Already Heard gave it a 4 out of 5 and called it "a bold new chapter for The Word Alive." The lead single Trapped still goes off live. Ten years later and that album still resonates.

The Support Lineup

The support on this tour is worth showing up early for. Not Enough Space out of Orlando have been turning heads with their blend of melodic metalcore and crushing deathcore elements. They recently signed to Thriller Records, have over 10 million streams, and have already toured with acts like Attila, Born of Osiris, and Traitors. Their dual vocalist setup with Lizzie Kristina and Olivia is something you need to see in person.

Downswing from Albany, New York brings the groove and the heaviness. They just dropped the music video for In a Daze off their album And Everything Was Dark, and they've been building momentum since forming in 2016. Rounding things out is Code:Words, an alternative rock act that adds some nice variety to the bill.

Where The Band Is Right Now

I'll be real, The Word Alive has been on an absolute tear lately. The current lineup of Telle Smith, Jose DelRio, Logan Abernethy, and Devin Attard is locked in. They've got seven studio albums under their belt, a gold single, and they've been writing album number eight. They recently dropped singles Eyes Above and Til' My Fingers Bleed in 2025, played Warped Tour Orlando, hit Europe and the UK supporting Caskets, and have an Australian tour with Escape The Fate booked for June. This is a band that is not slowing down.

They also filmed a new music video at a free show in Nashville this April, which suggests new material could be rolling out alongside the anniversary sets. That's the kind of energy you want from a band celebrating their history while still pushing forward.

All Tour Dates

Get Your Tickets

Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster. If you want the VIP experience, check out our friends at Sound Rink for upgraded packages. Anniversary merch for Deceiver's 15th is also live now at the band's official store.

Honestly, if you've been following The Word Alive since the Deceiver days, this is going to be special. If you got into them during the Dark Matter era, same deal. And if you haven't seen them live yet, a tour built around their biggest records with this lineup is the perfect entry point. These rooms are going to be packed. Don't sit on this one.

Cover photo courtesy of Ticketmaster