Upon A Burning Body and Norma Jean Bring the Southern Domination Tour to Nile Theater

Upon A Burning Body and Norma Jean just announced the Southern Domination Tour, and if you're anywhere near the southwest in late July, the date you need to lock in is July 26 at the Nile Theater in Mesa, AZ. Two of the heaviest bands in modern metalcore sharing a stage in an intimate room like the Nile? That's the kind of show you don't want to hear about after the fact.

The full run kicks off July 13 in Wichita and wraps July 29 in Odessa, TX. The first stretch of dates features Upon A Burning Body headlining with Fox Lake on support, and then Norma Jean jumps on starting July 21 in Tulsa for the second half. The Mesa date is part of that stacked back half of the tour.

Why the Nile Theater Date Matters

I'll be real, the Nile Theater is one of the best rooms in Arizona for heavy music. The sound is dialed, the crowd is always packed in tight, and it just hits different when a band like Upon A Burning Body brings that San Antonio energy into a venue that size. Note that Fox Lake won't be on the Mesa date, so it's a straight Upon A Burning Body and Norma Jean affair. Honestly, that's more than enough to fill a night.

Tickets go on general sale Friday, May 1 at 10 a.m. local time. But if you want early access, there's a Blabbermouth presale running right now through April 30 at 10 p.m. EDT. Use the code LOUD at checkout.

What Both Bands Are Bringing Right Now

Upon A Burning Body dropped their seventh studio album, Blood of the Bull, on December 5, 2025, and it's a significant record for them. It's their first fully independent release after years on Sumerian Records. The album leans into the groove metal foundation they've always had but pushes into more experimental territory with soulful vocal choruses and synth-driven interludes. These guys have been grinding since 2005, cracked the Billboard 200 at No. 39 with The World Is My Enemy Now in 2014, and have never let up. Expect the new material to go off in a live setting.

Norma Jean is touring behind Deathrattle Sing for Me, their ninth studio album that came out August 12, 2022 via Solid State Records. If you know Norma Jean, you know. This is a band that has been a cornerstone of heavy music since the early 2000s. They got a Grammy nomination for O' God, the Aftermath in 2005, worked with producer Ross Robinson on Redeemer in 2006, and have shared stages with Rob Zombie, Korn, Mastodon, and Lamb of God. Nine albums deep and they still bring it every single night.

Full Tour Dates

A Word on Fox Lake

For the dates where Fox Lake is on the bill, pay attention. This Denver crew has been building momentum since 2017, blending rap, hardcore, and nu-metal into something that's completely their own. Their 2025 album New World Heat is chaotic in the best way possible. They won't be at the Mesa date, but if you catch any of the other stops on this run, get there early for their set.

Don't Sleep on This One

The combination of Upon A Burning Body and Norma Jean is a bill that makes too much sense. Both bands have been doing this for over two decades, both are riding strong recent albums, and both are the kind of acts that turn a room inside out. The Nile Theater on July 26 is going to be one of those nights. Grab tickets when they go on sale May 1, or hit that presale code while it's still active. These rooms aren't huge. Once they sell, they're gone.

Cover photo courtesy of Ticketmaster